INSIDE AURORA: Inferiority Complex?

July 10, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Scott Johnston

If things keep going the way they are, I fear our town will suffer from an inferiority complex.
This is because like a “before” version of the scrawny, 97 lb Charles Atlas, we seem to be getting sand kicked in our face by everyone else at the political beach.
Sadly, we’ve had a number of examples of this within the past year or so.
Take the angst over the town being split into two electoral ridings, which it was claimed would reduce our political voice in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park. Council was against it. Our federal MP and provincial MPP were both against it. Citizens were against it.
Persuasive and logical arguments were put forward to the Powers That Be, and what happened? Figurative sand was kicked in everyone’s faces, and the town was split in two.
No sooner had that dust settled when we heard that we were going to lose our town’s only post office.
“That can’t happen”, everyone cried. There were letters (well, emails, texts and tweets), and general uproar, and support from various levels of government, and in the end, I expect not to anyone’s surprise, our closest post office is now in Newmarket.
The latest example is the cell tower that has recently sprung up in King, just west of Aurora’s border. Now that it’s appeared on our doorstep, no one wants it (until they start losing cell reception, anyway).
The mayor has spoken to Bell. The town staff has spoken with other municipalities. The lawyers have spoken to… well, who knows; we’ll find out when we get all the bills.
The cell tower is still there. But just wait, because you know that with everyone pitching in for a good old concerted Aurora effort …well …nothing’s going to change.
That’s why these sorts of Aurora issues never appear in the Vegas odds makers’ books. The result is always inevitable.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a new phenomenon for us. How many times over the years has the town gone to the OMB to complain against a proposed development that goes against the town’s wishes, citizens’ interests, or general good taste? A bunch, that’s how many. But there are not a lot of wins on the “Aurora” side of the score sheet to show for it.
One related proposal that received a lot of press was the Board’s plan to close and sell off that historic downtown institution; Wells Street School. Did the Town unite to stand up and fight to insist this school be saved to teach Aurora’s children for generations to come?
Of course it did.
And did the town succeed?
Of course it didn’t.
But back to recent history, how about the continued effort to obtain a second representative on Regional Council? Good idea. Timely. Makes sense. Lots going for it. Aurora put forth its case, and as a result, how any reps do we have? Still one.
In fact, not only did they turn us down, but they wouldn’t even let our only representative be allowed a back-up if he couldn’t make it.
Hopefully, our mayor enjoys both good health and a poor social life, and can attend most meetings.
On the bright side, it could have been worse; they could have taken away the one rep we do have.
There are other examples out there, but you get the idea.
I think that the only way this trend is going to change, is if Aurora starts working out and flexing its municipal muscles a bit more.
Either that, or every time the town wants to assert itself, it will have to get used to the sand of unfulfilled wishes being kicked in its face.

Feel free to e-mail Scott at
machellscorners@gmail.com