"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

Tuesday 27 October 2015

POMP AND PUFFERY

Numbers noted by Christopher Watts indicate  nineteen other community members  responded to the town's invitation to participate in Sunday's tour of the area dubbed "Cultural Precinct"

It was a beautiful day. 

Hosts were the Mayor, four Councillor's, two staff and two consultants. 

Christopher must have been there .That's how we know what happened. 

David Heard may be assumed to have attended from a comment received.  

No mention of media in attendance or staff from the  town's communication division. 

The event ended with a brain-storming  session following  the walk-about   

Sheets containing input from the community members  present would be gathered  and carried back to where reports are  prepared and many pages written for  formal presentation to Council .

 As if something really happened out there on Sunday. 

Numbers  of attendees  will be calculated in percentages and  compared to percentages in other studies to indicate relevance to other studies. 

Everything will be compiled in a blue binder with attractive photos and illustrations . The high-minded resolution approved by Council to  authorize the event will form the introduction to the report.

The Promenade Study has been on the books for five years . A significant planning workload  has been generated to make recommendations  and budgets for schemes like ornamental concrete sidewalks and Victorian street furniture and lighting and loans to property owners to upgrade properties totalling millions of dollars of public investment derived  from much-prized instruments of public financing known as investment funds which are created from property taxes. 

So far as we know,none of the recommendations have been implemented so far.  For good  reason. All work that leads to nothing keeps planning staff and consultants employed. 

All in the name of bringing life back to the commercial block in the town centre. 

Spark Street Mall in Canada's Capital City was a first and very much promoted project designed by government carried out by the National Capital Commission more than fifty years ago.

It  has not withstood the test of time. 

Despite good intent, government plans for re-invigoration tend to be a contradiction in term.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

David was there and made a comment on one of those fancy sheets.

It made reference to a return of an original consultants work.

I think it was the museum.

Anonymous said...

I guess it was nice for everyone to go on a nice walk on a fall day. But there is a tool called Google Maps. There's some lovely pictures of all that was seen as well as a satellite aerial view of the entire area.

Anonymous said...

It's the Hydro former-reserve. The mayor is determined to be the one to spend it.

Anonymous said...

David brought the funding up too.That is should be from private money and grants like Gas Tax,and not municipal funds and taxes.

Anonymous said...

What could possibly be left to say or write ?

Anonymous said...

The Mayor sounds as if he is hoping all those people who turned up to object to
having their homes in a " designated " area have had a changed of heart. I do
not live in there but suspect they are going to be very watchful.

Anonymous said...

I think you will find that this was NOT the Mayor who was pushing this debacle through so fast. It was a couple of councillors and their cheering section. very sad .....

Anonymous said...

15:02

I was there and you may be right.

Anonymous said...

With the elections over, there will no longer be a steady stream of goodies flowing into the town. It is going to relieve
whatever individual has been assigned to apply for every single possible grant imaginable.

Anonymous said...

The goodies will always be there for the selective few.

Anonymous said...

@15:02
That could be funny given that he has done the same to others. Maybe a bit of comedic karma even........