restoration

Thursday February 11, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 11, 2021

White House says Biden is too busy to pay much attention to Trump impeachment trial

The historic second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump was already draining the oxygen from the air of political Washington on Monday, one day before it began. But one important viewer is making a point of saying he won’t tune in.

November 14, 2020

President Biden will be too busy this week to catch much of his predecessor’s Senate impeachment trial, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. He’ll be focused on pushing his pandemic relief package, visiting the National Institutes of Health, touching base at the Pentagon and tackling his other duties at a time of crisis, the White House says.

On Monday, Biden declined to comment on what is arguably a central question facing the country — how and whether his predecessor should be held to account for his role in encouraging a mob that sought to overturn his election loss.

“Let the Senate work that out,” Biden replied when asked by reporters.

“He has a full schedule this week,” Psaki said when asked about Biden’s plans as the Senate trial unfolds amid what is likely to be bitter partisan acrimony. “I don’t expect that he’s going to be, you know, posturing or commenting on this through the course of the week.”

February 4, 2021

But it is unclear if the White House will, or even can, be as removed from this political drama, as Biden and his aides suggest. No sitting president has ever had to contend with the impeachment trial of his predecessor unfolding during his own presidency, let alone in the crucial opening weeks that often present the best opening for getting things done.

Besides siphoning off the attention of the public and lawmakers, the trial, which is expected to last until at least the middle of next week, could delay Biden’s agenda and the confirmation of top appointees. Vice President Harris could be summoned to cast tiebreaking votes on procedural issues.

More broadly, Biden has spoken for two years of “restoring the soul of America” and moving beyond the Trump era. Yet in making it clear he will distance himself from the Senate trial, Biden is removing himself from the highest-profile effort to grapple with Trump’s legacy.

“The closest comparison, but it’s not direct, is Ford trying to figure out what to do with Nixon,” said Timothy Naftali, a historian who has written about impeachment. “Ford needed to find a way to turn the page.”

November 17, 2020

Then-president Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon, ensuring he would not face criminal charges for the wrongdoing of the Watergate scandal, arguing that the country needed to move past a bitterly divisive period.

“I understand why Gerald Ford did what he did. But I think there was a cost to turning the corner as quickly as he did,” said Naftali, the former director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. “And I worry that, through an understandable concern about the pandemic, Joe Biden may be turning the corner too quickly.”

Trump was impeached for allegedly inciting an insurrection, a charge that stems from his encouragement of a mob that assaulted the Capitol on Jan. 6, forcing Congress to suspend the process of tallying the electoral college votes that showed Biden to be the victor in the November election.

Biden has said his focus is on tackling the crises facing the country, including the pandemic and the economic collapse, which are disrupting — and sometimes ending — the lives of millions of Americans. (Washington Post) 

 

Wednesday March 8, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 8, 2017

Trump administration proposes 97 per cent cut to Great Lakes restoration initiative

Alarm bells are ringing over potentially drastic cuts to the protection of the Great Lakes.

August 25, 2016

U-S President Donald Trump’s administration is proposing to slash the budget to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by 97 percent.

Scientists say these cuts would be devastating to the efforts by Canada and the U-S to restore the precious resource.

The Great Lakes represent 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water, and provides drinking water for 45 million people.

The Executive Director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research can’t believe the news.

“When I first heard it, I thought it was a joke,” says Daniel Heath.

Internal US budget documents obtained by CTV News suggest the Trump government plans to cut nearly two dozen EPA programs. Funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative would drop from $300-million a year to $10-million.

June 23, 2016

The funding for the Initiative helps fight invasive species, curbs nutrient fueled algae blooms, cleans up toxic messes and restores the sensitive fish and wildlife habitat.

Derek Coronado of the Citizens Environment Alliance suggests this is a “public health issue” and a “human security issue.”

“It’s not good for fisheries in Lake Erie, and tourism. Who wants to go to a beach with toxic material,” adds Coronado.

Heath adds the cuts would undermine all of the protection efforts currently underway.

“It may save some money, but it would put back Great Lakes conservation by decades,” adds Heath.

Scientists are urging residents on both sides of the border to speak to their elected officials about the potential cuts.(CTV News) 

 

Friday April 8, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday April 8, 2016 Gore developers back with plan to save some historical features Developers of a site with historic buildings facing Gore Park are back with an amended proposal to save some and incorporate some heritage features before demolishing the current structures and rebuilding. The redevelopment project screeched to a halt in 2013 when city council slapped a last-minute heritage designation on a small strip of buildings addressed 18 to 28 King St. E. just before they were to be torn down. They are on the southside of the park. Proponents for redeveloping the site made an unscheduled appearance before city council's general issues committee Wednesday with a new plan to save the faade of 18 to 22 King and demolish the rest. A new five-storey, 20,000-square-foot building is planned that will also encompass a small adjacent vacant property where a building was demolished in 2011. The building will have retail stores on the first floor and 14 apartments above, all with balconies overlooking Gore Park, said Tim Bullock, a lawyer representing the consortium that owns the properties. The preserved faade will form half of the new building's front. "This is a compromise," Bullock told councillors. He said the faade to be preserved has Escarpment stone in its design and has the most heritage features worthy of preservation. The other faade or building front, on addresses 24 to 28, has fewer heritage features, different stonework, and has deteriorated beyond reasonable repair, he said. "Restoring all the facades would make it economically unfeasible É The engineering report says 28 (King St. E.) is very unsafe and 24 King has had its heritage features stripped." The two addresses also have small retail fronts not suitable to today's retail industry, he added. The new plan is "very respectful of the Gore," he suggested. "It's a win-win for the city." Architect David Premi, who worked on th

