Looking for Good Governance - is that a big "ask"?
The trend today is for the average voter to be turned off the electoral process because politicians are seen as promoting their own agendas rather the wishes of the electorate. In the US, people were attracted to Trump because he claimed he was an outsider who would rid government of the self serving. But this view by voters is the reason so few are voting anymore. People do not think voting matters.
Elected representatives need to remember that citizens are not making trouble for you; some of our elected leaders are doing this to themselves by ignoring citizens and playing games with the lives of others, serving their own self interest and that of their chosen friends and City Hall technocrats.
Citizens are taxpayers and voters and want their concerns heard by politicians.
For example, in Dundas, the desire of a significant number of citizens who opposed the sale of a well used public laneway to a numbered company were ignored. Similarly, the brouhaha over ward boundaries revealed elected officials looking after their own re-election self interests and ignoring the highly paid consultants. They wasted our tax money, in the process.
The mitigation of an undocumented safety risk to school children on Sydenham Road in Dundas resulted in putting up white posts to shield those on the sidewalk from cars. In the process, they made it less safe for bicyclists. This error then resulted in a new scheme to widen the sidewalk with a boulevard at a cost of about $105,000 awarded in sole source contract. This was all done with little consultation.
We face the reality that elected officials increasingly turn to private consultants for advice at considerable expense and then ignore the advice they get. Conversely, citizens offer free advice, if consulted at all. But the reality is that community consultation process appears to occur after the decisions have already been made and all that is needed to “sell” what is inevitable by chicanery or misdirection. For shame!
The 2018 municipal election is coming and changes need to happen.
Jordan Hill
Dundas, ON
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Monday, August 21, 2017
8 comments:
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Mr. Hill
ReplyDeleteUntil there are term limits, you can expect more of the same.
Sorce
Speaking of "good governance", the unfair representation of voters by the current composition City Council is an important thing to fix. Council hired, at considerable expense to taxpayers, well qualified consultants to examine all the options to available to bring the number of voters represented in each Ward within tolerable limits. Right now the present system, due to the normal demographic changes of a growing city, is not within the standards of fairness expected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Instead, a majority of the present City Council voted for their own self interest and not that of thousands of Hamilton voters by retaining the unfair system until after the next municipal election in 2018. Nothing like getting reelected with the benefit of incumbency! For shame! A valid alternative is to vote for change and throw the rascals out.
ReplyDeleteI read this excellent opinion piece and eagerly waited for the flood of comments that would demonstrate the level of discontent amongst the voters. Alas, after a week only 2 have commented and particularly demonstrates the level of apathy that exists. Can anything truly be changed? I believe the current system is broken but I can't offer up an alternative solution. I cannot stand Donald Trump but I get why so many voted for him - they are fed up with the status quo and are desperate for something different that even on a wing and a prayer may offer change. Good governance and politics(ians)- dictionary definition for oxy-moron?
ReplyDeletePeople are elected to represent all those in the ward and to do what is in the best interests of the City. I read about the Dundas laneway issue. I applaud Council for moving forward with its disposition. They did what was in the best interests of the City and its residents not for a small group of people with only their interests in mind. That is what we elect politicians for, not to pander to special interests.
ReplyDeleteJimmy
The City voted for privatization of the Public Laneway. That decision was in the best interests of the developer and city contractor who bought the land. Clearly. Remind me again how it was in the best interests of the citizens of Hamilton?
DeleteCan one imagine what the City would look like if decisions were only made for the vocal minority and not in the best interests of the City overall? Here we have politicians trying to contain costs and risk exposure only to be chastised. These same people always complain about property tax increases. You can't have it both ways.
ReplyDeleteBalance
I willingly pay May taxes to make a better city for all. I am faithful and reliable in doing so. The City is not faithful and reliable to contain costs and implement rational risk abatement.
DeleteA signed opinion has more credibility than an opinion signed "anonymous".
Delete