TO THEME A TOWN OR NOT TO THEME - THAT'S A PRETTY TIMELY QUESTION
GOOD TO SEE PUBLIC RISING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE
MY FIRST TRIP TO MUSKOKA WAS IN THE SUMMER OF 1965. IT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE THE INTRODUCTION TO MUSKOKA THAT WOULD CHANGE MY YOUNG LIFE, INTO THE OLD FART I AM NOW. MY FATHER CAME UP FOR A VISIT, AT THE URGING OF A FAMILY FRIEND, AND BUSINESSMAN, BOB JONES, WHO WAS THE OWNER, AT THAT TIME, OF BRACEBRIDGE'S HISTORIC SHIER'S LUMBER MILL. BOB HAD A LOT OF BUILDING PLANS HE WANTED TO LAUNCH, AND AS MY FATHER HAD ONCE WORKED FOR HIS FAMILY'S LUMBER BUSINESS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, IT WAS FELT ED COULD HELP MOVE THE WORK FORWARD. SO ED ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO BOB'S SMALL "SPEC" COTTAGE, THE COMPANY HAD BUILT ON BRUCE LAKE, IN THE MINETT AREA. ON THE WAY UP TO THEIR COTTAGE, I SAW A MOOSE AND TWO BEAR CUBS, WHICH WAS WILD FOR ME, CONSIDERING I'D ONLY EVER SEEN CRITTERS LIKE THIS FOR THE PRICE OF ZOO ADMISSION.
MY WEEKEND AT THE BRUCE LAKE PROPERTY WAS MY BEGINNING. I WAS JUST A KID, BUT I MADE MY MIND UP QUITE INDEPENDENTLY, THAT MUSKOKA WAS GOING TO BE MY FUTURE HOME. AS IT TURNED OUT, WHICH WAS GOOD FOR ME, ED ACCEPTED THE JOB, AND BY THE EARLY SPRING OF 1966, WE WERE ON OUR WAY IN THE BLUE VAUXHALL THAT GOT US TO GOD'S COUNTRY, BUT NOT AN INCH MORE. IN FACT, IT DIED SHORTLY AFTER WE ARRIVED IN GRAVENHURST. IT WAS PRETTY HARD TO FIND VAUXHALL PARTS IN THOSE YEARS, SO I THINK MY DAD JUST GAVE IT ONE FINAL CURRIE SALUTE, AS HE WATCHED IT PASS OVER THE HILLSIDE OF THE COUNTRY ROAD, ON THE BACK OF A TOW TRUCK. POINT IS, WE WERE HERE. NEW MUSKOKANS. THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE TRIAL AND ERROR FOR OUR FAMILY, BEFORE WE WERE TRULY SETTLED, BUT I KNEW THEN, THAT NATURE WAS WHAT I REQUIRED TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. AS I'M WRITING HERE, TODAY, LOOKING OUT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL BOGLAND ACROSS THE LANE, WHAT A LIFE IT HAS BEEN, HERE IN THIS AMAZING HINTERLAND REGION.
BRANDING, RE-BRANDING, AND A LOT OF NONSENSE BY THE SHOVEL-FULL
For some ridiculous reason, there is this insatiable appetite to change what doesn't need to be changed. There are imbedded agenda-obsessed individuals all over the place these days, many of them getting into politics, to fulfill their passions to save us from ourselves. The current debate, in Bracebridge, for example, about the re-branding of the town, as an education / cultural centre of the region, versus being recognized as Santa's summer home, is beyond preposterous. As far as the commercial branding of the town, in the first place, it is the result of that ever-questing for the Utopian peak, when the streets will be "paved with gold, and no one will ever get old," and farting will be outlawed altogether. I understand the Education / Cultural branding idea, and where it comes from, and I don't like it. We lost an historic park in the centre of an urban area of Bracebridge, as a direct result of educational institutions insisting on locating there…..instead of somewhere less intrusive, and compromising to the urban community. If this was an example of what education branding means, then we might expect more parkland to be gobbled up in the name of post secondary education. Bracebridge blew it, when they sacrificed a park for education. And they're blowing it once again, with this ridiculous branding thing, that won't work anyway. It wasn't desired by the public, but you see, this is the problem today…..and Gravenhurst is really starting to show similar characteristics lately, of the watering-down of the public"s right to participate, in the very democracy that is supposed to serve them. As for branding Bracebridge as Santa's summer home, it's irrelevant, and doesn't require town council to do a damn thing. It's how our family members used to write to us in the 60's. "So Ted and Merle, what's it like living with Santa?" I'd hear my mother on the phone with city friends, asking when they were coming up "To Santa's summer home?" No kidding. What began in 1957 I believe, had become a corner post of the community, in less than a decade. It helped having Lake Ontario swimmer, Marilyn Bell, and I think Cliff Lumsden, swim up the Muskoka River for the Village opening. You don't forget things like this. Santa's Village has been highly successful branding on their own, without having a whole community become Santa crazy, as a way of making things better. The town has a great history to exploit. Mostly that's tucked into books for safe keeping.
