Latest news with #SkylarFranke
CTV News
15-07-2025
- CTV News
Does this London intersection need crossing guards or just safer drivers?
A dangerous intersection in Old South might prompt a citywide review of London's policy for locating crossing guards. Daryl Newcombe reports. A dangerous intersection in Old South might prompt a citywide review of London's policy for locating crossing guards. On Monday, several parents in the area of Wortley Road and Emery Street told the Community and Protective Services CAPS Committee that persistent dangerous driving at the four-way stop poses a serious risk to children walking to school. They want city hall to provide a crossing guard when school resumes in September. 'It's beyond appalling that we've gone this far in order for our children to safely make it to school,' said Matt Grimminck. Currently, London spends $1.55 million each year on 106 crossing guards. Coun. Skylar Franke, who represents the neighbourhood, brought forward a motion requesting a review of city hall's crossing guard policy and development of a budget business case for $200,000 that would fund an additional 14 crossing guards citywide. 'This is just one of the tools we have in our toolbox that I was hoping to move forward,' explained Franke. 'Because it seems that the enforcement that's currently being done is not sufficient.' Committee members agreed that dangerous driving around schools is a source of frequent complaints. 'I have two schools in my ward that for the past two years I've been hearing from the parents the same thing,' said Coun. Jerry Pribil. Coun. Peter Cuddy listed several dangerous school crossings in his northeast ward, 'This isn't an isolated case in my ward, nor is it an isolated case in Coun. Franke's ward. This is happening all over the city.' According to city staff, the intersection of Emery and Wortley was recently evaluated for a crossing guard, but the number of vehicles and pedestrians didn't meet the minimum criteria. Franke suggested the current criteria might not reflect the level of distracted and dangerous driving occurring on London roads. 'There is some flexibility in choosing which standards and metrics we're using and where we want to put crossing guards,' she explained. Coun. Hadleigh McAlister agreed, 'I do think that this is something that should be regularly reviewed. As indicated, we can go above the provincial minimums if we deem it necessary.' The committee unanimously recommended reviewing the policy and criteria for locating crossing guards in consultation with local school boards and private schools. The results could contribute to a budget business case for additional crossing guards in London. The review won't be completed in time to reconsider the presence of a crossing guard at Wortley and Emery by September. After the decision, neighbour Aylish Tate told CTV News, 'I'm ultimately disappointed that we didn't receive the relief that we're looking for—for ourselves, our peace of mind, and for our children come September.' Council will consider the recommendation from the CAPS Committee on July 22.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Community celebrations in London's improved parks
As London's neighbourhood parks undergo improvements through the Neighbourhood Parks Improvement Fund, the city announced each improved park will host a celebration. The upcoming events will feature music, games and activities. Josh Morgan, mayor of London said the improvements are about the people from the community enjoying the space. 'This is really exciting because it's not something the City of London has done before, is invest in an infrastructure asset and then say, actually we want everyone to come out and really enjoy it together because that's what it's all about,' said Morgan. The first event will be hosted at Murray Park, on June 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The park, one of the first to be improved, has added seating and a new basketball court. The fund supports 23 park improvements, with $4 million allocated to the project. Improvements are expected to be completed by 2027, with 10 projects being constructed this year. 'A lot of people like to spend time in parks, and something we hear a lot as public officials is, 'please make these improvements, please improve the public spaces we use,' and this is an example of us being able to do that,' said London City Councillor Skylar Franke.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Councillor's refusal to apologize renews concern about deteriorating civility in council chambers
Debates are expected and arguments are not uncommon, but a tense standoff between a pair of city councillors on Thursday was the latest example of the deteriorating decorum during committee meetings. The Budget Committee was debating a motion by Coun. Susan Stevenson and Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen seeking more information about the costs to install and maintain future bike lanes. Coun. Skylar Franke explained that the information is readily available to councillors without requiring a formal motion and was recently considered when Council approved the Mobility Master Plan (MMP). 'If we are looking for savings, we do see that there is a much more heavy burden (on taxpayers) from car infrastructure,' Franke argued. Van Meerbergen pushed back against Franke's suggestion. 'When you listen to some of the previous rhetoric trying to make the point that roads and cars cost more than bikes, you've really got to give your head a shake,' he said. 'It borders on the nonsensical when you hear some of these arguments. We need a better road system.' 052325_Van Meerbergen councillor city of London File - Councillor Paul Van Meerbergen in council chambers (CTV News London) Budget Chair Elizabeth Peloza halted Van Meerbergen after Franke objected. 'Calling my comments nonsensical is offensive, and I would appreciate an apology,' asserted Franke. But Van Meerbergen would not apologize. 'If you check the record, you'll see that I stated 'borders on the nonsensical'. I did not state the name of anybody, and I'll leave it at that,' he countered. Franke again demanded an apology, 'I do not engage in rhetoric. I share my feelings and opinions, and I do it without trying to offend anyone.' Van Meerbergen replied, 'Like the other councilor, I too engage in rhetoric. She engages in rhetoric all the time, to make these equivalencies between the cycling system and the road system.' After several tense minutes, Franke decided the budget meeting was more important than pressing the issue with Van Meerbergen. 052325_budget meeting London city councillor skylar franke Counciller Skylar Franke during the Budget Committee meeting on May 23 (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London) 'In the interest of saving time for this committee. I will retract my request for an apology,' she stated. 'But I would hope that other members of council would see fit to choose their words wisely.' Shortly after the tense exchange, Stevenson lamented the deteriorating level of respect during debates. 'The diversity of opinion and thought is not something that I'm finding is here enough, as much as I would like to see it' she told colleagues. Stevenson and Van Meerbergen's motion was defeated (4-10). After the meeting, Peloza acknowledged the deteriorating decorum in council chambers and its impact on decision-making. 'If you really want an efficient meeting, choose your words wisely,' she advised. 'Some people perhaps prefer controversy, which might result in media coverage by several (news) outlets, which just leads to things being less efficient.' A year-and-a-half still remains in this council's term. 'When we share this space, the public is watching,' Peloza added. 'It's really important to hold ourselves to a (level) of decorum and professionalism that Londoners require of us.' The next meeting of the budget committee is June 11.
