Rumour mill works in mysterious ways

Had a very pleasant lunch with Pat Wallace at Ric’s downtown on Friday. Once word gets out, there will probably be some anxious chatter around City Hall about what was discussed.

Just to put minds at ease — we talked in general about the weather, about provincial and federal politics, about old times, and quite a lot about chickens. Pat didn’t share a single council secret; just an enjoyable lunch and talk.

It’s interesting the way the rumour mill works, though. See two people together and people want to know what they were talking about. Every week or so, I have coffee with John DeCicco at Cowboy Coffee. Peter Sharp usually joins us. I suppose you could call us the Cowboy Caucus, just as I nicknamed the Kokanee Caucus a couple of years back for those members of council who enjoy a brewskie together after meetings.

I’ve heard a lot of gum-flapping from within City Hall that DeCicco is obviously some kind of a source for what I write. If only it were so. Truth is, he’s a lousy source. Not that I don’t give him a rough time over whatever council is doing at the moment, but he’s more than a little paranoid about letting any secrets slip. The fact he and I are friends, and people know it, makes him all the more nervous and defensive.

I’ve long had a golden rule about material that comes from people who are both news sources and friends. On social occasions at their house, or at ours, whatever is said there stays there. Lunch at restaurants, same thing. Journalists who like to consider themselves hardcore would be shocked at that kind of approach, but I have no difficulty whatsoever in making the distinction, and it has helped me hang on to a few friends over the years.

By the way, what’s said in coffee shops, unless specifically agreed to as off the record, is fair game.

Now, there’s no question that some members of City council have used the media to their own advantage by passing along certain information, probably in the hope it will get them in the good books of reporters. I could name names, because it used to drive me nuts when I was on the other side of the situation, but that would be impolite.

I will, however, delve into this a little more deeply in future. For now (and now that I’m back on the other side), I will gladly accept any calls giving me inside information about what’s going on at City Hall — but I’m not holding my breath.