Its about the ethics (and the optics) of the matter, Mr. Emanuel

Founded by the late Jack Layton, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) describes itself as the national voice of Canadian municipalities.  Its an important organization, working with politicians of different political stripes in Ottawa advocating on behalf of municipalities right across the land. 

As such, the FCM has rules that is asks its board members to comply with.  Specifically, FCM board members are required to (excerpt from the FCM):

ACT WITHOUT POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP –

FCM is a non-partisan organization with an

enviable reputation as the voice of all Canadian
municipalities. It has been successful, in part,
because it places the common interests of all
Canadian municipalities before those of any
political party, whether in power or in opposition.
Protecting this reputation for non-partisanship
is of paramount importance. Board members must
therefore avoid any form of political partisanship
when making decisions on issues brought before
the Board or when speaking on behalf of FCM.

Newmarket's Councillor Chris Emanuel is a member of the board of the FCM (see here: http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1352913--newmarket-backs-emanuel-s-return-to-fcm)

Disturbingly,Councillor Emanuel also serves as an executive for this organization too: http://newmarketaurora.ridingassociation.org/pAboutUs

And he says "partisan"-like comments, like this: 

"Just putting his name on the ballot makes everyone proud," campaign volunteer Chris Emanuel said. "Everyone here knows how passionate Kyle is. This is just the beginning. Next time, Newmarket-Aurora is going Liberal." (Newmarket Era, May 2, 2011)

It's hard to square Councillor Emanuel's partisanship against the rules of FCM because the "Act without political partisanship" clause appears so black-and-white.  It comes down to a judgement call about whether this Council member/ FCM Board member/ Newmarket - Aurora Ontario Liberal Party executive member can participate in all of his duties without sliding down the slippery slope that FCM policy had hoped to avoid.   

You don't need an actual criminal conviction (although Councillor Emanuel has one) as proof of Councillor Emanuel's history of questionable decisions such as choosing to participate in partisan politics while simultaneously serving on the FCM board that places him on the wrong side of the spirit of FCM.  Jack Layton wouldn't have approved. 

#Nameit #Shameit

Yesterday, the Twitter-verse was stunned to see Calgary Centre North MP Michelle Rempel attacked by misogynist comments.  She wrote: 

Michelle Rempel, MP‏@MichelleRempel

I gave you Exhibit A on why more women don't run for office, I now give u Exhibit B (see reply thread, NSFW) #sexism #shameit cc @CdnIssues

Remember when this sorry episode was taking place a few months ago involving the son of the Ward 1 Councillor?:  http://bcblue.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/viciousness-of-municipal-politics-shown-in-newmarket-ontario-with-vile-attacks-on-female-councilor/

I am not writing this to expose the neanderthals that still roam the Internet spouting sexism, racism, and all other sorts of pathological anti-social viewpoints.  We all know they exist.  MP Rempel is quite correct when she writes that we must expose (via #nameit #shameit) the legions of numskulls which includes the likes of @CdnIssues, @vegha0535, and @dunkie69er amongst others.

I am much more interested by the attention (or lack thereof) by some members of the media, community leaders, etc.  For example, on the positive side, Sun TV anchor David Akin (@davidakin) voiced his strong support of Michelle Rempel.  That is the right thing for any human being (regardless of gender) to do. 

On the negative side, while @dunkie69er used language such as (* used by me to blunt the offensiveness of his actual words): "ret*rd". "b*tch". "wh*re", "c*nt", "moron", "Really hope your dad stomps all over on that wh*re", and "coma inducing trauma", Newmarket Era Editor could not find anything repulsive in those words and refused to condemn them.  I know this because I personally tweeted her and asked her to speak up.  @dlkyorkeditor was more interested in knowing why I blog under a pseudonym than she was in standing up for women's rights to participate in public office. 

