Comments on: accountability two-way mirror http://matttodd.ca/?p=568 sharing ideas on community and democracy Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:37:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Lisa http://matttodd.ca/?p=568&cpage=1#comment-740 Lisa Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:51:08 +0000 http://matttodd.ca/?p=568#comment-740 thanks for the conversation threads for the last year on local civics through your observational journal. this type of forum doesn't exist else where in White Rock-with the added caveat that a conversation about this community which is not attached to any type of organization with an agenda, open to exploring all sides of any issue, open to information/education exchanges in a civil and polite communication style doesn't exist. You taught me stuff, we don't always agree on any subject, and I accepted your journals purpose request for honest feedback from residents. you got it-spelling mistakes and all. Would I get involved in the next 3 years with anything to do with civics in White Rock - highly doubtful. Why-at a public open house in september in council, 2 members of the CPR executive publicly stated at the microphone, that if you haven't lived in white rock for as long as they have, your opinion doesn't carry an equal value. 5 members of the new council answer to the CPR. Those of us who have not lived long enough to have lived in white rock for the same period of time as the CPR executive are excluded from the conversation for the next 3 years. A very large proportion of construction projects in BC which have not broken ground yet are in a hold pattern - tall buildings marching down Johnston is not a reality in this economic pattern. I don't have a problem with smart inclusive community design because I took the time to educate myself on what the growth pattern is for the next 35 years in BC, what urban design is about, and thought about how this community could welcome others to experience this natural setting by the shore instead of finding ways to exclude others from becoming part of this community. will miss this forum though - it was nice. thanks for the conversation threads for the last year on local civics through your observational journal. this type of forum doesn’t exist else where in White Rock-with the added caveat that a conversation about this community which is not attached to any type of organization with an agenda, open to exploring all sides of any issue, open to information/education exchanges in a civil and polite communication style doesn’t exist. You taught me stuff, we don’t always agree on any subject, and I accepted your journals purpose request for honest feedback from residents. you got it-spelling mistakes and all.

Would I get involved in the next 3 years with anything to do with civics in White Rock – highly doubtful. Why-at a public open house in september in council, 2 members of the CPR executive publicly stated at the microphone, that if you haven’t lived in white rock for as long as they have, your opinion doesn’t carry an equal value.

5 members of the new council answer to the CPR. Those of us who have not lived long enough to have lived in white rock for the same period of time as the CPR executive are excluded from the conversation for the next 3 years. A very large proportion of construction projects in BC which have not broken ground yet are in a hold pattern – tall buildings marching down Johnston is not a reality in this economic pattern. I don’t have a problem with smart inclusive community design because I took the time to educate myself on what the growth pattern is for the next 35 years in BC, what urban design is about, and thought about how this community could welcome others to experience this natural setting by the shore instead of finding ways to exclude others from becoming part of this community. will miss this forum though – it was nice.

]]> By: Lisa http://matttodd.ca/?p=568&cpage=1#comment-738 Lisa Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:17:52 +0000 http://matttodd.ca/?p=568#comment-738 Dude: ask anyone in customer service – the customer is not always right-sometimes they’re drunk, on drugs, trying to rip you off, right, wrong, or just simply insane. Outdated corporate polices dictate polite treatment and assumption of innocence – or if its just cheaper to agree and make them go away. 99% of customers are honest. It’s intimidating to carry on a conversation with a councillor. It’s a big responsibility to carry on a conversation with a councillor. I know from experience. As a kid, I wouldn’t even talk at the dinner table when an MLA, MP, Mayor or Councillor was present. As an adult, I know that if I piss you off – I run the risk of never being able to bring anything before council for consideration, I run the risk of being permanently blackballed from any and all involvement in anything to do with this community. If you think this observation is a joke – start asking around – determine for yourself, perceptions. You have an opportunity to learn, now that you are not a councillor anymore, the level of communication people are comfortable with in relation to job title and perceived power. 64% of the voting population couldn’t even be bothered to show up and vote – they don’t care – they didn’t think there was a single candidate who matched their visions for the future of white rock – they do not feel like they are part of the community, they have no interest in the community. So bashing the 36% of the voting population for participating seems somehow wrong (even though you are correct in your views that a percentage of the voting public which did vote, voted out of falsely planted fears of tall building marching down johnston Pink Floyd the Wall style) when you could be asking the 64% why they didn’t vote? Why they didn’t concern themselves with the community with which they live in? Why freedom and democracy have no importance in their lives? What the hell they think my grandfather and great grandfather risked their lives for in WW1 and WW2? Dude:
ask anyone in customer service – the customer is not always right-sometimes they’re drunk, on drugs, trying to rip you off, right, wrong, or just simply insane. Outdated corporate polices dictate polite treatment and assumption of innocence – or if its just cheaper to agree and make them go away. 99% of customers are honest.

It’s intimidating to carry on a conversation with a councillor. It’s a big responsibility to carry on a conversation with a councillor. I know from experience. As a kid, I wouldn’t even talk at the dinner table when an MLA, MP, Mayor or Councillor was present.
As an adult, I know that if I piss you off – I run the risk of never being able to bring anything before council for consideration, I run the risk of being permanently blackballed from any and all involvement in anything to do with this community.

If you think this observation is a joke – start asking around – determine for yourself, perceptions. You have an opportunity to learn, now that you are not a councillor anymore, the level of communication people are comfortable with in relation to job title and perceived power.

64% of the voting population couldn’t even be bothered to show up and vote – they don’t care – they didn’t think there was a single candidate who matched their visions for the future of white rock – they do not feel like they are part of the community, they have no interest in the community.

So bashing the 36% of the voting population for participating seems somehow wrong (even though you are correct in your views that a percentage of the voting public which did vote, voted out of falsely planted fears of tall building marching down johnston Pink Floyd the Wall style) when you could be asking the 64% why they didn’t vote? Why they didn’t concern themselves with the community with which they live in? Why freedom and democracy have no importance in their lives? What the hell they think my grandfather and great grandfather risked their lives for in WW1 and WW2?

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