April
17th 2012, the 30th Anniversary of a great
document, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We in Canada did not
have to survive the bloodshed of a revolution to enable us to prepare
such a document as our neighbours the Americans had to with their
Constitution. Canada had developed and grown for many decades prior
to the drafting of a document that guarantees all Canadians
regardless of race, religion, gender or even place of origin the
identical rights and freedoms.
To
commemorate this great document this article raises hard questions on
how such a set of circumstances could possibly evolve in Canada.
In
Toronto a City Councillor had been angered by individuals who are
able to side step a law that everybody has to obey, it is in relation
to illegal parking. Vehicles without plates cannot be ticketed and
Councillor Frances Nunziata believes that these vehicles should
simply be towed. As owners of vehicles we all know that we have to
obey certain parking laws. We cannot simply stop our vehicle where
we decide regardless if it is an old clunker or a Ferrari. True as
human beings we are somewhat risk takers, if you need confirmation of
this point just think of election day, for whatever reason we will
park where we should not on occasion. We hurry and hope that the
dreaded 'bomber' doesn't leave a gift on our wind shield.
To
become a licensed driver in Ontario each must pass a test, know the
various laws and be able to read what the road signs mean. Dare I
say it is the same in every province of this country even Quebec,
though the reading part may be a challenge to some of us. Still the
government, on its various levels, does like the fact that so many of
us challenge the scales of chance, taking the risk and having to pay
for it. After all various road repair budgets would otherwise remain
rather thin, not to mention how many jobs would be left unnecessary
such as the Parking Patrol Officers.
These
individuals who chose to wear the uniform of a Parking Patrol Officer
do not take their job and authority lightly. All of the enforcement
officers are governed by the Ontario Police Services Act. Each one
not only wears a uniform, but is expected under law to enforce the
rules equally and fairly. If you were to talk to a parking
enforcement officer you would hear stories both wild and alarming.
Some have faced anger and even the threat of violence. Others have
been offered all kinds of bribes, or should we call them gifts. We
have even heard of the wild rumours of quotas and the need to fulfil
at all cost. One thing is common to all, whether from Toronto,
Hamilton or St. Catharines or for that matter any part of the
province, each Parking Authority By-Law Enforcement Officer swears an
oath and is responsible for the fair and equitable enforcement of our
parking laws.
Now
I have to ask you can it be possible to park illegally for over five
years, with full intent and purpose to break the law and never be
ticketed? Mind you I am not
talking about random locations but exactly at the same location each
time, and almost every day. At times leaving the vehicle locked,
parked illegally and disappearing to the cottage or wherever. You
will say that it is impossible, maybe even remembering how many
parking tickets you have had to pay in those five years.
Ezra
Levant who on behalf of our fearless oil developer Prime Minister
Stephen Harper claimed in his tome 'Ethical
Oil' that Canada is a
country of equality. Indeed
we do have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that supposedly
guarantees equality for all Canadians before and under the law. It
does not stipulate that it applies only to the big laws but to all
laws.
Realistically we know that there are people who are more equal than
others, it is called an overabundance of dollars or the right
connections. For that reason we have a judicial system of fair and
impartial judges and magistrates and so on. Ezra Levant stressed
that here in Canada we have equality that extends to women, children
and all Canadians more so than in other countries. Well I am about
to prove to Ezra Levant, Prime Minister Harper, his ministers Kent,
Oliver and to you that here in St. Catharines, in at least this
situation, that equality is an absolute lie! Don't get me wrong I am
very proud of my country and for that reason this has to be made
public and questions raised, how was this possible?
What you are about to see rates
right up there in the Ripley's Believe It Or Not files or maybe even
the X-Files, and the truth really is out there. One individual, oh
and his wife (heck don't forget our equality of women) decided to
intentionally break the law, day after day for over five years. This
individual and his wife did not care if they put innocent victims at
risk with their acts. They did not care if they put their neighbours
at risk, nor did they care for the laws that govern all of us
equally.
Their address was 51 Almond Street,
St. Catharines, in the Merritton Ward, at the intersection of
Glendale Avenue and Almond Street and I do mean right at the
intersection. Glendale Avenue is a busy major road in this part of
town, leading to the highway, the Welland Canal and the Locks and the
amazing shopping mecca the Pen Centre. More alarming was the fact
that an elected City of St. Catharines Councillor Shiela Morra lived
across the road, literally that is, on Glendale Avenue and was a
personal friend of the Reiters. Mind you Shiela Morra a City of St.
