EDITORIAL – Councillors’ claim to be ‘City council’ is the height of arrogance
(Image: CFJC Today)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
THERE’S SO MUCH FODDER in what goes on at Kamloops City Hall that one could write about it every day. I try not to do it two days in a row, but this week requires it.
Yesterday, I wrote that the City needs to plug its leaky ship, investigate who is responsible for releasing confidential information, and deal with that person (or persons) accordingly. In the context of that issue, the editorial touched on a so-called “Statement from Kamloops City Council” that was issued last Friday.
That statement came on the heels of a confidential report getting into the hands of Kamloops This Week. Later yesterday, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson issued his own statement saying he “neither approved nor authorized” the one from Friday.
This confirms a couple of things. One is that the “Statement from Kamloops City Council” wasn’t a statement from Kamloops City council at all.
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached atmrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I have a serious question. Is this 8 person gang so dense that they didn’t think of the implications of referring to the whole of Council (which by definition includes the Mayor) in their statement, when they purposely excluded a member of Council from this statement?
Are they that thick, all of them, to not have thought about calling themselves something else instead of misrepresenting themselves as Kamloops City Council?
Imagine the Mayor releasing statements and referring that he is Kamloops City Council. Or in another universe, 5 members releasing a statement speaking on behalf of the City while excluding 4 others. Regardless if excluding 1, 4 or 8 members, what they did is reprehensible, shows a complete lack of respect for voters, and is clearly a desperate attempt to fool voters into thinking they’re getting anything done outside of terrible decision making. But that sort of explains their record to date doesn’t it?
Homeless encampment shootings next to homes, street chaos is unabated, homeless fires, but look at the shiny $10 million dollar overpass 10 feet from a crosswalk! Outrageous and a total abdication of what the people of Kamloops prioritized in the election.
I sincerely hope that the Mayor skewers some of these councillors in the courts.
This lot is an unbelievable embarrassment. They won’t clue in on that however because they exist in a circle jerk echo chamber of their own design.
Worst. Councillors. Ever.
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What Council hasn’t accomplished is safer streets and fiscal accountability at City Hall. Voters chose our mayor based on these planks on the mayor’s campaign platform. Council has opposed or dismantled every attempt the mayor has made to address street conflicts and administrators seem to be dodging accountability. So far, this council has approved a $10 million pedestrian overpass that will not serve the intersection; approved an outdoor skating rink in one of Kamloops’ warmest and sketchiest areas; killed the Noble Creek Irrigation System without regard for the users and the efforts of the previous council to save it; created and countenanced repeated transgressions of the Code of Conduct and Community Charter. Not a legacy to be proud of. Their recent statement reads more like PR fluff.
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This will be my last Oompa Loompa comment because I’ve run out of lyrics to spoof, but I want to first say thanks to Mel for entertaining this commentary, as it’s fitting for this band of dunces.
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I’ve got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadee dee
If you are wise you will listen to me
Who do you blame when Council’s a brat
Pampered and spoiled like a Siamese cat?
Blaming the Mayor is a lie and a shame
You know exactly who’s to blame:
The dunce Council!
Oompa Loompa doompadee dah
If you’re not the Mayor then you will go far
You will live in happiness too
Like the Oompa Loompa doompadee do!
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Dear Mel
Should have stuck to your two day rule and written about something else.
Let’s leave council and mayor and city staff alone for a few days. The media in this town is their 3rd wheel. Just maybe they could learn to get along. And then their would be no need for leaks.
Maybe find something positive to write about.
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Fantastic editorial. With these 8 councillors we went from the scalding hot pot (of the previous ineffective council) to the hot fire right below it!
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An appropriate thing to see happen would be the immediate resignation of the three incumbent councillors and two senior staff members.
One of them likely “cast the first stone” but all five of them should have known better.
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