Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Let's pause to take stock for a moment, shall we?
It seems that (according to the Diva) generous citizens, not to mention donors from places outside the Kingdom of St Michael, are going to be queuing to fund all the baubles he's promised the subjects of this cash-strapped city.
Just off the top of our heads, we seem to recall these paragons of generosity being put down for:
- The River Queen Premiere-that-isn't ($200,000 according to this morning's Chron).
- Stained glass windows (who knows, but can be US$1,500 apiece, and that's for off-the-shelf designs, not special orders).
- The Splash Centre extension (maybe $4.5 million, maybe more, less the $2.5 million (or maybe that's $2.725 million) already committed by Council).
Meanwhile our foremost civic-minded citizen, the Mayor himself, has yet to make good on his promise of a "shop front" Mayoral office, to be funded, right down to the last paperclip, from his own salary. It was to be a part of the "Heart of the City" project, which is possibly why LGOIMA requests for details of the Heart project are being steadfastly refused by Council. Never ones to take such a refusal laying down, a vigilant Watcher has uncovered an artist's depiction of the initial plans, as seen at right.Comments on a previous post were equally confused as the the fate of this particular bastion of open and accountable governance:
It seems like there's the beginnings of an unholy train wreck about to occur between promises of nil rates rises and expenditure cuts and promises to transform the face of Wanganui. Both worthy aims but essentially contradictory.joan said...
I personally really look forward to the councillors' office being established in Vic Ave - and the real opportunity to talk to mayor and councillors in a 1 to 1 situation - a real discussion of ideas and policy.
Lawrence said...
When would Micky have time to go to a downtown office? He only spends four half days at the council. Mind you he creates that much havoc in four half days they wouldn't want him there any longer than that would be my guess. Maybe he could spend those four half days downtown. If you really want to talk to him then try his talkback, but then if he didn't like what you were saying you would just cut you off. Just curious but when would the councillors have the time to sit in the downtown office? Most of them work or have a business to run.
Anonymous said...
this was a vision promise
Anonymous said...
Yeah right! That was a promise, and so was the nil rates increase and my (business) landlord has just told me I'm up for a 10% "nil" rate increase. I don't think you'll see many councillors lining up to explain themselves to their constituents. The diVisionaries don't even understand what's going on and Laws isn't going to let them put their big feet in it by contradicting him on policy he hasn't even announced yet... And it's apparent that the last thing Laws wants is citizens walking in and telling him what they think of him... My bet is that if he did have to sit in a storefront downtown office he'd be such a gutless coward he'd have the council security guy on the door...
A bit like promising increased health, welfare and education on the one hand, and tax cuts on the other. All very well to do that when you're running NZ First and know you'll never have to deliver - and that it'll fool enough of the people for long enough to keep getting you re-elected - but a different matter when you're in power and are actually expected to deliver.
Comments on this post are now closed.
49 comments:
on mayormichael`s website,i have been reading his policies again and the mayoral office is stated very clearly as being a definite-where the bloody hell is it??????
Goodness gracious! A helpful commenter has posted the Hare Psychopathology checklist in the previous thread.
And what Joan has described (and is evidenced in the Mayoral office et al) would seem to definitely cover:
* Grandiose sense of self-worth
* Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom
* Lack of realistic, long-term goals
* Impulsivity
* Irresponsibility
* Failure to accept responsibility for own actions
and might even suggest:
* Pathological lying
* Conning/manipulative
* Lack of remorse or guilt
Of course we've already seen plenty of demonstrations of:
* Callous/lack of empathy
* Poor behavioral control
Pity the full version costs $636.90 or we could run a few tests.
But perhaps "civic minded citizens" may like to contribute, for the good of the community and all that?
LawsWatch, you asked if you'd left off any causes for which the Diva is holding out the begging bowl.
The drama of Michael's visit to the hospital has produced another one:
And it highlighted the need for some community fund-raising in the area of children’s health.
Yeah, can't you just imagine all these civic-minded citizens queueing up with open chequebooks to support the Diva's causes de jour?
... Between reading about how he's going to flog off all those donated artworks (and others purchased thanks to citizen's generous donations.
Joan, what you describe is just what is driving staff at the council crazy.
