51 replies to this topic

[amor de cosmos]

his term is up in Dec 2008

[Concerned Citizens]

CCC

An article in yesterday's daily newspaper on page A2 entitled 'Councillors keeping quiet on 2008 election plans' by the usually more reliable Carolyn Heiman contains a ton of idle speculation and some outright errors.

Carolyn Heiman wrote that 'several weeks ago David Burke, Gregory Hartnell, Patrick Jamieson and Father Allen Jones announced plans to run for council under the banner of the Concerned Citizens' Coalition. All but Jones ran in the 2005 election.'

Father Allen Jones ran in both the 2002 and 2005 Victoria municipal elections for the Concerned Citizens. David Burke ran for the CCC in 2002 but not in 2005. Patrick Jamieson has decided against seeking the nomination of the CCC at this time, but will act as our 'media guru.'

For the record, the current list of CCC members seeking the candidate nomination comprises three men, all of whom have run in previous Victoria municipal elections. They are David Burke, Gregory Hartnell and Father Allen Jones. We are, of course, seeking other concerned Victoria citizens to seek nominations to fill Victoria City Council seats, particularly women.
Interested citizens may phone 382 97 67 for further information.

CCC

[Rorschach]

Re: Lowe and the Chief of Police... it's never the crime, it's always the cover-up that bites you. The Chief probably declared all the expenses questionable and not and the Mayor approved them without question. So, who has committed a greater offense? Who is really behind the 8-ball? People who are to blame lose their jobs; people who are responsible, do not.

The Chief might have to resign or retire early because of "bad judgment" in charging up a lot of alcoholic beverages or expensive dinners with cronies -- whatever -- but if the Chief was dishonest and charged personal expenses to the city and claimed they were business, he should just be fired. The expense details will have to be exposed eventually. It's the only way to settle it.

I just don't think Lowe has the guts to out and out fire the guy if he's proven to be dishonest. If Lowe is culpable, he won't fire him either even if there was dishonesty. So obviously this will be resolved in the back room deal kind of way -- at tremendous public expense no doubt. Lowe very likely is doing everything for a reason and there are just no coincidences here.

I just can't see how a court is going to rule the expense records of city government are not public records, so the details will emerge eventually.

It's always the cover-up.

[spanky123]

Lets face it, how long does it take to determine whether allegations have merit or not? Apparently there is an allegation that relates to a "personnel issue". Ok fine, look into it and find out if it is true or not, but two months? Unless there is some sort of criminal investigation going on (which we have been told is not the case), then I see a few conversations and follow up.

You are dead on about Lowe. Nice guy, hard working guy, but no balls. He has always avoided confrontation and the chief is no different.

[Rorschach]

The "personnel matter" is going to be the attempted legal method to conceal the expense records. There are special laws concerning police personnel records that make such records exempt from public disclosure. By opening an "investigation" the records can be kept secret. Obviously it can be known almost immediately if the expenses are improper. I dare say this was known as soon as the request was made to make them public. Since the request triggered the "investigation" to me this indicates that the nature of the impropriety is readily apparent. And the Chief puts his new house up for sale? Coincidence? Or does he know the **** is about to hit the fan?

This stuff happens a lot. You give these high level management people a stack of benefits and don't hold them accountable for years, pretty soon you're charging your personal groceries, gas, liquor, vacations, parties, dinners, lunches, breakfast, gym membership, lottery tickets -- the envelope will be pushed to the maximum. It's probably outrageous. Probably beyond outrageous and into the unimaginable.

But as usual, the tax payer will pay for it and it will be a big one. Get ready to have it rammed in up left and sideways then twisted and broken off. Ouch! The public always gets screwed and the bad actors make out like bandits. Why should this be different?

[spanky123]

The expectation is that the $80K or so disclosed is a full accounting of the chief's expenditures. If it turns out that there is more then I agree 100% that Lowe will be accused of trying to cover up the costs.

