Elect Scott Fitzgerald - Ward 2 Councillor

Fresh Approach. Fresh Energy. Fresh Ideas.
Home
About Me
Scott In the Community
 
  
 
Hi, I'm Scott Fitzgerald and I'm running for city councillor in the upcoming St. John's Municipal Election. I've lived in St. John's my entire life and I'm proud of our city. As St. John's moves forward and continues to enjoy tremendous growth and development, the services that it provides to it's citizens have to grow and develop as well.
 
My vision for St. John's and, in particular Ward 2, is to see a city that is greener, cleaner and meaner. Greener in that we offer recycling pick up to our citizens; cleaner in that we work harder to beautify the downtown core; and meaner in that we position ourselves to be ultra-competitive and more attractive as a destination of choice for everything from cruise ships, to conferences, and business headquarters. St. John's has to show that it can compete with any other major city in Canada.
 
As Ward 2 councillor, I will be tireless on your behalf to ensure that this work is done but I also understand that the role of a city councillor is to listen to the concerns of everyday citizens. I look forward to meeting you and making sure your needs and expectations, as a citizen of St. John's, are truly met.
 

Issues that matter to me...
 
 
The Downtown Core.
 
- The downtown core of St. John's is the heart of the City; it's also the face of the City. We have to preserve and enhance it's beauty with beautification projects. We'll reap the benefits of increased tourism as a city and province.
 
Reduce Residential Traffic Speed.
 
-Residents all over the city are concerned about the speed of traffic through their streets. Old Topsail Rd. and Craigmillar Ave. are two areas in particular that experience dangerously high speed levels. Given the narrowness of these streets and the number of children in the area, residents fear it's only a matter of time before there is a tragedy. We need to do something before this happens, not after.
 
Neighborhoods.
 
- Ward 2 has a strong sense of neighborhood. Areas such as Belvedere, Georgetown, Old Topsail Rd., etc. feel a great deal of ownership and pride for where they live. Groups like these need to be included and consulted more when it comes to development in their areas.
 
Snow Clearing.
 
- The City has made improvements to it's snow clearing and snow removal but it can do better. In the past, city council has decided not to increase the snow clearing budget for Duckworth and Water Streets. If we want to have a vibrant downtown and make it a place that is attractive for conferences and events, the shops, restaurants, and bars have to be accessible year round, not just during the warmer months. The sidewalks and streets are the life line to the businesses downtown. Snow removal should be
complete and expedient.
 
Recycling.
 
- It is hard to believe that in this day and age we do not have a recycling pick up in the city of St. John's. We are a major city with a population of over 115,000 people. We need a recycling pick up program that meets the needs of a major city like ours and we need it now. I intend to make sure the current pilot program is made a permanent service.
 
The Arts.
 
- St. John's is rich in arts and culture. City Hall needs to embrace and support the efforts of our arts community more.

 
 
Partnerships.
 
- With our province experiencing such unprecedented prosperity, the opportunities have never been greater for the City of St. John's to partner with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Problems such as the water shortage we have experienced this summer are regional problems and St. John's and other municipalities have to partner with the provincial government to solve them for the long term. Water meters are not the answer.
 
Support For Seniors.
 
- Let's support our seniors by increasing the Seniors Tax Reduction from 15% to 25%. This would allow seniors who are struggling to get a little added relief from their property taxes with minimal loss of revenue to the City.

Crime.

 

- With increased prosperity comes increased crime. I believe we should also partner with the Provincial government to institute permanent foot patrols of the RNC in the downtown. This increased police presence would mean reassurance for business owners, citizens, and tourists alike.

 

Recreational Infrastructure.


- Many of the recreation facilities in St. John's are in need of an overhaul. I recently visited Bowring Park pool and it was clear, this vital recreational facility as well as many more, need investment. In addition, we need to invest in new facilities that will carry us into the future. City council let a huge opportunity pass with the approval of the Memorial Stadium site as a supermarket - Cygnus Gymnastics notwithstanding. We need to correct this by building new, modern facilities. The City has been presented with a plan outlining the priorities of recreational infrastructure. It needs to act now.

 

Downtown Parking.

 

- The parking problem downtown continues to be a thorn in the side of everyone yet it doesn't seem like this key issue is a high enough priority. Proposed solutions to raise the cost of parking in an effort to encourage people to use alternate means of transportation will not work. This problem requires creative thinking. A combination of a parking garage just outside the downtown core and a continuous shuttle serving Water St. and Duckworth St. would work well.