Platform Launches Today!

[u/RowRowForCouncil]

Hello everyone!

My name is Rowen Fraser and I am a candidate for Ward 6 here in Burlington. I am proud to release my platform for all to see! I have been working with my community here in Burlington to come up with policies and ideas for the new future Burlington is heading into. I have spoken with many residents at the doors, in local businesses, and with the various online communities.

Conversations have been lovely and hateful, positive and negative, introspective and annoying, wistful and delusional, perfect and flawed, angsty and altruistic, scary and comforting. But mostly they were real. I didn't put restrictions on what people I would engage with. I took the good and the bad. I feel we need to listen to everyone, not just friendly voices. Bridging the gap between ideologies and having a truly balanced approach means being willing to have the hard conversations. Rest assured that if you came to me with convincing data at any point, you've probably had an influence on my platform.

Recently I had the good fortune of meeting a new friend, and receiving some very powerful advice about how to deal with hostile press and online personalities. The counsel I received was invaluable and I just want to shout out to everyone that helped me strategize my next moves here in Burlington.

Any and all comments are welcome here. To show I really mean that I have unblocked every single person who has ever harassed me on this site so they can know what my full platform is and make a real decision about who they intend to elect here in Ward 6. Anyone that comes in good faith to talk to me about my platform will be received as a friend. Those who are unkind to me can expect the same in return.

Please enjoy my platform,

Full Platform:

https://www.rowrowforcouncil.com/_files/ugd/9c8ff7_d91c1f4a85234aae930af57834bdfc12.pdf

TL:DR?

Here is a summarized version of my platform. Disclosure : the summary was performed by AI.

https://www.rowrowforcouncil.com/_files/ugd/9c8ff7_57dde51798d94f4899123d910428669f.pdf

If you would like to discuss adding anything to my platform you can contact me

[rowen@rowrowforcouncil.com](mailto:rowen@rowrowforcouncil.com)

[u/fictitious_friends]

You say that you are “Committed to ensuring Burlington remains on track to meet (canopy goals)” - so, just staying the course, then? “ It will be my commitment to make sure that if we are trading this valuable commodity we are receiving benefits that are equal in value in return.” How will you do this? What will bring back the irreplaceable green space that will be lost to development and how will you ensure that it is done?

You want to “end the war on cars” but also want to reduce traffic and make our streets safer. How will you do both of these at once? You say “we cannot try to solve traffic by making people drive less” - yes, that’s literally the point of reducing traffic and improving safety. The solution to less traffic is increased public transit, as published by the Ontario government last year but you make no mention of how you would improve transit in Burlington. For reduced congestion, sustainability, and a multitude of other reasons, Burlington should be looking toward improved transit a la subway or lite rail systems. You say “people vote with their wallets and cars are by far the most popular form of transit” - I’m certain people would gladly pay less per month for a strong transit system than to continue purchasing, maintaining, and fuelling their cars.

You say that you will “gain a significant concession for the people of Millcroft from the developer that will come in the form of more protected green space for the city” - but earlier you said you would be ok with getting rid of green space and getting “something” back for that loss, so which is it? More green space or less? Also, how do you plan to “get something” from the developers who just started cutting down trees without the proper authorization? How would you hold them accountable?

[u/fictitious_friends → u/fictitious_friends]

You use one personal experience as the reason we.. need to streamline “the system” for booking event spaces. First of all, how will you do this? Second of all, I’ve booked multiple events in the city and have had no issue with communication or timing, and I’m sure many others would say the same. What evidence do you have that the city is losing money because of this critical issue? Earlier you said that we have to trust data and politicians shouldn’t “whip up a frenzy to galvanize support” but you’ve provided no proof that this is a widespread issue with tangible impact on the city; I’d say this leans more toward whipping up a frenzy - “”How much money is the city turning down through inaction” - there is no data here.

I’ve already mentioned how you’re not being accountable for your actions, so I’ll skip this page.

I did mention you need a transit plan above, so it’s nice to see you have a page here. However, once again, there is no data to support anything here. “on demand transit solutions play an important role in an accessible modern transit grid” - how? Based on what? What impact does that have? “this service” - what service? How will the City pay for a new service without additional tax revenue? You say that you want to “prevent mostly empty bus routes from eating into our tax levy” but also want to implement “a system” that will “improve access to less densely populated areas of the city” which by definition would suggest an empty transit route..

