Rick For Ruler?

Several interesting bits in today's news and of note to Township residents. Our Editorial Board was working late to verify all the facts. These news stories only serve to validate our last posting about Mayor Rick Green's behind-the-scenes and out-front publicity campaign and his ability to attach himself to Township resident concerns without providing any concrete solutions.

First is Green's Letter Writing organization and their ability to get this silly letter published in The Times (where else?). Are you in favour of throwing the Community Charter out and allowing the mayor to become your Dictator or Ruler? Interesting that Candidate Green suggested that former Mayor Kurt Alberts had a stronghold on power in the Township, but Green's supporters now suggest that we give Green ultimate rule. Again this letter writer suggests that 8 Council members are all wrong and Green is the victim. See the theme? See these letters? Most people including the Township Council simply ignore them now. But hey, it keeps Times Editor Frank Bucholtz employed in between taking jabs at politicians family members.

Next we have another Rick Green "Fight" article about the 208th Major Road Network and Truck Route. Green is on your side folks and he has been listening and will VOTE AGAINST IT FOR YOU. But why did Green allow this to become a political issue? Cllr. Mel Kositsky, Steve Ferguson, Kim Richter and others took the high road to provide a compromise solutions that if approved by TransLink would be a Win-Win for all. It's because Mayor Green simply wants attention, attachments to issues and a fan club. He is incapable of providing intelligent solutions as witnessed with 208th Street and many other issues before Council.

Today Mayor Green was guest on CBC Radio's "On The Coast" radio show. The topic of discussion? 208th Street. Mayor Green spouted off about not wanting a truck route and suggested on this show that the developers will bear the costs of upgrading 208th Street. Green had better read the Community Charter and provincial laws before suggesting that Developer Cost Charges (DCC's) will pay for this costly endeavor.

Besides the costly upgrading of the 208th and Highway 1 overpass ($up to $30M?), land must be secured along 208th for lane widening. Despite popular belief, developments along 208th that provided dedications are not adequate for the upgrading. This project could cost well over $100M when completed. Green simply doesn't get this.

The CBC Radio host did and Green was grilled about the costs of upgrades and who would pay. As per his usual, Green spouted off some vague, bull-confident statements about no truck and getting road upgrades despite that. Nothing in the way of concrete plans or intelligent recommendations.

Read the last post here and you will see the pattern emerging. Rick Green is simply not mayor material and the man is scratching to get his head around the real issues apart from politicking and running a campaign. It is high time that this mayor cease trying to paint himself as the victim (that's like beating a dead horse now) and get on with putting forth smart solutions to the Township's growing complexity and issues. Stop the politicking and get on with doing what you were elected to do Mayor Rick Green. Stop blaming everyone else for your inadequacies and failures. And they are many.

Issues Without Solutions

Langley politics is a strange mix of good and evil. Manipulation is at ever turn and lately residents seem to feel a conspiracy exists at every turn. Why are so many of our residents negative and angry?

Attend any public session or delegation to Township Council and one will hear the accusations and innuendos. As one recent blog commentator suggested, much of the talk is directed at Township staff and is very disrespectful. People tend to think they know more than the well-qualified engineers and true experts. Why is that?

Former Township Mayor Kurt Alberts had a slogan... "Working Together". Mr. Alberts did nothing short of that when he opened communications with the federal and provincial governments. He lived out "Working Together" when citizens contacted him about concerns. There was respectful discussions and sometimes respectful disagreements. Not everyone may have left Mayor Alberts office 100% satisfied, but they were shown respect and most returned that respect. At the Council table, Mayor Alberts showed that spirit of Working Together with his fellow councillors. One, two or more might have disagreed with Alberts on one issue or another, but there was much mutual respect across the table. Cllr. Kim Richter disagreed often with Alberts, but Mayor Alberts treated Richter with respect at all times. It was all a part of his Working Together philosophy.

Mayor Rick Green on the other hand talks often about "fighting" other orders of government and others. He has managed to set a precedent for disrespecting staff at every turn. During the Mufford Overpass debates, Green routinely questioned staff's integrity and expertise of several members of Township staff. It was obvious after his first two months in office that Green would not be Working Together with anyone other than insiders with vested interests.

One particular local newspaper editor gives lip service to peace, harmony and cooperation. Yet he helped get this "fighter" elected! Now how hypocritical was that? And now that Mayor Green's true colours are out, this local editor continues to polish the brass knob in an attempt to make it look better and more appealing.

Our Township community is now more divided than it ever was. Extremely qualified staff are abused with accusations and loud arguments. Staff did not sign up for combat duty and these are fine people with impeccable qualifications. Working Together has sadly given way to Every Man for Himself. For his part, Mayor Green continues to gather with groups opposed to something. People that have some issue in the Township. He strokes their egos and puts down the expert data to win their trust.

Green very manipulatively never brings about any intelligent solutions that could resolve these people's problems. Though he has access to all the expert reports, and within them many times contain room for good compromise solutions. Certainly never any MIDDLE GROUND is offered by Mayor Green. He simply vows to "fight" and then allows the fallout to hit fellow councillors and staff.

