Mississauga Musings

Or Don Barber, huh? No. I think about them everyday.

From my June 4, 2007 Blog entry:

"And I suspect that despite Clayton Ruby's parting advice to his client, "Now go home, try to forget all this and have a good summer.." the final verdict must certainly be preying on the 75 year old senior. Mr. Batista knows this is a criminal court and he could be convicted of a crime. Imagine being a good citizen all your life and then receiving such a "black mark" at age 75."

Perhaps you've been thinking that my Blog abandoned Antonio Batista as well, what with me writing about everything from Enersource to the Mississauga Civic Centre architect giving a speech at The Big Yellow to Andre Marin's Puffery-Zone-of-Immunity Report. Or City Hall Car Pooling or that Parrish "This isn't a Secret Society" stuff.

Bet you thought I'd forgotten about Mr. Antonio Batista, huh?

Every single Blog entry has been about Mr. Antonio Batista including the cartoons. It's almost like I'm writing a novel about Mr. Antonio Batista.

And a novel is nothing if not interaction among Characters --The Plot. But to develop Characters and Plot, you first need to sketch out the Setting. After all, living things are a product of their Environment/Setting. Understanding the Setting helps you to understand the Characters.

Since June 4th, I've been detailing the Municipal Corporate Setting. Ontario Ombudsman, Andre Marin has assisted us in understanding the Provincial Setting.

From Mr. Marin, we know that The Province guarantees an extensive, pervasive, protective and above-all, impenetrable "Zone of Immunity" welded around Ontario's MUSH sector--(Municipalities, Universities, Schools, Hospitals).

This Zone of Immunity shields them from his Office's investigations and oversight.

Mr. Marin:

"My office hears complaints from thousands of people every year about these crucial publicly-funded services, but we are powerless to help them. The government could change this, but this past year, it expressly chose not to – it repeatedly turned down legislative opportunities to remove these institutions from their zones of immunity."

A reminder to readers of Councillor Pat Saito's 2006 Christmas message at the December 13, 2006 Council meeting.

"I don't know any other council that's as open and as accountable as we are." --Councillor Pat Saito (December 13, 2006)

Just think --like, really try and get your head around the two totally-contradictory statements.

Municipalities have Provincially-legislated "Zones of Immunity" (Ontario Ombudsman) and "I don't know any other council that's as open and as accountable as we are." (Mississauga Councillor Pat Saito)

And there's that word again. Accountable.

Since December 13, 2006 when I first heard Councillor Pat Saito make that statement I've been so tempted to email her and ask:

"Please, Councillor Saito, define "accountable" for me."

But I know better. I have yet to succeed in getting anyone to please, define "accountable" for me.

Mr. Antonio Batista...

"MUSH sector" "Zones of Immunity" "Please. Define "accountable' for me" has Everything to do with Mr. Antonio Batista.

Which goes back to one of my earlier Blog entries:

"That in recognition of the fact that all municipal governments are responsible and accountable governments"

Like. Here.

Please. Someone. Anyone. Please, define "accountable" for me. And for Mr. Antonio Batista.

(You may need to click twice or if you wish, Go Directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)

I'll leave you with this neat "sign-off" I just received from someone at mississauga.ca in this morning's email.

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
---George Washington Carver

Why, I think I'll add it to my growing list of fave mississauga.ca quotes. I especially love that "compassionate with the aged" part.

Signed,
The (Like, I keep tellin' people, it's impossible to make this stuff up) Mississauga Muse

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"Edward R. Murrow --My Hero". To Go Directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)

"Mississauga Saga". To Go Directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)

"A Flag named The Andre Marin". To Go Directly to the clip on YouTube or Google Video)
All "Antonio Batista Pothole Poet Trial" Blog entries:

THEIR MISSISSAUGA, yes, and ever increasingly --THEIR MISSISSAUGA (May 27, 2007)
Hypocrisy Democracy (May 28, 2007 7:27 am)
"What would Edward R. Murrow do? What would he want me to do?" (May 28, 2007 11:55 pm)
"We have to send a message to the public" Crown Attorney. (May 29, 2007 2:51 PM)
A pothole never loomed so large (John Stewart's "Random Access") (May 30, 2007)
"The government must not silence its critics by force." ---Clayton Ruby (May 29, 2007) (May 31, 2007)
"she does not think how you feel" Antonio Batista (June 4, 2007)
"Mrs. McCALLION what is wrong with the City of Mississauga?" (Antonio Batista) (June 5, 2007)
"Reasonable Person Test" --Crown Witness (June 6, 2007)

"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear"
---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)

Click here for John Stewart's Blog
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