He tells someone to do something, then tells someone else to do the same thing and they bump into each other on the way. By that time he's forgotten all about what it was in the first place, or changed his mind, and moved onto the next big thing.
The new CEO is going to have shut the door on that as a first priority and give staff some assurance that he's the one giving instructions, not the lunatic in the mayor's office.
A comment I made on a previous post is now featuring in this Post's heading, to which I must add.
After reading Mickys weekly update he tells us that he is now going to Auckland on Fridays (as well as Wednesdays) to be in TV shows. He is now only a Mayor for three half days a week at the council.
Five half days on radio and two half days filming for TV.
Value for money from a Mayor I think not.
The Mayor's salary is approx $70,000 PA (plus a car of approx value $50,000).
Just based on his salary for three half days he is on $112 per hour for the time he is at the council building. This is the cost to the ratepayers regardless of what he does with his salary after he has received it. (eg. donating it to the mayoral mile or something else that takes his fancy)
It is time Micky decided what he wants to do, be the Mayor of Wanganui or a TV celebrity.
Wanganui deserves better than this treatment from someone who said before he was elected that he would be a full time Mayor.
In the interests of accuracy we must correct the last part of your comment, Lawrence. During the campaign, every candidate but Laws said they'd be a fulltime Mayor. He openly said he'd continue endeavouring to become a legend in his own mind through media commitments. And enough people obviously thought he could manage both, and didn't mind paying him for it.
Though how many accepted that trade-off on the basis of promises that the component of their rates that goes to the Mayoral salary would be used to build Victoria Avenue offices etc and must now be feeling a little deceived?
We thought you hit the nail on the head in your earlier comment, when you said he causes enough havoc in a part-time capacity that the last thing we'd want is more Mickey.
In fact, the ideal situation (given we're lumbered with him for this term) would be the inverse of what you've said above - pay him for every hour he's not here.
You're missing the mayoral mile. I distinctly recall that a truckload of sponsor cash was going to spew forth from the mayoral orifice.
Turning Kowhai Park into a proper, Mickey approved playground, with a "mayoral orifice" feature slide.
Wanganui Inc. is expecting that private sector funding (that's committee speak for sponsorship) will cover its costs, and Ron Janes has promised to extract said funds from, you guessed it, the mayoral orifice.
Problem is, there's no room for cash in the mayoral orifice, 'cos the mayoral head is already taking up all the space.
A whisper I heard was that Chester Borrows and the mayor will be sharing rooms on Victoria Avenue and having a one stop shop. That sounds credible to me given that Laws and the MP are so pally and Laws assisted Borrows with all his neighbourhood meetings.
The one thing Laws is NOT, is a coward. He has fronted up to his critics in both print & person.
Whatever his flaws he is a very formidable individual which is why this blog is dedicated to him after all. If we didn't think he was resourceful, brave and smart we wouldn't spend all this time on him would we?
The mayor held good on his promise of Kowhai Park - $30,000 extra this year. Just a point to note.
"...and I'm sure he was referring to you lot, wasn't he?"
I think he was referring to the person who said that artists are elitists who regard the rest of the population as little more than shaved monkeys. Laws is the biggest "knocker" around. Lawsmob have described the film festival organisers as "quitters", the Sarjeant collecton as "it's all crap - sell the lot", local artists as "hobbyists" whose "wretched work" doesn't come up to scratch. It is precisely this negative mean-spirited attitude that Laws' critics oppose, so for them to be accused of it is, well, Michael Brian Laws, projected.
"...and I'm sure he was referring to you lot, wasn't he?"
I think he was referring to the person who said that artists are elitists who regard the rest of the population as little more than shaved monkeys. Laws is the biggest "knocker" around. Lawsmob have described the film festival organisers as "quitters", the Sarjeant collecton as "it's all crap - sell the lot", local artists as "hobbyists" whose "wretched work" doesn't come up to scratch. It is precisely this negative mean-spirited attitude that Laws' critics oppose, so for them to be accused of it is, well, Michael Brian Laws, projected.
WangaVegas1 said...
For a start our mayor doesn't take a salary and is basically doing the job for free.
What a lot of rot!!
