Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish is standing up for her profession, after sending a letter to a resident calling him a “cranky constituent” for suggesting she took a “bribe.”

“As politicians all we have is our reputations,” Parrish told the Star. “The best way to get me riled up is by claiming I’ve ever taken a bribe. In my 32 years I’ve never taken a nickel. We are not steel-coated people. We do have emotions. You should treat me with a similar courtesy that you should use with your doctor, your teacher and others who work to make ours a better society.”

In her July 8 letter to resident Frank McGurk, Parrish wrote: “You are a cranky constituent — insulting to say the least. The Cliff Gyles reference was obnoxious. I suspect from your tone, others may find your opinions equally rude so I’m not concerned greatly regarding your opinions of me.”

The Malton resident had earlier sent Parrish a letter regarding the planned demolition of a local shopping plaza to make way for a mixed-use residential development that would include affordable housing units, which has been a priority for Parrish.

“I’m very disappointed as I read the minutes of the meeting regarding Netherwood plaza,” McGurk had written to Parrish two days earlier. “The plaza is a mainstay in this community where I have lived for 40 years plus. I smell another Cliff Gilles (sic) move here. We do not need 30 more detached homes with front yards the size of postage stamps.”

Gyles is a former Mississauga councillor who accepted $35,000 from businessmen to support a zoning application in 2003. He was convicted of municipal fraud and spent time in a federal prison.

The Star asked McGurk about his reference to Gyles.

“The only thing that brought attention (to the issue of the plaza’s possible demolition) was when I brought up the Cliff Gyles scenario,” McGurk said. “By no means was I calling anyone in Mississauga council dishonest, I just threw that at them to get their attention.”

Asked to respond to Parrish’s claim that he attacked her reputation, McGurk said, “Well, it happened once before. How can we guarantee it doesn’t happen again?”

Parrish’s office provided a letter that she sent to neighbourhood residents. She wrote that a public meeting was held May 16 to deal with the demolition of the Brandon Gate Plaza to make way for residential units.

The letter outlines plans to include a variety store in the new residential development.

“This store will address the concern that there would be no store within walking distance for local residents,” the letter says.

“The homes to be built on the rest of the property have generous front setbacks so there is adequate driveway parking for each home and will have the largest backyards in the community. They will be an attractive addition to (the) neighbourhood.”

A small number will be for affordable housing.

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A woman working at a convenience store inside the plaza told the Star that the proposal to tear it down has upset many locals and some business owners.

With Peel Region facing an affordable housing crisis, last year Parrish pushed Mississauga council to make a minimum number of affordable housing units a requirement in all future development plans. Staff is working on a report to determine a viable percentage for all future residential construction that will have to be designated for affordable housing.