VERY informed sources tell the Langley Record that the much talked about $86,000 needed to fund the Langley Senior's Outreach may not be totally accurate. The local media has been reporting that this $86 Grand is needed for senior's outreach and seniors are precious to us all (or should be). But now we learn that a sizeable portion of these funds pay the salaries of paid workers to help "organize volunteers".
Why Isn't the local press reporting these facts to the public so everyone can make an informed decision? Are the local newspapers just looking to pin back the ears of the Liberal MLAs in Langley and make them feel some heat?
The Langley Record has been told that MLA's Rich Coleman and Mary Polak have extended the help of their office to assist with volunteer organizing and TransLink was contacted by the same MLA's. Word is that TransLink is offering HandiDart service to also come to the aid of these seniors.
In the upcoming Township Council Meeting on Monday, August 31st it will be very interesting to see if Mayor Rick Green proposes that Council write a cheque from a budget that he voted against, in order to fund a program where roughly 75% of the participants are from the City of Langley. Will Green's Mayor's Report serve up the usual grand-standing manure, complete with attacks on the MLA's, the Fraser Health Authority and others? Green loves to spout off in these reports, but one week later he will probably sneak into MLA Rich Coleman's BBQ for some free chicken and a chance to appear to be endorsed by Coleman. But word on the street is that after Green's show boating at the senior's meeting, Coleman has little use for Green and Green is likely to get a cold welcome if he dials for tickets to the BBQ as he did in 2008.
Perhaps Green can skip the BBQ this year and join his Socred hero, former BC premier Bill Vander Zalm in a hugg-in with the NDP and Carol James over the HST? Not a far stretch as Mayor Green gave a a local NDP provincial candidate the floor in a Township Council Meeting as many of Green's supporters worked hard to elect that Champagne Socialist who lost by a wide margin. Come hell or high water, Mayor Green is very likely to keep shooting blanks for another 2 years until some fresh blood replaces this aging dinosaur that has his own views of reality.
The news behind the news. Exploring the political issues, debates and voting records in the Township of Langley and sometimes beyond.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Mayor Green Shoots Blanks at Seniors Meeting
By Special Features Editor Inda Know
Let it be known that our seniors are the pioneers of our community. They laid the foundation for today's society and deserve our respect and support. At a rally hosted at the newly renovated Langley Seniors Centre on Saturday, the two local mayors spoke. Mayor Fassbender stated that he will see what his council is able to do. This is a novel concept - a Mayor working with his Council to solve an obviously serious community issue.
On the other hand, Rick Green the Mayor of the Township (who campaigned on a 0/0/0% tax increase over 3 years), stated; "to suggest that services to carry out outreach programs are available elsewhere in the community "is, quite frankly, insulting to the intelligence."
However, calling Outreach "an absolutely priceless" program, Green pledged that "one way or another, come hell or high water, this program will not be cut."
So the hypocrisy continues. Green promises the electorate a 0% tax increase which would have set the Township back years and used up all the surplus in short order. Now he vows to keep this outreach program running. From what, a budget that Mayor Green voted against and called unnecessary? Our seniors would have be paralyzed by a 0% tax increase as promised, and even as surely with Green's face-saving .93% tax increase that he and his cronies proposed in the third hour. The manure Mayor Green spoke about in the election would have certainly resulted in across the board hikes in such things as user fees for Township facilities and amenities. I am very certain that all preventative maintenance and upkeep of valuable Township assets would have ceased and deterioration of these assets was a done deal. Facilities would have suffered dramatically as well, all of which are well used by our seniors as part of their outreach programs. So where is the money coming from to cover the $86,000 shortfall? It is common knowledge that Rick Green does not work well with his Council as evidenced at weekly Council meetings and in public appearances with other Council members.
So, what is the solution Mr. Green? It is just like the election all over again - promising the world and not being able to deliver. Wasn't the Langley Airport to produce $1M more per year for the Township of Langley under a Green mayoralty? Wasn't there all kinds of fat and waste that Green's "Budget Bunnies" were to uncover with their 12+ week detailed examination of ToL financial records? The same Budget Bunnies that claimed the Township could save boat loads of money by collecting trash bi-weekly instead of weekly and eliminating laptop computers and Blackberries? If it were not for the diligence of a few Councillors who voted for a fair tax increase to allow this community to continue to provide services and infrastructure, this mayor would have no money to spend on anything.
But now Green attacks FHA executives (a familiar tactic of Green) and spouts off like a loose canon, promises single-handedly to solve this issue without working with the eight other elected Council members.
As a taxpayer, I want to know how Mr. Green intends to live up to his promise to our valued seniors that, "this program will not be cut." I hope our seniors are not waiting for a quick fix from this mayor - it just won't happen with his present Lone Ranger Mayor and his gun-slinging approach to governance. Clearly promises that have more bluster than luster.
Let it be known that our seniors are the pioneers of our community. They laid the foundation for today's society and deserve our respect and support. At a rally hosted at the newly renovated Langley Seniors Centre on Saturday, the two local mayors spoke. Mayor Fassbender stated that he will see what his council is able to do. This is a novel concept - a Mayor working with his Council to solve an obviously serious community issue.
On the other hand, Rick Green the Mayor of the Township (who campaigned on a 0/0/0% tax increase over 3 years), stated; "to suggest that services to carry out outreach programs are available elsewhere in the community "is, quite frankly, insulting to the intelligence."
However, calling Outreach "an absolutely priceless" program, Green pledged that "one way or another, come hell or high water, this program will not be cut."
So the hypocrisy continues. Green promises the electorate a 0% tax increase which would have set the Township back years and used up all the surplus in short order. Now he vows to keep this outreach program running. From what, a budget that Mayor Green voted against and called unnecessary? Our seniors would have be paralyzed by a 0% tax increase as promised, and even as surely with Green's face-saving .93% tax increase that he and his cronies proposed in the third hour. The manure Mayor Green spoke about in the election would have certainly resulted in across the board hikes in such things as user fees for Township facilities and amenities. I am very certain that all preventative maintenance and upkeep of valuable Township assets would have ceased and deterioration of these assets was a done deal. Facilities would have suffered dramatically as well, all of which are well used by our seniors as part of their outreach programs. So where is the money coming from to cover the $86,000 shortfall? It is common knowledge that Rick Green does not work well with his Council as evidenced at weekly Council meetings and in public appearances with other Council members.
So, what is the solution Mr. Green? It is just like the election all over again - promising the world and not being able to deliver. Wasn't the Langley Airport to produce $1M more per year for the Township of Langley under a Green mayoralty? Wasn't there all kinds of fat and waste that Green's "Budget Bunnies" were to uncover with their 12+ week detailed examination of ToL financial records? The same Budget Bunnies that claimed the Township could save boat loads of money by collecting trash bi-weekly instead of weekly and eliminating laptop computers and Blackberries? If it were not for the diligence of a few Councillors who voted for a fair tax increase to allow this community to continue to provide services and infrastructure, this mayor would have no money to spend on anything.
But now Green attacks FHA executives (a familiar tactic of Green) and spouts off like a loose canon, promises single-handedly to solve this issue without working with the eight other elected Council members.
As a taxpayer, I want to know how Mr. Green intends to live up to his promise to our valued seniors that, "this program will not be cut." I hope our seniors are not waiting for a quick fix from this mayor - it just won't happen with his present Lone Ranger Mayor and his gun-slinging approach to governance. Clearly promises that have more bluster than luster.
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