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Post by fumanshu on Nov 2, 2006 16:33:47 GMT -5
People Serving People. That's what it says at the top of the Sarnia Citizen, a periodical published by city staff from time to time.
I received my copy of the Sarnia Citizen in the mail today. I usually don't immediately read these propaganda bulletins, but this particular issue struck me as being rather timely. With less than two weeks remaining in the municipal election campaign, I'm rather distraught that city staff would be distributing this material now.
What I find particularly distasteful about this issue of the Sarnia Citizen is that it indirectly provides free advertising for the incumbent mayor and councillors.
The Sarnia Citizen is a little rag that is meant to keep locals informed about what's happening at city hall and in local government. So it should come as no surprise that the paper is often ripe with hype and self-promoting propaganda. And this Fall/Winter issue is no exception. On the front page of the issue, there is two columns of text clearly designed to sway voters into re-electing the current incumbents.
"Road Improvements," headlines one prominently placed section of the paper. It continues to point out the current city council's "commitment to renewing the City's infrastructure."
"Growing Sarnia" headlines another prominently placed section of the paper. This section is specifically designed to highlight the fact that there is commercial development in the city that rings to the tune of about $70 million. Obviously, it is expected that voters will attribute this commercial investment as being the work of the present mayor and council.
I personally find the release of this paper insulting. As a taxpayer, I am angered that city staff would spend property tax dollars endorsing the present incumbents. If it were truly necessary to publish this propaganda, it could have waited two weeks until after the election.
The fact that this propaganda is delivered to every home in the city, gives the incumbents a competitive advantage that none of the contenders could hope to match. It suddenly becomes apparent to me why Mr. Bradley has managed to retain his mayor's position for eighteen long years.
I'm not one to advocate civil litigation, but if I were a contender in this election, spending my own personal money in my election bid, I would strongly consider suing the city for this blatant assault on democracy. City Hall has no business interfering in election campaigns.
All candidates deserve an equal opportunity at gaining office in this election. The City should be ashamed of this underhanded dirty politics, and the citizens should be outraged!
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Post by Dean Robinson on Nov 2, 2006 17:45:21 GMT -5
wow I'm appalled at this action taken by the city. I for one will look into the possibility of a lawsuit. thank you for the info.
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Post by fumanshu on Nov 2, 2006 19:23:44 GMT -5
What happened to Darren Nesbit's reply to this post?
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Post by Dean Robinson on Nov 2, 2006 19:29:22 GMT -5
I seen that to Whats up Darren
I thought about the civil thing a little and I figure that Ill just let people know I'm insulted. how fair would it be of me to make the City (Us the taxpayers) have to pay for the incredibly stupid actions of a few.
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darren
Junior Member
Posts: 15
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Post by darren on Nov 2, 2006 23:05:04 GMT -5
sorry about the first post being gone, but I though there were advertising for the incumbent mayor and councillors (Pictures, Statement) I've had a better chance to see the Sarnia Citizen
I don't believe that City Hall should be spending taxpayers money to be helping out the incumbents, by putting out their thoughts on our City, two weeks before the election.
The Sarnia Citizen could have wait until after this upcoming election
I have been trying for 2 months to get my message out to the people of Sarnia.