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 8, 2016

Gore developers back with plan to save some historical features

Developers of a site with historic buildings facing Gore Park are back with an amended proposal to save some and incorporate some heritage features before demolishing the current structures and rebuilding.

The redevelopment project screeched to a halt in 2013 when city council slapped a last-minute heritage designation on a small strip of buildings addressed 18 to 28 King St. E. just before they were to be torn down. They are on the southside of the park.

Proponents for redeveloping the site made an unscheduled appearance before city council’s general issues committee Wednesday with a new plan to save the façade of 18 to 22 King and demolish the rest.

A new five-storey, 20,000-square-foot building is planned that will also encompass a small adjacent vacant property where a building was demolished in 2011.

The building will have retail stores on the first floor and 14 apartments above, all with balconies overlooking Gore Park, said Tim Bullock, a lawyer representing the consortium that owns the properties.



The preserved façade will form half of the new building’s front.

“This is a compromise,” Bullock told councillors.

He said the façade to be preserved has Escarpment stone in its design and has the most heritage features worthy of preservation.

The other façade or building front, on addresses 24 to 28, has fewer heritage features, different stonework, and has deteriorated beyond reasonable repair, he said.

“Restoring all the facades would make it economically unfeasible … The engineering report says 28 (King St. E.) is very unsafe and 24 King has had its heritage features stripped.”

The two addresses also have small retail fronts not suitable to today’s retail industry, he added.

The new plan is “very respectful of the Gore,” he suggested. “It’s a win-win for the city.”

Architect David Premi, who worked on the downtown library and farmers’ market project, told councillors the building, with the original façade for half of its front and a complementing front for the other half is “an attempt to be respectful” to the original design. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Saturday September 15, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday September 15, 2012 AuchmarÕs beautiful future hangs in the balance One thing that everyone agrees about when it comes to the historic Auchmar estate is the manorÕs heart-stopping beauty. With its sweeping gables, pointed arch windows, and vaulted ceilings, itÕs hard not to be entranced by the gothic-style mansion. But itÕs no secret that Auchmar is crumbling. ItÕs going to take $4 million to repair both its interior and exterior Ñ and thatÕs not includingÊcosts needed to operate the building. The question remains: should the city be the one to pick up the tab? ÒWe have a lot of demands in front of us right now,Ó said Councillor Lloyd Ferguson. ÒThereÕs no question itÕs a jewel in the community.ÊIdeally, youÕd find someone from the private sector who would fix it up and get it into shape. But we should not get into the bankrollÊbusiness.Ó Ferguson was one of several councillors, senior staffers, and members of the public who attended a special general issues committeeÊmeeting at the estate on Thursday. As only eight councillors initially showed up Ñ Ferguson came late due to a medical appointment ÑÊthe meeting never reached quorum. Councillors who did attend the meeting were given a tour of the estate, from the basement Ñ parts of it were once used as billiard roomsÊand a workshop when it was a burn hospital for members of the Royal Canadian Air Force Ñ to the upper-floor bedrooms. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)Êhttp://www.thespec.com/news-story/2255531-auchmar-s-beautiful-future-hangs-in-the-balance/ Hamilton, ghosts, past, future, Auchmar, estate, Isaac Buchanan, Agnes Buchanan, restoration, councillor, Maria Pearson, Terry Whitehead, Lloyd Ferguson

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday September 15, 2012

Auchmar’s beautiful future hangs in the balance

One thing that everyone agrees about when it comes to the historic Auchmar estate is the manor’s heart-stopping beauty.

With its sweeping gables, pointed arch windows, and vaulted ceilings, it’s hard not to be entranced by the gothic-style mansion.

But it’s no secret that Auchmar is crumbling. It’s going to take $4 million to repair both its interior and exterior — and that’s not including costs needed to operate the building.

The question remains: should the city be the one to pick up the tab?

“We have a lot of demands in front of us right now,” said Councillor Lloyd Ferguson. “There’s no question it’s a jewel in the community. Ideally, you’d find someone from the private sector who would fix it up and get it into shape. But we should not get into the bankroll business.”

Ferguson was one of several councillors, senior staffers, and members of the public who attended a special general issues committee meeting at the estate on Thursday. As only eight councillors initially showed up — Ferguson came late due to a medical appointment — the meeting never reached quorum.

Councillors who did attend the meeting were given a tour of the estate, from the basement — parts of it were once used as billiard rooms and a workshop when it was a burn hospital for members of the Royal Canadian Air Force — to the upper-floor bedrooms. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)