Unfinished Apartment Buildings on Baseline and Clyde
Myfanwy Davies of Ottawa writes that she hears daily about the need for more housing for seniors, low-income families, and refugees. Twice a week she drives by the shell of two apartment buildings at the corner of Baseline and Clyde Avenues, which have seen little progress in the last five years. She suggests the City of Ottawa, the Province of Ontario, or the Federal Government—or better yet, all three—should take over the building to finish it and help those in need.
Feeling Betrayed by the Tkachuk Trade
Brian Clark of Barrhaven expresses a sense of betrayal over the Brady Tkachuk trade. He notes that both Tkachuk and the Senators brass insisted rumors were just rumors and that Tkachuk was committed to the city, team, and fans. The trade, which brought four draft picks, leaves Clark wondering how this makes the team better given the strength of the Eastern Conference.
City Spending Priorities Questioned
Maureen Yates of Ottawa questions why the city invests in new projects while letting existing buildings fall into disrepair. She points to the additional $11.5 million for the new library while outdoor recreational facilities, parks, and pools continue to crumble. She asks who is making these decisions at City Hall and calls for better balance and stewardship from Council.
AI Discussion at Art House Cafe
Douglas Cornish of Ottawa responds to a recent article about Art House Cafe cancelling an AI meetup. He suggests that while the idea was well-meaning, the cafe was an unusual venue for discussing artificial intelligence. He notes that AI will affect the creative process but argues such discussions might be better held in a university or computer lab. He points out that the word 'art' is part of 'artificial', but many in the creative community see artificial as imitation or counterfeit. He quotes John McCarthy, who founded the term 'Artificial Intelligence', saying, 'The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.' Cornish proposes viewing the letter A in AI as 'alternative' rather than 'artificial'. He also quotes Marvin Minsky, the father of AI, who asked, 'Will robots inherit the earth? Yes, but they will be our children.'