Catharines Councillor, one of two for the Merritton Ward must not of
shared the sentiments of the Toronto Councillor. In addition to Mrs.
Morra living across the road, the City of St. Catharines was aware of
the actions by the Reiters, from the Mayor through to City Solicitor,
Parking Authority and even the Niagara Regional Police Service. Oh
and not to forget the second Merritton Ward City of St. Catharines
Councillor Jennie Stevens, she was also aware of the situation. Now
you have all met Councillor Jennie Stevens in the pages of Mayorgate
and the now famous telephone answering machine message, though that
came later.
As all the official people of the
City of St. Catharines were made aware of this so was the local press, in the form of The Standard
newspaper and reporter Marlene Bergsma. Again you have met The
Standard's reporter Marlene Bergsma in the pages of Mayorgate.
How can this be possible, and I
would challenge anyone who reads this for an explanation. More than
500 photographs had been taken and sent to city officials and the
police. As we all know in any city, town or village the police
ticket those who decide to break the law and park illegally. A small
number of the photographs are posted here, but all are available for
anyone to view on Google+.
The chronology begins in 2003 with
the first photos taken, and continued through to 2010. This
intersection at Glendale Avenue and Almond Street was a difficult
one, with Glendale being a busy major road and yet the intersection
on a curve in part, a blind one. No proper signs, with the stop sign
some 20 feet down from the intersection. John Reiter and his wife
Linda would park their vehicles on the curve making it more difficult
for cars to enter Glendale Avenue from Almond Street. Reiter worked
at the time for Hardale Properties and drove a white extended F150
van with a large trailer attached for his ride-on mowers and other
equipment. On one occasion a young woman in a small vehicle unable
to see on-coming traffic, because of the van and trailer, almost
collided with a dump truck. That was the beginning of hell and abuse
of public safety that can only astonish. The first photos here show
the intersection and the vehicles parked. As the photos were taken
Reiter called the police. An NRP (Niagara Regional Police) officer
came. He told us that he knew this guy was an ass but that he had no
laws to enforce here. Probably because this officer was unfamiliar
with the official drivers handbook and rules regarding parking on a
curve. The officer told us to get the law changed and he would
enforce them. Wow get the laws changed, how could we do that. So we
wrote the City, Niagara Region and provincial representatives.
As luck would have it 2003 was an
election year, and we all know politicians, they'll do anything at
election time. With great surprise only days before the October
election we were notified by the mayor at that time Tim Rigby that a
no parking sign would be erected and the stop sign moved to the
corner. A day before the election we even had a visit from Regional
Councillor Jamie Almas who told us this had to be the second worst
intersection in St. Catharines, as a potential risk for an accident.
On election day 2003, a no parking
sign was erected. It only affected the front yard of 53 Almond
Street, not that of Reiter or his house. It was to provide safety to
the corner and no more. We thought that would be all that was
needed, but oh how wrong we were. It was the beginning to insanity
that lasted years. Reiter arrived home, parked his truck half way
across the sign, laughed and spat, and from that day on was never
legal again.
As it has been said in the opening,
we all know how it can be, no available parking spot, you are in a
hurry and you decide to take a chance. Here one individual and his
wife, in front of their own home with a large parking area in the
back, intentionally parked their vehicles day after day for years and
could not care for the safety of innocent people. The City, law
enforcement did nothing. How is this possible? Look at the photos
and the information and answer this for yourself.
Each
day John Reiter would park his truck, many times with the trailer
attached illegally with full intent. That NRP officer only another
liar as we came to prove. I began to photograph and record reach
day. John Reiter saw me photograph the illegally parked Hardale
truck and as I walked back to my porch he laughed and said, “take all the pictures you want, ha ha ha.”
I
recoded Reiter and his contempt then took his advise and photographed
for over six years. Sheila Morra, a city councillor lived across the
road and watched. Neighbours watched, some shook their heads, others
didn't even bother to do that. I wrote Sheila Morra, (not knowing at
the time she lived across the road), at the Merritton Matters
Newsletter. No response, no reply. I wrote Mayor Tim Rigby sending
copies of photographs of the intentional illegal parking. Reiter
then called the police.
