Bogeymen and "Public" Border Meetings

The bogeymen of David Estrin’s legal bills and the Twinned Bridge are leading a call for a public meeting on the border. How convenient.

But what is the point of a public meeting now? What can the public say or do that can help salvage the mess of supposed high legal fees, the Mayor’s failed billion dollar short-term dream and no allies for the City on the border? It would take real information sharing, more than one session and citizens truly believing that Council wants public input for citizens to have a meaningful dialogue with our elected reps
Why the sudden change by the Mayor and Councillors? Support finally for open and transparent government? Hardly.

The infamous Agenda Item #5 gave the real PLAN away. There is a desire at City Hall for complete authority to do what they want in secret with us giving them a blank cheque.

To justify this a "public session" is needed. Only after the public has ranted and raved will the real Resolution will be put forward by a "Friendly Councillor." No member of the public will have the chance to speak against the Friendly Resolution since the public’s speaking time would be over by then and only Councillors can speak. Eddie will enforce strictly the Procedural By-law too to make sure of that.

The Resolution will pass unanimously (What are in camera strategic sessions for anyway if not to plan in advance what actions are to be taken at the public session). Then City Hall can say they have listened to us and then blame us later when the Schwartz billion dollar short-term strategy fails as it must.

Now that you understand why I say there is no need for a public meeting, do not be surprised when it happens.