The mayor is paid a salary of approx $70,000. This has to be paid to him by law. He can give the money away to his pet projects only after it has been paid to him.
He isn't doing the job for free, in fact what little he does for his $70,000 salary plus a $50,000 car is nothing but a rip off to the ratepayers.
The donating of his salary to his pet projects does not impress me one little bit.
Ross M-A playing detective in the Chron letters today, exposing yet another pseudonomous letter-writer. I wonder how Sue Pepperell feels about being on the receiving end of standard Vision campaign tactics.
I wonder how Mr Maslin feels about being caught out, up to his little tricks yet again.
What? The man has no shame. He's even reduced to seeking his own views on Wanganui, having exhausted his supply of wives, spin fairies etc.
Pity he didn't tell us what he thinks of newspaper editors who publish offensive letters from demonstrably non-existent people, who just happen to be on Matey Mickey's side.
So, who's the next First Person going to be, do you reckon?
Anonymous said...
So, who's the next First Person going to be, do you reckon?
Dear Mas
Pick me, mate
I just can’t wait
To rout the nutters
And shaft the donors
And tell them all that I’m great!
Love, Michael
Anon: "Not a complete dog then.
Do we support the premiere or not?? "
No and yes. I just asked my pooches, Nicky and Marty.
"It is a dog", they woofed, "but we'll donate a day's supply of Jellimeat for Dotty's premiere fund".
Are you sure they're not lapdogs?
Now Labour are back that means Mickey and Nicky get to meet Helen. It seems the only thing in Wangas that'll be properly funded under Mickey is the Sarjeant.
Anon said
Whatever his flaws he is a very formidable individual which is why this blog is dedicated to him after all. If we didn't think he was resourceful, brave and smart we wouldn't spend all this time on him would we?
I think he's just a plain old bully boy, and folks in here are just having fun at his expense. All the council staff I talk to just love this site!
He's just one of those people you just can not help but take the piss out of. Sorry Mickey but it's true.
He rises so easily to the bait. :)
Yes, it's amazing how many people around the council see this site as a breath of fresh air blowing around the fetid environment at Spin City.
Anon said.
Ross M-A playing detective in the Chron letters today, exposing yet another pseudonomous letter-writer. I wonder how Sue Pepperell feels about being on the receiving end of standard Vision campaign tactics.
Yes, we haven't heard from M THOMPSON lately. But in ML defence, I have heard many politicians stack false letters in the opinion pages, it's standard tactics. So never trust a politician sweeties!
'Buddy, can you spare a dime?'
Sad to say the only people in this town with any real money are the 'old boys'. Oh, dear, never mind ML, may be they'll forget your tantrums.
" I have heard many politicians stack false letters in the opinion pages"
Well, they might try but most "real" newspapers (and competent, unbiased editors) run rudimentary checks to flush them out before printing their bullshit.
You'd expect politicians to use these sort of dishonesty against their opponents, but the recent letter Ross refers to is directed personally at Sue P.
Good for us, if it means the pro and anti-Wanganui factions in Vision are growing further apart.
Using such a transparent device, the writer is obviously a complete moron.
Wangavegas1 and anon (for all intents and purposes one/two anonymii) said:
"All his mayoral salary goes into various good causes -$10K for the mayoral mile; $5K to Bowls Wanganui; the commissioned art works of Bronnimann etc; the Referendum 'o5 soiree ..."
Michaels pets are not donations, spinner.
I heard pretty good hearsay that he does donate his salary to charity, though. Must look good on the accounts.
Very few peple visit this site - check out your exclusive hits - not repeat visitors but new ones.
And name one WDC staff member who "loves" this site. They ignore it like most of Wanganui because its so boring. John Maslin was talking about you lot when he said the one thing he'd change is get rid of Wangas negative knockers.
Did you feel hurt Carol?
Joan dear - I've known you for years although we could not be aid to be intimate and you are a dear old flake and I love you for that. However that does not qualify you to be a councillor and that is why Wanganui voted for all the Vision team except you.
Hi Mickey
I see you're back with your bullshit. Now, why don't you just piss off.
So has the Council definitely committed $150,000 of our ratepayers funds for one single event,the so called 'commercial premiere'?
