Posts by Ben Ross
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From Metro Mag
There are no caucuses. There’s a small right-leaning grouping led by Dick Quax, who is in the Act Party, not National, but it doesn’t include several high-profile National Party people, like Christine Fletcher and Cameron Brewer. There is a looser but larger grouping centred on deputy mayor Penny Hulse, who genuinely is an independent. That grouping includes councillors who are or have been members of Labour, National and Act.
http://www.metromag.co.nz/city-life/simon-wilsons-auckland/national-puts-the-moves-on-auckland/
Seems Simon also thinks the same as I do (http://voakl.net/2015/10/28/future-auckland-already-failed-with-auckland2016/ ) that the looser group of pragmatists from Council (both Left and Right) often rally around Deputy Mayor Hulse.
The Auckland Development Committee which Hulse chairs (and oversees the Unitary Plan) would be proof of that one.
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" Kaye, Michelle Boag and others were frustrated that there is "not a coherent left-right divide that you see in central government" and that councillors vote on issues. "
And that is why Future Auckland or whatever they are called are doomed to fail from the outset.
The South and West (okay Webster) are both made of Centre Left and Right Councillors but for the most part will vote for or against something together out of pragmatism for the City and their Wards.
The Isthmus and east (Fletcher notwithstanding apart from the Unitary Plan) are more driven by ideology and wonder why they get frustrated around the Governing Body.
I do wonder if some realise there is more to Auckland outside the old Auckland City Council boundaries I really do. A true test of Councillor mettle will be in December when they vote for which five areas of Auckland will go under Panuku Development Auckland's urban renewal stewardship.
How the Councillors vote will give a good indication whether they are for more pragmatic or ideological approaches.
And heck if Ralston is steering clear of Future Auckland that is a bad omen.
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I think we need to share this picture I linked ( http://www.tickld.com/x/american-management-explained-this-guy-nails-it ) some more
Shows we are just not quite there with leadership and governance on issues like thisAs for Joyce hinting Council to step in?
How about we say no, Len flips the bird and we go the CRL ourselves 100%. It can be done with some very VERY smart financials that are not of detriment to the City. -
Meanwhile this: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/family-first-fights-to-remain-tax-free-charity-2014120805
Family First NZ says it's continuing to fight to remain a tax-free charity.The group was advised in 2013 the Charities Commission intended to deregister the charity, citing Family First's traditional view of marriage being one man and one woman as one of the reasons.
Family First is appealing the decision and it will be heard in the High Court at Wellington early next year.
The group had hoped the issue would be resolved after a Supreme Court ruling in favour of Greenpeace in August.
The court ruled that Charities Act didn't limit advocacy from a charity unless it was no more than ancillary to its charitable purpose, and also found that a political purpose could also be a charitable one.
The commission is arguing the issue is about public benefit, Bob McCoskrie, national director of Family First NZ, says.
Will see how the Court rules next year
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Meanwhile over at the Sunday Star Times on page 3..... [We have Judith]
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The Taxpayers Union you can ignore as they (like a few "conservatives") lack City Building nous.
As for funding the quickest way for the moment is to have a GST sharing arrangement like Australia does between Federal and State Governments. That is all GST collected off general rates goes back to the Council. All GST off water rates goes to Watercare. All GST off public transport goes back to Auckland Transport.
After that we can go line by line in the CAPEX budget as that does need sorting out.
Once that is done then we can look at alternative funding options
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We have similar problems down here in Papakura with Addison taking off at a great rate of knots. There is land put aside for new schools and to upgrade schools but the Ministry of Education wont budge for most likely a decade. Well too late as an extra 5,000 people come in over the next 5 years and even more once the Unitary Plan goes operative.
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to Penny Bright,
And in other news around 2,000 if not more showed up for the John Banks protest just over a decade ago where about 10% (if even that) showed up for what ever today was (which was drowned out by the National Prayer Day in Aotea Square any how).
And a few thousand showed up to the Pride Parade just been.
Seems Ms Bright like the Sun that eventually sets in the west your time might be slipping to to the point of irreverence.
The City just really did not care for you nor the protesters there. There were no Councillors, no MP's, no celebrities, no Local Board members - even from those in opposition to the Mayor nominal or political.
Why? Got to knuckle down a city to build
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to Russell Brown,
Was just going to link it in here but you beat me to it Russell.
This is getting even beyond fringe material now. Heck sake Standing Orders are that and Mr Splinter failed to meet them thus denied.
Public input was given in the December Governing Body where the Mayor eventually got censured. It was utilised and people had their say including if they wished on the matter of censure as it was well flagged in advance (and even on the agenda).
Still got to love these bits:
Mr. Splinter argues against this decision saying, “At no stage has any Auckland ratepayer had any opportunity to speak on this matter to the council and accordingly, I view this to be a clear case of the deputy mayor running defense for Len Brown.
That Rick Splinter seems to be the same one here http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9672005/Hard-questions-thrown-at-Len-Brown harranging the mayor before a Franklin resident told him to literally buzz off and stop taking the forum out of its intended format.
In any case the public were given a chance to give input at the December GB meeting as well as consult their councillor prior to the meeting that dayStephen Berry is in full agreement with Mr. Splinter. “The discussions over the censure of Mayor Brown were exclusively conducted amongst councillors without public input. All Aucklanders should have the opportunity, if they wish to use it, to express their opinion on the legitimacy of Brown’s Mayoralty in a formal Governing Body setting. Is a five minute speech really that much to ask?”
Groan read the last piece I wrote above. At the same time how hard is it to check Standing Orders...
Berry believes Brown is now attempting to restrict his activities to private ‘smile and wave’ events where he will not be challenged by outraged members of the public. “Brown’s last two public events have been a private Rotary Club meeting on Monday and his State of the City address on Wednesday was done in front of an invited business audience.”
Umm these are normal meetings the Mayor has from time to time. As for outraged members - well it seems the only ones were that speaking line up, a particular blogger and a commenter their that goes by the name of Whafe.
The Len Brown Stand Down March takes place this Saturday February 22. Marchers assemble at QE2 in Britomart from 11:30, with the march leaving Britomart at 12, travelling up Queen Street to Airedale Street. With opinion polls showing consistently that 60-75% of Aucklanders believe Len Brown should resign, it promises to be a very successful march.
if less than 100 show up well then...
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
Agreed with you there Craig