Mississauga Musings

Hey all.

Google Video has fixed its technical problems, so as promised, here is video of Selma Mulvey's April 9, 2008 presentation to Mississauga Council on behalf of the Dog Legislation Council of Canada.

In his Blog, Random Access, John Stewart called Mulvey's report as a, "a thoughtful presentation" that "pointed to research that suggests keeping dogs cooped up without much human contact for several weeks or months can have physiological and behavioural side effects, making dogs fearful and aggressive."

Here it is in its entirety.

MISSISSAUGA RAMBO's Fight to Reunite April 9, 2008 (25 minutes)

(Click here to go directly to Google Video)

Next...

Well, I might as well make this an easy Blog and let someone else do most of the work... In today's Mississauga News:

Mayor lectures critic on excessive e-mails

By: Joseph Chin

April 24, 2008 12:15 PM - A vocal City Hall critic has had her knuckles rapped for allegedly wasting the City’s time with her constant queries.

Ursula Keuper-Bennett was attempting to ask a question at yesterday's Council meeting when she was interrupted by Mayor Hazel McCallion.

“Practically every week I’m getting letters from you that I have to refer to (the legal department). It’s very time consuming...and it’s on the same issue all the time. There comes a time when it is costing the taxpayers money,” McCallion told Keuper-Bennett, who writes a citizen blog for The Mississauga News.

Keuper-Bennett admits to sending the City, which she slams as “a secretive, shadowy force that has no oversight or accountability mechanisms in place,” at least eight e-mails so far this year.

She also acknowledges regularly trying to ferret out classified data through the Freedom of Information (FOI) process.

“I drop six FOIs at a time,” said the former schoolteacher, who registered to run for Council in the 2006 election, but ultimately withdrew.

Keuper-Bennett said she began writing City officials with her concerns about one year ago at the request of McCallion, who didn’t want to deal with the queries at Council meetings.

“(McCallion) said to send them to the City solicitor, and she’ll be happy to answer. The reality is, they’re not happy to answer,” said Keuper-Bennett.

Though unrepentant, Keuper-Bennett said she’ll begin curtailing her e-mails. Instead, she’s hit on another tack: pen a “report” to Council. That way, it will be appended to the agenda for all to read. At least, that’s what she hopes will happen.

“My e-mails weren’t being noticed anyway,” she said.

As for being lectured by McCallion, Keuper-Bennett was conciliatory and understanding after re-viewing her videotape. She regularly videotapes Council meetings.

“I have to say that I was struck with how gentle she was in her tone of voice. It was all very reasonable and there was no attempt to intimidate.”

Well, there you have it. It's actually my first experience being written about for political reasons. I now know how it feels and I need to clarify a few points.

First, The comment that "I drop six FOIs at a time,” Actually, through negotiation with the Clerk's Office I'm allowed six FOI's being worked on at any one time. Big Difference.

When I get a result back, then I'm allowed to drop down one more FOI. I usually don't even date them --so there's no deadline for the City. A month, two, more --whatever, the reality is I'm lucky that they make those accommodations. I know what happened to Donald Barber and how he got cut off. They know it. I know it. And they know I know it.

Bottomline -I don't think that the legislators who envisioned Freedom of Information really had focussed and sustained citizen/media investigations in mind when they passed it. That kind of deep-down data collection takes years. And hundreds --possibly into the thousands of dollars that the requester needs to pay for staff search time and photocopying. But I'm in for the Folly Monty (and no, that's not a typo).

As I've stated repeatedly, I'm researching Ontario municipal governance --not just Mississauga. My primary interest is the 2001 Municipal Act and pretty well everything that's happened since. I'm In Search of Accountability --you know the "accountability" that former Minister of Municipal Affairs crowed about after the Liberals passed Bill 130? (Ask, Tim Peterson about it. He was there sitting with the Liberals at Queen's Park back in December 2006).

Mayor McCallion is right about the queries essentially being "on the same issue all the time." And those unresolved issues brought me up there yesterday to ask questions on behalf of dog owners since no other "Public" showed up.

I know I've mentioned this before too. I have an anxiety disorder --so going "up there" is extremely difficult for me. I get Stage Fright.

That's bad enough. Now imagine going up against a Canadian Icon who had this said about her.

Mr. John R. Baird (Nepean-Carleton) "I've got to tell you that I was elected to this place, and the best political advice I have ever received from a member of this Legislature came from Gerry Phillips, the Chair of Management Board. He said there are three people you don't mess with. You don't mess with Don Cherry, you don't mess with Mel Lastman and you don't mess with Hazel McCallion."