Much of Council have to "wear" Green's shrapnel. Wise Township residents see that its all fodder for the next election. One which Green has already announced his candidacy for. Green's pals in the media can't help but invoke his name and write stories about the big bad Township Council members who just can't work with this mayor. They gush with praises for this rookie mayor that has managed to alienate all but a few. The fact that Mayor Rick Green cannot get along with Cllrs. Ferguson, Fox, Kositsky, Long, Bateman, Richter and Ward should clue these media types and others in on a fatal flaw here. Can all these councillors be big and bad? When all of them at one time or another Worked Together with former Mayor Alberts for the good of our community, one has to question what Mayor Green is doing behind the scenes.

Our fellow Township residents should really examine this pattern of political maneuvering by Mayor Rick Green. Watch the media comments. Watch the public meetings that turn into a circus sideshow because he can't chair a meeting. Listen to the soundbites. Watch him appear in the driveways of those with issues. Listen for any hint of wise solutions that should come from someone holding the office of the mayor. You certainly won't find any intelligent middle ground coming from this mayor who wishes to FIGHT everyone. You will find strife, division and and personality conflicts that come from a divisive agenda that is the hallmark of Mayor Green's administration. An agenda that was clearly evident during his campaign with an issue here and another issue there.

It's very interesting that the day after the election, Mayor-Elect Rick Green removed his website from the Internet, including all of the sound bites and promises. Cllrs. Richter and Bateman have maintained their websites on a consistent basis. Their promises and statements are there for all to see. Yet if you go to this link of Green's campaign website, you will not be able to connect. It simply vanished from the face of the internet the very next day after Rick Green was elected Mayor of the Township of Langley. Now why is that?

When One Seeks To Undermine

IN OUR OPINION

Over the past few weeks are Editorial Board has been receiving information about various discussions and tactics Mayor Green has been employing in our community. You will recall that during the campaign season, candidate Rick Green was very busy holding meetings in the community to find issues to attach himself to. Once elected, he immediately attached himself to more things such as Fill Sites, the Hopington Aquifer, the 64th Avenue Overpass and more.

Since the election Township Council has allowed him to hold Mayor's Drop-In Forums as a courtesy. When first proposed by the mayor, some council members questioned the purpose of these forums. After reviewing some of the official Township recordings of those council meetings, we discovered that Cllr. Kim Richter specifically questioned the mayor as to how these meetings would be used, and if he (Mayor Green) intended to start addressing issues without council participation (paraphrase). The mayor responded that he wouldn't.

Since the Mayor's Forums began, we hear that many issues are being discussed, and solutions offered and all without council's awareness or consent. Although other requests for information are pending, we are finding that considerable Township resources are being tied up or used to research issues brought to Mayor Green. Many of these same issues coming from disgruntled community members have been addressed by staff in the past. Yet more resources are being wasted so that Mayor Green appears (to the public) to be "working on them". At a recent Drop-In Forum held in Willoughby it has been reported to us that the mayor was annoyed at the presence of three council members. Several sources tell us that the mayor raised his voice to some or all of the councillor and said publicly that this was HIS MEETING.

In another instance we were invited to meet with a Township resident that had some concerns with the mayor. In this meeting we were told that Mayor Green actually visited this resident personally to address Bylaw issue(s). The mayor failed to notify official Township Bylaw staff who had discussed the matter with the homeowner previously. The mayor appeared at the home and in a bullyish and rude manner. The mayor ordered the resident to cease certain activities.

Our elected officials in Canada are not elected to become self-appointed US-style Sheriffs that roam the county. Municipalities in Canada are civil and contract the RCMP, local police or Bylaw Officers to address matters related to the Criminal Code or Bylaw infractions. Just like an ordinary citizen that is overzealous, an elected official acting like this can ruin a criminal or Bylaw case. In a much similar Sheriff fashion, Mayor Green demanded in the past that the Langley RCMP notify him of any gang incidents so that he could appear at the crime scene with news cameras rolling to assure all Township residents that he was on the job and would see to it that these incidents wouldn't occur in our community.

Never in anyone's recent memories can long-term knowledgeable Township residents recall a mayor do the things that this man does. Behind-the-scenes meetings, consensus building bullying and other tactics are being used to the detriment of Township Council. Promises to residents concerned with a host of issues are being made personal promises by the mayor that he will single handedly resolve their issues. All of this is occurring for the most part without the knowledge or crescent of Township Council.

The Mayor's Report used to be a time in the council meeting where the mayor would report to council on what meetings or events that he or those acting in his stead, have participated in since the last meeting. Since taking office however, Mayor Green turned the docile Mayor's Report into at times a political spear hurled at council members, or to promote initiatives in his political agenda.

It is now common knowledge that several letters have been sent out from the Mayor's Office on letterhead that includes the names of ALL Council members. Yet as Cllrs. Fox and Richter pointed out recently, Mayor Green did not make council aware of these letters nor seek their consent to send them!

We also have the incident where Mayor Green attended the Township's Heritage Committee meeting. He did so to get them to add a Mayoral Chain of Office with their work plan so that he would have the jewels before the next election. At that time Cllrs. Bateman and Richter caught that line item in the committee's minutes and had the chain removed.

Shame on Mayor Green for using Township citizen committees, external boards and meetings sanctioned by the good graces of Township Council to further the mayor's re-election campaign. A campaign that he recently launched some 20+ months ahead of the next election.

