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  • By BA in response to 15 iPads & iPhone 4 devices requested for Mayor & Council

    And will the taxpayers be paying for app-store purchases for said devices?

    On one hand Greg is heading off to China to promote Vancouver business, and on the other he is replacing Canadian technology (Blackberries, made by Research In Motion). Is this guy for real?

 

  • By boohoo in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    @Dennis/Jason

    I would refer you to this quote written here on this very blog:

    "Although I can’t personally verify the validity of the "Top 15" hit list, I can tell you I laughed so hard when I first read about it that I almost keeled over."

    So rumour = breaking news?

    I would hope that no blog trying to pretend to be news wouldn't be so stupid and naive to target the government or anyone else without a little piece of evidence above and beyond whispers and rumours...

    Maybe this is true, maybe it's not. The fact is with this hyper-politicized blogosphere we live in it's getting harder and harder to separate fact from fiction. We hear this rumour or that rumour, take it as fact, and then move on to the next juicy story without ever really learning about or discovering the truth.

    It's our fault as readers for our attention span of a 10 year old, and blogs and the news just deliver what we deserve.

 

 

  • By Bobh in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    I hope mike or Daniel does not live near me. Could be dangerous.
    But good going guys. Almost as good as Nixon's most hated list. You guys are the new generation investigative reporters, in the image of the late Daniel Schorr. Good stuff

 

  • By JK in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    Rumours continue to swirl that Robertson is about to get a new comms director. Is the announcement imminent? Surely the mayor needs to make this change soon to help our party and his own political fortunes. The bad stories continue with no apparent strategy on how to deal with them. Will anyone in the Mayor's office stop drinking the bath water long enough to realize we're getting killed out there. The media hit list is the final straw. Even Garr was attacking us today. Perhaps a certain vision blogger might want to dust off his resume and take over at the helm.

 

 

 

  • By disappointed in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    Max,

    You don't mean Mike and his trusty sidekick Alex do you, when you refer to investigative journalists?

    At best they are hackneyed bloggers (smart yes) but simply bloggers with a nasty streak that appeals to certain kinds of people.

    for Koolade, I prefer orange, and you? sour-grapes?

 

  • By Max in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    No offense 'disappointed' - but referencing - 'twisting anything to make the other team look “bad”'

    Vision and this Mayor have been the masters of their own fate and with any luck come 2011, their demise.

    Journalists don't speculate - they report facts.

    So please do tell, which of the articles published or commented on by any of the 'Top 15' have been false.

    This Mayor and Council took an oath for an open and transparent government... and we have received anything but. They continue to heap one lie on top of the other.

    It has zero to do with 'green policies' or the 'economy'. It is about backdoor, dirty and dishonest politics.

    And please, what is your definition of 'social change'. I am very curious about that particular choice of words.

    Journalists or should I say, investigative journalists are the only people keeping this arrogant, self entitled, city hall group in-line. they are holding their feet to the fire - as they should.

    And when you have Vision backers jumping ship - that speaks volumes.

    Do tell - what flavor was the koolade?

 

  • By Max in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    Chris:

    At this story has been now covered by most of the MS media - Robertson and Vision would be exceptionally stupid if they provided more fuel for the fire.

    As in, threatening any of these reporters in an which way.

    And I refer to AG's blog.

    Eyes are watching and ear are open.

    But I am sure one or two will still manage to shoot themselves in the foot(Ross comes to mind).

 

  • By disappointed in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    I really tried to like you guys but damn you make it so so difficult.

    When I heard about this “list” I figured maybe I should dig into it a bit, so I read through the Citycaucus blog and slogged through your crazy uncle’s site (AGT) but all I really could find was innuendo, speculation, hyperbole, and frankly just plain nastiness towards anybody who doesn’t tow the NPA (Tea) party line… you and Alex seem to have latched on to the Rush Limbaugh style of fearmongering - twisting anything to make the other team look “bad”, raising fears and doubt in small minded people who gravitate to negative sound bytes and whose different views and approaches they don’t take the time to truly understand.

