This glorious summer is starting to draw to an end — and the municipal election’s just 47 days away and online and phone voting starts in just 33 days. The next few weeks will be full of stories, meetings, debates, forums, and more. Coming up in just the next two weeks:
Campaign Signs:
It’s almost sign time! Signs are a very important part of making our campaign visible in the community. Don’t worry — our signs will be springing up across the district very, very soon!
We need your help to make the most of this very important aspect of the campaign! Please make sure you ask us for a sign — and help us by recruiting your friends and neighbours to take one too! Click here to sign up for a lawn or window sign.
Grad House Meet and Greet
Now that summer is over, there will be lots of opportunities to show your support.
First up: Meet and Greet at the Grad House, 1252 LeMarchant Street (Dal Campus), hosted by award-winning Halifax author Vicki Grant, on Tuesday September 11, 7:30 PM – 9:00 pm. Please click here to RSVP.
Alternative Budget and Arts Funding
The Center for Policy Alternatives released their alternative budget for HRM last week to some interest – and some uproar – in the press. I was one of the many contributors. Some of you have asked if I support their entire alternative budget proposal. My contribution was to help craft the Arts section, which I totally endorse. However, I do not support raising taxes to pay for it.
That being said, the rest of the alternative budget raises many interesting ideas that are worth exploring. Having the Province finally hand over the property tax they collect is something that should have — and was supposed to have — happened back in 1996!
Most importantly, the Alternative Budget starts a discussion about HRM’s budget and goals, something that HRM itself does not support or facilitate at budget time. You may remember I wrote about that at the start of my campaign. Organizations like CCPA-NS are important, as are thought-provoking discussions like the one begun by their alternative budget proposal.
People are listening
Last week was a great week for getting my message out. Last week Information Morning, the Rick Howe Show, Maritime Noon, The Coast and Halifax News Net all covered me and issues I’ve raised during the campaign.
PRINT: Kind of a Big Deal, The Coast, August 30, 2012
PRINT: Downtown, South End An Important Race to Watch, Halifax News Net, August 28, 2012
AUDIO: Follow the money – the case for municipal finance reform, CBC Information Morning, August 28, 2012 (follow up story the next day, August 29)
AUDIO: The Return of Peter Kelly, (starts around 34:15), The Rick Howe Show, News 95.7, August 28, 2012
WEB: Social media factors into HRM elections, CBC Website, August 21, 2021
All campaign media coverage is archived here.