"Without hard boundaries including progressive taxation and dissolution of monopolies, oligarchy will continue to deconstruct society until elections, law, and truth become historical artifacts," writes Keith McNenly.
"The economy has flatlined. Trump’s war went badly. Inflation is back, so interest rates won’t be falling ... But people still want houses. And, of course, everyone wants to live here," writes Garth Turner.
"Any correctly thinking council — one that represents the good of the town and its residents as opposed to commercial real estate investors — would support proper controls and a cap on the short-term rental market," writes Brian Marshall.
"The relatively sudden demise of a once-accepted part of our lives, almost instantly replaced by handheld devices that mostly pass the time in our pockets," writes Ross Robinson.
"Why do people flock here to visit? To live in this bucolic burg? For the quiet, the history, the architecture, the streetscapes, the geography — and the green above us," writes Garth Turner.
"There are those who consider our built heritage just 'old stuff' which stands in the way of realizing new development and should be unapologetically demolished," writes Brian Marshall.
"No wonder some dogs hang out with other dogs and humans who might offer companionship, safety, warmth, food and water. Wouldn’t we in similar circumstances?" writes Dr. William Brown.
"Let us accept that change is coming to Niagara-on-the-Lake. So be it. But let us work in good faith, together and respectfully, to get the best possible results for the most people possible," writes Ross Robinson.
"Many people think of ducks in a kind of generic sense (quack) and don’t realize that there are many varieties of ducks, or that most of them are really striking when seen through decent optics," writes Anita Barber.
"I believe Queen Street needs as prominent a place for a Shaw theater as can be found for it. It draws people to it and to the businesses and it a blessed relief from more businesses," writes Peter Rand.
"If the tourism model continues to chase raw volume, buses and high-turnover day traffic, then pressure on Old Town will intensify no matter how much parking is built," writes AnnLiz Simpson.
"Yes, the Shaw is great for NOTL. Lucky to have it. But ripping up the main street while taking such a financial gamble in dodgy economic times seems rash. So, a little scrutiny is not a bad thing," writes Garth Turner.
"What we have witnessed is the construction of a 21st-century modern glass and metal hotel that speaks neither to Niagara-on-the-Lake generally nor the Village specifically," writes Brian Marshall.
"The whole experience was much better than commercial flying. We could see migrating birds in season, the unfolding country we were crossing, and overall travel times rivaled commercial flying," writes Dr. William Brown.
"It all really boils down to one thing: if you’re a voter in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the province wants to hear less than ever from you about decisions that affect your town," writes David Israelson.
"Taken together, Putin and Trump can be seen as pursuing compatible projects in different hemispheres," writes Keith McNenly, citing the consolidation of influence through coercion, leverage and military aggression; treating sovereignty as negotiable and more.
"This site is one of the most important publicly owned assets in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The process used to evaluate its future should clearly reflect the direction already provided by the community," writes Kirby Davis.
"We must remain cognizant that provincial policies include increased density and height, loss of heritage structures and loss of open space and tree cover. What about the needs of local residents?" writes Luba Fraser.
"Instead of working with the foundation, we have decided to spend an additional $80,000 refining what staff or council or our lord mayor seem to think we need to identify before we can go to a request for proposal," writes Bob Bader.
"This site represents a rare opportunity. It is not just about land use — it is about identity, legacy and what we choose to prioritize as a community," writes Jennifer Reimer.
"Wouldn't it have made sense for an elected Niagara Region official to review Harry Schlange's information to see whether it had merit?" writes Gienek Ksiazkiewicz.
"I wonder: who will come to this second location of the big beautiful new Shaw Festival Theatre, year-round, and how much damage three years of construction and loss of visitors will do to our quaint town?" writes Megan Wood.
"Not all can, or even wish to, pursue the gold standard of assisted living. Care should be taken to remain sensitive to the needs of the less affluent and to avoid a tendency for “high-end,” high-profile housing proposals," writes Michael Ennamorato.
"Lord Mayor Zalepa has now formally endorsed the move to chop council, dump our elected rep to the region, accept an unelected super-chair and submit to a voting scheme that would mute our voice. Your voice," writes Garth Turner.
"Doug Ford’s government is taking a page out of Trump’s playbook to introduce equally ill-advised legislation with dire future impacts on provincial and local levels," writes Brian Marshall.
