At what point does an exaggeration or melodrama become a lie?
I certainly see no problem with exaggerating a point for emphasis or using dramatics to illustrate passion or inject some humour into a conversation. But when it falsely validates or amplifies fears in the community — when it becomes misleading — then it’s just a lie. I don’t think that’s acceptable behaviour for an elected person.
Citizens should be wary of Councillor Coleridge’s statements alleging that the City is secretly planning to sell parks, the beach is threatened as a swimming destination by pollution, or that the Spirit Square project will pave over the lawn. It makes for good political theatre, but none of it is true.
White Rock Reporter Says:
February 19th, 2008 at 8:33 pmVisit White Rock Reporter
Well put question. “At what point does an exaggeration or melodrama become a lie?”
Fears seems always to be amplified not only in our small community. “Not knowing” creates ‘worries and fears’ in any population…’military soldiers or civilians’!
Being a distant admirer of both Todd, Coleridge and Ferguson [and so because they all three make things happen in Council and all three do contribute substantially with new ideas, information, news and knowledge and both motions and emotions are created by the 'three muscateers'].
I now feel my ‘foundation’ for admiration of either is shaken unless mentioned councillors in Council can openly declare their ‘intent’ and willingness to further explore alternatives to ponder and compromise with regards to Museum latrines…’Spirits Square’and a rather total makeover of the Pier Clock vicinity rest/wash rooms at the foot of the Pier.
It must be better or more reasonable solutions to the issues at hand in this.
To further ’sell our souls to the company store’ [Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroads] BNSF is a scary projection of the future. To develop for millions on land owned by a foreign company [BSNF] on land which is not Canadian? a foreign country, is nuts, impractical and sends signs of dependency.
Frankly, the notion the City may secretely explore for planning to sell off green land I feel not to be far fetched in consideration of other disorganisations or minor discomforting re-organisations in the roster of service men and women in the company seerving under the stern leadership and command of CEO of the City of White Rock.
Is it a lie that the beach is threatened by pollution making it unhealthy to be used as a ’swimming destination’? No it is not a lie. It’s the plain truth. Periodically and due to tides and wind and water and air temperature fluctuations the water front is in jeopardy and unsafe due to the ecological imbalance created by sewer and other run-off silt etc., making water quality generally unstable and not reliable foe swimmers to trust.
My last comment must be ‘The Spirits Square’ debacle. Pressing the issue is a sure event and issue anyone can drive to lose an election.
To ‘formalize’ the last ‘natural green plot we have’ next to the Tourist Information Centre, and this for the sake of just taking advantage of some Provincial funding [to be added to the White Rock City's own funding] is a redundant idea and the ‘opportunity’ is ludicrous if not insane.
To the ‘three’ I say “Stick together and you will make it to whatever seat you wish to go or maintain in council for the next period and new term’ after this year’s election.
The fact the Council meet weekly and so few of the citizens show up in the gallery to listen in to what’s going on is simply this; There is nothing going on at all, if I may generalize just a trifle.
The stage is full of mostly 9 ‘actors’ making it a good theatre and play for an empty gallery. That’s theatrically and dramatically a politically impossible theatre acted out in my ’silent’ world not being able to hear what’s uttered by those sitting on the west side of the council chamber.
Salute.
Matt Todd Says:
February 19th, 2008 at 11:25 pmVisit Matt Todd
Johan,
Everything south of Marine Drive is BNSF-owned property. All the public washrooms, parking lots, parks, lawns, picnic tables, rotary clock, totem poles, stone sculptures, and the promenade are all on BNSF land. Are you suggesting that the City remove these amenities? Should City stop maintaining them or not improve them because the property is merely leased?
All this fear of road allowances being sold off is the result of someone misinterpreting a statement in the draft OCP. There is no ambition to sell City land. I have no idea why it’s being debated.
I’d really like to know where your information that the beach is unsafe for swimmers comes from. There was a time many years ago when there was a problem and the beaches were closed. My understanding is that the water quality in the bay is tested very frequently (weekly, I think) and there hasn’t been a swimming closure for many years.
Yes, there was at one time a serious problem. Water quality in the bay has improved to the point of a commercial oyster fishery being re-established in Drayton Harbour… even while they’ve hugely expanded their marina.
The hype around Memorial Park is getting quite out of hand. I fully understand and appreciate that it is incredibly important to people because of what it represents to them, especially the history and open greenness. But let’s not be delusional. Essentially being a sloped lawn bordered at the north and south by retaining walls, as it is right now, it is most certainly not what I would call a “natural green plot”. It is certainly not the “last” green space of its kind on the beach. Are you forgetting all the other large stretches of grass along the promenade?
That’s a moot argument anyway. All this angst about losing green space is confusing. How did everyone get so convinced that the Spirit Square wouldn’t still be a grass lawn? I haven’t heard one person suggest that it be paved and not be grass — including the people who are part of the group designing it.
What I have heard is people who use walkers say that they’d like to go on the grass too. Or event organizers say that the lack of power, water and the slope make it difficult to set up things like a stage or bbq. There are many things that can be done in and around this park to make it more functional for more people without taking away the grass.
As for the provincial grant… why wouldn’t we accept the money? The province says they are willing to double our money if we want to fix up a park to make it a better gathering place that will reflect the community’s heritage and enhance local business. Where’s the down-side in that?
The province is not interested in funding a pretty park. They want their money to go toward a space that people will use daily to meet, hang out, hold events, etc… Memorial Park is the spot that would be most successful for that.
It is just not true that if you simply build a nice place, people will use it. If that were the case, Totem Plaza would be full all the time and the plaza at the east end of the promenade would be full all the time.
You say the project is “ludicrous if not insance”. I think it would be ludicrous if not insane to turn down the chance to get the province to help pay for improvements to our parks.
Sure, maybe it’s not the one that was highest on our priority list, but they’ll be doubling our money, so why not? Just because it was on our would-be-nice list instead of the need-to-do list doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be good for the community.