Special interests always seem to prevail
As the Community Centre plans get to be examined some things jump out at you. Why is there no aquatic centre, why is the emphasis on hockey when it started off as a Seniors project and why is the Lawn Bowling in on it?
In every large scale project something slips in that may not be part of the mandate of the project. In the last 'big dig' - the Library, which coincidentally was handed off the GillBrocanier to stickhandle through the process (even when he decided not to run in the next election he kept the job as chair of the building committee) there is a question of vested interests being slipped a quick one. The original concept of the Library build (also called the Cultural Centre) it was thought the Library, Art Gallery and Archives as well as other unnamed cultural entities could have a home on a controversial site (where it is now but the Town had to move a Tee-Ball pitch much to the chagrin of parents and the Legion). In the end, because of cost and design restrictions (As usual the most innovative designs were left on the cutting room floor) the Art Gallery was excluded. The building went ahead as a Library, and the Historical Society, with its subsidy, was moved into rooms at the Library.
This time the CCC has moved forward without an aquatic centre, despite the fact that 54% of those surveyed use aquatic facilities and the only one in Cobourg is maxed out and the other one is in Port Hope, but the Lawn Bowling Club is included - why? Does the Town want the existing land for more grass cutting opportunities? Does the LBC want to move? All questions to be answered as the steamroller moves inexorably forward to its conclusion - hurry up the design to make it shovel ready for the stimulus funds and get on with it in time for the coronation of Mayor Brocanier in 2010. All we have to do is finance another $10 million on the local taxes (1/3 of the total)
In every large scale project something slips in that may not be part of the mandate of the project. In the last 'big dig' - the Library, which coincidentally was handed off the GillBrocanier to stickhandle through the process (even when he decided not to run in the next election he kept the job as chair of the building committee) there is a question of vested interests being slipped a quick one. The original concept of the Library build (also called the Cultural Centre) it was thought the Library, Art Gallery and Archives as well as other unnamed cultural entities could have a home on a controversial site (where it is now but the Town had to move a Tee-Ball pitch much to the chagrin of parents and the Legion). In the end, because of cost and design restrictions (As usual the most innovative designs were left on the cutting room floor) the Art Gallery was excluded. The building went ahead as a Library, and the Historical Society, with its subsidy, was moved into rooms at the Library.
This time the CCC has moved forward without an aquatic centre, despite the fact that 54% of those surveyed use aquatic facilities and the only one in Cobourg is maxed out and the other one is in Port Hope, but the Lawn Bowling Club is included - why? Does the Town want the existing land for more grass cutting opportunities? Does the LBC want to move? All questions to be answered as the steamroller moves inexorably forward to its conclusion - hurry up the design to make it shovel ready for the stimulus funds and get on with it in time for the coronation of Mayor Brocanier in 2010. All we have to do is finance another $10 million on the local taxes (1/3 of the total)
18 comments:
I presume the proposed recreational centre will have amenities accessible for everyone, cafeteria, washrooms, etc. I presume the lawns for the Lawn Bowling Club will not be indoors. Since they are a private member's Club, I also presume that they will be paying 100% of the maintenance fees, including storage rental for mowers & other maintenance equipment.
With the Lawn Bowling Club out of Victoria Park, their space could be used as parking space for at last 4-6 chartered tour buses from Toronto. The area can be visually seperated by a cedar hedge. The balance of the area can be used to increase the picnic grounds for the increasing load of out-of-towner.
I almost upchucked my breakfast at Anonymous's idea of paving over yet another patch of Cobourg green space.
Ben, is it not reasonable to insist that real names be used in comments so we know where these grotesque ideas are coming from?
That would be too good but we are stuck with people not wanting to identify themselves with their ideas. At the moment all comments stand even if we know that some of them would fall over by themselves if not allowed to stand - does that make sense?
Oh Martin, I'm the anonymous with the bus parking as a possible suggestion. I wasn't trying to hide, I just posted in haste without the extra steps of establishing my old pasty-skinned guy identity.
Anyway, I can easily upchuck the idea of the parking. I was thinking only of widening the street enough to accommodate a single row of parallel parked buses. I'm really sorry to see that your constitution has become so fragile that grotesque ideas cause indigestion -- you should really have that looked into. The world ain't a bowl of select cherries ya know.
