Ken Mann
3/7/2013
A funding request from Supercrawl has set off fireworks during the latest budget meeting at City Hall.
The General Issues Committee, in a tie vote of 5-5 which pitted urban politicians against their suburban counterparts, has rejected the popular James Street North festival's request for a 125 thousand dollar grant. That's more than double last year's 60 thousand dollar request.
What is upsetting surburban councillors like Stoney Creek's Maria Pearson is that Supercrawl isn't following the same grants process as every other festival and event. She argues that you can't "just come out and slap 125 thousand dollars on the table" without meeting the same set of criteria.
Ancaster's Lloyd Ferguson agrees, adding that Supercrawl isn't providing statements, their mission, vision and values or meeting the required timeline. He calls the request "reckless".
Ward 2's Jason Farr counters that Supercrawl is an investment in the revitalization of the downtown core while adding that it plans to follow the grants process in future years.
The funding rejection by the General Issues Committee does have a strong chance of being overturned when it comes up for a final vote at City Council.
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