In our opinion it is now time for Township Council to review the Mayor's Drop-In Forum and other activities and take some control. There are plenty of avenues for public input and participation that will at the same time, respect council and be inclusive. In our opinion these behind-the-scenes politicking excursions by Mayor Green are dangerously excluding council oversight.

Mayor Searches for Another Cause

Our Editorial Board received info from our stringers regarding last night's Township of Langley Council meeting. It is very clear that Mayor Green is in search of causes to keep his political career alive.

We will expound on them move at a later time, but it appears that Green has taken a swipe at Parklane Homes for their Bedford Landing development. A development that has been very good at working with local residents and people who use the waterways. Despite all the good intentions they are not respected by a group of people that just cannot be pleased with anything this developer does.

As we previously blogged, Parklane has done so much and now Mayor Green bitch slapped them in last night's meeting in poor attempt to garner public support. What's more, Green suggested that a public hearing be moved from the Township facility at OUR expense, so this hearing could be done in Fort Langley. Public hearings come up all the time and involve neighbourhoods all over Langley. Should these meetings now become traveling circus shows to pander to voters? The Town Hall expenses are already covered. Why should taxpayers pony up more for sound equipment, facility rental, etc.??

Mayor Green voted against the budget and now he is wanting to eat off the buffet without paying for it once again. What will it take for this man to realize one has to approve a budget in order to spend the money? When will this man stop grabbing at straws hunting out issues in the community to attach himself to? This was his campaign strategy and now he continues to do this while in office. He was elected to serve and not to continue a political campaign.

Time to stop politicking and work! Enough with the vote pandering!

Another Green Flip-Flop At Metro Vancouver

In today's Langley Advance hidden away online is this Letter to the Editor from Donna Passmore, a very vocal environmentalist in the region. Passmore rightly points out that Mayor Rick Green appears to switch his votes and ideas when he feels he is away from the local spotlight.

You may recall that previously the Langley Record has brought to light several inconsistent votes by Mayor Rick Green at Metro Vancouver meetings. The last Green flip-flop occurred when Metro Board members voted themselves a huge pay increase. However, before entering this meeting Mayor Green spoke against the pay raise and then entered the meeting and voted FOR it.

"On March 26, barely more than a year after the board (in pre-election mode) voted to keep Maple Ridge's historic Jackson Farm in the Metro Vancouver Green Zone, Maple Ridge put it back on the agenda."

"Mayor Rick Green of Langley Township (who ran on a platform of preserving farmland) and Gayle Martin of Langley City both voted in favour of developing this historic farmland."

-- Donna Passmore, Farmland Defence League of BC

While we have never heard any promises from Cllr. Martin of the City of Langley, we all know that Mayor Rick Green of the Township of Langley has been very vocal with regards to "saving farmlands". We heard much of this talk during the 2008 election campaign and of course Green's extensive musings during the Mufford/64th overpass debates. Green had vowed to "FIGHT" because he said he was "for farmers and farmlands.

The Langley Record also recently discovered that Mayor Green had an extensive voting record in Delta in the 1980's (where he was a councillor), voting in favour of development over farmlands preservation.

Trees at 208th Street Near 52A Avenue

A reader posted these comments under an old post and we thought we would bring her concerns front and center for all to see, instead of leaving it hidden in the March 25th subject post. As many know, there is a Tree Bylaw in the Township of Langley and we are not certain there is one in the City of Langley as we did not find anything on the website. Perhaps a Langley City Council member or someone in the know can respond to Melissa here.


Melissa Jerome has left a new comment on your post "When You Can't Have It Both Ways":

Today (May 11) at around 8:11 am, I was in traffic on 208th street near 52a Avenue when I looked to the left side of the road. As always, there was construction, but what caught my eye made me want to scream.

Years and years ago, my friend Semantha died a very tragic death and in her room there was a little potted tree. We planted this tree along the road she used to live, all 31 of her friends and myself included. This tree has stood for years and served as a private memorial to Semantha for us, even though it is just a tree. She loved that little plant and cherished it when she lived because it made her think of Christmas and happiness.

Not today.

The claws came down on our tree with ruthless speed and ripped it out of the hole we dug for it so many years ago, chucking it into the chipper. I started to cry and screamed something at them, but they didn't even look at me. That tree meant the world to us. It meant that she was always with us, through good times and bad. That tree has served more than once as a comfort, and now it is gone forever.

There was another identical tree beside it that was a bud off of the first, and that was gone by the time I saw the original one die.

Have these construction companies no mercy? This was OUR TREE. I don't care about billion dollar road deals, this tree was supposed to stand forever. We are all outraged at the fact that they would let the only greenery along this road that meant more than shade - two cone-shaped pine trees, no higher than an average man - die for the polluters of the earth.

I want answers. Why were these trees, and others along 208th, taken down, and why, when it was common sense to many people, did they tear down this memorial to our friend? This is getting to be like Avatar. All they want is a paycheck. All we wanted was for them to leave our trees alone.

Yesterday's Township Council Meetings

Our Editorial Board has now drank copious amounts of coffee with our Township Council stringers and here is what we can report on yesterday's Special Meeting of Council at 3:00pm and the Public Hearing Meeting at 7:00pm.