From the late 1950's, Santa's Village has been a integral part of the town's life and times. Maybe we didn't think about it constantly, but there were reminders all over the place during my childhood. My girlfriend Gail Smith worked there, and so did a whack of kids, needing jobs. In 2012, it is as imbedded as it can possibly get, without the town actually changing its name altogether. It doesn't need to be branded by some formal procedure. With the massive advertising the village has had, for these many decades, there's hardly a worry Bracebridge will ever lose its connection with Santa, despite this education branding-thing. The only problem, of any full-scale saddling-up to the Village, is that it isn't owned by the municipality, and one day may cease to operate as it is today. What then? As it is, everything seems to work fine, and the casual but long-term relationship has brought unspecified prosperity to both the business ventures and the municipality. Nothing formal needed. And the nice thing about the relationship with Santa's Village, is that it has always used the Muskoka backdrop sensibly, in their marketing, and never given the impression they were an aspiring urban park in a pine forest setting. They've utilized nature such that it has become as much a great Muskoka promotion, as it is a Bracebridge theme park. I like that. Even as a kid, I thought it was great how Santa was integrated into the Muskoka setting, so naturally, and without having to cut away the trees that make it such an enchanting location. It's still a theme park, but it hasn't opted for a bald-landscape approach, and kept it all looking forested and beautiful. If I find it enchanting, dear friends, it has passed a lot of stress tests for me. I just don't feel it needs to be all-consuming, as Bracebridge already has a huge historical provenance to exploit. Here's an example of how integrated Santa's Village and town life has been over the years. Some would say, it has been a terrific relationship.
I remember the last time the town and Santa's Village joined to have a "Christmas in July" week, including a main street parade. I was a fledgling public relations assistant for the soon-to-be launched Crozier Foundation for Children. I was able to coax Roger Crozier to ride in the parade. What was historic and nostalgic about this, is that in the summer of 1966 I believe, the town held a parade for Roger, after that year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. The young Bracebridge goalie, had been awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Even though his team, the Detroit Red Wings lost to the Montreal Canadians, Roger wowed everyone with his amazing acrobatics to keep the puck out of the net. So he was awarded the trophy, and presented a gold Ford Mustang. So all these years later, I couldn't resist signing-up Roger, to re-visit that time in his life, and our town, motoring down Manitoba Street…..as part of the Santa's Village, Town of Bracebridge partnership that summer. I managed to get local hockey historian, Guy Waite, and his vintage car, a convertible, for Roger to ride in, that day, with Suzanne and I, and our two boys, Andrew and Robert, handing out candy to the huge crowd in attendance. We had fired-off a press release to the local media, announcing Roger would be traveling the parade route, to commemorate the 1966 Conn Smythe celebration. I had butterflies, let me tell you, because there was a lot that could go wrong. Rain for one thing.
I've never seen a parade crowd that huge, in any of our Muskoka communities. It wasn't just to see Roger……as Santa was also a pretty popular character that day. But it didn't require any documentation under the caption, "Plan for Branding." It just happened with good event planning and solid promotion. No marriage vows were required, and everything went great. I was proud to have Roger in the parade, and pretty pleased with myself, I was able to get organizers onside. We also didn't want to mess with their Christmas in July theme. It all worked so well together, and Roger had a blast. He was throwing candy himself, and it was great that so many people remembered our hockey legend, who were calling out his name for the entire length of the parade route. I was at his side the whole time, and hearing the crowd cheer for him did bring tears to our eyes. Roger died seven months later, of prostrate cancer. If I had doubts about pulling it all off, thank goodness I didn't get deterred by a few unexpected complications. I went on to become the public relations spokesperson for the Crozier Foundation, later that month, and I would eventually, at Roger's urging, become the curator of the Bracebridge Sports Hall of Fame, the Bracebridge arena facility created to honor local athletes. Just a little add-on here. I have a postcard somewhere here at Birch Hollow, of Roger driving the "Candy Cane Express," at Santa's Village, when he was a young man, in need of a summer job.
