enforcement

Saturday August 15, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday August 15, 2015 Dundas filming ban lifted with limitations A petition created on Thursday to end the moratorium Ñ that is now not a moratorium Ñ on filming in Dundas has exceeded its original goal of 1,000 signatures. After six days its new target is 2,000. Petition creator and Dundas local Kevin Ramage, 32, is trying to set up a meeting with Coun. Arlene VanderBeek to give the community a voice. He set out to speak to locals and business owners to get a grasp on how they feel about the original ban, and new case-by-case limitations. Meanwhile, the properties that were originally flagged as temporarily unavailable on the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) website now have a new message. After VanderBeek released her statement of "re-examination," Susan Monarch, manager of tourism Hamilton, told The Spectator on Aug. 7 the wording on OMDC files were changed to say there may be limitations, and if interested in the property to contact the film office. There are three check marks available on the OMDC listings Ñ not available, available and caution Ñ Monarch said. Ramage reached out to VanderBeek Tuesday to set up a meeting, hoping to present his findings, but he has not yet received a response. "None of the businesses that I spoke to, and that signed the petition, had any knowledge that a moratorium or filming limitations were ever going to be put in place," he wrote in the statement. Most business owners pulled Ramage into their back rooms, speaking to him at length about their thoughts on the issue. He said business owners either found out about the changes from customers coming in and asking them why they didn't want production in town, or from the media. "They were not pleased about the lack of community involvement on the issue." The decision for the moratorium, and now limitations, were made following discussions with the city's film office staff, some residents and

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 15, 2015

Dundas filming ban lifted with limitations

A petition created on Thursday to end the moratorium — that is now not a moratorium — on filming in Dundas has exceeded its original goal of 1,000 signatures.

After six days its new target is 2,000.

Tuesday February 3, 2015Petition creator and Dundas local Kevin Ramage, 32, is trying to set up a meeting with Coun. Arlene VanderBeek to give the community a voice.

He set out to speak to locals and business owners to get a grasp on how they feel about the original ban, and new case-by-case limitations.

Meanwhile, the properties that were originally flagged as temporarily unavailable on the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) website now have a new message.

After VanderBeek released her statement of “re-examination,” Susan Monarch, manager of tourism Hamilton, told The Spectator on Aug. 7 the wording on OMDC files were changed to say there may be limitations, and if interested in the property to contact the film office.

There are three check marks available on the OMDC listings — not available, available and caution — Monarch said.

Ramage reached out to VanderBeek Tuesday to set up a meeting, hoping to present his findings, but he has not yet received a response.

“None of the businesses that I spoke to, and that signed the petition, had any knowledge that a moratorium or filming limitations were ever going to be put in place,” he wrote in the statement.

Most business owners pulled Ramage into their back rooms, speaking to him at length about their thoughts on the issue. He said business owners either found out about the changes from customers coming in and asking them why they didn’t want production in town, or from the media.

“They were not pleased about the lack of community involvement on the issue.”

The decision for the moratorium, and now limitations, were made following discussions with the city’s film office staff, some residents and the BIA board of directors, which includes VanderBeek. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Friday December 14, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday December 14, 2012

Watch out: Police have an eye in the sky

It almost looks like a toy. But in the hands of trained Halton Regional police officers it’s an increasingly useful tool.

The four arms of the mini helicopter buzz like a really big house fly as they spin and the Aeryon Scout takes off outside police headquarters in Oakville. Soon it is high above the parking lot, “watching” Detective Dave Banks and Constable Andy Olesen, two of the four Halton officers trained to operate it from a tablet on the ground.

The unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly called a drone, has been a tool for Halton police on more than 30 missions ranging from photographing crime scenes to using a thermal imaging camera to search for missing persons.

It was used in September to seize 744 marijuana plants growing in a farmer’s field in northeast Milton. It was also used to photograph Burlington’s deadly Via derailment and the fatal Oakville police shooting of Kyle Newman, a short time after he stabbed his estranged wife.

Police are starting use the vehicle to photograph serious crash scenes, including an ongoing research project to see if they can take measurements from the sky to speed up investigations. They also want to begin using the drone in “tactical” situations, for instance if a suspect is on roof or balcony.

