To Mayor and White Rock Council.
I am opposed to the proposed amendment to Bylaw 1860 that will remove Question Period. I am most disappointed that City Council no longer feels the need to listen to questions from the public in a Public Forum. The Mayor and City Council should treat the public input process with the respect and dignity that citizens deserve. We both want White Rock to prosper. We, the public, and City Council are on the same team, or at least we should be!

Question Period is a valuable tool for the public to share concerns with City Council and for the public to hear those concerns as well as your response.

Removal of Question Period contradicts the Mayor’s own stated values!

Conflict with the Mayor’s stated Values:
Requiring questions to be received in private via email, phone, letter, or in person is in conflict with the Mayor’s values in which he states on his website that he values “Open Communication (value #6)” and “Respect for the Public (value #2)”. In 2013, the rules for Question Period were changed to prevent members of the public from asking questions not specifically on the agenda, and now in 2015 you are removing it entirely. This clearly violates the claim that you want “Open Communication” and shows disrespect to the public input process. In my opinion, this is a step backwards and so clearly violates value #5 regarding the desire for “Continuous Improvement”.

Conflict with the Mayor’s stated Goals:
This proposed change to silence the public through the elimination of Question Period will decrease the public’s confidence in its elected officials and is clearly in direct conflict with the Mayor’s #1 stated goal of creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance (click here to see the Mayors list of Values and Goals). In addition, it violates Goal #2 that states that the decision-making process should be “based upon principles and values that are respectful of the Public’s need for consultation“. Muzzling the public is clearly not respectful of the public’s need for consultation. The fact that this was pushed through first, second, and third reading on Feb 2nd prior to any printed newspaper notice given to the public further erodes confidence in this process as “creating an atmosphere of mutual respect” in our elected Mayor and Council nor does it demonstrate being “respectful of the Public’s need for consultation”. Disappointingly, quite the opposite is demonstrated.

Democracy and good governance can only exist when leaders are willing to be challenged and are willing to hear different views. I have always used Question Period in a respectful manner and have not seen any member of the public fail to present questions in an equally respectful manner. I see no valid reason to remove Question Period. When leaders stop listening, they also stop benefitting from the wisdom of those in the community that you claim to represent.

With all due respect, I ask that you NOT make this change to remove Question Period.
Scott Kristjanson

From the Mayor’s own web page:
http://www.waynebaldwin.ca/p/our-vision-mission.html

On that page, the Mayor says that the Values he stands by are:
1. Honesty and integrity.
2. Respect for the public, other elected officials, and City staff.
3. Sound fiscal management.
4. Ethical behaviour in both business and personal life.
5. Continuous improvement in seeking excellence.
6. Open communication.
7. Innovation and creativity.
8. Decisiveness and common sense in decision-making.

The Mayor’s stated goals include:
1. Increase the Public’s confidence in their elected officials by creating an atmosphere of mutual respect, tolerance, and civility in our governance processes.
2. Institute decision-making processes based upon principles and values that are respectful of the Public’s need for consultation.

We are always talking about how bullying needs to stop in Canada. We see brave women standing up to the accused CBC host Jian Ghomeshi and saying “enough!” after what may have been years of serial abuse, bullying, and rape. While the courts will decide the truth of it all, we feel pride that these women have stood up to this bully and exposed his alleged actions for the vile crime that they are. It takes just one brave soul to stand up to a bully and then they crumble. But all too often, the victim does not report the crime. All too often, the victim is vilified as someone whose actions have provoked or even deserved the bullying. All too often victims of bullying stand alone unsupported while the bully receives no punishment and repeats his crimes for years unchecked until that first brave soul, in this case Air Force Captain Lucy DeCoutere, decided to speak publicly about her ordeal and put a stop to the abuse by saying “Enough!” to the Bullies!

With the CBC Ghomeshi story fresh in our minds, I read about another case of serial bullying right here in White Rock. I read how that Mayoral Candidate David Bradshaw had been dragged through the mud for political gain by Mayor Baldwin in a “moment of anger and outrage”. It is clear that David Bradshaw worked in a toxic work environment at the BCTF. It is clear that he had trouble dealing with that stress resulting in depression and anxiety. But as in the case of Captain Lucy DeCoutere, he deserves our support and understanding, not a smear campaign.

Once again, we saw a victim of bullying is being dragged through the mud, this time by our own Mayor and perhaps others who were eager to discredit him. That someone would provide his personal and confidential work and health report to the CBC speaks volumes about how toxic that work environment must have been.

Having worked in High Tech through the good years and bad, I have seen hundreds of people, myself included, work through years of such a toxic work environment. I have seen grown men cry, employees burst out in anger, and much worse. You cannot judge them without having first lived in their shoes. I have. I was strong, but many are not. What defines character is not how we choose to deal with the emotional impact of an unjust firing, what defines our character is how we pick up the pieces and move on. In David’s case, he choose to stand up to the bullies in City Hall by saying “Enough!”. As with DeCoutere, we should be proud of David for standing up to the bullies and support him. David has my support and he deserves yours.

Read about it in the Peace Arch News here. The Mayor apologized for his a “moment of anger and outrage” but was it sincere? Was it a mistake or a well thought out and deliberate smear campaign? Decide for yourself if our Mayor has the true integrity to admit when he was wrong, or is he is just another bully with power who said that he was sorry, not because of what he did, but because he got caught?

