Burlington serves up food and conversation at annual civic event

The City of Burlington heard from residents, gathering feedback on local projects and initiatives.

The annual event, called Food for Feedback, invited residents to share their thoughts with city councillors and the mayor in exchange for some free food.

The free food was a bonus, but it was also an opportunity for Burlington residents to have their say.

“We are asking them about transportation, we are asking them about their health and wellness. What is quality of life to them? And what can we do to ensure that we make sure we meet those needs of the community,” said Stephnaie Venimore, city manager for Burlington.

And people had their opinions. Taxes, transit, housing and accessibility were just some of the topics on residents’ minds.

“Keep the taxes low. Why do the taxes keep on going up every year? When they say 3 per cent but really it’s 6 per cent. They’ve gotta cut it, keep it low because people are struggling,” said a Burlington resident.

The City of Burlington also wanted to hear from the younger generation and what they have to say.

“Cities have to be safe so there’s less crime and less robberies. There has to be more safe and better transportation, so trains, cars. Eventually cars will be electric so that will have a positive impact on the environment,” said one boy.

“I think affordability is an issue and it’s been growing in Burlington, so that is one of the factors that caused people to use the food banks,” said another resident.

And if you live in Burlington, you may have an opinion on traffic.

“I’ve been living here for 20 years and it’s an excellent place to live, but we can’t handle the traffic anymore. It’s getting to be too much,” said one long-term resident.

“[Traffic] is the number one issue other than parks and green space, which is also a really good issue. People are concerned. There is a lot more traffic and congestion on our streets. We are trying to address that through a whole range of measures, including better transit,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.

And if you were not able to come out to the event today, you can always reach out to the city directly, the mayor’s officer or your local councillor.

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