I did think the area would be good to use as added picnic grounds, which, in turn, will attract more out-of-towners, who need to get there. They can park elsewhere easily enough I suppose, though I expect there will be upchucking whiners about increased out-of-towners for that.
The place is becoming more and more cluttered with stuff to cater to this or that interest group. I mean one section of the park will contain the ambience of a beaten woman, so that area won't be comfortable for those wishing to enjoy a care-free afternoon away from the woes of the world to picnic with kids in two. And this or that club took over turf with flower clocks, rose gardens, commemorative plots, etc. Stuff stuff stuff.
Who would have imagined: that Anonymous is really just Wally Keeler in a hurry! What next: that Wally is just Ben Burd with hair? that Ben is just DJO with attitude? that DJO is just GrandpaBill in drag? It's all too much.
I agree with Martin: do away with anonymous postings. If Grade 2 kids can stand up for what they believe, why can't Anonymous?
Interesting - this sudden outburst of anti-anonymous sentiment. Just to indicate my little opinion on this, I'm going to let all and sundry know about my not-yet-fledged blog titled "on the other hand" located at m-schumann.blogspot.com
So far, only one 'little' post, but more are guaranteed to follow as my other time-sucking projects mature. Maybe we'll meet over there from time to time. ttfn
Unlike the pious self-righteous self-congratulatory "GrandpaBill" I have the spine to post with my full name, not hide like a scared kittykat behind some silly pseudonym. Talk about the unadulterated hypocrisy of the kettle calling the pot black!
What is the point of doing away with Anonymous postings, if Pseudonymous postings are permitted? Sure, go ahead, Grandpappy Billy Bob, show us the example and post with your full first and last name. C'mon, do it. Show us the way.
After all, if Wally Keeler, can do it, so can you. If Wally Keeler, quickly owned up to his quick-draw unintended anonymity, so can you. Throw off the burqa from your identity GrandpaBill, take ownership of your views.
Well, Wally-in-a-Hurry, I didn't realize that my name wasn't displayed on my Google profile. Thanks to your comment, I have corrected my error.
Now, Ben, what about these Deep Throat comments? Is there really ever a need to communicate through a hole in the wall about something going on in Northumberland County?
Not an error GrandpaBill, just a passing oversight, something that happens from me also from time to time.
Ben, when you talk about "special interests", are you also referring to the seniors?
It seems to me that any group coming, hat in hand, to council asking for something specifically for them should be considered a special interest group.
Absolutely all advocates for any position can be regarded as a "special interest group SIG" but in most cases there are two types of SIG. One is the ad-hoc formation, "I want a four way stop on my street" and the other is the standing committee type, "We need a Rink" one lasts longer than the other and the importance of each group can be judged by the status of the "Champion" for instance any request led by Bill Patchett or Rod Baker will get more attention from Council than one led by myself or Keith Oliver or Manfred Schumann. Just human nature you give things to people you like!
The whole concept of special interest groups was dreamed up by politicians looking for ways to discredit causes and movements. I seem to recall the SIG label emerged during the Nasty Nineties, when a newly elected Liberal party, with Paul Martin in the Finance Minister's seat, began the work of decimating our social safety network (including the EI system for those wondering who's responsible for the mess it's in now).
The Feds had to find a way to discredit and devalue all the work, and all the evidence, collected by anti poverty organizations, churches, unions etc. that would prove the Feds were actually inflicting very serious damage upon Canadians, not saving them as they claimed they wanted to do.
The cudgel was then picked up by the Mike Harris wrecking crew, who elevated the phrase to its current level of disdain. After all, what could be worse than being accused of being part of a special interest group! You can almost feel the spit flying at you as the epithet is hurled.
DJO
Seems to me that you are saying that "special interests" are only bad when they don't go your way.
That's not what I said, try reading it again.
DJO
Sorry DJO, I was trying to reply to Ben's comment about special interests.
Special interests are bad even if they get good things. They don't have to be bad when they don't go your way. When any segment of society can exert influence, for whatever reason the perhaps "special interests" are in play. What we need is a society that can figure out who needs what and allocates resources instead of pandering to just those who apply
[What we need is a society that can figure out who needs what and allocates resources instead of pandering to just those who apply]
This is a great idea, but I'm not sure it's possible to do and keep everyone happy.
Canadians, in my opinion, only speak up when they disagree.
If only we could step up when we are happy about something too.
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