Actually, it is tale of two groups of citizen representatives, but I thought it was a catchy title – you know … “the best of times, the worst of times.” Few of us can complain about life here in Caledon, except for the unemployed, underpaid, unhoused and unheard. Most of our citizens are living reasonably comfortable lives as serfs in the Ford kingdom of Ontario. No bombs, no starvation, no Gaza or Ukraine here.
On the other hand, our Town of Caledon is currently divided between two groups of citizen representatives whose belief systems are worlds apart. One group believes that exponential growth and greed is a good thing. One group believes that smart growth and small is beautiful is a good thing. That philosophical divide makes it very hard to come to consensus on issues that pit greed and growth against ecological security and sustainable development. And, of course, in any set of opposing groups, there is always the fence sitter, whose disguise is compromise.
Over the last month I have been able to communicate with both groups, who I will call the Urban and the Rurban Teams. 
The current Urban group sees nothing wrong with the idea that in ten years Bolton will look like Brampton. They don’t want to oppose the developers in court, so just let them do what they want, build those communities, and former smart growth plans and By-laws be damned. If the law stops our growth, we’ll change the law! They believe in their hearts that this approach is right for Caledon.
The Rurban group on the other hand, believes in the Smart Growth planning for Caledon’s future created in the past twenty years under the Councils of Mayors Morrison and Thompson. 
These plans allowed for the protection of farmland, Greenspace, and places of ecological significance while allowing for communities to develop in appropriate places with future public transportation as a mobility culture goal.
In an article three years ago, I advised that if Caledon elected the wrong team of candidates, Caledon would look like Brampton in ten years. 
Doug Ford’s Bill 3 speeded that up with the Strong Mayors act and the offer of hundreds of thousands of dollars to build houses quickly. Who does this benefit more than anyone? The developers who vie for access to those previously untouched lands. Don’t believe me? Check who are the top developer donors who are “friends” of our current Premier. Their names are all on public record. At his fundraisers.
And several of them are alive and well and influencing development in Caledon. The Urban Team is doing their bidding. The Rurban Team is fighting an uphill battle against power and money. So how do we help? We let the Urban Team of Mario Russo, Tony Rosa, Cosimo Napoli, and Annette Groves know that they will not be re-elected for the next municipal term if they vote to support a developer’s bid to destroy a newly created Caledon greenspace. The fence sitter will need to decide, regardless of the reports submitted to the Town on the viability of the destruction of this greenspace, on which side of the fence they want to be. Because one side is coming down.
“The only thing that is needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.”
The way I see it.
***
The word rurban (rural+urban) refers to a geographic territory/landscape which possess the economic characteristics and lifestyles of an urban area while retaining its essential rural area features.
I like this routine, especially in the summer. The mornings are cooler and quiet and generally car free. He has learned to walk on a relaxed leash now, very attentive to road crossings and the etiquette of using the boulevards to do his business. On the way, there is one favourite stop. A neighbour on our long loop has planted the most exquisite garden on both sides of the sidewalk.
The problem is, none of her proclamations fact-check. They may exist in Trump’s mind, made more believable for MAGATS through Ms. Leavitt’s eloquence, but they are simply half truths or mistruths. In the media world, this is known as propaganda. Adolph Hitler had Joseph Goebbels; Donald Trump has Karoline Leavitt. The Supreme Leader’s Propagandist has one purpose: to build up the leader to a point of almost divine superiority, one whose edicts and accomplishments must be elevated to levels inspiring awe and blind loyalty in their followers.
addiction to “big bombs” asking if this was indicative of a man of peace. “In just five months, Trump has overseen nearly as many US airstrikes (529) as were recorded across the entire four years of the previous administration (555).” That quote quote came from ACLED President Clionadh Raleigh as reported in Turkey’s Anadolu Anjasi.
This is not a satire article. This is probably the most serious article I have ever written. Between the Strong Mayor powers bestowed by Doug Ford’s. Bill 5, and Bill C5 enacted by PM Carney, we are in danger of losing our democracy. I cannot lecture, I am not on any pulpit of sanctity here.