Apparently Mayor Green was absent for a family emergency and Cllr. Kim Richter served as Chair for the meetings. We hear that she did a good job as chair and appeared to be more diplomatic. Our stringers opined that perhaps the power of the Chair worked some magic. This is a good thing and it's too bad it is not the way she conducts herself at every meeting of Council.

Cllr. Richter did allow last night's public hearing participants to "cross-examine" staff which was totally inappropriate. All reports and information are in the ToL website and the public hearing is for SUBMISSIONS from the public - not cross-examination. The Chair also allowed members of the public to speak more than once, which is also inappropriate. We give her a B-.

From the two agendas there were only two issues that raised Council concern and vocal opposition. One related to the Mayor-supported Langley Airport Authority. Council felt that they already form that layer of oversight above the airport manager, therefore no further bureaucracy is required. Cllr. Ward (who is a pilot) declared that he's not willing to fix what Isn't broken. The idea burned down in defeat with a tied vote 4-4.

The other larger bone of contention came as Cllr. Richter presented a motion accusing Council of receiving a 55% pay increase (not really fact). She proposed that the current bench-marked averaging system (that was designed by an expert citizen's committee) be scrapped and replaced with Council reviewing and voting on pay increases. Several Council members spoke against "politicizing" the process and basically Richter's grandstand approach. Cllr. Ferguson pointed out that Cllr. Richter wasn't being much of a team player and this was "very disturbing" to him. We will reserve further commentary on this motion, as all members of Council addressed the issue well.

It is becoming increasingly evident that both Cllrs. Bob Long and Mel Kositsky are getting sick and tired of the folly at Council. Both are becoming more vocal with clear and concise opposition. We notice they are also moving away from more referrals of items to staff and that's a great thing. After all, Council is there to make decisions!

Overall a tame Council meeting and public hearing. Cllr. Richter did a good job of running the meeting and getting along with her Council colleagues for the most part.

Langley Record Investigative Exclusive

Our Editorial Board has been extremely busy visiting various offices in Langley, Delta, Surrey and Vancouver to bring you the very best in investigative journalism. After all, with one newspaper in Rick Green's pocket by his own admission, you can't expect much from the local rags that are barely keeping their heads above water. One in particular that won't send their editor packing despite that editor losing touch with all reality and failing to understand today's Langley Township.

(THIS SECTION REMOVED BASED ON ACTION BY OUR LEGAL COUNSEL)

Be watching this space as the news unfolds.

So Much For Openness and Transparency

At yesterday's Township Council, Cllr. Kim Richter announced a Notice of Motion that would require Township staff to advise her and other members of council of all Freedom of Information (FoI) requests from the general public. Council would receive copies of requested documents and more. This is a huge departure from her "openness and Transparency" double-speak election platforms. It is clearly a knee-jerk reaction from Richter in her futile attempt to target this blog.

Richter's folly has far reaching implications and legal challenges ahead. Imagine a Township staff member who files an FoI request in a whistle blower case? Now all of council will receive the details of this staffer's request and exposes that person to possible action or dismissal. WOW, we do hope the local CUPE and other unions are paying attention to this latest Richter silliness. Yes, the same Kim Richter who last year was championing a Whistle Blower Policy for the Township, now this week seeks to rally her uniformed troops together with desk lamps and magnifiers to snuff out freedom and liberty for the general public.

When our Editorial Board caught wind of this nonsense this morning, we immediately tasked our legal council to check on the legality of this nonsensical motion and to alert provincial officials of this attempt to is regulate their domain and usurp Provincial Privacy Legislation.

As the original FoI that reached the Langley Record through unconventional means involved Mayor Green and not Cllr. Richter, this has set off new alarm bells here at The Langley Record. Does Township Councillor Kim Richter have something to hide? Something so damaging that she must try to stifle or frustrate our rights and freedoms?

We had obtained election disclosures some time ago and was going to publish several years of Cllr. Richter's disclosure documents. Quite simply, Cllr. Kim Richter is not worth much of our time. But stay tuned as The Langley Record digs deep to uncover more news in a Langley Record Exclusive Investigation forthcoming. News that the local media deny you each and every week.

Local Press Part of Problem, Not Solution

OPINION

This week Editor Frank Bucholtz of The Langley Times too yet another opportunity to back his buddy, Township Mayor Rick Green. This is the same editor that announced in his Opinion piece back in 2008 that Township voters should really pay more attention to local property tax issues. Throwing former Mayor Kurt Alberts under the bus just days before the municipal election.

Well Mr. Bucholtz your latest rant and other press focus on the fireworks as you see them and the sensation headlines. Truth is, you haven't graced Council Chambers for much of anything, but you appear in the press to speak with authority.

The fact is, Cllr. Grant Ward spoke against wasteful 1/4 page advertising for Mayor's Forums, when a Council meeting notice garners a few inches and is much more important. So while Editor Bucholtz is so concerned about local property taxes, he is willing to white wash Mayor Green's story. Why on earth would the good editor fight a larger Township ad in his newspaper? Don't they make more money from the larger ad with Green's smiling mug? AND Bucholtz must have been really livid when some councillors suggested putting the discretionary ads out to tender and giving that to the lowest bidder.

