"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 4 December 2014

From A Distance

How does it happen a post on Chris Watts Blog about the Culture Centre and free service to artist iand  how fortunate that makes the rest  of us, ends up being discussed on my blog.

I was thinking about putting a little distance between myself and town business.

Establishing an area of no man's land so to speak.

You think I can't.

 I  most certainly can.

But before I do, it should be noted a four year term of office just ended with  the culture centre board getting a bigger annual  hand-out than the year before.

They received a  $75,000  grant from the Trillium Foundation  this year as well.

The  issue of a museum was debated  in Council time and time again. Eventually space in the building was freed up but never materialized into a museum.

Positive votes  were cast  more than once for  curator services to get the museum going but that never happened either.

The term ended with  significantly more money used to purchase culture services  than
 ever before.

Council decisions were made.  They  were  selectively acted upon.

When Council is not respected, there's not a lot  that can be done about that.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why does his blog get discussed here? Because his blog is not a safe place to discuss there.

You allow the discussion to begin here when you publish his (or someone close to him) comment in a thread that says nothing but "Christopher". You are the enabler of the discusion.

Anonymous said...

"How does it happen a post on Chris Watts Blog ... ends up being discussed on my blog(?)"

Because someone is in the habit of commenting "christopher" in an effort to draw attention to his blog.

Anonymous said...

Oh, the heck with them all. They know better but can't manage without that great feeling of giving someone else's money away.
Have a good day - there doesn't seem to be much wind.

Anonymous said...

It will be interesting to see what your decision will be.
That last item you had about all the different mayors was begging to be developed into a larger project.

Anonymous said...

York Region, of all sites, has a good article on SLAPP legislation although it does not go far enough.

Anonymous said...

@8:49
You are completely out of whack. I am one of those who mention whenever Mr Watts has new material & I have never even met him. I enjoy reading what I can understand, especially his inspiration bits.
Like Evelyn's Blog, it can lighten the day.

Anonymous said...

If you shift the focus away from "Our Town and Its Business," I can see your readership declining.

Anonymous said...

Highland Ratepayers are electing an administrative board. There will be specialized committees formed later. From the comments being made, there is still an assumption that the course will be purchased by the town so that the golf course, which was losing money, can go on losing money.

Anonymous said...


11:52

The price tag on Mavrinac's few acres was $6,000,000 asked by the home builder.

For anyone in his right mind, or in any mind, to state that the town is assumed to be the buyer of the Highland 100 acres needs to get to the hospital quickly and have an MRI of his or her head.

Anonymous said...

8:49 & 9:14
It gets discussed because of the predictable knee- jerk negative response whenever Christopher's name is mentioned. It does not occur if someone cites an article in the Auroran or on someone's twittter feed. The individual always taking offence needs to get over him/herself.

Anonymous said...

11:52- Oh you mean like the Cultural Center

Anonymous said...

08:49 is bang-on!

Anonymous said...

No, 14:45, not like the Cultural CentRE. It doesn't "lose" money, like a business can.. It provides services as contracted by the Town. So, yes, it costs money - just like almost everything else the Town does for us.

Anonymous said...

8:49 is also 15:01
The only enabler was the one who flipped when CW was cited.

Anonymous said...

16:38
That is such a tired argument.
The Food Pantry provides a needed service to the town which is not duplicated elsewhere. We do not provide them with anything except lip service and an occasional photo-op.

Anonymous said...

Almost all programs that the CC provides is duplicated and competes with programs that the town and private businesses ALREADY provides. $500+ million a year can help house and feed many who struggle in this town silently. This center was and still is a bad deal for this town. Bad deals go south eventually. I just hope its sooner than later.

Anonymous said...

Wanna know what's "tired," 19:45? The incessant criticism of the place from some quarters, even after a new contract was negotiated.

It has been dealt with; it is what it is. The campaign to scupper it failed - get over it. You don't like it, fine, don't go. But constant whingeing like a sore loser is tiresome.

Anonymous said...

The wintering will stop when the money stops being handed to them for their so called "cultural services" that have been duplicated all over town. That actually won't be enough for me. I'll stop when the doors are closed for good.

Anonymous said...

If that contact had ever been shown in the private sector. It would have been laughed at. Any councillor who was happy or proud of that deal tells a lot of any future contracts and negotiating skills.

When Spring Arrives said...

"The wintering will stop..."

Huh?

Anonymous said...

14:34
When arguments fail, resort to nit-picking. Must be awkward to explain your serfdom.

Anonymous said...

@ 21:44
I believe you are incorrect. Your " side ", for want of a better word, took a solid hit during the election. There is no patience left for the Centre.. Other demands to be met. There is only a downward slope ahead.

Anonymous said...

The biggest critic got bounced, 21:13. Several of the new councillors expressed support of the Cultural Centre. How is that taking a "solid hit"? Any "downward slope" is only wishful thinking on your part, and will prove to be delusional.

Anonymous said...

Duplication, 20:34? Where else in Aurora can you attend upcoming concerts by the likes of Sylvia Tyson, Dan Hill, and Dala? Come on out and support Canadian talent!

Anonymous said...

The arguments don't fail, 20:43. The expectation of intelligent dialogue does...