Sunday, January 18, 2015

WHAT IS GOING ON IN CRYSTAL BEACH?

Great video about Niagara's South Coast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65RRfweKXnQ


The Friends of Crystal Beach Board met Sunday in a special meeting and voted to rescind its application for the Niagara Investment in Culture grant. 

"The decision was based on the Board’s very real concerns that the current application is likely to place FOCB and its members at significant financial risk."
- FOCB President Neil Campbell


CORRECTION: Gary Fraser had been appointed to the board of the CB-BIA. He has since resigned perhaps due to negative publicity

He owns nothing and has a long history of investor fraud for which he served time. One of the corporations he's associated with, Starboard View Homes was previously under investigation by the Ontario Securities Commission. As a result, no sales or transfers of property purchased by the corporation can take place. That could include over five properties that were bought under the name of Starboard View Homes. The couple named in the allegation have since left Canada for the Philippines.


Also on the CB-BIA board is Arlene White who, I believe, is angling to get a plum appointment from the "proposal."  She also is a recent appointee to the board despite having no visible business presence in Crystal Beach.


In the meantime, Fraser, as front man for another investment corporation, has attempted to inflate local property prices by offering high-priced homes under construction on Schooley Road.  No, you won't see Fraser's name on any of the many different corporations that have come to Crystal Beach.  He is merely the Music Man, gathering easily convinced people to get in on the "ground floor." (His definition of "ground floor" is surely appropriate as one of the houses on Queen's Circle has been reduced to a dirt lot.)


Those of us who love Crystal Beach, its history and its promise, do not appreciate people coming in who have an agenda driven by greed. Sure, we're all here to make a living and bring Crystal Beach forward in style. I'm afraid these people will gut the beach; take its money; and leave it behind - in worse shape than when they arrived.


ON ANOTHER NOTE:

I can't help but wonder what the previous four years on council would have been like if Wayne Redekop, or at the very least, someone who knew how to control themselves and a meeting, would have been mayor. An observer would notice the difference between the meetings now and those of the previous four years. It's not just the new councillors; their contribution so far has been minimal; it's the mayor who provides the stark difference in meetings.  Donnie Lubberts still asks his questions. However, this time, he is given the time to ask and receive answers. No interruptions; no threats to cut off his mic; no temper tantrums and childish behaviour.  I even heard Mayor Redekop remark something to the effect of, "I believe Councillor Lubberts, you still have the floor."  OMG. Never heard that once in the previous four years.

A welcome change.

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