Big storms brewing
New development plans for Downtown Markham, and a plea for the local Chinese community to get more involved in municipal affairs.
Good Morning Markhamites,
With a winter storm expected to hit us tonight, it might be a good time to get some ice melter as we are in a zone where they can’t tell whether we are getting rain, snow, or both. Gross.
Today’s short note is focused on the year’s hot-button issues, overdevelopment and community input.
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Residents urge more participation from the local Chinese community around Overdevelopment concerns.
Sheng Huang, Founder of the Unionville Volunteer Association, has a question for all residents of Markham: Who gets to decide on Markham’s development plan? City Council? Developers? Or the people of Markham?
Mr. Huang pleads for Chinese community members to get active, speak up and have their say.
“What the government does depends on what the people want, Huang said, adding the push in 2024 will be to continue efforts to encourage more residents to speak out and pressure the municipal government, especially to awaken the awareness of the Chinese-Canadian community to get involved in public affairs so that quantitative changes can lead to qualitative changes.
“Use your power of supervision and votes to build a city that everyone wants rather than lament that it is getting worse and less livable after all the development is done,” he said.
Markham has high hopes of becoming a beacon to smart cities worldwide.
Markham's pivotal move toward a technologically advanced and sustainable urban hub revolves around the Markham Centre Secondary Plan, which has now been modified to accommodate 170,000 residents amidst a rush of intelligent city improvements made to the area, including a new public square and performing arts centre. While the city takes immense pride in the forward-thinking, innovative policy and sustainable initiatives baked into this plan, residents urge caution as many of these intelligent policies are modern and flashy, but they might not make Markham more livable in the long run.
Community Notes
Health care underfunding - This infant and Father waited 5 hours to see a doctor at MSH.
Shanta Sundarason’s commitment to civic engagement is unwavering
Markham is taking a unique strategy to tackle economic growth
Markham Theatre has a solid lineup to start the year
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