Waterfront visions: near and far sighted

The Hamilton Spectator announces its seven-part series on the Hamilton Harbour. Just one year ago, this harbour was considered the most hopelessly contaminated site on Lake Ontario:

When Robert Kennedy Jr. was in town last year, he spoke, with great passion, about the birthright enjoyed by every person who has the great fortune of living near a body of water.

"Every child in Hamilton has the right to throw a fishhook into the harbour, pull out a fish and feed it to their family without fear it's going to make them sick," Kennedy said. "That right has been taken away from the children of Hamilton.

Truthfully, I hadn't thought of it in exactly that context before Kennedy's visit but, of course, he's right. But with one proviso, I'd argue. That birthright was not taken away from us, we gave it away with both hands."

Nearsighted waterfront visions

The proposed expansion of the Toronto Island Airport sparks controversy: With City approval for the airport, bigger and better development may lead to a fractured, unhealthy community pundits say. Some recent coverage:

Waterfront vision is now torn to shreds - Toronto Star
"Has the gap between the people who run this city and those who inhabit it ever been so vast?"

Planes, trains and urban insanity - Globe and Mail
Anybody interested in their children's health or their own well-being will want to sell their waterfront properties -- in the Beaches, Harbourfront and Etobicoke as well as communities beyond -- or face physical consequences.