I stayed with the Foundation for 12 wonderful years, serving the memory of a terrific hockey player, and generous man. As a little sidebar, I was the go-between for funding applications, and I got a chance to pitch funding situations to the Crozier Foundation Board. If I suggest a bursary program for the Town of Gravenhurst's recent bequeath, it's from my own experience helping those folks out, who find themselves in serious need. I also got the wonderful opportunity, to hand these cheques to successful applicants, and sometimes it involved me visiting a hospital to do so. Roger did a lot for the community, by launching the Foundation.
You will read and hear about this latest bid to cancel the newly established "Education / Cultural" education centre branding, in favor of the Santa's summer home alliance, and I think it is all like the round-about "traffic circle" they have built up on Pine Street. The branding thing is one wildly unnecessary exercise, when everything works fine the way it is. Muskoka is the only brand needed. How do you improve upon the lakeland? Do what we've been doing since the 1870's. Capitalizing on it, by being sensible stewards. What drew my family to Muskoka in the 1960's, was the possibility of actually living and working in one of Canada's well known vacation paradises. It was just on the news last night, how studies have proven that the influences of nature, forests, lakelands, pastoral settings are good for the body and mind. Parkland can actually reduce blood pressure. It's been reducing mine, accept when I get involved in political debate. I didn't need to read a study to know this. It comes with immersion, and our imbedding in the rural climes. So as far as rebranding, what was already perfect, it's just a waste of money and time, taken away from some other municipal requirement that is not being properly served.
I grew up in Bracebridge, and I thought it had an interesting heritage and committed, strong relationship with Santa's Village. We've come through a lot of years without the urgent need to brand anything in particular. Now consider what Bracebridge won't exploit……the fact it was named after a book written by one of the best known writer's in history. The town's administration, known and in the wings, refuses to have much if anything to do with Washington Irving, the author of "Bracebridge Hall," and sketches like the fabulous, "Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Having full rights and privileges of this outstanding literary association, a very few opponents have blocked-together to keep it all under wraps. Why? Only they know, and it's obvious the reason is as flimsy and pointless as you might expect. If you have the right to play-up this truly interesting connection, but opt instead for anything else but this, in the re-branding exercise, I'm sorry…….there's not a lot of patience left to reason with the administrative guild, who are so immensely stubborn, they sold off a park to prove a point.
Gravenhurst hasn't really kicked this branding ball around much, although I wouldn't be surprised if it did appear on the council agenda one day, cooked-up by a committee bored out of its collective mind. I'm pretty sure they know I'm lurking about in the Muskoka forests, ready to pounce on any such ridiculous plan, to fabricate what we represent as a community, for some ridiculous retail extravagance. I would hope then, they would spend some time at the Gravenhurst Archives room, at the Public Library, for some history instruction, about the truly rich heritage we have here……imbedded in this picturesque, world renowned region. Should they be willing to broaden just a tad, I've got a 150th anniversary I'd like to offer them, but frankly, not as a branding gimmick. I'm currently preparing a substantial blog-presentation regarding the town's 150th anniversary. The post office was opened officially in August of 1862, and the name "Gravenhurst," came from the title of a book, written by British philosopher, poet, William Henry Smith. And yes, he was a big deal in his time, being one of the key, longterm writers of the famous Blackwood's Magazine. No, it's not about re-branding our community. Cripes I haven't been able to sell the relationship at all. I'd like to think, in some way, it would enhance the history of the town, and become at least a minor source of pride. It's not every community that has this kind of provenance to world literature. This week, you will notice a full page advertisement in The Banner, for the Summer Chatauqua program, in Muskoka Lakes, which is the historic literary / cultural celebration, reborn from the 1920's and 30's Muskoka Assembly, held on Tobin's Island, Lake Rosseau. Many of Canada's best known poets attended the Muskoka Assembly, and I've written about this dozens of times, for Muskoka Sun feature articles. It's a big deal again. History is being rightfully exploited, re-lived, modernized and celebrated. So here we have our own special international literary prominence in our two communities. Washington Irving, in Bracebridge, and William Henry Smith, in Gravenhurst. These writers were familiar with each other's work, during their writing careers. Smith may have even reviewed some of Irving's work, for the several publications he was employed. I would be brought to tears if I ever heard that a Washington Irving, Henry Smith festival was in the works. It's not sexy enough I guess. Well, it's sexy enough for me, so I'll keep plugging away.
