Mixed-use developments and affordable housing

[tomh009]

Is this a case of NIMBY vs. hey I live here and pay taxes and as such I want to have a voice in what gets done with this development?  What's wrong with speaking up?  Why is it categorized as negative unless it fits a certain ideal?  Would you not want to have a voice in your neighborhood (as we often do here)?

I tend to see it mostly as venting, especially when it's coming from individuals rather than organized neighbourhood groups backed by some sort of expertise.  The powers must allow people to "have there say", but not all are equally effective in influencing the decision-making process.

And as one of the Kitchener city council candidates told me today, the council really should do what's right, not necessarily what's most popular. We have a representative democracy, and we elect the representatives to make good decisions for us, not to just read opinion polls.