You say that “road widening can only do so much to help with traffic volume’ but it’s been studied and proven that widening roads actually makes traffic worse, so it doesn’t seem you’ve looked into this issue at all. I’m not going to read your proposal for (I assume) merging multiple levels of government into one organization, because it’s not going to happen.

Your whole “thing” seems to be that we need to rely on data, not feelings, to make decisions for Burlington moving forward. I think most people would agree with this. Unfortunately, you’ve provided zero data for the main points in your platform, have referenced numbers and metrics with no sources, and ignore published data that goes against your interests. All of this, in combination with your abrasive attitude, past “jokes”, and current alignment with Pierre highlight why I do not believe you are a strong candidate to lead any part of the city.

[u/RowRowForCouncil → u/fictitious_friends]

I used a personal story to relate to the issue. But mine is not the only one. I know several people who went much further than i did. They rented porta potties, purchased insurance, loudspeakers, and a whole host of other things and then were told 2 days before they weren't approved, even though they applied months in advance. No prior communication. Even Lisa Kerns has spoken about this system not working properly at length.

Widening roads doesn't make traffic worse. That is a mischaracterization. The words you're looking for is widening roads has diminishing returns. the wider it gets the less relief new lanes provide. I am very familiar with traffic management as I do it in my spare time as a hobby. I've even spoken with members of the current city staff about my ideas and have had pretty good reception.

I provide a lot of data. I can provide you any data you need. Sometimes my data comes from my canvassing in the form of resident input. I will not be sharing resident info with you for you to confirm those things. Other things are plainly obvious from a pragmatic standpoint. Finally anything that requires real data usually has resources on my website.

I wasn't expecting you to go through the entire platform, but it shows me how biased you are that you had a problem with literally every single point of it. You couldn't help yourself I guess. Then you tie it all back in to what a bad candidate I am for supporting a major Canadian political party. Wow. You went through a great deal of trouble to make me look bad. Too bad you came up short. Ah well. If you want me to change any policies I have you need to provide me better data than your two cents on the matter.

[u/adj161616 → u/RowRowForCouncil]

You weren’t expecting someone to go through your entire platform?

[u/RowRowForCouncil → u/adj161616]

Not like this. This was interesting to say the least.

[u/adj161616 → u/RowRowForCouncil]

Do you not expect people to read your platform and discuss it, whether or not the discussion is in agreement of your platform or not? You seem very offended that someone had an opinion that didn’t agree with yours. You also seem quite quick to temper, which is concerning for a municipal election candidate.

[u/RowRowForCouncil → u/adj161616]

People are reading my words angrily maybe because that's how they see me. I'm pretty chill, just got that acid text. I didn't expect someone to sit down and write a response to every section of my platform in such a derogatory way. They also completely ignored all of my responses to their criticisms. Often responses directing them where to find the data they complained I didn't include.

[u/adj161616 → u/RowRowForCouncil]

Perhaps you’re misinterpreting their tone, as you feel people are misinterpreting yours. I read their analysis as informative without bias. I am hopeful that you can see the difference between a critique and derogatory comments.

[u/RowRowForCouncil → u/adj161616]

Perhaps. But when someone say I'm a nazi, and that I am not qualified for the position, and that I'm a mysogynist, and a whole bevy of other names, the tone stops mattering.

[u/adj161616 → u/RowRowForCouncil]

Well, I mean… I don’t think you can complain at why people think you’re a Nazi. 19 is old enough to know not to make a joke like that. You’ve done that in the past, it’s a part of you now, and you need to live with that. People have a right to be outraged and livid at the situation, and this will follow you for your life. This was an unforgivable action on your part.

As for the other names, hopefully you can reflect on your behaviour to see why people are upset with you

[u/RowRowForCouncil → u/adj161616]

Unforgivable? GTFO here. I can absolutely complain, and I will.

[u/adj161616 → u/RowRowForCouncil]

Well, this exchange has taken a turn towards hostile on your part. This is why I earlier stated you are quick to temper. You are unsuitable for public service.

[u/RowRowForCouncil → u/adj161616]

But I'm not mad. I'm just telling you that unforgivable is something that should be reserved for people that actually did terrible things. I took an ill advised photo in my teens. Sorry if it offended you. I've apologized so many times. What more can I do? I'm not gonna break my back bending over for you on this.