OBRA members met with Michael McCluskey who is running for council in district 5
In a recent interview with members of OBRA, Dartmouth native Mike McCluskey discussed the pressing issues surrounding the housing emergency in the Ocean Breeze community. With deep roots in the area and experience in both the military and adult education, Mike shares his insights on housing, community, and the need for reform.
Lifelong Connection to Dartmouth
Mike McCluskey, a lifelong resident of Dartmouth, has lived in the area for over 60 years. His strong ties to the community are well-known, as he is the son of Gloria McCluskey and a former member of the Shannon Sharks swim team. He learned to swim at Shannon Park Pool, and his connection to the local area is personal and deep-rooted. After serving in the military for 16 years, Mike turned to adult education and training, believing in the power of helping people achieve their goals.
“I’m a great believer that you can always help people achieve more and do what they want to do,” Mike says. This belief drives his commitment to supporting individuals in the community, especially in the current housing crisis.
The Housing Emergency: Loss of Community
Mike prefers to call the current situation a housing emergency rather than a crisis, emphasizing the severe impact it has on long-standing communities like Ocean Breeze. He highlights the emotional and psychological toll of losing a sense of belonging and safety when a community is dismantled for new developments.
“The worst thing that could happen is to lose your community. There’s a sense of belonging and a sense of safety when you know everybody and what’s going on,”
The rapid drive toward increasing housing density, while necessary, is causing displacement and hardship for many residents. Mike points out that while areas like MicMac Mall and Penhorn are suitable for increased density due to their location along key thoroughfares, forcing long-time residents out of their homes in established neighborhoods is a misstep.
Lack of Planning and Support for Affected Families
Mike is critical of the lack of planning for families who are displaced by luxury housing projects. With over 400 units being affected, he stresses that there should have been a plan for where these families could go while the new developments are being built.
“There should have been a stage plan that said, this will happen on this date, this will happen on that date. Humans can put up with a lot of stuff, but uncertainty is the worst feeling,” he remarks, comparing the situation to waiting for a medical diagnosis.
For Mike, the issue isn’t just about building more housing; it’s about doing so in a way that doesn’t destroy existing communities and displace people without adequate alternatives.
The Role of Local Government
When asked what he would do to help Ocean Breeze residents if he were on the council, Mike acknowledges the difficulty of the situation but emphasizes the need for better policies. He references ACORN’s proposal for a bylaw that would require new housing developments to include sufficient units for those displaced by construction.
“I would not have allowed this to be rezoned the way it is. There should have been existing housing you could go into,” Mike states, adding that the lack of a clear plan only heightens the uncertainty and anxiety faced by the community.
Addressing the Bigger Picture
Mike is also aware that the housing emergency is part of a larger issue. He notes that decades of inaction are partly to blame for the current crisis. For too long, the assumption was that Nova Scotia’s population wouldn’t grow significantly, leading to a lack of investment in housing infrastructure.
Now, as more money flows into Halifax for high-end developments, many local residents find themselves priced out of the market.
“None of us probably watching this video or me making this video will be able to afford to live in these apartments,”
A New Approach to Affordable Housing
Mike advocates for a bottom-up approach to addressing the housing crisis. He has conducted the first-ever district-wide survey of accessible and affordable housing providers, including Indigenous groups, senior organizations, and addiction support services. By bringing these groups together, Mike hopes to create a unified voice that the provincial government cannot ignore.
“The province can ignore one group, they can ignore two groups, but they can’t ignore 20 groups,” Mike asserts, emphasizing the power of collaboration.
His vision is to foster cooperation rather than impose legislation, and he believes that by working together, communities can build housing that reflects their needs without displacing existing residents.
Encouraging Voter Participation
As the interview draws to a close, Mike acknowledges the frustration and apathy many residents feel toward voting, given that federal, provincial, and municipal governments have failed them. However, he encourages people to vote, not just for their own future but to prevent similar situations from happening to other modest-income families.
“I know you’re discouraged. But you might be able to stop this from happening to someone else. And that’s not much solace, but it’s something,” Mike says, urging residents to make their voices heard at the polls.
Mike McCluskey’s deep connection to Dartmouth and his firsthand understanding of the housing emergency provide a powerful perspective on the challenges faced by the Ocean Breeze community. His call for better planning, community-driven solutions, and increased voter participation is a reminder that addressing the housing crisis requires both immediate action and long-term commitment from all levels of government.