    Don’t get me wrong the Vision administration is not perfect, but they are in a very difficult economic environment if you hadn’t noticed, compounded by the missteps of the previous NPA administration… they are attempting to bring about some very positive change for the long term, not always viewed in the most positive light by short sighted “we want it now” people. If the depth of your rants are about “a list”, bike lanes, and business trips, well you are kinda of making your commentary irrelevant, or at the very best small minded.

    It is always easier to criticize than become part of the solution to improve it, so tear it down, burn it down, run them out of town mentality gets the attention and press these days (mainstream or not). So Mike, you seem to be an accomplished business guy why not join a Vision committee to improve and bring about positive change in policy, from within, like you say you did under the NPA rule, but hey I understand it is kinda scary over on the other side isn’t it… the green movement, social change, and heaven forbid dealing with the economy by trying to stimulate business growth with others beyond the city limits, etc.

    But I realize your blog isn’t really about politics but more about intolerance towards others, thinking within the box of negativity, so that you can some how “win” … or maybe its simply an easy way to get your 15 min of fame while driving traffic to your site for financial gain. Good luck, I guess.

 

 

 

 

  • By Max in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    NW reporters on hit list
    VANCOUVER/CKNW AM 980
    Janet Brown | Email news tips to Janet
    9/2/2010

    "An absolute joke", and "......preposterous."
    Some of the words Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson is using to describe a supposed list of 15 reporters unpopular with the city's governing party.


    Robertson says to his knowledge, there's been no substantive evidence that any such list exists or was created by anyone he works with.

    "......an absolute joke it's preposterous. There's nothing to it and frankly it's a total waste of time and undermines journalism and the good work that people on that list do everyday to try and report what's really happening."

    The list was apparently leaked by a former Vision Vancouver insider to a political internet blogger who claims it was created by a group of people the mayor works with.


    The list includes three CKNW staffers: Christy Clark, Jill Bennett and Janet Brown.

 

  • By Dennis O'Bell in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    @boohoo

    I would hope that no future government would be so stupid and naive as to target the media - or private citizens for that matter.

    To this day I'm still wondering whether it was a Vision Councillor or someone on the political staff who slipped info to Frances Bula, about a back and forth with a private citizen making queries about campaign contributions which she then proceeded to blab about in the comments section of her blog (The further question of course, as a reporter why is Frances doing this government's bidding?)

    Then there's that article where little Johnny Ross on his blog asks West End Neighbours spokesperson to confirm the addresses of where he, his mom and his brother live.

    This crew is nasty. Amongst Magee, Kevin Quinlan and Ross, a lot of harm is being done to the Vision brand. If they've got a media hit list, surely someone within Vision's upper ranks should make a list of their own and put these hacks in the top three.

 

  • By Glissando Remmy in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    The Thought of The Day

    "Thinking about it, I personally, wouldn't call that 'The Hit List', I would simply call it...'Friends of Glissando List'"

    Mike, Daniel, well done guys. Keep on writing, despite all, someone up there loves you.

    We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.

 

  • By S. McGraw in response to My night at the races

    In response to comments made by Bill Lee, there are at least three large green parks/spaces in the area of the PNE - Renfrew, Adanac and New Brighton Parks and another park on Renfrew directly across the street from the PNE on Renfrew. Does Bill even live in the area? Does he frequent these parks like I do. Most of the time, they are empty.
    The PNE and Hastngs Park employs a lot of people including youth and seniors but the 'lobbyists' in the area seem to think they should have their way and it should all be green space (with no solid plan on how to pay for the upkeep of this green space). I might point out that most people moved into the area knowing very well what was there when they moved (unless they happen to be over 100 years old).
    My suggestion to Bill: move away Bill, move away and find yourself a new cause to champion. Your other neighbours want the PNE and Hastings Park to stay the way it is, thank you very much.
    S. McGraw

 

  • By Jason in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    Boohoo. Are we to imply from your comment the writers here at city caucus have somehow "smeared" and "intimidated" Gregor Robertson? Do tell.

    I'm sure their lawyers would love for you to back up this claim. Please provide specific examples so we know you aren't doing a bit of drive by smear yoursefl.

 

 

  • By boohoo in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    "No matter what type of smear and intimidation tactics are thrown our way, we intend on forging ahead with a product that has clearly caught the public's imagination."