And that is; If the people of this community want a Vocal,Driven, Passionate,youthful person to represent them, Put your trust in me on Nov.13.2006
Let my voice be yours!!! VOTE DARREN NESBIT
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Post by Carlos Murray on Nov 3, 2006 3:28:08 GMT -5
These are very old tricks. I've been running in the last 5 Elections and it is inevitable to suddenly see a lot of roadwork going on just before an election. And it's ALWAYS at busy intersections. This year it has been primarily in front of St Joseph's Hospital and on Exmouth from Christina to Front. WOW! Just look at "YOUR" tax dollars at work! Three years ago it was at the corner of Finch and London. (Finch and London? Wasn't that part of Finch just built less than 10 years before that?) But from now on it won't be every 3 years. It will be every 4 years! ----- FWIW I have been trying to get my own thoughts printed in the Paper for the last 5 Elections. (That's 12 years!) And they just won't print it! There was a story a month or so ago written by Dan McCaffery where he said that the paper was required to give "equal and accurate" coverage of all Candidates. I really get a kick out of what they seem to think of as "Equal and Accurate". I recall the very 1st story they wrote during the '94 Election. There was one particular story about the New Arena that was yet to be built. The 1st column and a half were all about Mike Bradley's ideas about the issue. The next full column was about the ideas of Ron Gordon, then half a column about the ideas of this Dan guy (?) that had just moved here from Ottawa. I had spent over an hour doing an interview with one of the reporters from the Sarnia Observer, talking about several issues. At least 15 minutes of that time was spent talking about the "planned" New Arena. At that time they were planning on building it for only 3,500 people. I made mention (During the interview.) that the newer Sarnia Sting (Which sprang from the older Sarnia Bees) was part of the OHL/CHL. And that to ever be able to host the "Memorial Cup" a City had to have an Arena that held a Minimum of 4,500 People.(No mention was ever made of me being the one that brought it up. But they suddenly changed the proposed 3,500 seat Arena to 4,500 seats. And they started talking about the Memorial Cup. WOW! What a coincidence! LOL!) During the interview I said that the New Arena was far too small. In order to provide for larger functions and future growth of the City, I suggested that the Arena be more like 8,000 to 10,000 seats. And that the Upper Bowl sections could be roped off for smaller events. (When you're already planning on building an Arena for 3,500, it wouldn't cost all that much more to increase the size to 10,000. A whole lot less than having to build another new Arena 15 or 20 years later because of lacking forethought 15 - 20 years earlier!)I also talked about bidding for larger Trade Shows and Conventions. As well as my own previous experience working for a London Concert Promoter named Don Jones. Back in 1986, Don Jones tried to put on a Concert with Kim Mitchell at the Old Sarnia Arena. (Sept. 12th to be exact.) A week before the show, there had been only 27 tickets sold in advance, so he canceled the show. (At a loss of almost $20,000!) Don Jones swore that he would never touch Sarnia again with a 10 foot pole. I was saying that with a brand new ("LARGER!") venue, Don Jones could likely be talked into coming back and putting on shows in Sarnia again. (I like to think I brought up some pretty good comments on the issue!?) Like I already said, the 1st 3 Columns of the Article were comments from Mike Bradley, Ron Gordon, and that Dan guy from Ottawa. The entire coverage of my comments amounted to 14 words. "Carlos Murray wants to build a 10,000 seat Arena to put on Rock Concerts." With no mention whatsoever of any of the other things I had talked about. ("Equal and Accurate" coverage my A$$!) First of all. I think that they were intentionally trying to make me look like a F*@#ED UP POTHEAD by the way they said it. And secondly I had not said the word "ROCK" at any time! I said CONCERTS. I did not say Rock Concerts. And FWIW the 1st Act I planned on bringing here was my Cousin Anne. (Here's her website addy. www.annemurray.com ) I don't think anyone could ever refer to her show as a " ROCK Concert"! A few days later, there was a Candidates Meeting held live on TV at the COGECO studios. (It wasn't called COGECO back then?) There were people calling in questions, and 1 person called in and asked me about my ideas for the new Arena? I talked about every one of the things that I had talked to the reporter about, but I intentionally avoided talking about Concerts. Sarnia Observer reporter Neil Bowen was there covering the event. When his story came out he wrote that a caller called in and asked me about the new Arena? His response was, "Carlos Murray wants to build a 10,000 seat Arena to put on Rock Concerts." That was a total lie! And when I next saw him, I told him so in no uncertain words! ----- I have said before, "If I ever ran for Mayor here and truly got accurate coverage of my proposals. If I didn't win! I would never run again!" But being that that hasn't been the case, you can expect to keep seeing me. I WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT!----- And for those that keep saying I should run for Councilor. Please tell me what good that would do with my main proposal being the idea of Direct Democracy? Do you think that Polling the City to cast 1 vote out of 9 would cause the situation to be any different than it is now? (I certainly don't!) Peace! DG
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Post by Carlos Murray on Nov 3, 2006 3:37:41 GMT -5
Once again about mis-coverage:
To those that have actually been present. They heard me talk about "Solar Panels" and tapping into the Ontario Energy Budget of $45 BILLION. (70 people or so at the 1st Meeting, those that watched the 1st Event on TV, and those that were at the library this last Monday.)
