A land development consortium is suing two Markham politicians for using their $100 million farm as a “political backdrop” for a proposal to permanently freeze development on prime food lands to the north, an issue narrowly defeated by council last week.
“The defendants deliberately trespassed knowing they did not have permission,” says a statement of claim filed last week against Markham councillors Erin Shapero and Valerie Burke seeking $60,000 in damages from each.
The suit alleges Shapero and Burke were politically posturing when they posed for media photos and video on a 205-acre farm owned by Upper Unionville Inc., because they knew the land was not located on the proposed “food belt.”
“The defendants deliberately trespassed knowing they did not have permission,” says a statement of claim filed last week against Markham councillors Erin Shapero and Valerie Burke seeking $60,000 in damages from each.
The suit alleges Shapero and Burke were politically posturing when they posed for media photos and video on a 205-acre farm owned by Upper Unionville Inc., because they knew the land was not located on the proposed “food belt.”
Markham Councillor Erin Shapero (Ward 2)
Neither media outlet is named in the suit and no one has been charged by police with trespassing.
Upper Unionville Inc., associated with developers Carlo Baldassarra, Silvio DeGasperis and Jack Eisenberger, claims in the court documents the pair trespassed on the Beckett Farm, at 16th Ave. and Kennedy Rd., which sold for $100 million last year. The allegations have not been proved in court.
The three developer-builders are also linked to companies that own land north of Major Mackenzie Dr. which is, in fact, part of the food belt proposal defeated in a 7-6 council vote.
Shapero and Burke, who intend to fight the suit, said they ignored earlier letters demanding they acknowledge the trespass and apologize, because the letter was sent before the crucial council vote on expansion.
“It seemed like they were trying to intimidate us,” said Shapero, adding the letters were sent to all councillors. “That’s what it looked like, especially in advance of the votes that were happening.”
Upper Unionville Inc., associated with developers Carlo Baldassarra, Silvio DeGasperis and Jack Eisenberger, claims in the court documents the pair trespassed on the Beckett Farm, at 16th Ave. and Kennedy Rd., which sold for $100 million last year. The allegations have not been proved in court.
The three developer-builders are also linked to companies that own land north of Major Mackenzie Dr. which is, in fact, part of the food belt proposal defeated in a 7-6 council vote.
Shapero and Burke, who intend to fight the suit, said they ignored earlier letters demanding they acknowledge the trespass and apologize, because the letter was sent before the crucial council vote on expansion.
“It seemed like they were trying to intimidate us,” said Shapero, adding the letters were sent to all councillors. “That’s what it looked like, especially in advance of the votes that were happening.”
This article is called " Councillors sued over field photo-op" written by Gail Swainson and published on May 17, 2010 by TheStar. A land development consortium is suing two Markham politicians for using their $100 million farm as a “political backdrop”. The two politicans invovled are Markham councillors Erin Shapero and Valerie Burke. They tresspassed by “The defendants deliberately trespassed knowing they did not have permission,” The suit alleges Shapero and Burke were politically posturing when they posed for media photos and video on a 205-acre farm owned by Upper Unionville Inc., because they knew the land was not located on the proposed “food belt.” This is very significant because the two politicans will lose a huge sum of money if they lose against the lawsuit and will ruin their reputation
No comments:
Post a Comment