Comments on The Burd Report: Progress?

Having achieved his crowning glory, perhaps retire...

2009-08-26T11:02:29.283-04:00

Having achieved his crowning glory, perhaps retirement is not far behind.

As for 'dialogally challenging', what dialog? Much more suited to the 'decreeing' style, I'd say. 'Pomposity' has no limits here. First we had Firehall Theatre, now we can add 'Townhall Theatre' to our tourist offerings. It just keeps getting ever more bizzare.

I wonder which "best practices" book in Brocaniers's extensive operations library this came out of? I also wonder where this saves the taxpayer some money.

Hey, this is good for tourism, - takes pressure of...

2009-08-26T08:55:14.188-04:00

Hey, this is good for tourism, - takes pressure off the waterfront. I think costumes are a great idea.

The only missing element in this municipal drama i...

2009-08-25T13:05:41.324-04:00

The only missing element in this municipal drama is costuming!

Imagine the thrill of seeing Delanty and Co. in full Victorian splendour, complete with wigs of white ringlets and imperious black robes.

Except for Mutton of course, she can revive her former upswept hair-do which she has thankfully abandoned til now. It always made me think she was in some Victorian era time warp, now it would be perfect for the occasion.

Although first impressions disagree Greg I feel vi...

2009-08-25T12:28:57.717-04:00

Although first impressions disagree Greg I feel vindicated by reading a couple of your comments.
The seating view is fabulous, the acoustics depend upon where you are sitting e.g at the press table at the back of the room it was hard to hear whenver the speaker used the pit mic and his back was turned to the audience, by choosing to speak to Council and as you say the sense of occasion was as you say remarkable, unfortunately for democracy, if it was a sombre occasion it would be good but when trying to engender a sense of collegiality during a committee meeting the sense of occasion should be informal NOT as it was last night - Supreme Courtish!
ben

I too was at the inaugural council meeting in the ...

2009-08-25T12:03:26.093-04:00

I too was at the inaugural council meeting in the Old Bailey Courtroom. I thought that it was a great success. The sightlines are good: due to the steep rake of the seating the public has a good view of all the council, and most of the officials, and vice-versa. The acoustics are good, and the sense of occasion engendered by the room is remarkable.

I am interested by Ben's explanation of the theoretical difference between "council" and "committee of the whole" meetings. It explains a lot. I think the problem is a reluctance of the council to debate among each themselves in public, not the shape of the room.