    The mayor could say exactly the same thing. ;)

    Again, I just wonder at all the posters who just can't wait to vote vision out. What on earth leads you to believe the next group of politicians will be any different?

    Either way, I look forward to citycaucus providing such in depth 'reporting' on all the devious conspiratorial plots and plans forged by the npa or whoever wins the next election.

    And then we'll be reactionary and get angry and vote them out, and around and around we go.

 

  • By boohoo in response to Vancouver Mayor benefits from $1000 per day no-bid contract

    Oh I see, my mistake. It was all just a joke, how could I miss that...

    Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go 'defend' vision in some other threads. Cause that's really what I'm here to do you know--I get fed documents and talking points from a secret cabal of vision supporters. We strategize late into the night, thinking of devious ways to get into arguments on blogs.

    Sound ridiculous? You are.

 

  • By Brad in response to Vancouver media won't be swayed by Vision's so-called hit list

    Reporter Bob Mackin of 24 Hours has now corroborated the story broken by AGT:
    _________________________
    The former Vision Vancouver insider who leaked a list of 15 reporters unpopular with the city’s governing party said it was created to personally target critical journalists.

    “The gist of it is those people on the list are causing them discomfort, grief and they need to do something about it,” said the man, who asked for his name not to be published.
    ____________________________

    Looks like the SHITE will soon hit the fan.

 

 

 

  • By Jim in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    @Todd. Did he whisper anything like this when the NW microphones were still live?

    "Who are those effin NPA hacks on the list anyway? I'm tired of getting fu&%$&n slagged by those lazy reporters who do nothing but ridicule my chicken, green, bike lane agenda. I'm only trying to run a city for fu$k sakes."

    I suspect not.

 

 

  • By Todd in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    Mayor Moonbeam was on the Bill Good Show this morning and when asked about the media hit list, he stated that it was silly and insinuated that it was created by NPA hacks. What a boner.

 

  • By Psssst in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    Word on the street is moonbeam had a private chat with Johnny boy last evening. Somebody has loose lips. It looks like the Mayor's office might be ripe for a change. It could be announced while he is overseas to avoid any more messy headlines. Is a new Director of Communications about to step on the scene shortly?

    What about Bruce Allen. Why didn't he make the list? Weird.

 

  • By landlord in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    Or maybe he had just learned that, in the country on whose investments and products Canada (and the rest of the world) depends, labour unions and political parties are illegal.

 

  • By landlord in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    I remember the China trip taken by Sen. Larry Campbell when he was Mayor.
    Somewhere I have pictures of the delegation having breakfast at the hotel. The Mayor and his chief of staff (a chap named Meggs) are huddled at their table, frowning over their cold toast, while the business guys are shaking hands and giving out business cards.
    The look on Mr. Meggs' face is priceless. Apparently he had been told the Chinese were Communists. Instead, every cadre he met was decked out in Armani, wearing jewelled Rolexes, driving Lexuses and looking for bribes, not deals. Poster boy for culture shock.
    To the Chinese (and the rest of the world) Vancouver is just another smallish North American city, ripe for the plucking. You think our politicians are doctrinaire busy-bodies? China wrote the book on that kind of politics.
    Re : the list. Turnabout is fair play. After all, they're on your hit list. It's what I tell the cyclists who ride on traffic : You want to play with the bid boys? Wear a helmet.

 

  • By Ethics in response to Exclusive: Internal memo & survey reveals plummeting City staff morale

    I think what needs to be mentioned here is that one of the author's of the VACMPS Memo outlining alleged morale issues amongst Management and Exempt Staff has been a leader in ruling against innocent Cupe15 menbers (City Employees) where the City Employees have been brutally bullied and harrassed by Managers and Exempt Staff. Is this not a clear conflict of interest? Upset Management and Exempt staff are not treated fairly and are micromanaged?....Upset there is a loss of respect and trust throughout the organization?; Upset Staff are fearful of reprisals which is leading to a "heads down/don't rock the boat" attitude. Creativity and excellence are not being stimulated?....Ms. Co-author, you helped make the working environment just that!!!!! Could it be you are more upset now that you and your Management and Exempt Staff cronies can't continue to rule the roost unchecked and are now held to accountability?

