11779 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

In the TC today is a Helps' editorial saying how wonderful Heidelberg is, lol. Perhaps she could relocate there.

 

During the two days she had to explore the city I am sure that she learned everything there was to know about it.

 

The apparent purpose of her trip was to speak at a conference she was apparently invited to (even though we still had to pay for it). I don't recall seeing any mention of what she learned from that.

Edited by spanky123, 01 June 2019 - 10:04 AM.

[rjag]

funny that she doesnt mention that Heidelberg has a density of 1,500/sq km compared to Victoria at 495/sq km....thats a massive difference 

[spanky123]

funny that she doesnt mention that Heidelberg has a density of 1,500/sq km compared to Victoria at 495/sq km....thats a massive difference 

 

Or that they have an extensive public transit system including trams.

[Midnightly]

funny that she doesnt mention that Heidelberg has a density of 1,500/sq km compared to Victoria at 495/sq km....thats a massive difference 

 

 

typical of this mayor.. take what she needs to sway in her ideals and push her agenda and ignore the rest

Edited by Midnightly, 01 June 2019 - 12:09 PM.

[pennymurphy2000]

Of course cars aren't the main priority of a city that was established over 800 years ago. The same could be said for most of Europe. 

[pennymurphy2000]

Again the Mayor fails to recognize the vast differences between a European city and Victoria. In all the photos she posted I didn't see any panhandlers on every street corner and road median, no large groups of misfits loitering around, no human waste on the streets, no open drug use, no discarded needles, no shopping carts piled high on city boulevards, etc. I bet the streets didn't reek of urine or human waste either. I bet people feel safe walking around the streets of Heidelberg at night. You can't welcome tent cities with open arms and throw out the welcome mat for every homeless person in Canada and then be shocked that our town looks and smells like a frat house at the end of frosh week.

[Awaiting Juno]

I imagine there aren't many European cities that contend with a disjointed municipal government structure either.  I imagine Heidelberg has only 1 mayor and one council - not 13 like Victoria.  

[spanky123]

Looks like Ben has made a tactical error suggesting that the Canada Day celebrations be scaled back to accommodate what the police board claims are budget constraints.  Gave an opening for Helps to play her hand. https://www.timescol...sitt-1.23842091

 

What he should have pointed out is that with Rifflandia being cancelled there should be more than enough extra funds in the police festival budget to cover the Canada Day festivities. I would think that a 4 day music festival drawing 50,000 people would require much more staffing than one evening of family entertainment.

Edited by spanky123, 02 June 2019 - 07:54 AM.

[Nparker]

...“I think if we want to continue to have a thriving, healthy, vibrant community that supports the efforts on non-profit societies that put on events without putting the non-profits under undue stress, I do think we have to find a way to fund that for this year. The contingency budget is a good place for that ,” Helps said, adding the costs should be built into the city budget for next year.

https://www.timescol...sitt-1.23842091

Fewer taxpayer funded mayoral junkets hither-and-yon, might also free up a few dollars to be spent locally.

[Tom Braybrook]

Fewer taxpayer funded mayoral junkets hither-and-yon, might also free up a few dollars to be spent locally.

if ben resigns now, his municipal salary for the next few years could cover the cost

[Victoria Watcher]

Looks like Ben has made a tactical error suggesting that the Canada Day celebrations be scaled back to accommodate what the police board claims are budget constraints. Gave an opening for Helps to play her hand. https://www.timescol...sitt-1.23842091

What he should have pointed out is that with Rifflandia being cancelled there should be more than enough extra funds in the police festival budget to cover the Canada Day festivities. I would think that a 4 day music festival drawing 50,000 people would require much more staffing than one evening of family entertainment.

that’s a good point.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 June 2019 - 08:13 AM.

[spanky123]

that’s a good point.

 

Ben is letting his ego get in the way of his judgement and Helps is playing him like a fiddle. She knew that by having the police board write and ask for more money that Ben would oppose it and that by using Canada Day as the sacrificial lamb it would backfire on him. If Ben had thought this through before he commented then he could have turned the tables.

 

If we wind up with a bi-election next year then there is a good chance that Helps could gain the upper hand again. Helps already has her champion groomed and ready to go.

[Nparker]

As much as I dislike the CoV's mayor, given a choice between Comrade Ben having the upper hand and Her Wor$e$hip, I'll have to go with the latter. Oh man, what a sad comment on the current state of affairs in my city this is. 

[Sparky]

^^ Who is that?

[On the Level]

Looks like Ben has made a tactical error suggesting that the Canada Day celebrations be scaled back to accommodate what the police board claims are budget constraints.  Gave an opening for Helps to play her hand. https://www.timescol...sitt-1.23842091

 

What he should have pointed out is that with Rifflandia being cancelled there should be more than enough extra funds in the police festival budget to cover the Canada Day festivities. I would think that a 4 day music festival drawing 50,000 people would require much more staffing than one evening of family entertainment.

 

The Police Board could have simply responded that Rifflandia is another unfunded expenditure that they can no longer absorb.

 

 

But, Isitt said he was not in favour of allocating more money to the police. 

“Certainly, it’s fun having huge swaths of the downtown closed, but I’m not sure if Victoria taxpayers would support the level of subsidization needed to ensure public safety.”

 

What a disingenuous statement.  Did Issit or any of the the CoV council consider (or care) about Victoria taxpayers during the recent hiring spree for new staff for questionable projects/activities?    If there is money for frills, there had better be money for public safety.

 

If you are running an ideological war against Vic PD, then say so and explain why.  He is just making himself look stupid.

[Nparker]

...He is just making himself look stupid.

That's like shooting fish in barrel.

[spanky123]

The Police Board could have simply responded that Rifflandia is another unfunded expenditure that they can no longer absorb.

 

Wouldn't work. The police got a $160K increase to their special events funding last year. Arguing that they couldn't afford Canada Day even though Rifflandia was cancelled would not have passed the sniff test.

 

https://www.vicpd.ca...rd Approved.pdf

[spanky123]

^^ Who is that?

 

Hint. The person's campaign manager is now Helps' COS!

[rjag]

Hint. The person's campaign manager is now Helps' COS!

 

Who also makes 3-4 x the amount of money without the public scrutiny BS ...I doubt she'd give up that gig for a big paycut...thats not how socialism works

[spanky123]

Who also makes 3-4 x the amount of money without the public scrutiny BS ...I doubt she'd give up that gig for a big paycut...thats not how socialism works

 

Backwards. The CoS was the future candidate's campaign manager, not that I think the CoS is going to leave her job as long as Helps is there.

Edited by spanky123, 02 June 2019 - 11:42 AM.