Also on that list of people who refused to condemn these words include: MP Lois Brown, MPP Frank Klees, Liberal leadership hopeful Kathleen Wynne, Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen,  Councillor Tom Vegh (the "dad" referred to in the tweet who continues to sit as 'proud member of Newmarket's Inclusivity Advisory Committee'), and others, as mentioned in my earlier blog here:    http://newmarkettownhallwatch.blogspot.ca/2012/08/these-are-your-community-leaders.html

I am sick and tired of the media, politicians and other community leaders who just don't get it.  Therefore I am going to follow MP Rempel's advice.  #Nameit #Shameit.    

My Thoughts on Last Night's Glenway Meeting

The simple fact of the matter is that the Liberal Government at Queens Park is forcing Newmarket to grow (under the Places to Grow Act) whether the residents and ratepayers of Newmarket want it or not (and no wonder municipal voter turn out is so low in light of how the province has marginalized the authority of the local councils). 

What I find ironic is that certain prominent local Liberal activists (see this link for a list of board members http://newmarketaurora.ridingassociation.org/pAboutUs) are also listed prominently here: http://preserveglenway.ca/?page_id=18, here: http://shrinkslessorsquare.ca/blog/75-shrink-slessor-members-vote-for-incorporation; and here: http://www.newmarket.ca/en/townhall/contactinformationmayorandtowncouncil.asp

In other words, the people responsible for helping to elect the bozos that created the mess that Newmarket is in have managed to infiltrate into leadership positions of the groups that are supposed to be fighting these developments.  Huh?  How's that supposed to work? 

Personally, I'm against growth.  I'd rather see Glenway preserved and Yonge Davis re-developed into something that doesn't include 30 storey high rises.  Yet, let's be realistic.  The growth is being shoved down our collective throats.  There is going to be traffic congestion, infrastructure costs, school issues and all the other inconveniences whether we like it or not, (thanks for nothing to the people listed here:  http://newmarketaurora.ridingassociation.org/pAboutUs). 

What I would like to see is the people listed here: http://newmarketaurora.ridingassociation.org/pAboutUs to use their influence (especially during the present leadership race) to make the Places to Grow act an issue within the Liberal party.  Maybe if enough prominent local Liberals spoke up against this legislation, the next premier of Ontario will grant a stay of execution for Newmarket and save us all the headache that is to come.  Up until this point, I have not read anything from these prominent members of the Council, Glenway Preservation Association or Shrink Slessor Square that leads me to hope that they will speak up against Queens Park but they have to realize that they have a duty to defend our community in every which way they can.

I hope that everyone who reads this blog will write/ phone the members listed here:  http://newmarketaurora.ridingassociation.org/pAboutUs and ask them to advocate for Newmarket. 

In the mean time, my thoughts on the meeting last night in point form:

- I felt sympathy last night for the people who were lead to believe that Council has some authority here.  All local authority has been usurped by the Government of Ontario.  I felt uncomfortable seeing certain members of this list http://newmarketaurora.ridingassociation.org/pAboutUs being on stage last night because I think they know this fact (or should know this fact). 

- Last night was just 'for show' because the province's Planning Act requires it.  Knowing that made me feel sad that the hundreds of people (including the Council members) in attendance apparently have no say in what happens to our town.  That decision has been made at Queens Park already.

- We are being forced to grow so Newmarket will have to come to grips with choosing between single family home developments (like Glenway and McGregor Farms) or high rise developments (such as Slessor Square and Millard St).  I believe that a point was made by Chris Emanuel here: http://chrisemanuel.com/blog/2013/1/3/crunching-the-numbers-why-we-dont-need-glenway-to-hit-our-gr.html that we don't need to choose both options.  Councillor Emanuel doesn't explain why he favours high rises to single family homes but I think if given a choice, most of Newmarket would prefer single family homes to high rises. 

The Era gets the story wrong.

Remember when the Era published an editorial saying that new media editorialists like this blog lacked credibility and should be ignored?  This blog's position has always been (and it is a position that I share with Newmarket Free Press and Newmarket Watch and others), that mainstream media is vastly under-reporting critical municipal issues.  Our blogs are necessary because the mainstream media is more concerned with PR for the long-term municipal politicians at the expense of keeping voters abreast of the news. 