    Well now, talk about calling the kettle black!!!!. Karma is a beautiful thing. Don't like what is going on....get to the back of the line beoches where you belong.

 

  • By Just Plain Sad in response to Exclusive: Internal memo & survey reveals plummeting City staff morale

    Democracy is a beautiful thing. Right on! It’s time for change! Get rid of the dead wood! New blood! This fresh young City Manager will … oops. Penny Ballem is our new blood? Seriously?! This isn’t what we voted for.

    Actually, we didn’t vote for any of the replacement staff now running our city. Most of us never imagined that our new, green Mayor would empower his misguided miscreants to wipe out both the seasoned and the gen-x managers who made Vancouver one of the most livable cities on the planet year after year.

    While we’ve been reading the press releases about public servants younger than Penny Ballem retiring to spend more time with their grandchildren, City Hall has been pushing out the professionals and managers who brought us Vancouver’s blue box recycling programs, city-wide bike networks, neighborhood traffic calming programs, and the world’s most energy efficient communities. Why would these people go first? For those of us who think for ourselves, this is not a rhetorical question. If you’re not in this category and need a hint, think ethics, integrity, and marketability. Another hint? Look for these traits in the people who have left, and those who have replaced them.

    But wait, democracy is beautiful thing. Politicize the City Hall administration! Replace career professionals and managers with political appointees! Strong mayors, not weak ones! It’s better for you! Our mayor had to pass a rigorous career progression to become our city’s CEO. An accredited university degree, professional internship, master’s degree in business administration, at least 20 years of progressive experience managing large public service delivery programs and corporations, and then selection by a professional recruitment firm and a panel of peers from the private and public sector, so he should know how to run this city! Yes he can! Oops. Our mayor has a college arts degree.

    Oh well, I think we elected him because we wanted a green mayor, not because of his education or credentials. We thought we liked what he stands for. But that was when he was going to be our chairman of the board, not our self-appointed CEO. What makes him qualified to wipe out a generation of municipal leaders to replace them with his hand-picked, politically appointed City Managers, CFOs, Deputy City Managers, Communications Directors? Are we ready for all these people to get fired and replaced when we change our minds about this mayor and elect a different one who has all sorts of other people in mind for these positions?

    This Mayor couldn’t trust a non-partisan administration when he took office, how will the next Mayor view the partisan one that replaced it? I guess that will just be tough, eh? Tough on the taxpayers, since we’ll be footing all the bills.

    Democracy is a beautiful thing, but this is just plain sad.

 

  • By spartikus in response to Robertson's latest whoppers on new office & bike lane

    @Bill: There was a statement of fact:

    What we've learned is that all the work schedules for building the Hornby separated bike lane that would have City engineering crews working during August were dumped because of the increasing public controversy.

    And it's based on - at best, as far as I can tell - anonymously sourced hearsay. (There's actually two issues here: The work would have begun in August; the work was cancelled due to public pressure)

    The FOI should have come first. Not very exciting, I know, but the ethics of journalism and all that. Conversely, his (and your) source could have provided him with a tangible papertrail. It works for Wikileaks, and those are state secrets.

    Maybe Mike doesn't consider himself a true journalist. I dunno.

 

  • By MrJ in response to Exclusive: Internal memo & survey reveals plummeting City staff morale

    what else is interesting - the Firehall 15 that has the blue tarped roof has been approved (and $$set aside) apparently in 3+ elections - voted on by residents over (yes votes)each time.
    THe ballot apparently has stated "new firehall" (not new #15hall) and each time the approved $$$ went elswhere.
    Looks like its going to happen again - the last election same thing - approved funds...still no new hall - I went by the derelict building at 22&Nootka for a look...sad site....where is the money gone for this voted on and approved project ....(a bikelane??) + the residents of the area are getting shortchanged on what used to be a 2 firetruck hall down to 1 truck (further away in the tent at skytrain) and the other truck respondsfrom PNE area??? The taxpayers deserve some action since they voted in 3 elections and think they got 3 new halls...to date not one!

 

  • By Red in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    I just wanted to congratulate Mike Klassen for a job well done. Your esteemed colleagues on the list are no slouches and to be ranked #1 is an honor worth noting.

