"Although this level of government has the greatest impact on citizens’ daily lives, it is weak, ineffectual, rudderless and dominated by special interests," writes Garth Turner.
Over the last five centuries, says Frank Lloyd Wright, what humanity has called architecture has been "phony": "It was not innate, it wasn’t organic and it didn’t have the character of nature.”
More than 40 years after the debut of this British farce on the Shaw Festival stage, "One for the Pot" returns with excellent performances that contain the elements needed to make this for-the-masses comedy a laugh riot, writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"As a pretentious British boss of mine said many years ago ... 'I have found that around the world, one can get on with two languages: English, and loud English,'" writes Ross Robinson.
"I provided you with an opportunity to do the right thing, which you have obviously declined to do. Please be advised that I intend to pursue this in the appropriate forum(s)," writes Derek Collins.
"This bill redefines 'habitat' in a way that weakens protections for endangered species. Imagine saying an animal’s home doesn’t count anymore because it’s not where it nests, even if it feeds or migrates there," writes Wayne Gates. "That’s not science — that’s politics. And that’s dangerous."
"The scale, massing and, as mentioned earlier, the height of the proposed design are acceptable, particularly given the break-up of the building’s faces into smaller staggered elements," writes Brian Marshall.
"While we understand this may come as a disappointment to many in our community, we remain committed to our mission and are pleased to confirm that the much-loved Healing Cycle Ride will proceed as planned," writes Bonnie Bagnulo, executive director of NOTL Community Palliative Care Service.
"The longevity of a plant is partially determined by how well a plant has been pruned over the years. Most evergreens need pruning yearly to stay within the size and scale of most landscapes," writes Joanne Young.
"Apartment units should be reserved for long-term tenants, not thrown into the online tourist pool. And no place with a pool or a hot tub should be granted a short-term rental licence, since that’s just a recipe for neighbourhood noise, disruption and mayhem," writes Garth Turner.
"My memory tells me it has been 58 years since their last Stanley Cup Parade in 1967. Apparently, that’s the longest winless streak going. But, it would serve no purpose to bring this up again, so I won’t write anything more about it," writes Ross Robinson.
"Curtailing or controlling some of the objectionable projects that people have protested about — with more such developments coming — will be difficult," writes Kevin MacLean. "Because we're not just fighting developers, we're fighting provincial mandates."
"Why did citizens have to protest outside town hall last year with signs and slurs just to be heard? And why wasn’t the mayor there the other night when the largest political mob in modern NOTL history packed the community centre, fully 500 days before a vote?" writes Garth Turner.
"Our proposal includes Wellness Estates NOTL, an adult condominium community designed to help residents age in place through integrated health services," writes Nick Vaccaro.
"Some visionaries imagine that tiny devices might be adopted for treating cancer and vascular disease," writes Dr. William Brown. "That’s forward-thinking very much in line with Feynman’s vision for what was possible in 1984."
The lord mayor "certainly has the right," to use "strong mayor powers," writes Michael Fox. "However, he could go some way to restore confidence that democracy, at times on life support in NOTL, is actually still alive."
"I’ve read every letter on this subject in all of the local newspapers without finding a single numeric alternative to our findings. There’s been plenty of time and opportunity," writes Kenn Moody.
Brian Marshall details the introduction of Bill 17, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, introduced this spring, which, Marshall writes, contains provisions around development and home construction that are helpful, and others that present serious concerns.
"Whether you live in a bustling city apartment, a suburban home or out in the country, container gardening allows you to create vibrant, green spaces with minimal fuss," writes Joanne Young.
"As a seasoned sign guy, I believe the bylaw should be amended to include only residential and not commercial properties. Each eligible resident gets a single vote. Many commercial properties or building sites were covered with signage and, dare I say, over-signage," writes Ken I'Anson, who helped with putting up candidate signs around NOTL during the 2025 federal election.
"We’re in the early stages of the biggest political fight most of us have ever seen in this country; if we’re going to win, we need to listen to each other and pull together," writes David Israelson.
Describing the newly introduced Bill 5, Brian Marshall writes, "Quite simply, the proposed legislation seeks to gut environmental protection, continuing Ford’s earlier assaults in 2020 and 2022."
"We can do better in NOTL and there are resources to help us figure out how. This would be a step towards a more positive, cost-effective way of encouraging appropriate development in the current environment of flawed, broad-brush provincial directives," writes Chrys Kaloudis, former urban design committee member.
"I have the greatest respect for those holding the energy for honest journalism and want to thank Niagara Now and similar outlets for doing so," writes Susannah Joyce.
"If you are one of the people who do this, you should know that, like face-melting halitosis or chronic body odour, your friends are not going to say anything, but they are not enjoying your company," writes Julian Goss.
"Our heritage is our most important asset from a tourism perspective. Let's not forget how blessed we are with such a rich history and so many reminders of a dramatic past," writes Ron Dale.
"It is astounding that not only do we get an unneeded roundabout, but the region sees fit to send a four-page voting process to determine what it should look like," writes Bob Bader.
"It’s easy to decry the decline of democracy in the U.S., where President Trump has used executive orders to rule virtually unchecked, but Ontario isn’t perfect either," writes Terry Davis.
"We’ve got a lot of work to do, but the bright side is this: The threat from the south has unified us to a new level. The great majority of us agree on what we don’t want," writes Andrew Henwood.