Unfortunately a lot of senior bureaucrats view their expense accounts as part of their compensation package and treat it accordingly. After all, it isn't their money and nobody ever says boo about it.

[amor de cosmos]

Luxury condominiums. Is there any other kind?

Have they installed the solid gold bathtubs yet?

I really wish Victoria's media people would get to know somebody who actually owns a condo in Victoria. Go in for a minute, have a look around. That sort of thing.

If they think the current condo buildings are "luxury" what will they think if the Delta Group wants to build something here, & turn Victoria into Coal Harbour?

[Rob Randall]

Lowe greeted with more bouquets than brickbats

By Keith Vass - Victoria News - December 07, 2007

Stepping aside may be the only certain way for a politician to draw near-universal praise.

It seems to be working for Mayor Alan Lowe, who is being hailed by council colleagues for his leadership over the last eight years after announcing he won’t seek another three-year term.

Coun. Geoff Young, who challenged Lowe for the mayor’s seat in 1999, said Lowe has worked well with council.

“I’ve always found Alan easy to work with,” said Young. “As with any council member, I’ve agreed with some of his views and disagreed with others.

“I definitely always respect his views as a professional architect on a lot of the issues that face us.”

“Alan’s been amazing,” said Coun. Chris Coleman. He noted the mayor often puts in 18-hour days, staying at City Hall well into the night and has represented the city well provincially, nationally and internationally.

While some have criticized Lowe for being slow to respond to the city’s drug and homeless crises, Coleman credits him for moving city policy toward a harm-reduction approach.

“That’s been a fairly amazing journey for Alan. I don’t think he was there nine years ago, but I think he’s grown into that through understanding and his experiences.”

“I think his actual legacy is going to be much more appreciated than it is now,” said Robert Randall, president of the Downtown Residents’ Association. He praised Lowe for reinvigorating the city’s core by encouraging residential development.

Criticism of the mayor for problems of homelessness and disorder on the streets is unfair because most of the powers needed to act on social issues are beyond the city’s grasp, he said.

Developer and urban issues critic Gene Miller was slightly less generous on hearing Lowe’s decision.

“Dreams do come true,” he said, adding it’s time for “fresh blood” at City Hall.

“I think there’s been things he’s accomplished, and I think it’s time for him to move on,” said Miller.

He gave Lowe credit for the building of the Save-On Centre, his handling of policing issues and labour peace at the city.

But social issues have been Lowe’s weak point, he said, calling the homeless task force report “window dressing.”

“He hasn’t achieved as much as I would have hoped there. He and his council, I think they blinked.”

kvass@vicnews.com

=============================

I made that comment after listening to people who think Downtown's social problems will be solved overnight by Lowe building tens of millions of dollars worth of housing and treatment using money that simply doesn't exist. It was the Mayor who finally decided to cut the crap and create a powerful and influential task force.

[amor de cosmos]

“Dreams do come true,” he said, adding it’s time for “fresh blood” at City Hall.

“I think there’s been things he’s accomplished, and I think it’s time for him to move on,” said Miller.

No kidding.

[Ms. B. Havin]

I made that comment after listening to people who think Downtown's social problems will be solved overnight by Lowe building tens of millions of dollars worth of housing and treatment using money that simply doesn't exist. It was the Mayor who finally decided to cut the crap and create a powerful and influential task force.

So, are you saying that the journalist just took an "old" comment you made someplace else, in another context and at another time, and plugged it into this article (where it sounds like he interviewed you specially and just hours ago to get up-to-the-minute reactions from people on Lowe's legacy)? Huh, if that's the case, talk about "instant" journalism ("just add water" = "just pull something from the archives")...

[Rob Randall]

No, I was interviewed specifically for that article on the Mayor's legacy. I meant to say it was in response to those that harshly criticize the City. Victoria is doing it's share. It's time for the CRD, Province and Feds to step up.

[Ms. B. Havin]

Ah, ok, thanks for the clarification.