The budget and taxes is an important issue and is as important as the other issues The Times listed. The Times fails to remind readers that Green was elected to cut the budget and do all kinds of new things, all part and parcel of his election platform. The headlines that this week's Times and Advance ran certainly got the attention of lots of readers. But they failed to address the real issues and that was that Mayor Green had direct say into the ad's content, design and size. He also authorized the expensive 14 months of such advertising, all while voting against the budget and booming his rhetoric about why he couldn't vote for the budget. Well Mayor Green, those budgets you voted against were the ones that paid for your advertising bills. Advertising with a campaign picture certainly geared to boost your position for the next election that two years ahead you have already announced your candidacy for.

The local press should really start providing balanced coverage of factual events. Their attitude and coverage impacts this community and all of the whining that has resulted from Mayor Rick Green's administration. Green is very good at painting himself as a victim along with his cohorts. But Green is directly responsible for the division in the Township of Langley and for his lack of any concrete results. Time to call a spade a spade. Editor Bucholtz and others need to consider the welfare of our community over advertising sales, hypocrisy and sensationalism.

You Be The Judge

“On the Freedom of Information that you talked about, there was a description…ah.. and I believe it said drop-in - the words drop-in was circled or squared or something and I said larger. That is correct, the words were larger. I did not have anything to do with the size of the ad.” --Mayor Green

You see the document for yourself above (click to enlarge). The Langley Advance (click) reports the entire ad was circled and The Langley Times (click) also reports the entire ad was circled. You be the judge.

Truth or Consequences?

A LANGLEY RECORD INVESTIGATIVE EXCLUSIVE

SPECIAL NOTE: Since posting this article some 15 minutes ago, our blog has been bombarded with traffic. If audio files fail to work, click to reload the page and try again. All files have been tested many times and are functioning. The volume of traffic in 15 minutes is incredible.

During the Township of Langley budget process Councillor Jordan Bateman proposed a motion that would instruct staff to place the discretionary advertising on the "Township Page" out for tender. While some advertising (such as Council and other municipal meetings) are required by law, others advertising such as a community service message or notice of the Mayor's Forum is not mandated by law. Bateman's intention was to get a competitive quote and run the ads in one paper instead of the current three. The motion was defeated at that time, as some members of Council were absent and Cllrs. Long and Kositsky opposed the motion and wanted staff to compile a complete communications plan or strategy.

At a subsequent Special Meeting of Township Council held on March 15, 2010, Cllr. Bateman was absent due to the birth of his child and Cllr. Fox proposed a motion to reduce the Township Page advertising budget by $100,000. With Cllr. Kim Richter now present, the Fox motion was seconded by Richter.

You Can Hear That Audio Here:

During the course of Council discussion, Cllrs. Long and Kositsky put forth another amendment to send the whole matter back to staff (a referral motion). These two love to send stuff back to staff so decisions can be postponed. That referral motion was defeated.

Something Old - Nothing New

During the debate on the referral motion, Cllr. Richter brought up the ad size for the Mayor's Forum. At that time (and since February, 2009), the Mayor's ad has been a pricey quarter-page and included a large 10 year old photo of Mayor Green. You know, this corny one used during the campaign:

The Bottom Line - The Kicker

Richter pointed out the wastefulness of this ad. In our opinion this is especially true given the fact that Council Meeting ads (required by law) are MUCH smaller and more important. Richter rightly questioned why Mayor Green's forum ads had to be so large?

You Can Hear That Audio Here:

As you heard in that clip, Mayor Green said that he did not design the ads nor decide how BIG they are.

Listen Specifically to What Mayor Green Said Here:

The Lies EXPOSED

So, if Mayor Green did not have say into the design of the Mayor's Forum ads, then why did he instruct staff to use that old picture? A picture took up considerable space in these ads. All at taxpayer expense! Here's what he said...funny eh?

But as the Freedom of Information Request discovered, Mayor Rick Green did in fact have a say not only in the design of the Mayor's Forum ad, but also in the size. This ad as seen in this proof would have been about the size of a Council meeting notice. But as you can see from this Langley Times (you know, that "buddy" paper) proof below, Mayor Green wrote a note to staff.


What, can't read these notes? Here's a close-up of that section for you:


Mayor Green writes on this proof, "LARGER" (initial "R" for Rick) authorizing this larger ad. Through clarification of our FoI request we were told that a Township staffer spoke with the mayor and then the staffer wrote, "It will cost more." - But wait for it.... after that discussion with Mayor Green, the staff member records Mayor Green's response by writing in quotes what the mayor said, "The cost of doing business" and the date Feb 17 09.

Wow - so not only did Mayor Rick Green fail to deliver any ZERO tax increases, but all that rhetoric about his Finance Committee, doing things differently and reducing costs was just that, RHETORIC! Despite the mayor knowing this little 14 month venture in living large advertising would be costly for us taxpayers, Green authorized a very large quarter-page ad with his equally-large 10 year old photo on it.

This is Rick Green's "cost of doing business" ... On our backs and without any regard to the budget that for two years now he has failed to vote for. Mayor Green ordered off the menu with this expensive advertising in 3 newspapers and failed to pay the bills by voting for the 2009 and 2010 budgets.

