2018 municipal election
Priorities
- Following the progress of affordable housing in the two newest projects to come on board for that segment – complexes on Sidney Street and Great St. James Street.
- Strong proponent of a new west end YMCA for lands formerly occupied by the Belleville Agricultural Society. This will serve as a community hub for the city in an area long neglected for such services. I see this as a “Three P” partnership, involving both senior levels of government, the city and a significant fundraising effort by YMCA itself.
- Would like to see and will address at my earliest elected opportunity, increase the portion of the money that the City receives from the proceeds of Shorelines Casino that is dedicated to "social programs" from 5% to 10%.
Running for council
After more than three decades of chronicling the achievements, milestones and historic events and people that make up the city of Belleville, I have decided it’s time to get off the sidelines and into the game.
Infrastructure
Combined with casino funding, careful debenture financing is not the bogeyman system many describe it as. If done responsible and properly, we can maintain our city’s A and higher credit ratings while still financing infrastructure.
Affordable housing
Belleville’s All-Together Affordable Housing non-profit housing agency is now leading the implementation of a supported-housing model for those two buildings being built on Sidney Street. The model is similar to that of Toronto’s St. Clare’s charity.Mixing market-rate and affordable apartments is both a more sustainable way of offering affordable housing and “creates, in our sense, a more inclusive community.
Sale of marijuana
We need some immediate consultation with our police service to determine their concern, work out zoning restrictions (limit retail outlets near schools, for instance) and other mechanics of the issue.Police ought to have major input into where and how we permit stores to operate in the city.We need to be better prepared for when another major firm approaches with a viable business plan for cannabis production
Waterfront development
I believe it is a high priority, but one that needs broad public and private sector support before it can begin to be pitched to senior levels of government for potential funding.
User pay for police and transit
User pay is not always the answer, but when you have segments of the populace clearly not having access to the same level of service as others, there is no other equitable solution.
Declaration of a Climate Emergency
In June 2021, the City of Belleville
declared a Climate Emergency to take stock of the carbon emissions they produce, and look for ways to reduce electricity usage and emissions.Malette
urged councillors to get behind the declaration as Belleville would join 510 other jurisdictions in Canada declaring a climate emergency. A measure he said none of them took lightly "or without any forethought, on the impact, undeniable climate change is having on their communities, the country and the planet":
This motion simply sets in motion a number of levers that will follow not the least of which will be a comprehensive report from all departments on how climate change is addressed currently by city departments, the effects climate change can specifically have on our ongoing and future operations and infrastructure and what steps council and senior levels of government can take to mitigate these impacts
2022 municipal election
What are your priorities for infrastructure investment?
https://youtu.be/EhWkGK8adJw?t=2310
Preserving additional green space
Putting forward a proposal to city staff to create a perpetual fund to buy additional greenspace to preserve natural areas.