The
NRP officers who came were beyond belief. One could not understand
what was the big deal with the fact that Reiter and his wife parked
illegally. At
the time Mayor Tim Rigby responded with this, “We
cannot post a Parking Enforcement Officer permanently on Almond
Street.” It
would appear that an elected councillor living across the road and
the roving parking enforcement patrols were not enough. Mayor
Rigby went on to say “As
I indicated in the past, calls will be addressed according
to officer discretion.” What
the hell did that mean? How foolish of anyone to think that the law
was in fact enforced equally to all and not simply at an “officer
discretion.”
Now
more than two years have passed the intentional illegal parking by
John Reiter and his wife Linda continued. Several hundred
photographs collected. Every attempt to get help that was possible
had been tried. There were times when the work truck owned by
Hardale Properties would be parked illegally and left for several
days in the same position. The law didn't matter to John Reiter nor
his wife Linda, nor the potential safety of innocent individuals who
used this corner. The Manager of Transportation Services, Kris
Jacobson advised Mayor Tim Rigby “that
the parking of vehicles in this area creates a sight obstruction for
motorists using the intersection.”
Yet the insanity continued.
We
continued to photograph believing that in the end somehow the
evidence gathered would be overwhelming. John Reiter then called the
NRP again. The uniformed cops who came were recorded by me. What
they said can make you laugh at the insane words and attitudes of
these bastions of law enforcement. This is a quote from one such
officer “...the
parking is to find out what precedent has been set in St. Catharines
court as to what constitutes an offence.” Wow!
I guess a sign on the street is not enough. Now this, “And
we have now started to receive calls from him now that he is
complaining being harassed by a, by constant attention from the
neighbours so we have to be fair to everybody.”
What
a wonderful and fair human being in uniform this was! It's true the
cop really said this, I have the tape!
It
went on, “so
what we're saying is we may not be able to respond to each and every
parking complaint that comes our way because we have to direct our
resources elsewhere and now the next door neighbour is starting to
complain that he is being criminally harassed by this constant
attention, he may have something there, he may and in which case ah,
we would definitely be required to investigate those complaints so we
may be knocking on the door and say, listen he is complaining of this
now.”
Here
it is, law enforcement NRP style! The guy who breaks the law
intentionally almost every day is the one who complains of harassment
when he is recorded breaking the law. Hundreds of photos didn't
matter to these cops.
The
insanity continued daily, then on Sunday the 30th
of October 2005 an illegally parked red Chevrolet Z24 plate#AWNX 900
was ticketed by the Parking Authority. Reiter came out of his house,
took the parking ticket off the windshield and walked up and down
Almond Street waving it in the air and laughing.
The municipal elections of 2006
brought a change, Mayor Rigby was no longer the mayor and Sheila
Morra no longer a Merritton Councillor. Morra continued to live
across the road and the association with the Reiters continued.
Councillor Jennie Stevens was returned to council, though she never
returned to find out if the law was being broken continually, no
attempt at contact by me received a response. All remained the same,
day in and day out the Reiters broke the law. Calling Parking
Authority was useless. The NRP threatened my wife and I that if we
continued to take photos of the illegal acts that we would be charged
with criminal harassment. We continued to take photographs, hundreds
of them.
Glendale Avenue was being ripped up
and resurfaced with new sewers being placed. Our corner of Almond
Street at Glendale Avenue was being completely changed. With all the
road work which included Almond Street the safety issue became more
serious. Reiter did not give a damn. As you look at the photographs
only shock can be felt. One photo shows a police patrol passing as
the Hardale Properties truck was parked completely illegally.
Reiter's contempt for the law, for his neighbours' safety was beyond
belief. Yet it was difficult to understand why Reiter would do this.
Why would his wife do this? No sane explanation could be found then
nor can it be discussed today.
Although Sheila Morra had lost the
2005 election, she and her family still lived across the road on
Glendale Avenue and continued their association with the Reiters.
