Friday, October 07, 2011

Heather King for Mayor: Guest Blogger #1: Day 101

Friday, October 07, 2011


Heather King for Mayor: Guest Blogger #1: Day 101

If you have a rant, want to vent or want to tell us how frustrating is it to conduct business with Delta Municipal Hall, send me your stories and I'll blog 'em - I, as always, will keep my source confidential. I understand that confidentiality is extremely important, don't leave a blog comment, send an email to Barb_2U@eastlink.ca

Join me in welcoming Guest Blogger #1...Clap, clap, clap!

Hi Barb_2U:

Just read your blog - unfortunately your story is all to familiar when it comes to trying to tear down the corporate walls to get some simple information.

My first reaction is - what are they hiding???

My next reaction is - the clerks have obviously no instruction on how to handle these requests and clearly are not confident that their superiors will "back them up" if they err in the execution of their duties. This is a clear signal about the entire corporate culture
at City Hall.  
When customer service staff know that 1) there is a policy of service and 2) they are supported by their superiors, most of them will take the initiative to help a customer with a request. What many higher ups seem to forget is that even if you are not serving a customer directly, you are serving someone who is.

Here are the missteps I have witnessed over the years as the Mayor and her immediate right hand man, CAO George Harvie, attempt to protect her position and her public profile:

1) The Power Lines fiasco:
Public outcry at what was perceived to have been little action on the part of Mayor and Council to prevent the construction of the controversial power lines by BC Transmission Corp was loud and strong. What did they do? Back-peddled and said that they had done what they could within their jurisdiction and their power.



For more information, come to City Hall and review the big binders in the lobby that contained all the information. I am sure they were truthful in saying that their powers were limited (these things can be easily confirmed), but the binders were full of  engineering reports that made little to no sense to the average citizen.
And tell me how many residents of Delta could easily drop by City Hall to review these documents? Working people and seniors didn't have a lot of options.

2) Kip Gaudry porn fiasco:
Nothing worse than finding out one of your employees has been charged with child porn. That's what happened when Kip Gaudry, director of Delta's Engineering department, was arrested (and later convicted) of possession of child porn. The media reported on the situation and Harvie was quick to defend Delta's hiring practices. 

Excuse me? How could this man, who had a history of not working well with colleagues in former companies, get the contract? Don't they do any kind of due diligence when interviewing candidates for a high ranking position? Are you telling me that you don't want to know what kind of a person this is? And why did people in this community did not rise up with an outcry over this appalling lack of investigation into the man's character? I think the answer to that question is the bigger story....

3)The Corporation of Delta is the only municipality that DOES NOT have a communications officer, department or staff. 
In this day and age, with the communications landscape changing so drastically and so quickly, it boggles the mind. The consistent feedback I have been given by people who are closer to the Mayor than I am is that Lois and George figure they can handle things themselves. It's all about the kingmaker protecting the king. What they don't realize is that in this age of social media, people are talking about Lois and George whether they like it or not. The public's conversations are happening on a global level - not just in the living rooms and coffee shops of Delta. If they choose to continue to not engage in the conversations, that's their choice. But they should not be surprised when the Dinosaur label remains permanently attached to their foreheads and they find themselves on the outside of City Hall looking in. 

This is a community that FEELS as if it has been badly used (power lines, perimeter road, port expansion, liberal party etc.) and they are not prepared to be treated like collective doormats anymore. A cabinet minister (Wally Oppal) lost out to an independent (Vicky Huntington) simply because she styled herself as the Voice Of The People. And it worked.
Talk to the French and the Americans of the 18th century, the Russians in the early 20th century, many Arab countries in recent months and now the regular folk & the unions on Wall Street. People are tired of being treated like dirt and can easily muster themselves into protest groups that demand recognition.
  
History has shown us time and again when those in power get too arrogant and condescending...I'm surprised George and Lois aren't reading the writing on the wall.

Perhaps they're not as smart as they think they are....

(One thing to note here: maybe Lois and George ARE doing a good job -- but the point is, they are being PERCEIVED as being arrogant and condescending. It doesn't matter what the truth is --- it's all about perception. And when people don't know what's going on, they will make up their own stories to fill in the gaps. And these stories will be overwhelmingly negative. This is where open communication can build bridges and wipe away perception and turn it into truth).


AMEN Guest Blogger #1! 
I am adding you to my heroes list! Thank you for sharing! 
(I had to bump Robert Campbell down a peg, but I am sure he'll understand, as Guest Blogger #1 had so many important points.)

Speaking of heroes, my #1 hero, Councillor Heather King, has a new Facebook page.
Barb's Heroes List:
  1. Councillor Heather King, Mayor Candidate
  2. Neil Corbett , Council Candidate,
  3. Francis Van Roode, VP Sunfish
  4. Philip Raphael, Editor South Delta Leader & Pop Quiz #2 winner!
  5.  Andrew Conley, Council Candidate
  6. Scott Broderick, Council Candidate & Pop Quiz #1: 1st place winner! 
  7. Cathie Goodman, Pop Quiz #1: 2nd place winner & SD Leader winner!
  8. Ladners Landing,  Pop Quiz #1: 3rd place winner
  9. Carroll Allan, School Board Trustee Candidate 
  10.  Ferd Lamens, Ambassadors Toastmaster & regular guy concerned about gas tax 
  11. Pam Noble Paton, for her family values and for standing by her man 
  12. Guest Blogger #1
  13. Councillor Robert Campbell (pending) 
If you have a concern, contact Heather King.  Her information is at the top of the page. She WANTS to talk to you. 
                                                                                                                
Tell the KING!

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