Hey there, Mississauga. Wasn't going to do a Blog today, save for the January 22nd stars just linin' up right. And line up they did.
Two municipal Editorial page AH-HAHH!!s comin' on the exact-same-(yes,really)- day --and from two can't-be-any-different places. Mississauga --and Maui.
FIRST FROM THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS: [My comments in square brackets]
Serving too long
By: Demi Kolev
January 22, 2008 10:27 PM - Dear Editor:Mayor Hazel McCallion has done a wonderful job of running our City for a long time. But one can’t help but wonder if perhaps by now it has been a little too long. She was first elected in 1978; she is now in her 11th term as mayor and has occupied the title for 30 years.
[I love the word "occupied".]
As the longest serving mayor in Mississauga's history, perhaps her time has come to step down.
Despite the superb job she has done in her position, maybe it would be better if she gave someone else a chance to prove that they can handle the job.
[Clearly Demi's never dropped down a Freedom of Information...]
Although, possibly it is the fault of the municipal government for failing to put a limit on the amount of terms that a mayor can serve, and perhaps this is the reason why Hazel is now on her 11th term.
["possibly"? From their cold dead hands would they move to limit their salaries and job-related privileges.]
The time has come for a little diversity, some new blood and maybe a change in policy.
[LETTER ENDS]
"The time has come for a little diversity, some new blood and maybe a change in policy"?...
Come one Come all to the next council meeting and behold the vast sea of White. Not to mention --yep, won't mention it..
"maybe a change in policy"?! ---I got three words for that timid conditional Mississaauga-"maybe". FREEDOM. OF. INFORMATION.
Regardless. GRRRREAT Letter to the Editor by one Demi Kolev! Good on ya!
So that was in the January 22, 2008 Editorial section of The Mississauga News.
...and DANGED if in the January 22nd Editiorial in The Maui News there's mention of how Maui mayors are limited to 8-year terms. I mean think about it. The Province changed municipal elections to mirror the American 4-year cycles, right? Why not impose the ol' 8-year limit to serving on municipal councils as well?
I'm sharing this Maui News Editorial with you-all for another reason --its message, "Mayor has two critical roles". Indeed....
So here goes. [My comments once again in square brackets]
Mayor has two critical roles
The role of elected leaders is being debated in the current presidential campaign. It’s a question that can be asked on the county level.
Basically, the question boils down to whether an elected leader should be a person who inspires and motivates while setting basic policies and goals, or one who can efficiently and effectively manage the delivery of services to the public.
[HEADS UP! Freedom of Information reveals citizens need to spring to the Alert when they see "efficiently and effectively" in their municipal government's PR-spin.]
The County of Maui administration is headed up by the mayor, who must run for office every four years for a maximum tenure of eight years. The mayor is responsible for setting county goals, submitting a budget and running the day-to-day operations of a $450 million enterprise.
The No. 2 official in the administration is the managing director. In the table of organization, the department directors report to the managing director who reports only to the mayor. The managing director and the department directors are appointed. With the installation of each new mayor, there is a new administration team.
[In Ontario municipalities, "No. 2" is the City Manager. (I loved typing that.)]
Everyone under the deputy director is a civil servant and stays put regardless of who occupies the northeast corner of the county building’s ninth floor.
[Same in Mississauga. And that's the problem.)]
There is, of course, a major check on the administration beyond the voters, who have defied tradition and given the previous two mayors only one four-year term. That check is the County Council, which must approve the budget and all major administration decisions.
[re: "That check is the County Council"... Same in Mississauga. And that's the problem.]
Electing the county’s chief executive officer gives voters the opportunity to influence policies. It does little to promote efficient management. As pointed out by Mayor Charmaine Tavares (The Maui News, Jan. 20), the first year of any new administration is basically a setup or learning year. In some municipalities, the mayor sets basic goals and uses his or her bully pulpit to mobilize the public, while the managing director, a professional hired by the municipality, deals with the day-to-day operation.
[I'm stifling my comments here.]
The mayor of Maui County should never be a figurehead but the best mayor may not be the best manager and vice versa. Long-range inspiration and management efficiency are seldom found in one person.
