****UPDATED FEBRUARY 15, 2010****
By now we are sure you have all read the letter to the editor regarding the Mayor's Standing Committee on Finance and the decision of the three civilians to resign. Something's really fishy about this for several reasons...The mayor was Chair of this committee. If you believe that Council ignored the committee, then there is a fundamental problem because the Chair is to support and advocate to Council for his committee and engage Council in the process.
- Council thought this committee was so important that they had 3 members of Council sit on the committee (Mayor Green, Cllr. Richter and Cllr. Ferguson)
- The letter writer mentioned his credentials and experience. But several times during the budget process this same individual stated that he had no municipal finance experience.
- The .93% was never explained in any detail whatsoever by the mayor. None of their budget figures were shown to add up and the accountant left on holidays before the report was written. How could run on a campaign of 0-0-0 and then propose even a .93? Did he miscalculate when running in the election?
Rick Green told us during his campaign that Langley would be saved through a Land Trust, much like the City of Vancouver. Green proposed a man with qualifications to act as a consultant, but who had also supported Green in the campaign. Council accepted the qualifications and did not fight the hiring of this consultant. One year later this exercise of a Land Trust has gone nowhere.
The Township doesn't have Vancouver's land portfolio and hence cannot generate the dollars needed to offset property taxes. Once again Mayor Green's calculator was broken and we can thank Green (and not NOT COUNCIL) for our tax increases. If he did as promised and what people elected him to do, we would be getting money flowing from this grand Land Trust that would freeze our property taxes. Green has failed us!
Mayor Rick Green's calculator is broken folks. He embarked on this finance committee process with the goal of finding massive waste and perhaps more. What he found was a well-oiled machine that is run by dedicated and bright staff.
The mayor should get his calculator repaired or replaced as this year's budget enters the debate process. It is now time for Mayor Rick Green to explain in detail where the $7M+ in cuts will come from to support his 0% rhetoric. Will he close recreation centres? Will he cancel all road repairs and upgrades? Will he rip up contracts for CUPE workers? Will he reduce garbage collection?
We want specifics Mayor Green and if the local press won't push for detailed facts to support a 0% tax increase, then the people must. It's time for details and an end to vague pontifications delivered in a white washed public relations Mayor's Report.
3 comments:
Is slicky Ricky, having missed chairing the last two budget meeting sessions, INDICATING he still intends to push his 'second year election promised "0" tax increase dictum' contrary to what council presently thinks is the more prudent thing to do on behalf of our citizens? Is he preferring Council do the dirty work while he sits on his thumbs as truly will kookie Kim?
OR will the mayor take a stance similar to what his failed Standing Committee of Finance had done last year when they offered up their unqualified 0.93%? And if he does, does this mean he is still talking to these 'resigned' campaign financial supporters?
OR will Mayor Green shoot himself in the foot again by voting for the 2010 budget while knowing full well his reputation will be all shot to hell a well?
OR will Mayor Green 'be away', as Kookie Kim has done for the final budget vote, leaving the deputy mayor chair the meeting?
This mayor is like a hot air balloon that is fast running out of fuel. He ran on a platform of lies and false promises. He loves the blame game, 'it is all Council's fault for not falling in line'. Was he so faarrrr out of the loop when he ran that most of this Council ran on a mandate for improved public safety...yes they did mayor! That costs money and as a tax payer I and most of the others approved of that....don't forget Mr. Mayor you were actually fourth in the polls!
He did no homework with staff as you indicate, he ran on false assumptions about staff and has since seen the lack of wisdom in his ways. he has been extrememly hard on staff since taking over as mayor, in fact threatening them on occassion I have heard - wow that is a team player.
As you state Editor, his task force was really lacking 'experinece' as Mr. Baker (his buddy) stated they were. A coffee seller, a lawyer and a private accountant who admitted publicly his weakness - this is experienced? Check the interview process Mr. Mayor or was this a kickback to campaign donators?
He is long on promises, short on delivery and lacking in tack - you figure it out!
One unhappy taxpayer (and there are alot more like me!)
Good points made by the posters above. Your recent update is another example of a man who is full of hot air, strong on promises, weak on delivery. This land trust idea was easy to sell to the naive locals who have yet to realize what worked in Delta can stay in Delta - this is LANGLEY. Further, what worked in Vancouver - won't work in here and can stay in Gregor land once again - this is LANGLEY. So are enough of you out there in voter land realizing what is pretty clear and evident, this man is a blowhard and a failure.
Can't wait until Nov. 2011 to boot his butt out of here, maybe back to Delta!
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