The Mayor has his election Victory, but we all lose whenever a bully wins.

We have been told that City Hall insiders say that TWENTY TWO new towers are sitting in White Rock City Hall at various stages of planning currently on-hold pending the outcome of this election. Five towers have been approved to be built as soon as the market demand is there, including the one outside of the Town Center and another near the hospital.

Developer Pulling Money out of the White Rock Densification Hat

If that rumor is true, then 22 Towers are worth as much as $2 Billion dollars in potential Condo sales and that means at least $100M in total profits to developers, $50M to real-estate companies, and over $1B in construction contracts!

There is nothing wrong with creating towers if that is what residents want. But the Pro-Development candidates should inform residents what voting for them will do to our little City by the Sea! They don’t!

If these candidates believe that increased density is SO good for White Rock whether “people want it or not”, why don’t they list their Pro-Development voting record in their Campaign Materials? Strange.

Here is the list of Pro-Density Candidates based on their voting record or business:

Mayor Baldwin – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal*
Grant Meyer – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal
Bill Lawrence – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal
Cliff Annable – Supported Bosa and is a real-estate speculator
Megan Knight – Notary Republic

Mayor Baldwin was also a strong advocate for approving the Bosa Towers as CAO despite thousands of residents being opposed to it and who signed a petition with Democracy Direct to block it.

Who are my favorite picks for City Council?
David Bradshaw for Mayor

For Council:
Dennis Lypka, Helen Fathers, Margaret Woods, David Chesney, Ross Haugland, and Pattie Petrala.

These are our picks, but please do you own research, ask the candidates lots of questions and vote smart. Do not be fooled by Campaigns, look at how the Candidate votes!

We have heard time and again that increased density is needed to help lower our taxes and improve our businesses. Yet our taxes are the highest of any similar sized city by a large margin and 50% higher than Surrey’s taxes. And our local businesses are being crippled by excessive business taxes that are even higher, and by pay parking, and by having to operate their business in poorly maintained rented shops owned by real estate speculators who hold onto the property without maintaining them while waiting to develop another tower there. Density is hurting residents and business while helping developers get rich and the politicians that they support get elected.

The White Rock Coalition says that its first key priority is “Preserving Our Community”, yet look at what projects Coalition members Grant Meyer, Bill Lawrence, and Cliff Annable have supported in the past.

Candidates who have supported these high density developments despite strong resident opposition are:
Mayor Baldwin – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal*, supported Bosa
Grant Meyer – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal
Bill Lawrence – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal
Cliff Annable – Supported Bosa and is a real-estate speculator

None of their campaign material talks about supporting densification.

There is nothing wrong with supporting densification if that is what you say you support. If you are elected because residents want more density, then more Density should happen. That is great so long as the people know who they are voting for, and the politicians have the integrity to admit it.

Integrity means saying what you do, and doing what you say.

In fact, the record shows that each of the incumbent candidates above received campaign contributions from developers in 2011. That seems inconsistent with their campaign materials too. Strange.

Integrity means saying what you do, and doing what you say. Mayor Baldwin said he opposed Vidal, but his actions ensure it passed.

A politician’s actions must match his public statements.
Without that, there is no integrity.

Your vote matters! Tell your friends and Vote for a Change!

*Note – Mayor Baldwin publicly claimed to oppose the Vidal Street 12-Storey Mega-Condo but his actions on Oct 21st say otherwise and resulted in Vidal being approved because he voted to delay the vote.

Council was to vote on the Vidal development on Oct 21st and because Grant Meyer was not present, the Mayor could have immediately defeated this proposed development that night by creating a 3-3 tie with both Helen Fathers and Al Campbell also opposed. But what did Mayor Baldwin actually do? He delayed the vote until the next Council meeting to ensure that Grant Meyer would be there to vote FOR the development1!

By delaying the vote, Mayor Baldwin could safely vote against Vidal publicly, knowing that Grant’s vote would ensure that it still passed. Mayor Baldwin claimed that he wanted to turn down the project, but ensured that it received final approval from council by delaying the vote. And this is exactly what happened at the next Council meeting.

Vote Smart this Saturday on November 15th.
Vote for a Change.

Candidates who have supported high density developments despite strong resident opposition are:
– Mayor Baldwin – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal*
– Wayne Baldwin – Strongly Supported the Bosa Towers as White Rock CAO
– Grant Meyer – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal
– Bill Lawrence – Voted for White Rock Muffler, Evergreen, Vidal
– Cliff Annable – Supported Bosa and is a real-estate speculator

Vote Smart this Saturday on November 15th.
Vote for a Change.

*Note:
Mayor Baldwin publicly claimed to oppose the Vidal Street 12-Storey Mega-Condo but his actions on Oct 21st ensured that it passed.

And if that is true, then that would mean a lack of integrity.

White Rock All Candidate’s Meeting – Nov 10th

White Rock Community Center 7:30 pm
(Just 5 days before the Nov 15th election!)
Plenty of opportunity for residents to ask questions this time!

Candidates at the last all candidates meeting – image: Peace Arch News

White Rock Community Centre
15154 Russell Avenue (Miramar “A”)
Monday, November 10th, 2014
7:30 – 9:30 pm

Please bring plenty of questions, but also let’s remember that these candidates deserve our thanks and respect for offering to represent us on council.

Read more about it in the Peace Arch News by clicking here.
You can read the agenda here.