Case in point, it was my blog that pointed out the scandal involving Newmarket Cares.  On January 4th, the www.yorkregion.com web site (which is the web site of the Era and other York Region Media Group papers) re-posted its original story admitting that the Era reporter got the news wrong.  This proves how valuable my blog is. 

On deck this week is the big Glenway meeting at the Newmarket Theatre.  While I expect that the Era will report the event as an affirmation from the Glenway residents on the efforts of Ward 7 Criminal Councillor Chris Emanual, the Mayor and the Regional Councillor, from my discussions with concerned citizens, nothing is further from the truth.  Residents from Glenway are at the boiling point regarding the bumbling antics or the ineffectiveness of this political threesome.  I expect that there are going to be some fireworks taking place at Newmarket Theatre tomorrow night, and I predict you will received the sanitized version of events in the Era. 

Failed spin cycle at the Town of Newmarket/ Newmarket Cares

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Christmas.  Newmarket Town Hall Watch was ever vigilant during the holidays keeping an eye on our municipal government.

Almost a year ago, the Town of Newmarket released this media release announcing how involved it was in launching "Newmarket Cares":  http://www.newmarket.ca/en/townhall/resourcelibrary/newmarket_takes_a_stand_on_racist_graffiti_jan3_2012_final.pdf

Then on February 9, 2012, on the Town of Newmarket page that is published in the Era on a weekly basis, the Town of Newmarket made this announcement about "Newmarket Cares":  http://www.newmarket.ca/en/services/resourcelibrary/townofnmkt_february09_final2012.pdf

So it seems more than odd that the Town of Newmarket would make the following Twitter statement on December 24, 2012 in response to my most recent blog:  Town of Newmarket‏@TownofNewmarket

@NwktTownHall Please note @newmarketcares is a volunteer-based group and is not administered by #Newmarket staff.

 

It is an odd remark because clearly Newmarket employees are definitely involved in the communications relating to "Newmarket Cares".  The January press release even provides the name of a staff member for the media to contact regarding questions.  If the Town of Newmarket had no involvement, they wouldn't be issuing media releases and making announcements on official Town advertisements. 

 

Even more to the point, the Town of Newmarket could have demanded a retraction when this story was published:  http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1549337--newmarket-fire-victims-lean-on-each-other.  The Era makes it very easy to report an error (even providing an on-line link).  Yet no correction was made to "donations to be managed through Newmarket Cares, a Town of Newmarket initiative that was established following a racial graffiti incident earlier this year." 

 

The Town of Newmarket has broken a cardinal rule of public relations, namely when in damage control mode never lie to the media, (especially new media like Newmarket Town Hall Watch).  

There are too many contradictory examples that show Newmarket employees are involved with communications for "Newmarket Cares" for us to buy @townofnewmarket 's Twitter denial.  Press releases and public announcements fly in the face of what can only be called spin by the Town of Newmarket. 

 

Another cardinal rule of public relations requires an immediate correction of the mistake or lapse.  First of all, @newmarketcares follows all of Council except one member.  @newmarketcares is very conspicuous in not following @joesponga.  Secondly, if the Town of Newmarket wants to distance its employees from "Newmarket Cares" then it should get the Era to correct the Timothy St. Fire article and send out a revision to its media release so that The Era, Newmarket Town Hall Watch, the CBC, and other media outlets that have already reported on "Newmarket Cares" won't be fooled into thinking "Newmarket Cares" is a Town of Newmarket initiative.  Otherwise, it appears that the Town of Newmarket is trying to create positive press for itself for something @townofnewmarket says it has no involvement with. 