Keep in mind that with a whole two years before the next election, Mayor Rick Green has already announced his re-election intentions a few weeks ago in the newspapers. Do you suppose this expensive Mayor's Drop-In Forum 14 Month advertising campaign (with ads 100 times larger than any ad for very important Council Meetings) was just free re-election politicking for candidate Rick Green? So really this campaign began in February of 2009, just after his inauguration. Isn't that what some Councillors said at the time? And several accused those councillors of picking on the mayor, imagine that? They well realize that a short leash must be kept here.

We do hope that all Council members will question this massive advertising budget and the inconsistencies of facts. Perhaps they could explore some financial loss recovery from Mayor Green's Re-election Committee?

It's a crying shame that Cllr. Kim Richter (who had posed a clear and direct question to the mayor), received just an intelligence-insulting slap from the mayor. Shame, shame Mayor Green!

Database Cross-Check In Progress

*** LANGLEY RECORD EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION II ***


MORE TO FOLLOW.

Exclusive Investigative Report About to be Released

****** URGENT INVESTIGATIVE BULLETIN *****

The Langley Record's Editorial Board has now received the results of a Freedom of Information request. Shortly we will be releasing details of our exclusive investigation that no other local or regional news organization has bothered to investigate or will tell you about. But we have the guts to do so!

Through this FoIPPA request, The Langley Record has obtained documents that prove conclusively that taxpayer dollars were wasted in the Township of Langley by a high-ranking public official. The waste was authorized with a written acknowledgment that it would cost ToL taxpayers more money.

In addition to this blatant disregard for the taxpayers, this official made claims in open Council that said official had little to do with the extent of this expenditure. We are currently checking and verifying 3 more sources and cross-checking our databases. We will go live with the results of our investigation as soon as all the evidence is verified and cross-checked. Keep watching The Record for breaking news of this investigation.

Why Did Kim Richter Just Accept A New Township Laptop?

At the Monday, April 12, 2010 meeting of Township Council, Cllr. Kim Richter and Mayor Green took jabs at ToL Council. They both taunted Council members for what they viewed as a failure to listen to the Mayor's Standing Committee on Finance and their recommendations.

Well, Rick Green accepted a new Township laptop computer when he took office and we hear that this week Councillor Kim Richter accepted a brand new laptop computer from the ToL. Well this is really interesting (and hypocritical once again), as Richter just this past Monday slammed her fellow councillors for what she perceived as a failure of her colleagues to listen to the Finance Committee recommendations.

HYPOCRITE, because Richter ignored one of the Big 7 Recommendations when the Committee wrote (click to read full box):

Well Kim Richter, when will you cease your use of this "electronic gadgetry" if this report and it's recommendations are so credible? Explain that new laptop of yours. And what about the ringleader, Mayor Rick Green? He is constantly seen playing with his Blackberry, irritatingly so even when people are trying to speak with him.

HYPOCRISY is alive and well in the Township of Langley. It starts at the top with Rick Green and Kim Richter.

Bateman Not Responsible - Imagine That!

History was made this week on The Langley Times website. We congratulate Green flunkie Horny Toad who has always posted toxic comments blaming Township Councillor Jordan Bateman for every situation in the Township of Langley. After the Times Editor posted this opinion, Horny Toad had this to say...

"Has there ever been an education problem that couldn't be solved by just paying teachers more money. After all, EVERYONE knows they do everything for the benefit of students."

Not one single mention of Cllr. Bateman, can you picture it? We anticipate heavy rains, thunder and hail this weekend for certain. But it may be short lived as Horny Toad never has done any of his own research and relies on the political lies and favorable press writers for his information on various topics.

This PR machine is all part of the Rick Green PR machine leading up to the election. Paint Green as the "victim" of a Township Council that just won't work or listen to him. Of course we know for a fact that this mayor had opportunities to deliver the goods and has failed. His Report Card is a big fat F. Some recent Rick Green failures include:

• Failure to obtain the promised 0-0-0 by failing to provide researched and reasonable cost-cutting suggestions during the budget process. No folks, not even ONE.
• Voting for the Water Management Strategy that he ran against.
• Voting for a big fat raise in his Metro Vancouver per diem
• Voting for Metro increases that will impact taxpayers in perpetuity
  
• Supporting his Finance Committee's recommendations that included provision for cutting computer laptops and cell phones and then accepting both "technological gadgets"
• Failure to sell off the Redwoods Golf Course and Bedford House Restaurant. Green spoken often during the campaign about these two public assets and has not mentioned a word about them since winning the election. What's up with that?
• Failure to deliver $1M more per year to the ToL from increases in airport lease rates. We have seen NO proposals from Green to change anything at this airport.

Rick Green has been one big failure of a mayor for the Township of Langley. Horny Toad, better pay more attention to the facts like you have with this last comment!

Richter Body Language Clear - Her Star Has Burst

The Editorial Board had coffee this morning with our Township Council advisers. We had quite a chuckle as the "Blog In The Fog" vented about Councillor Jordan Bateman. It was clear that Bateman's calm, cool and well-researched comments on the budget got the goat of all times of Cllr. Kim Richter. Our council advisers report that Richter's body language as Bateman spoke was as if she had just taken a large mouth full of manure. We'll keep it tame here. Interesting that the Blog In The Fog (BITF) mentions all these comments and quotes from Richter, but fails to show any video or quotes from Bateman. Just some vague innuendos. What's up with that?

