Hello all, short update today,
Municipal and CSAP Elections
I know that it is hard to imagine but in just 100 days both the municipal and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial elections are taking place October 17, 2020, with electronic voting starting slightly over two weeks before that.
Halifax runs the elections for the municipality and CSAP.
If you interested in running in this election you can find more information here https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/elections/information-candidates and I am always happy to talk about my experience running for election with prospective candidates.
The municipality is hiring Election Workers: Recruitment of election workers will start in 2020; the application form and other information will be available here once recruitment begins. Please check this page regularly if you’re interested in working.
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/elections/
You can check the list of Declared Candidates for the 2020 Elections here: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/elections/declared-candidates-2020-municipal-csap-elections
I will be running for re-election in 2020.
Sometime next week I will formally launch my campaign. Like the last election, I will keep this newsletter separate from my campaign newsletter, as well as have a separate election website. You have been added to my campaign distribution list, but if you wish to unsubscribe from the campaign newsletter, you will continue to receive this Councillor newsletter.
Roadwork update
HRM staff emailed yesterday that The Trillium repairs are complete. South Park Street was reopened yesterday and The Olympus encroachment and relocated protected sidewalk will be gone end of day July 16th, 2020.
South Park bike lanes from Spring Garden to Sackville and intersection changes at Sackville will start in a few weeks. The intersection changes will make crossing safer for pedestrians, which I think we all know has been dangerous for some time.
New signals are being installed at Dresden Row and Sackville, much to all of our relief. These signals will slow traffic, make it safe to make the left off of Dresden on to Sackville, and allow for safe pedestrian crossing.
Once the signals are in, Dresden Row and Birmingham will be made one way, one northbound, one southbound, and some other work will happen in those streets. This is all preparing for next summer’s Spring Garden street scaping. https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regional-community-planning/streetscaping/spring-garden-road-enhancements
The turning circle of George Street (by the ferry terminal) will be closed until December. This work is required to remove and repair the concrete turning circle. There will be no vehicular access to the turning circle during this time period. There is no impact on parking. Pedestrian traffic will be directed around the work site as necessary, and access to the Halifax Ferry terminal and local businesses will be maintained at all times.
The following street closures or sidewalk disruptions have recently been added to the RoadWorks map
• BEECH ST from PEPPERELL ST to NORWOOD ST, starting on 2020-07-14 | View in RoadWorks Map
• SALTER ST from BARRINGTON ST to GRANVILLE ST, starting on 2020-07-13 | View in RoadWorks Map
You can find out road closure details on the HRM Roadworks map: https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/streets-sidewalks/RoadWorks
Coronavirus Update #32 – Re-open City, Coronavirus Airborne Indoors, Public Helath Update, more
Re-Open City
Everywhere | to July 19
A new twist on and old favourite—Open City is back for a special edition that spans four weekends in June and July! Our local businesses need our support now more than ever. So, as the economy gears up again, we’ve rejigged Open City so you can have even more of it than usual. There are more than 120 local businesses re-opening and hustling to support and strengthen our community—now all they need is you! Start planning your Open City adventure now. For a full and up-to-date list of participating businesses visit https://www.opencityhalifax.ca/participating-businesses
And for a handy Google map (kindly created by Daniel Latimer): https://bit.ly/2VlNqP8
Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/757067431766361/
The Coronavirus Can Be Airborne Indoors, W.H.O. Says
This NY Times report just today is an important read:
‘The coronavirus may linger in the air in crowded indoor spaces, spreading from one person to the next, the World Health Organization acknowledged on Thursday.
The W.H.O. had described this form of transmission as doubtful and a problem mostly in medical procedures. But growing scientific and anecdotal evidence suggest this route may be important in spreading the virus, and this week more than 200 scientists urged the agency to revisit the research and revise its position.
In an updated scientific brief, the agency also asserted more directly than it had in the past that the virus may be spread by people who do not have symptoms: “Infected people can transmit the virus both when they have symptoms and when they don’t have symptoms,” the agency said.
The W.H.O. previously said asymptomatic transmission, while it may occur, was probably “very rare.”
Some experts said both revisions were long overdue, and not as extensive as they had hoped.’
Mask distribution at Halifax Transit
Halifax Transit and NS Public Health Central Zone were handing out free masks at Mumford Terminal yesterday and Alderney this morning. Mask distribution is going really well. Many passengers already had cloth ones on, those that didn’t, took a disposal mask and put it on. Staff reported no complaints/issues from any passengers – quite a few with cloth masks that approached staff and thanked them for being there, and expressed their appreciation. Masks will continue to be handed out at terminals until the supply of masks is gone.
NS Public Health Central Zone Updates:
– Grade 7 students from the 2019-2020 school year will be able to get up-to-date on immunizations at clinics hosted by Public Health in July and August. The second round of clinics for this past school year were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response. Learn more here In HRM families can call 902-481-1892 or 1-800-430-9557 for more information. Calls are returned within 24 hours. Eligible families will be contacted by Public Health starting this weekend.
– The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (OCMOH) Position Statement, COVID-19 and the Use of Non-Medical Masks in the Community dated June 26, 2020, has been updated. This document has been posted on the Information for Professionals – Emerging Issues section of the CDPC website which may be found here: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/cdpc/coronavirus-documents.asp Notable updates include:
• the recommendation of non-medical mask use by anyone in situations when exposure to crowded public spaces is unavoidable and consistent physical distancing is not possible
• additional safe and appropriate practices to follow when wearing a non-medical mask
The website also has information for the general public: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/staying-healthy/#masks
Questions about COVID-19? Our Public Health team is continuing to respond to questions 7 days a week. Since March, we have responded to nearly 5000 inquiries- and that doesn’t include all the requests from individuals and organizations like yourself. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-date information on COVID-19
Construction During COVID-19
Construction During COVID-19: Construction crews will strive to maintain physical distancing measures, however, residents may see workers within two metres of each other while completing certain tasks which aligns with the exemptions outlined in the Provincial Health Order. If approaching construction crews, residents are asked to provide at least two metres of physical distancing.
How can we help?
Call my office
Call my office for assistance with your municipal issues. You can reach my Coordinator Liam MacSween during the business day, his phone number is 902-490-2012 and his email is macswel@Halifax.CA
311 – HRM’s Call Centre
HRM’s call centre is open 7 days a week, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to respond to routine inquiries and complaints from HRM residents. Please use this service since it helps HRM keep track of issues that are of concern for residents (missed solid waste pickup, sidewalks not cleared, transit info or complaints, etc.) For more information please visit http://www.halifax.ca/311/
Regional Council Reports and Agendas
If you want to read reports coming to Regional Council (posted mid-day Friday prior to the Tuesday meeting) or to check the agenda please go to: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council
Halifax and West Community Council Reports and Agendas
Community Council meets on Tuesday evenings that alternate with Regional Council. Please check the webpage here for agendas (usually available a week before the meeting), locations and times. https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/halifax-west-community-council
Peninsula Planning Advisory Council Reports and Agendas
Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee meets once a month to discuss and provide feedback to council on planning proposals for the three districts on the peninsula. Please check the webpage for agendas (usually available a week before the meeting), locations and times: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/h/halifax-peninsula-planning-advisory-committee
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