    Thanks to everybody on the list (and some who aren't) for all of your hard work and standing up for the Citizens.

    Keep up the good work.

 

 

 

 

  • By A. G. Tsakums in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    Firstly, let me say that despite the protests and denials, the list is absolutely real and I'll have more on it's authenticity in the coming says, included some email traffic that includes the names of Vision bobbleheads.

    Secondly, it should be fairly clear that I've run some of the regardless of biggest stories that have caused the Mayor grief. It's easy pickings frankly since the Mayor refuses to fly straight. And Vision are too busy digging up dirt on reporters who won't drink the bathwater. I don't need to furnish a fake story to anybody and I've NEVEr thought of doing that. My critics can say what they want but I just don't play like that.

    Thirdly, why all the vitriol from Mike Magee, Andrea Reimer, Kevin Quinlan, Jonathan Ross, etc.? If the story is a fake you ignore it. It's rule number one. A clear sky doesn't worry about lightning. But they can't ignore it because they know it's true and has long legs.

    Lastly, it's easy for Mike Magee to try and intimidate newsrooms because that's how incredibly STUPID he is. You never pick fights with the press unless you're ABSOLUTELY sure of your position.

    Thx for the kind words Mike. nice to see your happy to play Dan Marino to my Joe Montana. Remember, you're prolific but I won a few rings! LOL!

    Oh, geezus I just thought of myself in tights and felt my stomach turn...

    Keep up the good work.

 

 

  • By Glissando Remmy in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    The Thought of The Day

    " Robertson wanted to eradicate homelessness in Vancouver. But he focused on the World Homelessness instead...so, he couldn't."

    Robertson also wanted to stop the global warming, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the spreading of the gossip that a monkey with a mandolin is the Mayor of Vancouver. And he couldn't.

    Now he heads on to China on taxpayers money to play the role of the middle man for all of us. If this isn't a front for his Hollyhock business interest pals I don't now what is.

    Butterfly catchers, paper flip-flops, green tea flavoured bubble gum, dragon shaped kites and solar powered beach lanterns are already 'on sale' in Mr. Fu Koo Yoo's friendly neighbourhood 'Loonie' store.

    Make him happy, Travel Man, and stay home, buy green from this guy and start looking out for this city, that's your job! But if you must go, go, and maybe you could figure out a way to stay there for good, save yourself from the embarrassment you've become. And BTW have the decency to pay from your own pocket for this BS extravaganza. And don't forget to 'offset' your carbon fart print by buying some credits from one of your sponsor pals!

    We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.

 

  • By Bill McCreery in response to Exclusive: Internal memo & survey reveals plummeting City staff morale

    MrJ, thxs for the info, it's helpful.

    The focus in this matter should be the fact that Vision during their last year's budget go-round cut not only the Fire Department but, services, programmes, facilities & jobs right across the board. What is now becoming clear is they were doing this not because of the recession but, to fund their own agenda.

    This appears also to not have been enough. I am advised they are also dipping into already approved departmental budgets to fund unapproved work such as the Hornby Bike Lane rewiring & surveying.

    It will be an interesting next few months when next year's budget discussions start.

 

 

 

  • By Higgins in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    That's what you get from the City Hall when you are doing a good job. The boot.
    The Hit List is what it is. The fact that this punk Mayor is going to China on my dough, is what bothers me. What's he doing there? What is the upside for Vancouver from his trips to London, Athens, New York, San Francisco?
    ...the Hit List.
    Not to say that the list is incomplete, I can think of at least two people that were critical of these guys and made me laugh in the process. Thank you City Caucus for your true reporting and for the forum.

 

 

  • By Gerry McGuire in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    I agree with Jeff. He deserves top five ranking. Vision is running scared and striking out like this (literally and figuratively) is the clearest manifestation of that fact. Pretty soon you'll see them disintegrate as they will start to turn on each other.

 

  • By Todd in response to The Vision Hit List: we're number one (and three)!

    "Is the hit list for real? Well, despite my respect for Alex I wasn't so sure"
    ..............................

    I'm still not absolutely sure myself - but then again I doubt that he would have aired that post unless he was certain. Sure would like to know who his "Deep Throat" source is!

 

 

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