The Observer has mentioned my ideas about "Solar Panels" once in passing. But has not mentioned tapping into the Ontario Energy Fund. Nor have they yet mentioned the importance I have pushed about High School kids having productive things to do with their "out of school" time. Especially keeping them from getting involved in Criminal Activity.
(And I expect that you will NEVER see them print the idea of Direct Democracy with any semblance of accuracy.)
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Post by leisha1 on Nov 3, 2006 8:03:42 GMT -5
This is not much different than the three Ontario parties that occupy the legislature. They all use taxpayer dollars to campaign to the electorate at election time. Simply disgusting, and something Freedom Party would end right away if they were to ever form government. The MP who was thrown out of the Conservative party spilled the beans on our Prime Minister's diretive to use miniterial staff to work to assue that the Conservatives win in the London by-election. I don't know if the City sent this out 'just prior to an election' or it comes out every year at this time anyway. I too don't even react to the back patting, it is the same when I get stuff from the provincial Liberals showing how Caroline is an important Cultural Minister. What I know is what I see, I have season tickets to the Sarnia Concert Association and the International Symphony and attand cultural stuff at Victoria Playhouse, the Sarnia Library and at the Imperial theater, I have yet to see Caroline at one! The Feds do it too! I will vote for the best existing concilor and new people so Darren, Jim and Glenn, don't worry about it!
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Post by fumanshu on Nov 3, 2006 13:34:31 GMT -5
You are correct, Carlos. It was not Cogeco Cable back then. In the eighties, it would have been Maclean Hunter. The local cable operation was bought by Rogers in the nineties, who later resold it to Quebec based Cogeco.
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Post by Carlos Murray on Nov 3, 2006 18:02:43 GMT -5
"You are correct, Carlos. It was not Cogeco Cable back then. In the eighties, it would have been Maclean Hunter. The local cable operation was bought by Rogers in the nineties, who later resold it to Quebec based Cogeco."
Thank you fumanshu. But what the Cable Company was called at whatever given time is truly unimportant to what I posted.
The significance of my 2nd last post was to show that the Sarnia Observer intentionally tries to twist my words. In this particular instance, they quoted me as saying something that I had intentionally avoided saying at all.
I call it, "Lack of 'Journalistic Integrity'!"
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Post by Carlos Murray on Nov 3, 2006 19:09:07 GMT -5
"I have yet to see Caroline at one!"Well said (((leisha)))! It seems that Caroline worked like a Mule during her 1st term. But once she was Elected for her 2nd term, (Which guarantees her a $50,000 a year Pension!?) She seems to have decided to make herself virtually unavailable for anything. (I know this from personal experience!!!) I mice elf went 4 years without having a Family Doctor. So I was forced to go to the ER at the Hospital to get my "Regular" prescriptions. Well the Hospital's Policy is to not refill "Narcotics" (Pain killers for my BROKEN BACK.) or "Sedatives". (Meds that help people relax and/or sleep.) So I was having gr8 difficulty getting the regular Meds that my own GP (The man that had treated me for over 30 years!) had decided I needed when I did have a Doctor. I called Caroline DiCocco's office to make an appointment to talk to her about the State of our Health System. I spoke to her Secretary and booked an appointment. And I explained to her Secretary about the difficulty I was having getting my "Regular Prescriptions" filled. During the conversation I made mention of the large number of people that were being forced to try to survive without having a Family Doctor. And I made a comment about people that were in the same situation as myself that were becoming quite frustrated with the "Doctor Shortage" problem. (For the most part!) Those that are forced to go to the ER because they don't have a Doctor are getting quite frustrated about the situation. And they only (TRULY) think of the problems that they are having personally. They are not concerning themselves with the problems that others are having.)For the most part I agree with them. If you yourself are in pain and basically being denied "Medical Attention". You might be inclined to begin showing your STRESS in an outward manner. During the conversation I said something along the lines of, "You never know when someone is going to go postal about the situation?" (I was not speaking about myself. I am a very non-violent person. And it truly takes a lot of instigating for anyone to make me lose my temper.) Well 20 minutes later the Police were at my door. Apparently the Secretary took what I said as some kind of threat. Which I can assure you it was not! I was just stating that there are a lot of others that had a harder time controlling their temper than I do. And you can never know what some of these people might do. In fact I have been at the Hospital and listened to the Security People talking about someone that "had" threatened them. And they were keeping their eyes open for them. Well within a day or two I got a call from Caroline's Secretary canceling my appointment. And when I asked why? They said that she gave no reason. ----- IMHO it is appalling when an Elected Public Servant will cancel an appointment and avoid talking to the people they were Elected to represent. ----- My own situation gives me personal reason to want to see her "Unseated" next year. But there are many other "PUBLIC" functions that she has avoided for whatever reason she has chosen. AFAIC this is not the proper way for an Elected Public Servant to act! (In my own opinion!) I hope to see her "unseated" next year! Our City needs people in office that will take their responsibilities to the electorate more seriously then she has!!! ) Peace! DG
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Post by fumanshu on Nov 3, 2006 19:10:56 GMT -5
Thank you fumanshu. But what the Cable Company was called at whatever given time is truly unimportant to what I posted.
