Mission’s Old Boys Network

By September 25, 2014Letters

Many in Mission received their second installment of the “Mission Messenger” today and sadly it epitomizes what the public would characterize as “an old boy’s network”.

The glaring gender bias of no women represented sends a message of “coldness” and an emphasis on pages of math and numbers and bafflegab about “Cost of living alert” mostly irrelevant, clearly lacking a compassion and desire for an inclusive community. Too much focus upon numbers, no tax increase and an obvious outcome, lack of sustainability, that in short order needed amenities, infrastructures and planned growth will falter as no funds to pay the bills, but CRMG will still claim, “no tax increase” to counter (their) improper longer-range budgeting.

The other anomaly is during his inaugural speech Mayor Adlem promised a (timely) response to Seniors’ need for a Seniors’ Activity Centre. However, now going into the fourth year, only a Seniors’ Task Force has made recommendations but Seniors’ still bemoan, “no centre yet and wonder if it will occur in our lifetime”? Yet, there is the Mayor making more promises to get the massive Seniors’ vote but the saying “fool me once, shame on me but a second time, shame on you” and will likely vote for an Independent who will keep their timely promise to start building the Seniors’ Activity Centre now!

The other glaring mistruth CRMG alludes to are un-named “self-interests” which is a “red herring” at best and that “Independents” cannot deliver what a “Team” will. Whereas, the Public realize two Independents Tony Luck & Jeff Jewell were “star candidates” and instrumental in any CRMG success, that they, with others will still deliver on both platform promises and simply, while a slate can achieve a desired result and did, the traditional independent candidate is still a viable means to elect competent people.

As well, public debate, transparency and open-minded Independent Councils may often be preferred to a sometime biased “team decision” that does not reflect community values or permit dissention among the team itself. This last term, four members voted non-confidence in the Mayor and sadly, Mission Citizens do not welcome a repeat of this by the same leadership or self-interest trio of incumbents seeking re-election.

There are several very talented women Candidates who should be elected, given proven community volunteer performance and it is incongruous why CRMG making such boastful claims have not displayed the wisdom to embrace these women into the team. Thus, if for no other reason, than to achieve some gender neutrality and opportunities, the old boys team as posed will not meet the overall needs of Citizens this time.

Yours truly,

George F. Evens

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