As an advertorial, I will be presenting the William Henry Smith / Gravenhurst connection, with a companion video, in late July, to commemorate what I think is an important anniversary, regardless whether the town council has any interest or not. I will also be dedicating my regular column, in the August issue of "Curious; The Tourist Guide," to the book by Smith, "Gravenhurst; or Thoughts on Good and Evil," and the 150th anniversary of the official naming of our town. If you would like to know a little bit more about Smith and a host of other connected characters to this story, I'll be starting the series during the last week of July. It will be a simple affair. I don't have the money to invest in a fancy plaque, so it won't make it to the Opera House square. Suffice that the story might interest a few people at least. You can visit "Google Books," and look up the book name, and William Henry Smith, and you will be able to read the entire text of the still-popular book. I think it's a pretty neat relationship, that could prove very interesting in the future. So as self-appointed chief-cook and bottle washer, it's my job to prove it. What kind of odds would Nick the Greek put on something like this. Thousand to one. Well, if it's only a thousand to one, I can work with that…..seeing as my parents thought these were the odds of me finishing school. Three times that, to finish university. Greater than that, I'd ever leave the house. I'm up for the challenge.
ONE MORE PITCH, FOR COUNCIL TO BACKTRACK FROM BEQUEATH DECISION - AND PUT CITIZEN RIGHTS FIRST
MAYBE THIS IS A LOST CAUSE. I HATE TO THINK THIS WAY, BUT LATELY, I'VE FOUND MYSELF AT ALMOST CONSTANT ODDS WITH THE DECISIONS MADE BY GRAVENHURST COUNCIL. EVEN THEIR INDECISIONS MAKE ME ANGRY. I'M JUST ONE OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL BACKGROUND IN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, AS A FORMER NEWSPAPER EDITOR, AND A LOT OF WHAT I'M WITNESSING TODAY, WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT PAST THE STARTING BLOCKS BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE NEWSPAPER WARS NOT SO LONG AGO.
I'M SORRY TO SAY THIS, BUT IT'S TRUE. A FEW LONG TERM AND RETIRED COUNCILLORS KNOW THIS IS TRUE, AND ARE THANKFUL THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AND THE BLISTERING EDITORIALS, ARE A DIMINISHED REALITY IN THE LOCAL PRESS. NO COMPETITION FOR THE BIG SCOOPS, MEANS SOFT NEWS PREVAILS. CHECK IT OUT. TELL ME DIFFERENTLY. IN THE MULTI-NEWSPAPER DAYS, A LOT OF TOWN BUSINESS WOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED-OVER, AND NEEDLED THROUGH, TO FERRET OUT THE STORIES I SUSPECT ARE THERE, BUT ARE QUIETLY AND GENTLY STUFFED OUT OF SIGHT BUT NOT OUT OF MIND. SO WHEN I TELL YOU THAT THE MOST RECENT DECISION, TO TAKE THE TERRENCE HAIGHT BEQUEATH MONEY, TO PAY DOWN THE LOCAL DEBT, WOULD HAVE BEEN DRY KINDLING FOR US HUNGRY REPORTERS, TRUST ME ON THIS……IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PRETTY FOR THOSE COUNCILLORS SUPPORTING THE PLAN. NOTHING I'VE READ SO FAR, MEASURES UP TO THE STANDARD WE HAD IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, ONCE UPON A TIME, AND THE CRONIES I KNEW IN THE REPORTING GAME, WOULD HAVE SHREDDED THE IDEA, BUT NOT BEFORE MAKING COUNCIL LOOK REALLY NARROW-FOCUSED AND UNWORTHY TO MAKE SUCH A DECISION. IF IT DIDN'T MAKE THIS CLEAR IN THE FRONT PAGER, IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE ON THE EDITORIAL PAGE. COUNCILLORS WOULD HAVE BEEN YELPING ABOUT NEGATIVE PRESS. THAT WOULD HAVE INSPIRED ANOTHER EDITORIAL, AND ANOTHER AFTER THAT! REMEMBER THOSE DAYS? SURE YOU DO. SOFT NEWS WAS BEYOND THE EDITORIAL PAGE. COUNCIL NEWS WAS BARKING UP FRONT.