The BITF blames Bateman alone for the tax increases, imagine that? How foolish! How silly! How idiotic! No mention of water, sewer, contract and other drivers. You have to be a real moron to read that garbage and believe it. Even Mayor Green voted for the user pay utility increases and he was happy to not be at the other end of the forked tongue of Cllr. Richter.

Bateman rightly pointed out that conservative and liberal councils have raised taxes. Large and small cities have raised taxes. Taxes with and without casinos have raised taxes. The list goes on and all Kim Richter could counter with was a personal attack on her fellow councillors regarding the automatic raises that are bench marked with Metro. How lame was that?

Bateman rightly pointed out that the Township doesn't buy television sets, food and consumer goods. The ToL buys construction, water, sewer and other costly things. Did Cllr. Richter debate this? NO.

But Richter will surely get that crap out of her mouth just in time to use that new laptop that the Township bought for her from tax dollars approved by her fellow councillors and not approved by her. Kim Richter is ordering off the Township buffet once again and not paying the bills. Did the BITF tell you about the new ToL laptop Richter just got? NO, not at ALL!

Councillor Kim Richter is:

Out of date
Out of touch with reality
Out of urban Langley much of the time
Out to lunch

If one watches the hit TV show Glee, a twin of Councillor Kim Richter can be seen in each and every episode. Yes, Kim Richter is the spitting image of Sue Sylvester. Coach of the "Cheerios" in Glee that constantly tries to undermine her council colleagues and attack them personally and professionally. Watch the show. Watch Kim Richter. Amazing similarities.

First A Kid's Baseball Coach and Now the Mormans - The Langley Times Hits Another Low

We have been reporting during the past while about the errors and omissions of The Langley Times that we can only assume is sanctioned by the Editor and his Publisher. We recently reported on the Little League Baseball coach that The Times had to apologize to for a photo and caption about a child molester. Then there were the series of factually incorrect articles that we posted quotes and links to. Just as we published our open letter to the publisher of The Times, news of this gem hit our Editorial Board...

So this Friday The Times published this story about a bogus credit card factory that was busted by the Langley RCMP. While we think the police action was GREAT and illegal operations like this should be busted, we don't believe the RCMP wanted the nearby Mormon Temple and Church to be drawn into this raid on some illegal activity during a speacial week for them. But, as The Langley Times is on a roll lately with articles in poor taste, this quote appeared in The Langley Times piece...

"Langley RCMP’s economic crime unit executed a search warrant at a property in the 20400 block of 82 Avenue, which is the same street as the new Mormon Temple."

Now why on earth did The Langley Times see fit to drag the new Mormon Temple into this criminal crackdown? This article was published just as this local church began celebrating their new temple, a showpiece of their religion and a building that will serve something like 22,000 people, by inviting the general public to tour the new temple.

In fact, whether you agree with the Mormon religion or not, hundreds (if not thousands) of people from all over the Pacific Northwest are currently visiting and touring this grand $34M temple building. Many cars and buses were backed up on 200th Street and the surrounding area Saturday, as the local Mormon church served as gracious hosts to those visiting Langley citizens and those who traveled from beyond Langley. We are also sure that those same visitors will spend lots of money this weekend in local restaurants, shops and hotels.

For all their good will, the Mormon Temple is mentioned in the same article about some serious criminal activity, almost as if they were somehow affiliated with this illegal activity! The Langley Record Editorial Board aren't the only ones that immediately thought this reference in The Times was in extremely poor taste, as this Langley Times blog commenter posted this...

"What's the inference here? Are the Mormons involved in criminal activities? Did the police seize any black suits, white shirts and shiny shoes at this residence?

jwlaurie

Looks like The Times had better get another "sorry column" typeset this weekend and ready for fresh publication their their Tuesday edition. Surely the Times Editor should have caught this one directly after that Little League blunder! Mr. Times Publisher, are you listening now?

An Open Letter to The Publisher of The Langley Times

**** UPDATE **** April 7, 2010 - Traffic to this article is going NUTS! Apparently people are seeking it out and where much of our traffic is direct, search engine traffic is now through the roof. People are taking an interest in this topic and the publisher would be wise to take this rebuke seriously. The primary search words are people grouping "langley record" with "langley times". It is very clear that news is traveling fast through Langley on this topic. Stay tuned!


TO: Mr. Dwayne Weidendorf

Publisher, Columnist
The Langley Times

Dear Mr. Weindorf,

Since early 2008 your newspaper has allowed slanted articles to be published for consumption by Langley residents. In fact, Township Mayor Rick Green boasted in public at the Douglas Day banquet in 2008 that he had your Editor, Frank Bucholtz in his "back pocket". The lack of investigation and fact-finding continues to be published week after week in your newspaper.

Article after article related specifically to the local political scene in both the City of Langley and the Township of Langley is being skewered on a regular basis. Minor facts are also being misreported. Here are a few quotes from The Times that are clearly false:

Full version with many inaccurate facts here.