[I think "figurehead" is a polite way of sayin' "puppet".]
And that was The Maui News Editorial for January 22, 2008.
Anyway... speakin' of strings. Thought I'd drop down a photo of me and our kite, "Kapono" (I'm the one on the right layin' down a shaka sign.)
Also, just doin' a repeat of yesterday's video showing Kapono's test flight at H. A. Baldwin Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii.
And a reminder that this video is dedicated to John Gerretsen, former Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing for his Turst, Qualty and Excellenxse (yes, "Turst, Qualty and Excellenxse") during his tenure there.
(Surf here to go directly to YouTube or Google Video)
The (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes, dudes?) Mississauga Muse
MISSISSAUGAWATCH UPDATE 7:40 Maui Time. WhoaWhoaWhoa! I surf to the MissyNews Online and who's just made the front page? John (Now Minister of the Environment) Gerretsen!
And now The MissyNews gave me another piece of the municipal puzzle (thanks, John Stewart!). This part of the article:
"The mayor (Hazel McCallion) didn't comment directly on re-election of the Liberal regime, but she did go out of her way to praise Gerretsen as a man she expects to thrive in a tough portfolio.
'I guarantee you he will change things for the good of the environment and the good of the people of Ontario,' McCallion said in introducing her old friend, the former mayor of Kingston. The two served together on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for many years.'"
John Gerretsen was THE player in the crafting and passing of the Amendments to the Municipal Act (Bill 130). Now I find out he's 1. an "old friend" of McCallion's. 2. "former mayor of Kingston". Gerretsen and McCallion 3. "served together on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for many years."
Put a fork in 'er we're done. Zero wonder now how and why Bill 130 is such a dawg of a complete cop out. Just one other question to answer...
Prediction. I bet Kingston went with "Local Authority Services" to avoid investigation by The Ontario Ombudsman...
She surfs to Google... Found it... so how did John Gerretsen's Kingston respond to Bill 130's accountability provision? They AVOIDED the Ontario Ombudsman and went with (Quel Surprise!) AMO-approved, "Local Authority Services".
REPORT TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES COMMITTEE
October 9,2007 - Page 5 -
Report No.: AP-07-027e. Conclusion
It is recommended that the City negotiate and enter into a contract for the services of Investigator offered by Local AuthorityServices Ltd. (LAS) a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) for matters arising under s.239.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001."
Quel Scam!
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"In contrast to the local law enforcement agencies, Corporate Security provides a distinct difference in approach to providing a safe and secure environment within the community." --City of Mississauga Corporate Security 2003 Strategic Draft Plan
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear" ---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
FOR READERS' COMMENTS --SCROLL TO VERY BOTTOM OF THIS ENTRY.
FELLOW-CITIZEN BLOGGERS
The CRYSTAL BEACH STRAND (Fort Erie Citizen-Blogger, Sharon Bowers)
TORONTOIAM (compilation of GTA Blogs)
Voices of Ajax (Citizen-Blogger, Karem Allen)
WindsorCityBlog (Citizen-Blogger, Ed Arditti)
Woodstock Ontario Independent News (Jim Bender)
FURTHER READING
MEDIA Bloggers:
Click here for John Stewart's Blog, RANDOM ACCESS
and Craig MxBride's X MARKS THE SPOT
"MISSISSAUGA --HOWZIT'S GOING" CARTOON ARCHIVE
Links to all previous cartoons in the Mississauga Howzit's Going series.
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Comments (2)
I just happened across this quote in my daily browsing. It's from John Stuart Mill. In the tradition of our Muse, my comments are in square brackets:
On that latter point, even if they could we all know they wouldn't.
Posted by Bright Snoop | January 23, 2008 1:13 PM
Posted on January 23, 2008 13:13
Bright Snoop.
Bottomline?
I remember Carolyn Parrish referring to municipalities as "children of the province"...
The Province is to blame. One day I'd like to determine just how many Ontario MPP's are former mayor and councillors....
That'll explain something John Tory told me --about using MPP's for municipal "oversight" instead of the Ontario Ombudsman.
Posted by The Mississauga Muse | January 23, 2008 1:27 PM
Posted on January 23, 2008 13:27