"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 2 February 2012

Does Any Of This Sound Familiar



As much as I would give this idea a chance, I do like this quote…
“Friction’s a good thing, as long as everybody’s intention is to create a better city, then that’s all fair enough.”


 Calgary mayor turns to psychologist to help city council get along

Tristin Hopper Feb 1, 2012 – 12:28 AM ET

Lorraine Hjalte / Postmedia News
During his 2010 campaign, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi described the city’s council as “broken.”

By Jason Markusoff and Tristin Hopper
Calgary • Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s bid to smooth out the “dysfunction” of Calgary city council with a closed-door psychology session has been met with charges of silliness from critics.
Over the weekend, Mr. Nenshi broached the idea in a confidential email to colleagues. Ivan Zendel, a Calgary psychologist, then followed up with a message asking council members how they felt they worked together and how this could be improved.
Citing discomfort with the plan, Alderman Gord Lowe said Monday he was considering skipping the meeting.
“I would find it extraordinary if any member of council did not want to attend a meeting on how council can work together better,” Mr. Nenshi said, adding if members were interested “in a dysfunctional group that is not working well together, it was absolutely their prerogative.”
When Alderman Andre Chabot tried to alter the agenda for the closed-door session, the Mayor shot back, “You can’t.” A six-member voting block of veteran council members also failed to shoot down his plan.
Mr. Zendel, a 20-year veteran of clinical psychology and psychotherapy, usually works with companies. His online profile says he has “a conviction to assist individuals and organizations to become more productive.”
“It looks extremely silly,” said Ric McIver, a former alderman who ran against Mr. Nenshi for mayor in 2010. “Friction’s a good thing, as long as everybody’s intention is to create a better city, then that’s all fair enough.”
Joe Ceci, another former alderman with Mr. Nenshi’s predecessors Dave Bronconnier and Al Duerr, was baffled by the decision. “Exsqueeze me?” he said when asked if a psychologist had visited city hall during his 15 years on council.
Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart said Mr. Nenshi himself can do a better job of cooling any passions. “It’s not that we don’t get along,” she said. “It’s about leadership and how you chair a meeting.”
The Mayor says some council members asked for a special meeting to discuss getting along in meetings behaviour after some stormy sessions.
Several contentious votes have been razor-close.
The decision on the $300-million airport tunnel, for example, was passed by eight votes to seven.
“I don’t consider 8-7 votes as being any sign of a dysfunctional council, in fact, just the opposite,” said Mr. Lowe, noting a contentious council makes for “well-canvassed” issues.
After the closed-door session with Mr. Zendel — details of which no one would discuss — Mr. Nenshi reported it was “non-dramatic.”
“A couple of members made what was actually a routine meeting into a big deal,” he tweeted.
“Having gone through the process, I thought it was interesting,” Alderman Gian-Carlo Carra said.
Civility has been a top priority for Mr. Nenshi, who often said during his 2010 election campaign Calgary city council was “broken.”
The 38-year-old political newcomer also refused to run attack ads. “[Attack ads] work not to convince people to vote for you, they work to convince your opponents not to vote. And I think that’s deeply cynical,” he told CTV News in March.
Nevertheless, the Mayor has not been above the occasional catty indulgence, at least online.
In November, after blogger Werner Patels accused him of being an extreme leftist, the mayor reposted on Twitter, Mr. Patels was “off [his] meds.”
National Post
thopper@nationalpost.

David Nitkin, Aurora's First  Integrity Commissioner, said he had "Worked with governments with blood on their hands"  
My guess is he never encountered anything like the Momac Regime in Aurora.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our monsters were masters of the public faces that hid their activities. Physical threats,poison penletters to staff and councillors and their employees, turfing the better experienced staff...all designed, I suspect by the hind end.But always maintaining that false facade. Done in by themselves as the Calgary Mayor seems to be doing. He and Mayor Grossi are amateurs compared to what Aurora faced and greatly reduced in number.

Paul Sesto said...

Hello Evelyn,

Discontinuance of Lawsuit

So if you haven't heard or read this as it just came out, here is the latest from the Town of Georgina.
See https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_bnX5agiXbkNWE5ODllODgtYjc4Yi00ZmRmLWJkZGItY2Y2ZTg1OGJkM2Rm&hl=en_US

Anonymous said...

I just saw a movie called "Hanna". About a young girl that was genetically engineered to be an assasion.

After watching it, it seemed plausable that some 60+ years ago a similar thing happened and created "the former" and her sole mission was assigned then - to destroy the politics of a small town in Canada.

Anonymous said...

Long meeting in Georgina. Seems they first rescinded the by-law, then there was a pause of some kind, maybe for more instructions and debate, then they voted to drop the lawsuit. I think all votes were the same. Will have to see if John McLean is going to be back.

Anonymous said...

Your snipers are not going to like this but I think your numbers might be up again. Well done !

Anonymous said...

The Calgary Mayor should try prayer meetings. Morris was incredibly proud of hers, although you had to be
'Christian-based' whatever the heck that is. She even held one after her defeat at which she spoke on 'integrity'. If you read that, you wouldn't believe it. But it happened right here in Aurora. Woman wouldn't recognize 'integrity' if it bit her on the butt.

Anonymous said...

Someone said the ex-Mayor was entitled to an entire year of unemployment benefits. Please tell me that this is incorrect.

Anonymous said...

I just read a comment that mentioned a movie called "Hanna". The comment was obviously written by someone genetically engineered to be an idiot.

Anonymous said...

"someone said the ex-Mayor was entitled to an entire year of unemployment benefits. Please tell me that this is incorrect".

without a doubt its a job shes' certainly qualified for

Anonymous said...

E. Is it possible that your attackers consist of 2 past Councillors. one recent and the other one that you might have defeated, one disgruntled former lawyer from Mormac and some dip they hired to write this stuff up? There are varying levels of knowledge and the language indicates a collaboration - but I think at the most there are only 3. Volume has nothing to do with quallity, only anger. Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Please do not respond until you have considered this possibility. They may be looking for trouble. Don't provide it.

Anonymous said...

Nearly forgot. Thank you for yet another day. Don't
s'pose you could take a day off ?

Anonymous said...

To anon 3:49pm
Physical attacks happened also.
Not just threats.Just ask David Heard.

Anonymous said...

9:07 AM.
We all know that but with the court cases everyone is taking great care. Employers received letters about working councillors, there was a threat that one would be become landfill,a reporter was attacked by the Mayor's husband and an Councillor, jobs were threatened and ended. David Heard was attacked and when Wilson finally realized he had messed up and made a half-assed apology, someone cut his mic off and Evalina got up and shouted at a member of the audience in the council chamber. No, we have not forgotten.

Anonymous said...

I'm just reading this. What I recall is that 2 people contacted the police to complain about fears for their safety. Morris and Sher. Anyone could have told the cops that none of us would touch either of them with a ten foot pole.
Hope this helps.