May 2007 brought a new twist to the whole insanity. I had delivered
flyers in my neighbourhood for The Standard, fantastic exercise and
greatly beneficial for my health. Except that I had realized I was
being followed. I knew the vehicle, it was a blue Pontiac van
belonging to Anthony (Tony) Morra and Shiela Morra. There was no
understanding of any kind why this would be happening. Why would the
husband of an ex-City of St. Catharines Councillor be stalking me. I
intentionally went a long way out of my normal route. Morra followed
me and parked, and disappeared out of his vehicle. It was early in
the morning on a Saturday and no stores were open. I had called
friends who came as witnesses who also knew the Morras through their
church. Anthony Morra's car was photographed yet no sign of him to
be seen.
I called the police, the rest a
farce of corrupt action and lies, later to be proven as no surprise
in relation to the Niagara Regional Police Service. The record of
the situation as the filed Incident Report was something to behold.
Anthony Morra admitted to the stalking and lied. My supervisor at
the time provided the information that Tony Morra lied, the NRP
ignored that. My computer print-outs that listed all my deliveries
were not even looked at by the constable that proved Anthony Morra
lied. The last sentence by Constable Christophe McLeod a total lie!
Canada's Criminal Code states stalking a serious offence. Anthony
Morra, husband of Sheila Morra ex-City of
St. Catharines Councillor admitted to stalking, lied to police and
walked away without consequence. Clear evidence was ignored by the
Niagara Regional Police, including a statement by a supervisor at The
Standard to further prove that Anthony Morra lied. Anthony Morra an
admitted stalker, who followed and watched a total stranger for his
own sick reasons walked away from any consequence. No attempts at
getting help worked. The management at The Standard said that my
safety was my own responsibility as it was not The Standard that was
harassed or stalked. Yep they actually put that in writing, simply
look at it!
John
Reiter and his wife Linda Reiter continued to break the law each day
without care, with full contempt for what we as equal citizens would
consider to be a guarantee under the Charter of Rights. On the 1st
of October in 2006 a vehicle belonging to a family member of Reiter's
neighbour was ticketed by the NRP. This vehicle was in exactly the
same position as Reiter had been, hundreds, literally hundreds of
times illegally and never ticketed. The insane words by those NRP
officers who had threatened us to stop photographing Reiter now were
to be seen for what they were. An NRP officer had ticketed an
illegally parked vehicle in exactly the position that hundreds of
photographs showed Reiter park his work truck, or his wife Linda
Reiter the family van. John Rieter came home and laughed with his
comment “nice
neighbours eh.” He
was not ticketed.
Our Charter of Rights guarantees
equality before and under the law. Equality of law does not exist
here in St. Catharines, only corruption of law and there has been
enough evidence to support that statement through the pages of
Mayorgate.
Reiter and his family moved out of
the house but retained ownership and rented it out. Now several
vehicles on a number of separate occasions were ticketed for illegal
parking. Those vehicles were parked illegally in the same fashion as
John Reiter had parked the Hardale Properties truck, though all were
private vehicles without trailers attached loaded with wood. One
small work truck was ticketed by a St. Catharines Parking Authority
Officer Badge #202. This is the same parking patrol officer who on
May 1st 2005 came out as the Hardale
Properties truck was parked illegally overnight with no vehicles in
front of it. Officer Badge #202 came over and stood bent over and
spoke with John Reiter quietly, and was about to leave. I came out
with my tape recorder held high and tried to ask questions why was he
not ticketed or not told to move the truck. Badge #202 is incredible to listen to, he in fact said that it had to be 50% over to be
illegal! Yes that is what Parking Authority Officer Badge #202 said.
In an article on February 2nd 2008 in The Standard, Parking Patrol Officer Les Welgan was interviewed by reporter Samantha Craggs. According to reporter Craggs, Les Welgan carries this in his pocket, a white card with these words: “The City of St. Catharines prohibits the practice of allowing provincial offences officers to cancel parking tickets. This policy is required to ensure uniform application of municipal parking bylaws.” Welgan is further quoted saying “We're not the enemy out here. We just want people to obey the rules.” Hypocrisy and lies. Maybe Weglan should speak to Badge #202.
Both the Niagara Regional Police
and the St. Catharines Parking Authority ticketed illegally parked
vehicles on the very same physical location where John and Linda
Reiter parked illegally. John and Linda were never ticketed, why?