I only pointed out the name of the cable company back then, because you asked whether it was called Cogeco in the eighties. This is what you wrote: A few days later, there was a Candidates Meeting held live on TV at the COGECO studios. (It wasn't called COGECO back then?) There were people calling in questions, and 1 person called in and asked me about my ideas for the new Arena?The part of the above quote that I emphasized with boldface text is a question. You asked the question and I answered. If you meant it as a rhetorical question, you should have said so. If you did not mean it as a question, you should have used a period in place of the question mark. I know that it is considered bad form to point out another person's grammatical errors, but it's equally unacceptable to pose questions and belittle others for having answered them. In short, if you don't want an answer, don't ask the question.
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Post by Carlos Murray on Nov 3, 2006 19:24:52 GMT -5
NP fumanshu. I guess I would have been better off by just saying that the Meeting took place at the local Cable TV's studios. (<--- Hindsight!)
The main part of my post was to show that the Observer doesn't seem to care what they print. And that they had intentionally quoted me as saying something that I had intentionally avoided saying.
Like I said before, "I see the Sarnia Observer as being severely lacking in 'Journalistic Integrity'!"
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Post by fumanshu on Nov 3, 2006 23:14:58 GMT -5
I'm not a very popular person around town. Without elaborating, I'll just say that I did something that fuelled some anger and resentment from a small segment of the local population. As a result, some people took it upon themselves to misrepresent my actions or "mission". So I can empathize with your position.
I know what it's like to have your words twisted beyond recognition, your concerns ignored, and your objectives misrepresented and misunderstood. However, in spite of all this, I do not share your same perspective on the folks at the Sarnia Observer. They have, in the past, given fair representation to my non-political platform, and have been very willing to publish letters that I have submitted to the editor. I cannot speak for their motives in so doing, but I do acknowledge their willingness to give the devil his due, if you will.
I've always found the folks at the Sarnia Observer to be very helpful and I truly believe that they share many of the same fundamental principles and ideals with respect to freedoms of association and speech. Though they, like anyone else, are not entirely without faults, they do honestly try to be as fair, objective, and unbiased as humanly possible. I would even say the same of the other Sarnia paper, Sarnia This Week.
I have had letters published in both local papers. I have had letters rejected by both local papers. I have seen both local papers print editorials that are fundamentally similar in message to many of the beliefs and opinions that I hold personally. And, finally, I have seen both papers print things that I staunchly disagree with. These are the things that epitomize journalistic integrity and make newspapers a valued informational treasure.
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Post by GlennM on Nov 6, 2006 0:43:50 GMT -5
No matter what a local rag prints people have their own minds and will decide who to vote for. The one thing I think is sad is how the Observer waited until after the advanced polls to print the question and answer pages they had the candidates submit. I have heard a few people could have had a few more votes if they would have read what they had to say before the advanced polls. What can ya do. For some reason the status quo is Ok for everyone else, to hell with that I am doing everything I can to change the way voters look at the issues. Here's one concept......Politicians that listen to what YOU have to say, not tell you what you want. Wow, would be nice.
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