So if politicians are scared of McCallion, think how tough it is to go up there minus anxiety medication. There you have it. I still went up because there was nobody else.

I learned several important lessons yesterday though. #1 Lesson is about Perception.

I'm reminded of my former Blog entry: "Court Judge rules in favour of Mississauga Citizen-Activist Donald Barber"

It stated:

"The Judge also believed that Mr. Barber did make some physical contact with the female security guard that day. He also believed that the guard might have 'honestly perceived a 2-hand push'. And 'given the atmosphere' --the emotion, The Judge concluded that Mr. Barber 'likely did utter those comments.' (One of which was an alleged warning to guards not to be behind his car lest they find themselves under it.)"

"honestly perceived"

Up to last night I didn't quite understand how two people can "honestly perceive" a single event with radically different perceptions. I needed my own "given the atmosphere" to finally Get It.

For example, Wednesday morning when I got up during Public Question Period and the Mayor began mentioning my emails to Council --too many, took too much of legal staff's time... I'm not good when that happens -- my brain seized.

I could feel myself getting --tough to describe, this feeling of "cornered."

ANXIETY HAPPENS

Perception Happens too. I backed away from McCallion, feeling grateful that I'd survived with just my eyebrows singed --at least that was my Perception.

Last night, I watched video of the exchange and for the first time I understand what Judge Blacklock meant about "honestly perceived."

Had you asked me as I was leaving Council yesterday if I'd felt squeezed, I'd have honestly told you "yes". I'd have been wrong. Fact is, my own videotape does not bear me out.

Oh the BEAUTY of video! It sure cuts through "honestly perceived" and delivers only Reality. (at least if video is used properly...)

I still can't get over the gentleness in McCallion's voice. There's even a decent dose of "patience" dashed in there too. The contents of the video replay came as a total surprise given my heartbeat and clammy hands while up there.

Have a look for yourself.

MISSISSAUGA DOG OWNER VISITATION PROCEDURE (15 minutes)

(Click here to go directly to the clip on Google Video)

Like I said, I learned a lot about "honestly perceived" --and thought even longer. And I concluded that maybe this is it. I mean this kind of "honestly perceived" government --Municipal, Provincial, Federal-- works for most people.

The ones who it doesn't work for --society's casualities, well that's just Reality. Suck it Up.

Pockets of Poverty. 21 year waiting list for Affordable Housing. Escalating Gang Violence. Peel Police noticing more child abuse. Downloading. Uploading. Pooling. The 2001 Municipal Act. Bill 130. Local Authority Services. Zones of Immunity.

I told Joe Chin how tough it is to know --like in know-know. And how I envy the oblivious Mississaugan because I was one once --"La dee dah, I'm blessed because my government is watching out for me."

I think it was Queen's Park and the Bill 130 deliberations where I abandoned all Hope.

What I neglected to tell Mr. Chin is what a curse it is to be saddled with a mind that can't let a question go unasked.

Maybe someone can spare me months off my life (you think I really want to be doing this --sharing the same air as politicians?) and answer just one question for me, please.

"Zones of Immunity" --"How can this be?"

Like. How?

On the bright side...

GREAT NEWS! THE DODGE CHARGER "302" CAR IS BACK FROM REPAIR!

In today's article, Mr. Chin quoted me as saying that, “My e-mails weren’t being noticed anyway.”

Readers may recall that the Mississauga Dodge Charger Enforcement "302" car suffered a collision in mid-February. Well, it's back from repair --I saw it for the first time yesterday at the Square One Transit Terminal.

About emails. Two "hints" in this video made me realize that someone is definitely taking notice.

MISSISSAUGA DODGE CHARGER "302" ENFORCEMENT CAR RETURNS!

[UPDATE: April 25, 2008 9:25 pm. I received email today informing me that I had misinterpreted the space where the crest used to be on both the "301" and "302" Mississauga Transit Enforcement vehicles. The crests weren't removed to make the cars more Bill 159 compliant (made to look less like police cars). Rather, both vehicles are awaiting a newly-designed crest. Disappointing but what can you do?

I have removed the original video and will have a "remake" available shortly. Apologies for the error.]

UPDATE: April 25, 2008 11:51pm. Replacement now online]

(Click here to go directly to the clip on YouTube and Google Video)

Signed,
The Mississauga Muse