Every once in a while, I am jarred out of my kayaking daydream by reality. Let me explain ... St. John's is "blessed" with a mayor known best for his bombast and bullying. His name is Andy Wells. Mr. Wells has accepted a new full-time job as head of the provincial Public Utilities Board (PUB), starting in March 2008. Unbelievably, Mr. Wells has indicated that he is debating when to step down as full-time mayor of St. John's. He is seriously considering staying on as mayor until late September 2008. During that period he would receive his PUB salary (reported to be almost $180,000 per year) and his mayor's salary (more than $90,000 per year). The mind boggles at the arrogance of this greed!
Anyway, I was compelled to send a Letter to the Editor to the St. John's daily newspaper, the Telegram. You can read my letter here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=101625&sc=87
The Editorial in the paper the same day explored the same topic:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=101624&sc=80
And now back to kayaking ...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Yee old Andy has done it again. Just when you think you have seen it all or heard it all with him, he somehow manages to rise to another ridiculous occassion, such was his admonishment of global warming last week on "Out Of The Fog", where he insists that it is merely the work of greedy opportunists hmmmm.... but he said he is ready to take on all the science that has been accumulated thus far for global warming. At my work we have a word for that....senilty!
rather...... "senility".....perhaps I should heed my own declarations.
Good on you for expressing your opinion in the paper. I had prepared an email letter to friends - I'm waiting on a date to call an "Andy's-going-let's-have-a-party" :) Here's the gist of it:
It's enough to make you giddy. And give you hope. After a decade of draconian municipal measures, frustrating 'development' misadventures, outrageous public behaviour and bullying (both residents and councillors), the mayor of St. John's, Andy Wells, is moving on.
He shall be missed. But only by a smattering of lawyers and therapists.
And whether he leaves to run the PUB (god help us) in June or September of this year, let's take time to celebrate what might now be accomplished in this city.
cheers, A
Post a Comment