Armchair Mayor

ROTHENBURGER – Are the 2015 and 2020 PAC plans really ‘totally different’?

November 9, 2019 // 8 Comments

‘THIS ONE IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.’ You’ve probably heard that line more than once from proponents of the new performing arts centre proposal, and you’ll most certainly [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – Would you jump in to stop someone’s racist tirade?

November 2, 2019 // 2 Comments

HAVE YOU EVER been in a convenience store or a restaurant and heard people speaking in a foreign language? Did it bother you? It bothers the hell out of some people, [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – From death metal to hip hop – how Daz Tha Punk turned his life around

October 26, 2019 // 2 Comments

IT’S BEEN FOUR YEARS since the last time I had coffee with Daz Tha Punk. Back then he was going by the performance name Bloodlust Abominator of Ritual War Incantations — [Continue]

EDITORIAL – Here’s one City council that won’t stay silent on Bill 21

October 24, 2019 // 4 Comments

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger. KELOWNA CITY COUNCIL made a gutsy decision this week to which other City councils — not to mention federal politicians — should pay [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – Don’t worry about the turnout, just think first, then vote

October 19, 2019 // 1 Comment

FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING, I’m going to get up and drive to my designated polling station. It’s a small polling station; very few people vote there so it likely won’t [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – Gut instinct might still be the best election poll of all

October 12, 2019 // 0 Comments

WHILE THE REST OF US make election predictions based on the science of gut instinct, idle speculation and wishful thinking, there are actual experts at work using more [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – An update on the St. Andrew’s on the Square disagreement

October 10, 2019 // 2 Comments

I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION yesterday (Oct. 9, 2019) with Byron McCorkell, the City’s Community and Protective Services director, about St. Andrew’s on the Square. I worked [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – City hands pink slip to another volunteer heritage group

October 5, 2019 // 3 Comments

ANOTHER HERITAGE GROUP is being given its walking papers by City Hall. That makes three. Three strikes and you’re out, in effect. The circumstances are all somewhat [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – Argument for giving 16-year-olds the vote gets convincing

September 28, 2019 // 2 Comments

THE DAY MIGHT NOT BE far off when 16-year-old Canadian kids will be trekking to the voting booth — or voting online — to have their say in elections. What was considered [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – Why I’m willing to accept Justin Trudeau’s apology

September 21, 2019 // 7 Comments

I FORGIVE JUSTIN TRUDEAU. I accept his apology. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know the man has disappointed me in many ways, just as he’s disappointed many [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – A visit from Trudeau, a fired candidate, a not-so-bold council

September 14, 2019 // 1 Comment

AN INTERESTING WEEK IN POLITICS in the Loops. A federal election call, a fired NDP candidate and a not-so-bold move by City council. Taking first things first, Justin Trudeau [Continue]

MEDIA – Armchair Mayor finalist for Best Commentator in Webster awards

September 9, 2019 // 7 Comments

I’m pleased to say the Armchair Mayor has been named a finalist in this year’s Commentator of the Year award by the Jack Webster Foundation. Finalists in all categories [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – Instant community response to Parkcrest fire is inspiring

September 7, 2019 // 0 Comments

Some came out of curiosity but most simply want to help any way they can LATE FRIDAY, THE GAWKERS were still showing up at Parkcrest Avenue wanting to get a look at the [Continue]

ROTHENBURGER – Three keys to the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo election

August 31, 2019 // 1 Comment

VETERAN BROADCAST JOURNALIST-turned website scribe Bob Price called to ask me who’s going to win Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo in October. He was putting together a look-ahead [Continue]