– “Most of these developments are located near the 208 Street corridor. The Township has no plans at present to widen the street or help move traffic better, yet the street is now congested at many hours of the day, particularly in rush hours.” Frank Bucholtz

LR EDITOR: Clearly this has been addressed in budget discussions, with specific projects for 2011. There has also been an extensive transportation plan to address the 208^th Street corridor and funding is the big requirement.

Full version of another inaccurate rant here.

– “In fact, the Township does not even have current population projections for Willoughby. About a decade ago, when development in the area was starting, population projections called for about 50,000 residents when the area was fully developed. That was later boosted to 60,000.” … “Given the trends in housing today and the exorbitant cost of land, it would not be surprising to see Willoughby have an eventual population of 70,000 or more. It now has less than 20,000” Frank Bucholtz

LR EDITOR: Apparently The Times has never read any of the Official Community Plans (OCP’s) to see that the Willoughby OCP projects 65,000 residents.

– “It used to be that homes in the Fraser Valley, starting in Surrey and moving east, were priced a fair bit lower than those in Vancouver, but that has changed in recent years. The price differential isn't as glaring as it used to be.”… “Given the very expensive housing prices here, what have local or provincial governments done to ease this affordability crisis?” … “Local governments aren't any better. They consistently raise the development cost charges on urban developments, which are paid by buyers not by developers, as some municipal politicians seem to think. The developers pass the cost on to the buyers. DCCs are a key factor in the high cost of a serviced building site.” Frank Bucholtz

LR EDITOR: Lots to say about these and other quotes in that same article, but it looks like the Editor was refuted with a reply from a ToL Council member that we are sure you are aware of.

The height of this lack of publisher control occurred today when The Langley Times had to apologize to Langley Baseball for this photo and headline which was VERY inaccurate. While The Times is trying to explain this away by talking about a box around the photo, everyone we checked with associated your headline to this photo. This was very irresponsible journalism, and damning to your Editorial team. We do hope that this poor coach in the photo is considering his legal options.

We feel very badly for this coach and the young child pictured. Here is a guy that volunteers in our community and gives of his time and talents freely. He's probably received very little recognition for all this hard work, and his first front page picture in the local newspaper is a horrendous print error that slipped by your watchdog. Imagine the horror and humiliation he was forced to endure Mr. Publisher.

There is instance after instance that we could document which proves your publishing standards have diminished greatly over the past few years. It is now time as Publisher that you take the reins of this wild horse and pull it in. While bloggers are being portrayed as being irresponsible for not performing fact-checking, The Langley Times continues to publish inaccurate and misleading articles. The Langley Times now requires your leadership. If not, there needs to be two resignations, with swift and direct control from the upper management at Black Press.

Bombshell Dropped

Our editorial war room was inundated with calls this morning to ask what the bombshell was. As reported yesterday in our "Cat Out of The Bag" article, Mayor Rick Green announced his candidacy for re-election as Mayor of the Township of Langley. That was the bombshell we spoke of and was awaiting confirmation of. You can read all about it here in the Langley Times. An immediate reaction came from The Times Editor (and old pal of Green from Delta days) which can be accessed here.

It's clear from the press coverage and comments that Green has no regard for the Community Charter and doesn't see the need for the mayor to represent the "will of council" in other meetings. While individual councillors can speak their minds, the mayors have always represented the majority "will of council" as a uniting force. This is also required under the mayor's Oath of Office that is vastly different from the Oath of Office that members of Council take.

Green makes these statements regarding "speaking out", "fighting" this or that, etc. as mere politicking. Mayor Green has for many months accused Council of continuing to fight the last election. He took the same shot at them basically in his announcement.

If the electorate reviewed this fan fare by Green and Bucholtz for an election that is about 20 months away, one must conclude that Green is the one that has not stopped fighting the last election and in fact will now use his office as mayor to further his political future. Just like that Mayoral Chain of Office. Rest assured that each and every decision by Mayor Green moving forward will now be measured against re-election, garnering more supporters that will convert to voters, and playing to the whims of his vocal Milner Green supporters.

The Times (with Bucholtz at the helm of content), would like to see nothing better than to see a 1999 style election. It makes for lots of he said, she saids, sensational headlines and the potential for greater ad dollars as readership spikes upwards. Judging by the slim amount of pages and the end of a Sunday edition of The Times, the paper needs all the help they can get.

Mayor Green may get his wish at a chance to try new things and such. Moral with key Township staff is at an all-time low and we are certain that if Green was re-elected, retirements and resignations would follow. This would be a catastrophic brain drain for the Township and one that could set us back 10-20 years. Reserves would be plundered. Illegally plundered we assume, as Green's recommendations fly in the face of legal requirements. Infrastructure would certainly crumble and take years to rebuild. At that point Green could ride into the sunset on his horsey and that would be that.

What is more chocking is the reaction of The Langley Advance in all of this. While the Advance presents more balanced stories and Editorial Opinions, they are certainly not holding this current mayor's feet to the fire as that editor did to Former Mayor Kurt Alberts. Perhaps it's because Green appears more intimidating to them and his bully style has made them impotent? Maybe some massive doses of reporter and editor Viagra is required to help them out?