THE FACT THAT COUNCIL TODAY GETS A LITTLE SLAP ON THE HINDY NOW AND AGAIN, JUST ISN'T THE KIND OF AGITATION, THAT LETS THEM KNOW A DEMOCRACY IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, IN THE MURKY FORESTS, WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AT TOWN HALL. THE BEQUEATH ISSUE SHOULD BE FRONT AND CENTER, AND COUNCILLORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED BY THE PRESS BEFORE NEXT WEEK'S VOTE. IT'S NOT JUST WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE AS AN EDITOR. IT'S WHAT A MAJORITY OF EDITORS WOULD HAVE INSISTED ON, TO FIND OUT THE REASONS THESE COUNCIL REPS BELIEVE PAYING DOWN THE DEBT IS BETTER, THAN USING MONEY FOR CITIZEN BURSARIES ETC. THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW. THE PUBLIC WILL BUY PAPERS TO FIND OUT. THE SOFT APPROACH TO JOURNALISM TODAY, ISN'T WHAT WE NEED. WE HAVE NO CLEAR IDEA WHY THIS BEQUEATH IS BEING DIVERTED FROM THE CITIZENS, TO THE DEPTHS OF THE TOWN'S DEBT. DON'T YOU EXPECT THIS FROM THE PRESS? FROM THE MEDIA GENERALLY? A BLOGGER CAN ONLY GO SO FAR.
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ONE CAN ONLY HOPE, THOSE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO USE THE BEQUEATH TO PAY DOWN THE TOWN DEBT, LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. HIT THE STREETS. IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A TOWN COUNCILLOR, AND ASK GRAVENHURST CITIZENS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MILLION DOLLAR BEQUEATH / BEQUEST USED FOR…….AND ADD UP THE STATS, TO SEE IF THEY JIVE WITH PAYING DOWN THE DEBT. IT IS EXPECTED THE RESPONSES WILL BE ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT WHAT IT WILL SHOW POSITIVELY, IT THAT THERE IS A BETTER USE TO EXPLORE. WE'VE GOT SOME TIME TO WORK WITH, DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT HEAR OR READ OTHERWISE. THE OPTIONS WILL HAVE TO BE NARROWED DOWN OVER TIME. THE POINT IS, THIS MONEY IS FOR THE CITIZENS OF GRAVENHURST AND NOT JUST RATEPAYERS. THIS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD. GRAVENHURST IS NOT DEFINED AS A TOWN BY PROPERTY OWNERS OR BUSINESSES, BUT BY ALL RESIDENTS WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE IN JUDGEMENT, WHEN THE COMMITTEE VOTE WAS TAKEN, A WEEK OR SO AGO.
IT IS SENSIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR COUNCILLORS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC OUTCRY. THOSE OF US WHO ARE AGAINST THE USE OF THIS MONEY TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT, ARE NOT THE RADICAL ELEMENT OF OUR TOWN. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE IS NO RADICAL ELEMENT IN GRAVENHURST. WE HAVE A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO STUFF LIKE THIS, SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH RIGHT DOWN THE CENTRE, WITHOUT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CURVE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. JUST A FASTBALL INTO THE CATCHER'S MITT. NO GAMES BEING PLAYED, NO HIDDEN AGENDA. WE DON'T LIKE IT, WHEN THE PUBLIC'S WAFER-THIN RIGHT TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT THESE DAYS, IS WADDED UP AND DISCHARGED SOMEWHERE OUT OF SIGHT. IF THE TOWN IS TRULY INTERESTED IN TRANSPARENCY AND REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THEN STOP PLAYING SILLY GAMES…..AND LET US IN. TO LET US IN, ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, REQUIRES THE COUNCIL REPRESENTING OUR VALUES, AND INTERESTS IN OUR HOME REGION, TO OVERTURN THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION. THEY WERE WRONG, AND THEY NEED TO ADMIT IT. WE CAN FORGIVE THOSE WHO CAN ADMIT THEY MADE AN ERROR. IF PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNTS FOR ANYTHING, AND I HATE TO DRAW ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST AFTER ALL, THEN COUNCILLORS CHANGING THEIR VOTES, WILL LOOK LIKE THE "ENLIGHTENED," INSTEAD OF THE BULL HEADED.