The Charter of Rights guarantees equality, in fact no parking ticket
issued in St. Catharines during these years was a legal fine. How
did John Reiter park illegally day after day for more than five years
without even one parking ticket issued? He parked his white Hardale
Properties truck illegally and left town for up to five days on more
than one occasion. Was it who he worked for? Hardale Properties and
Metro have the same owner, Hardale Properties' President is listed as
John Cappellazzo and Metro's President and Board Member is listed as
John Cappellazzo, it is a Metro van that John Reiter has been driving
for several years. On December 6th 2009 after moving out
of his house at 51 Almond Street, Reiter parked illegally the Metro
van for several hours almost 100% illegal with no vehicles in front
of him. Why? What was the reason for John Reiter to do this even
though he no longer lived here? Who did John Reiter need to show off
to that he did as he pleased with the law? Was it John Cappellazzo
who gave him permission to do as he pleases?
On four separate occasions in 2009:
March 26, March 29, April 22 and May 8, the St. Catharines Parking
Authority ticketed vehicles that were illegally parked in exactly the
same position as the Reiter's work truck or private vehicle. On April
7th 2010, Badge #202 of the Parking Authority ticketed a
small work truck with a trailer. Why were no tickets issued to John
Reiter or wife Linda Reiter? Both John and Linda Reiter parked
illegally for over five years and all the necessary authorities had
been notified. Literally hundreds of photographs documenting the
fact were provided. Look at the parking authority officers role in
ticketing an illegal vehicle, they in fact take a photo of the
illegally parked vehicle. What more could be provided as evidence of
complete contempt for the law by both John Reiter and his wife Linda
Reiter.
The City of St. Catharines Parking
Authority were aware of what was happening. Both Mayor Tim Rigby and
current Mayor Brian McMullan were aware of this. City Councillors
Sheila Morra and Jennie Stevens were aware. Niagara Regional Police
from Chief Wendy Southall and down were aware, in fact they stood in
uniform on our porch and threatened us with criminal harassment
charges if we continued to photograph the Reiters breaking the law.
Meeting John Reiter one would know it is not charm and personality
nor good looks that let him get away with such contempt for the law
and for the safety of others. Corruption? A nasty word true, but
breaking the law without any consequence, in public for over five
years and almost daily? How many tickets have you paid in these
years? Under the Charter of Rights, which also guarantees equality
for all Canadians those tickets were illegal. If John Reiter and
wife Linda Reiter were permitted to break the law daily by a
municipal government, a Mayor and a regional police force then it
stands to reason no Canadian should be liable.
Now that's a thought, all you need is a lawyer with some b....!
Mayor McMullan of St. Catharines
used his spokesperson Andrew Gill during the 2010 Municipal Election
to attack a mayoral candidate for using the words “corruption at
city hall.” At that time Councillor Gill publicly demanded an
apology from the candidate. Maybe Mayor Brian McMullan would try
that tactic now. I as the author and publisher of Mayorgate will not
apologize for publishing facts. Corruption is the only answer as to
how a thug was able to break the law daily with full intent and
contempt and never face any consequences.
It may be that in Canada we did not
struggle to develop the ideals of equality, we simply drafted a piece
of paper. We take a great deal for granted in this country and what
is frightening none of the words of our Charter of Rights are a true
guarantee. Canadian men and women, wearing proudly the uniforms of
the military forces have sacrificed their precious lives in foreign
lands to instill the foundation of equality and rights of the
individual. Here we let John and Linda Reiter spit on the very
essence of that sacrifice. Each and every member of the government
of St. Catharines, each and every member of the Parking Authority and
each and every member of the Niagara Regional Police Service are
equally responsible!
P.S.:
This is the first time
Mayorgate has found a reason for a post script to an article
published only days prior. As documented John
Reiter and his wife abused the law at will for over five years
without consequence.
Today this gem became available as further proof of the contempt for
law this individual has. Our star came in his private vehicle and
without concern did exactly what he had done for 5 years plus. His
house has a large vacant parking area off Chestnut Lane. No reason
to do this and no acceptable explanation. Was it difficult for John
Reiter to park his vehicle in his own vacant parking area? If there
were not over 500 photographs spanning almost 6 years of intentional
abuse by John Reiter, then maybe whatever excuse he would spit out
would be acceptable.
Send comments to: demtruth@gmail.com
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