|
Post by Dan on May 29, 2007 21:32:15 GMT -5
So what side are you on? You might be surprised by some peoples opinions. Not everybody sees American privatization as a bad thing. Are they highjacking land in our own Country or are they just saving a special peice of Canada? Here's my thoughts on google video: video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7479309772102228243&hl=enDan
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Dec 11, 2007 6:49:04 GMT -5
Letter to Shorewalk President Stephen Paserro, carbon copied to Dr Harvey Grenn, Point Abino Lighthouse Preservation Society: Dan Andrews 820 Grandview Rd Fort Erie, ON L2A 4V7 Hello Mr. Passero One of the things that I think is important to do is keep in touch with all organizations I am a member of and believe in, to voice my opinion and grab the wheel once in awhile if I believe we may be headed off track. As I have my hands on too many steering wheels at the moment I'd like to take a moment to shout some directions from the back seat and hope the driver takes note without getting annoyed with my input. As we're all headed for the same location we should all have input on how we get there. The Point Abino Lighthouse is a complicated issue for me. On one hand you have a beautiful but crumbling Federal Historic landmark that is not only a heart warming site from the Lake but it's also parked on the edge of one of Niagara's last natural oasis'. Access is the stumbling block I have. Although Mr Grenn has good intentions for the people of Fort Erie I personally disagree with trampling the property rights of the individuals who invested in this area. If indeed these people own the road, they should as any other property owner be able to control who uses it. It is unfortunate for them that our historic gem is isolated by their land. The Town of Fort Erie has been known to do some stupid things and it is easy to recognize where their thirst for moneys created an asinine situation for both the public and private landowners. Compounding my discomfort for pushing for access is the Natural heritage that remains in the area. If you look at satellite photo's of Niagara there are few areas that are still visibly blanketed by tree canopy. Shorthill's conservation area, Point Abino and 2 points on either side of Port Colborne stand out above the rest. The East side of Port Colborne is currently under attack by loggers. Logging activity can now be observed all up and down White Rd from Forks to highway #3. See the Region via satellite image here: Google maps Last spring I had the opportunity to walk the drain through the heart of Point Abino to inspect the work done by the Town to repair damage done by the freak October snow storm. Just as Earl Plato's columns describe it, I found the area to be a natural gem and feel that with the way we've left the rest of the region, we need to do everything in our power to protect this entire area for future generations. The unopened road allowance should stay unopened. This is the exception to Shorewalk's agenda I'd like to state my membership or involvement is pivoted on. So I guess what I'm getting at here is I do support the shore walking right portion of our agenda. Being able to protest private landowners calls to disallow the general public to walk the high water mark while encroaching on public land is important to me. This shows outright arrogance and elitist entitlement by the area landowners and should be challenged. However I feel that challenging their landowners rights is in direct contrast with our own agenda. Let us access our land without protest, using your land for access! Not a healthy message to be giving. As I see it we currently have free access to the lighthouse. Other methods other than automobile are necessary and this may be a good message for our youth. The automobile has helped destroy our natural heritage and shouldn't be considered an absolute must for future generations. Other methods such as canoe have been forgotten but still remain. I paddled to the lighthouse this past summer unobstructed or protested by any residents. I didn't have to trespass on landowners rights or trample rare flora under foot to get there. Shame should be cast on the Government for selling off important lands, allowing development on the waters edge and for servicing these private residents with public services such as garbage collection up and down this private road with no other public access. However I do not think this excuses us from respecting private landowners rights. This is a complicated situation and I'm sure you will hear many views. Mine is that we (Shorewalk) leave land access alone on the Point and concentrate on shore walking rights and encroachment barriers. Sincerely yours Dan Andrews
|
|
|
Post by Dan on Dec 11, 2007 18:33:36 GMT -5
Mr Passero called today to say that Shorewalk's involvement with Harvey Grenn is strictly walking rights related. An email from Shorewalk referring people to join Harvey in lighthouse initiatives was strictly an invite to discussion on restoration issues only. Mr Passero would like to assure us that Harvey's other lighthouse issues (road access) are strictly of his own accord and Shorewalk wishes not to express an opinion as that issue is unrelated to Shorewalk's agenda.
Hopefully Stephen will come around and place an official position on this mix up in the near future.
Dan
|
|