I WON'T BE ATTENDING THE COUNCIL MEETING, ON JUNE 5TH (I BELIEVE IT IS), BECAUSE I'M TOLD MY HARANGUING CAUSES ULCERS. I WOULDN'T WANT TO GIVE ANYONE ULCERS, OR EVEN MILD INDIGESTION. I DON'T WANT TO INTIMIDATE ANY ONE, OR GIVE THE APPEARANCE I'M GOING TO HIJACK THE MEETING WITH MY WILD IRISH WAYS. THEY MIGHT EXPECT ME TO BRING ALONG A CEREMONIAL "ELECTION BROOM," AND MAKE SOME GESTURE WITH IT, AS FOREWARNING OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION. THIS IS A COMMUNITY, AND NOT ONE THAT IS WELL SERVED BY DICTATORIAL INTRUSIVENESS, ON MY PART. IF YOU KNOW ME, I'M ANYTHING BUT IMPOSING, PHYSICALLY OR SPIRITUALLY, BUT I DO ON OCCASION, FEEL THE FIREBRAND OF MY ANCESTORS RAGING WITHIN. BUT MOST OF ALL, WITHOUT MY EYES STARING THEM DOWN, I HOPE THEY WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THE GOOD AND KIND CITIZENS WHO DO ATTEND THE MEETING, REQUESTING A RE-CONSIDERATION OF THE DEBT REDUCTION PLAN.
MY BLOG IS MY SOAP-BOX. (I ONCE STOOD FOR THREE HOURS IN LONDON'S HYDE PARK 'SPEAKERS' CORNER' LISTENING TO THE SOAP BOX OPINIONS). I HAVE AN OPINION HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE USED INSTEAD, BUT IT IS CONFINED AT THE MOMENT TO THIS BLOGSITE. IF THE TOWN CHANGES THEIR APPROACH, AND WANT SUBMISSIONS, I SHALL GIVE THEM ONE. A BETTER ONE THAN TOSSING THE BEQUEATH INTO THE ABYSS OF TOWN DEBT. I TRUST THERE WILL BE A GOOD TURN-OUT OF CITIZENS FOR THE MEETING, AND I HOPE THEY AREN'T TOO INTIMIDATING EITHER. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT ENCOURAGING THE TOWN TO RECOGNIZE CITIZEN RIGHTS. IF COUNCILLORS HAVE A PROBLEM RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN, TO DISCUSS THE BEQUEATH AFFORDED THEM, THEN THEY SHOULD, WITHOUT HESITATION OR RESERVATION, OFFER THEIR RESIGNATION. AS I HAVE POINTED OUT BEFORE, THERE ARE EAGER CANDIDATES WAITING OUT THERE, TO PITCH-IN, IF THE NEED ARISES.
A FINAL WORD ON DEMOCRATIC PRIVILEGE
I MUST DIGRESS FOR ONE LAST POINT. IF MY COPY READS AS RECKLESSLY ARROGANT AND MARKEDLY "HIGH HANDED," I OFFER AN APOLOGY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE THIS WAY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FREE SPIRIT, FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF DEMOCRATIC PRIVILEGE. WHAT I AM SEEING THESE DAYS, SEEMS SO BLATANTLY DISRESPECTFUL TO OUR BASIC DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS, AND WHETHER IT IS A DECISION ON BRANDING A BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WITHOUT SERIOUS PUBLIC CONSULTATION, OR ADOPTING POLICIES, AND LEGISLATION ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT SERVES TO DIMINISH CIVIL LIBERTIES, I DO FEEL COMPELLED TO RESPOND, OR GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY. THERE ARE LOTS OF LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE, IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ELSEWHERE. WE JUST HATE IT WHEN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE TROUBLE, TO PROVIDE CIVICS INSTRUCTION, TO THOSE WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER. PERCEIVING THAT THEY MAY HAVE CROSSED THE LINE, BY DENYING PUBLIC ACCESS, SHOULD BE ENOUGH "HUNCH" TO HOLD-BACK ON ENDORSEMENT OF A PLAN, IN ORDER TO GET MORE INFORMATION. THE MATTER OF THE BEQUEATH COULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, OF LESS THAN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. EXPEDITING SOMETHING AS SENSITIVE AS THE BEQUEATH, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD REQUIRE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FIRST OF ALL. THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF A COURT CHALLENGE, TO HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. HAS COUNCIL CONSIDERED THIS? IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT MORE RESPONSIBLE, AND A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY, TO INSIST THAT WHATEVER THE DECISION, THE VOTE BE UNANIMOUS IN FAVOR OF ONE OPTION, ABOVE OTHER CHOICES CONSIDERED. THIS WAS NOT EVIDENT, AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, AND LIKELY WON'T BE, IF THE MATTER IS VOTED ON, AT A MEETING NEXT WEEK, SHOULD THERE STILL BE DISSENTERS. WE CAN HOPE COUNCILLORS WILL BE UNANIMOUS IN REJECTING THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSAL. THEN COMES GENUINE PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN SOON.
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