In August, Ontario’s privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian issued a 27-page paper on privacy and drones in which she warned that without careful consideration they “may be extremely invasive.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Wednesday June 20, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday June 20, 2012

Hamilton Bylaw Enforcement

Sixty per cent of Hamilton’s dog population is not licensed. So it’s entirely appropriate that city council wants to take a hard line to get owners to obey the Responsible Pet Owner bylaw.

Dog owners who won’t obey the law get no sympathy here. Licensing a dog is pretty much a user fee. If you can’t afford to pay the $28 per year to license a spayed or neutered dog, you probably can’t afford the dog, period. The city’s 87,000- strong dog population costs money, everything from leash-free parks to disposing of pet waste to running animal care and euthanasia services. It only makes sense for the people taking advantage of those services — dog owners — to foot part or all of the bill.

And yet, thousands of owners don’t. It’s enough of a problem that Councillor Chad Collins is proposing spot checks by bylaw enforcement, so someone walking their leashed dog could be “pulled over”, so to speak. Random checks without due cause might be a step too far. Still, it’s good to see council and staff acting on this problem. There’s valuable revenue waiting to be collected, and the public would be well-served by a much greater degree of compliance. Source

Meanwhile, Ontario’s deputy chief coroner, Dr. Dan Cass, announced 14 recommendations Monday stemming from a review of 129 cycling deaths over five years, including several high-profile tragedies in Hamilton.

In addition to recommending helmets for adults, Cass also called for mandatory cycling safety lessons in school, side-guards on heavy trucks, more paved shoulders on highways, point-of-sale safety information and beefed-up educational campaigns for both two- and four-wheeled drivers. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

March 17, 2001

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð March 17, 2001 Crackdown on Agressive Walking More than 40 pedestrians have died in traffic accidents in Hamilton in the past six years. Last year alone, 470 people were hit by cars. Of the eight who died, three were to blame for the accident. Police are now gearing up to catch law-breaking pedestrians and aggressive drivers in May as part of the annual road safety blitz. "People walk out whenever they feel like it," said Hamilton Constable John Rusnak. "It only takes about 40 seconds for the light to change. It's certainly worth life and limb to wait." About six Hamilton pedestrians die in traffic accidents every year -- a total of 43 since 1995. The May jaywalking blitz will focus on three of Hamilton's worst intersections: King Street East and Wellington Street, Barton Street East and Kenora Avenue, and Ogilvie Street and Governor's Road. Anyone caught disobeying the signals or failing to use the crosswalk could face a fine of up to $40. Under the Highway Traffic Act, a person can be charged with failing to use the designated crosswalk if they are within 100 metres of the crosswalk. "We're just saying: 'Listen --cross the proper way,'" Rusnak said. "We want to reduce the number of people struck on our streets." (Source: Hamilton Spectator) Hamilton, car culture, pedestrians, walking, traffic, enforcement, auto, streets, safety, policing, jay walking

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – March 17, 2001

Crackdown on Agressive Walking

More than 40 pedestrians have died in traffic accidents in Hamilton in the past six years.

Last year alone, 470 people were hit by cars. Of the eight who died, three were to blame for the accident.

Police are now gearing up to catch law-breaking pedestrians and aggressive drivers in May as part of the annual road safety blitz.

“People walk out whenever they feel like it,” said Hamilton Constable John Rusnak. “It only takes about 40 seconds for the light to change. It’s certainly worth life and limb to wait.”

About six Hamilton pedestrians die in traffic accidents every year — a total of 43 since 1995. The May jaywalking blitz will focus on three of Hamilton’s worst intersections: King Street East and Wellington Street, Barton Street East and Kenora Avenue, and Ogilvie Street and Governor’s Road.

Anyone caught disobeying the signals or failing to use the crosswalk could face a fine of up to $40.

Under the Highway Traffic Act, a person can be charged with failing to use the designated crosswalk if they are within 100 metres of the crosswalk.

“We’re just saying: ‘Listen –cross the proper way,'” Rusnak said. “We want to reduce the number of people struck on our streets.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)