I thought they were waiting for the Wgton firm to come up with the additional sponsorship, and also the analysis of the economic benefits of holding the premiere here, before finally making the decision.
Has this happened?
I still cant work out exactly what benefits are likely to occur, to justify the expense,given the film isnt filmed in Wanganui,
the date of the premiere is right in the middle of one of the busiest weeks in Wanganui, which includes Wgton Anniversary weekend, when accommodation is already full, especially river based accommodation.
It looks to me like the mayor and some councillors believe holding a party for media will result in lots of people visiting our area and spending lots of money.Yeah right!
Is this the same mayor who said at a Council meeting that the media were only interested in free food and booze?
Or is the neverending salary of our Peter Pan mayor going to stretch to that as well?
I say go for it Michael, if you want to walk down the red carpet with a prima dona female star, and a leading man who likes to lose his trousers in local bars then pay for it yourself!
We need a proper strategy for growth in our area not this ad hoc support for one off projects!!
Only very stupid people - and yes LawsWatch and the wankers here are included - would fail to see the promotional benefits to Wanganui from the River Queen film. It is filmed on the Whanganui River, links brilliantly with the Awa exhibition, has the unanimous backing of local iwi and is the only time Wanganui is ever likely to feature on the international stage, even if its an art-house movie.
Michael Laws is the best thing that has happened to Wanganui since Tariana & Ken put this place on the map with Moutoa. If you don't like it - leave. No-one is listening to you, the media are ignoring you and you haven't picked up any council inside stories despite the opportunity for anonoymous postings & over 200 council staff.
I'm sure 150 is just the beginning. Does anyone know where the 'big party' is going to be?
ML said....
And name one WDC staff member who "loves" this site.
Of course, I can not 'name' the two I spoke to yesterday, they are all in fear of their jobs. But, I can assure you, they really do enjoy this site!
I ( a Watcher ) do agree the film could be really good for this city, I think you misunderstand this site. It's more about 'how' the real information is put out to the people of Whanganui and not being up front about how much ratepayers money will be sent on it and what the the long term benefits will be.
Sorry SPENT ... on it
Does anyone know who will be running in the by-election?
I'm not 'ML' but I was 'anon' who asked the Q about naming any staff member.
No WDC staff member could possibly be sacked for saying that they liked this site or any other - you don't know your employment law or the freedoms guaranteed under the Bill of Rights Act.
In the absence of any confirmation. I will assume that the previous claim then is a lie - like most of the anonymous claims here!
Anyone read the mayor's column today in the Sunday Star-Times - a pedo-loving column which is just great for Wanganui's national profile.
Earlier thread:
Yes, John Maslin loathes LawsWatch and that much was obvious not only from piece in the Chron on Saturday but his paper's refusal to cover anything from this blog in recent wees. Yet they'll cover the mayor's blog won't you Sean?
we all know why Lawsmob need names: they have to have a name to launch a personal attack.
Snow - the BERL report stating there will be benefits was criticised by Lawsy for being imprecise, and he's said since that he's still to be convinced of any. He's gone quiet on the subject more recently, though. Perhaps he was only saying that to gain leverage.
As others have argued, we might get more tourist bang for our bucks spending the $150k elsewhere. As for the River Queen premiere, the meeja are probably going to be far more interested in taking the piss out of Mickey's grotesque posturing than promoting Wanganui. Unless you take the view that we get trickle down from his exposure.
I think Mickey's "survey" of council staff members on the subject of LawsWatch is probably just pillow talk with a very small, very carefully selected sample yet he mistakes it for some sort of majority view.
where's your proof to the contrary, dickhead?
Great column by the mayor - you're lucky to have him Wangas.
There is no question that the movie River Queen is a superb opportunity to raise international awareness of the Whanganui River as a visitor destination, I dont think anyone has ever said anything to the contrary,what I would like to know is how spending $150,000 of ratepayers money, and twisting local businesses arms to provide more funds to host a party around the commercial premiere here in Wanganui will do this.
Surely the money could be spent better, there are already groups doing an excellent job promoting the area by working alongside Toursm New Zealand, is Michael talking to them or just blithely carrying on with his own vision of stardom?
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