Merry Christmas Everyone

Twenty twelve was a year of folly
Fa la la la, la la la la
Leaving taxpayers melancholy
Fa la la la, la la la la
Budget passed with tax increases
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Two percent promise torn in pieces
Fa la la la, la la la la

See Van Bynen and Taylor working
Fa la la la, la la la la
Allied together, plotting, smirking
Fa la la la, la la la la
Breaking promises at their whims
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Leaving taxpayers as victims
Fa la la la, la la la la

Too much time spent on petty politics
Fa la la la, la la la la
All the while ignoring economics
Fa la la la, la la la la
Shark fins soup and tree permit bylaws
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Kids playing road hockey are still outlaws
Fa la la la, la la la la

Higher user fees in store for us
Fa la la la, la la la la
Parking charges are now enforces
Fa la la la, la la la la
Our drinking water smells like chlorine
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
While water rates are now obscene
Fa la la la, la la la la

See how the old year passes
Fa la la la, la la la la
With our Council lads and lasses
Fa la la la, la la la la
Two years left in this present reigning
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
In 2013 they'll start campaigning
Fa la la la, la la la la

Newmarket Cares - A Town of Newmarket Initiative

Lately I've been noticing the fine art of "exclusion" being played out by certain political factions within Newmarket as we ramp up to the next municipal election. 

For example, when the Glenway Preservation group launched their twitter account, it should be no surprise that who they chose to "follow" are prominent supporters of Dalton McGuinty's "Places to Grow Act" including former candidates (Taylor and Bisanz) or active members of the very party that passed the legislation that doomed the green space at Glenway to the development.  

Why not follow MPP Frank Klees?  Its not because he hasn't been successful at saving communities before, because he has.  It's because he wears the other team's colours.  Like I said, this is a prime example of politics of exclusion.  Its not about preserving the Glenway community as so much as it is about earning brownie points for the next time voters head to the ballot box. 

Its one thing when a private citizens' group wraps itself in party politics.  Its quite another thing when the actual government does it. 

Newmarket Cares, as reported in the Era newspaper here: http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1549337--newmarket-fire-victims-lean-on-each-other , is a Town of Newmarket initiative.  Newmarket Cares recently launched its own twitter account and chose to follow 15 people:

1) Jane Twinney (Ward 3 Councillor)
2) Teresa Latchford (Era Reporter)
3) Debora Kelly (Editor in Chief, York Region Media Group)
4) Newmarket Main St. BIA
5) @kwdubeau (No description but she tweets predominantly about technology)
6) Tom Hempen (Ward 4 Councillor)
7) Wes Playter (Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home)
8) Tom Vegh (Ward 1 Councillor)
9) Chris Emanuel (Ward 7 Councillor)
10) John Taylor (Regional Councillor)
11) Tony Van Bynen (Mayor)
12) Toddy Kyle (CEO of the Newmarket Public Library)
13) Newmarket Public Library
14) Town of Newmarket
15) Newmarket Chamber of Commerce

Did you notice any conspicuous omissions? 

How about Ward 5 Councillor, Joe Sponga?  I know that he doesn't tweet much (but the @tomhempen account has zero tweets).  If you re-read the Era article I linked to, you'll recognize that it was Joe Sponga's initiative to raise donations for the victims of the Timothy St. fire.  Why was he excluded by the Town of Newmarket's "Newmarket Cares" follow list?

Or how about Ward 6 Councillor, Maddie Di Muccio?  She too tweeted about the Timothy St. fire donations.  She was also the only councillor to speak out against the racist graffiti (the rest of this group kept silent -- like they did during the c-word fiasco, like they did when Councillor Emanuel was arrested and convicted, etc. etc, etc).  She too isn't on the list of "following".  And, as the Era story says, Newmarket Cares was founded in the aftermath of the racist graffiti in Newmarket last winter.

In other words, somehow the only two Councillors who bothered to get off their duffs to actually do something that Newmarket Cares was supposedly going to address, are the victims of the politics of exclusion by the Town of Newmarket? 

This is a scandal in the first rate.  Shame on you, Town of Newmarket.