Not keeping my mouth shut...

This past week's lesson for Arjun Singh, member of City Council, was not to keep my mouth shut and  my head low.

I made a comment about the possibility of outsourcing some city hall work overseas in the near future. I am pretty sure if we ever went down this path, it would not be at the detriment of local city staff and the local tax base. It was not pleasant, however, to have Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour (in Kamloops on union business) call the idea "stupid" and suggest that I resign so my work could be contracted out.

I basically was throwing out an idea, in the context of a budget meeting. I think its important that elected people don't censor themselves, especially at the early stages of decisionmaking, so we leave no stone unturned. And, as unpleasant as Jim Sinclair's reaction was, I think I owe it to the community to keep putting new ideas on the table (I am a little sore this week, though).

Another interesting happening in the same vein: I have been quite public about my feelings that we have to start really sharpening our pencils and be more modest in spending at city hall. I have called this "a budget crunch". Today,  Kamloops This Week editor Chris Fould took me to task for supporting $25 000 of city money  to plan for a new public "spirit square" in the city.  He does not believe we need more squares in the city. Again, this criticism came about because I have said things, written things in the public domain. And I am glad I have - Chris may have a point that I have not thought through.

I am not willing to concede the point just yet.  Chris might just have made me focus better on why I support spirit square. A city has to continue to enhance public space and the provincial spirit square program matched our money. So, perhaps it is wise to spend 50 cents to get a dollar, for something we were going to do in any case in the near future.

Comments welcome.

Comments

[Mike]

Definitely throw the ideas out there to the field. Some are good, some are not, but at least they weren't missed possibilities.

I have to wonder about this square idea... we have parks all over the city, and as a family we use a lot of them throughout the summer. We pick random areas of the city and go for a picnic. There are a lot of facilities that seem to need a little help, why build new ones when the old one's aren't up to snuff?

That's not meant as a complaint. I'd like to keep a few of my tax dollars in my hands rather than create yet another long-term expense. Water filter, sewer filter, green technology adoption, more technology expansion - things that will make a difference to the world seem like a better way to go.

[Mike]

Just thought of a comparison... we get coupons in the mail all the time offering 50% off this or that. That doesn't mean we have to use them, it just means someone else wants me to!

[Jane]

Arjun: I see your point about accessing funds for something we would otherwise be doing in future (without a matching grant).

However, I agree with Mike --we don't need another square, we have other needs (as listed by Mike), and 'coupons' must not distract us (or our finances, however matched).

[jane]

And ya, please keep talking, Arjun. It sucks to be lambasted, but you're doing a great job: Initiating discussion, even if on an idea that gets booted in the end, is what democracy is all about.

It's too bad that some people will use their positions in the community to make attacks, but your postings, humility, and honesty balance things out very well.