🏨 How to Build a Healthy Community for Everyone

Gil Penalosa, named by Planetizen in 2017 as "One of the World's 100 Most Influential Urbanists," was in Windsor this past week. Mr. Penalosa is an excellent public speaker who advises decision makers and municipalities on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone. While he was in town, he made a guest appearance on the weekly Rose City Politics podcast.

"Where we set up the schools, the hospitals, the libraries, everything has to be about be about city building ... especially everything that is public should be placed on the ideal location in order to have quality of life for everyone."

On the March 11, 2020 show, he shared his thoughts about the proposed location of our new hospital -- and he didn't mince his words!

To listen to the very informative discussion on a variety of topical local issues -- ranging from school amalgamation, to road safety, to the broader impacts of the location of the new hospital -- click the Rose City Politics icon above. We thought the sections from 19-21 and 38-44 minute marks were especially relevant.

About Gil Penalosa Gil is the founder and chair of the Toronto-based non-profit 8 80 Cities. He is also the president of Gil Penalosa & Associates. He holds an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management, where he was selected as one of the "100 Most Inspirational Alumni" in the school's history. Gil received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Urban Planning at the University of Sweden, SLU in 2015.

On preventing disease through community design  --  Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2017: Designing Healthy Living, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam "Improving public health and preventing disease through changes to our environment is a well-founded concept. For example, infectious disease rates in the last century were reduced not just through scientific innovation and vaccination, but also through infrastructure planning by improving sanitation and addressing overcrowding in residential neighbourhoods. This report answers many questions but also raises several others. We need better information if we are to measure the health impacts of community design to incorporate evidence-based strategies into community planning. This report will raise awareness among Canadians about the unique aspects of their communities that they could take advantage of to improve their health. It will also encourage more dialogue across the many disciplines involved in community planning and health promotion so that neighbourhood design considers and promotes physical activity, healthy diets and mental wellness."

What is urban sprawl?  "Urban sprawl refers to urban areas expanding beyond their core, often into rural areas to form suburbs. This frequently results in different land use design than in urban centres, a lack of diversity in land use across suburbs and the need for more roads and infrastructure." --  Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2017: Designing Healthy Living, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam

Help us reach our $100,000 fundraising target Thank you to the hundreds of individual donors who have helped raise $87,500 to pay our legal bills since February 2, 2019! Those of you who don't have much money to spare still contributed what you could - every dollar makes an important difference. We're also grateful to the thousands of residents who continue to donate their time and resources to CAMPP. You're all so critical to fighting the City of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital's misguided plans for our future. But the fight's not over yet. We still need your support: On December 18, 2019, we announced our intention to appeal the LPAT ruling. 100% of donations go directly to paying our legal bills. Every contribution counts, no matter how small or large. If you believe in responsibly planned and maintained communities, please help us reach our $100,000 fundraising target:

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In their own words: Members of our community continue to comment on the issues

"It reminds me of the saying When you find a turtle on a fence post, it didn't get there by itself."

"Opposing bad/greed based/environmentally destructive/exploitive ideas is a primary responsibility of all citizens."

"I want healthcare to have 10 times more than education. I want healthcare to have every penny. I just want them spent in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY. With the best plan. The most well thought out, environmentally and socially just, plan. I want my hard earned money to be spent transparently and I want the best experts consulted and the voices of the tax payers heard. I want a good investment. And there are just too many problems in this current plan to risk wasting billions of OUR money."

"I believe this mega-hospital will also have an impact on climate change at the current location. The hospital won’t be accessible and forcing people to drive in their cars adding to vehicle pollution."

"The people making those decisions appear to be self serving …to say the least. "

"O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"

"Has anyone apprised our local media of this analysis? They would probably be too chicken to touch it, but they should be made aware anyway."

"they look after one another and you see them move to Board positions and jobs at university , at the hospital . enwin etc ---- it is very predictable."

"Lives literally depend on the execution of this plan. We deserve the BEST. The evidence is there that show that we don't currently have that yet."

Thank you for your