Here's my Media Release:
Karolyne Pickett announces
candidacy for City Council
June 23, 2014
Guelph, ON - Karolyne Pickett registered her candidacy for
Councillor in Ward 1 in the City of Guelph earlier today.
Ms. Pickett stood
for Guelph City Council in the 2010 municipal elections, coming in fourth out
of eleven candidates.
Ms. Pickett spoke
to over a thousand Ward 1 residents in 2010, and says the issues that spurred
her to stand for Council then are still dogging the City in 2014.
A top concern remains
the lack of commercial services east of Victoria Road, which wouldn’t have
happened if the east end featured mixed-use zoning. “Commercial services should
be part of every residential area, because a walkable neighbourhood is a
vibrant neighbourhood”, says Ms. Pickett. “We need whatever commercial
land is left in the east end.”
Public transit is
another of Ms. Pickett’s priorities. “It’s very disappointing that the
implementation of increased peak bus service failed”, she says. “People need to
get to work efficiently if we are to increase ridership.” Ms. Pickett would
like to see additional GO train services, and will work hard with other
governments to improve transit connectivity with surrounding municipalities.
In 2010, Ms.
Pickett was shocked by the municipal budget shortfall, and deplored the
cancellation of bus services to address it. To her dismay, history is repeating
itself in 2014. “Council needs to better plan for unforeseen expenditures.”
To reduce
reliance on municipal taxes, Ms. Pickett is keen to explore new ways to
generate revenue for the City, such as renting roof space to solar energy
providers. “I’m excited at the prospect of soliciting creative ideas from my
fellow Guelphites. My overarching priority as a Councillor will be to seek
meaningful input from my constituents.”
