canineclub

The following was sent to me via a friend - once more it makes for interesting reading.

The recent fiasco which Neil Mitchell has highlighted and which has even reached the highest ‘corridors of power’ with John Brumby stating that Glen Eira needs to ‘take a long hard look at itself’, is an illuminating example of how this council works - or rather fails to work. Firstly, when reporters tried to speak directly with councillors, they were told to speak to the puppetmaster, Paul Burke. Esakoff also refused to speak with Neil Mitchell until she had been ‘briefed’ by our illustrious Paul. Only after he had fumbled his way through a most embarrassing interview, did Esakoff have the courage to come on air and mouth the mantra scripted by the autocrats. What a contrast to Mayor Bolitho of Port Phillip who was reported as ‘ordering council officers to put a halt to proceedings’ once she got wind of the water tank shemozzle in her municipality!!!

Then, to top it all off, at last night’s council meeting, the usual tactics were employed - asking for a report on the issue!! As Neil Mitchell so wonderfully pointed out, this is like putting Dracula in charge of the bloodbank - in other words, asking for an ‘objective’ unbiased report, from the very people who devised the policy in the first place!!!

Whilst this incident is almost farcical, it is a microcosm of all the ills eating away at Glen Eira. Firstly, councillors who are petrified to voice an independent and honest opinion even though all were elected on the platform of ‘open’ dialogue; secondly, rules, regulations and policies which are so out of touch with what the community wants, precisely because the community is never truly consulted, and thirdly, the inevitable ‘damage control’ which follows each tawdry episode and costs ratepayers either the time of officers, or thousands of dollars in propaganda which tries to justify the unjustifiable. All residents need to do is have a look at the homepage of Council’s website, to see this ‘damage control’! Included is a letter from the RatePayers’ Association of victoria, which includes the now discredited and defunct RAGE (Ratepayers Association of Glen Eira) which was the brainchild and political stepping stone for none other than our deputy mayor - David Feldman. I can’t help wondering whether there was a flurry of phone calls yesterday between Messrs Burke, Feldman, and the president of the victorian ratepayers association???? We’ll never know, but how about taking some bets!!! In other words, support for Glen Eira’s policies and actions, were not only solicited, but as biased as all their other propaganda. As Neil Mitchell said today would they dare to open up their website so that residents can put their views directly online where everyone can read them if they so desire - and pigs might fly!!!

I thank Neil Mitchell for allowing all to hear the rot that lies at the heart of Glen Eira. In twelve months time the community will have the opportunity to root out this canker!