“The Community has made their decision and we’ll honour and respect that. We will not be proceeding with the inclusion of the East Hill Lands as part of our community. It’s over”
“I respect the decision of the community. I’m not disappointed in the decision of the people because when we go to vote I respect what the decision is.”
Ten months later - on Wednesday, September 15th 2010 at the Chamber Luncheon, Mayor Manjak indicated that the East Hill expansion would become an election issue as, in his opinion, it is the only direction for the city to expand.
Putting the East Hill expansion issue on the table now without even waiting for his own staff’s analysis of the long awaited half million-dollar Growth Management Study is shocking. City staff has had this document since May but the public has been advised that a complete analysis would take another 6 to 12 months. The study has only been available to the public since the September 13th meeting of Council when it was posted on the City’s website.
Among other conclusions, the Growth Management Study clearly states Cranbrook has enough residential land for the next 57 years if development continues at the projected rate. The study also indicates that Cranbrook will soon be in need of commercial land. However this type of land is best suited to locations in close proximity to major transportation corridors none of which traverse the East Hill area. There is potential land within the city that was not considered in the study.
At the Chamber luncheon Mayor Manjak also made the statement that he was not going “to lie down to the voices of negativity and doubt”. No specifics were provided but his remark was clearly directed at anyone who questioned the East Hill Boundary expansion and sought an opportunity for informed public input and transparent decision making.
Ever since the East Hill Boundary expansion proposal was first brought forward, members of the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society have advocated for an open public discussion on a vision for the City and options for growth. It appears that the opportunity for constructive public discussion on the future of our City has once more been denied and the matter has been reduced to a campaign issue with a win or lose outcome.
Members of the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook take pride in their considerable research and factual information. We continue to stand behind the facts as we find them and welcome the opportunity for comment and discussion on issues affecting our City.
Do Mayor Manjak’s statements of last week mean he assigns no value to the Growth Management Study taxpayers of Cranbrook paid half a million dollars for?
Do Mayor Manjak’s statements of last week demonstrate respect for the democratic process?
I do believe in this case you are blatantly wrong in Mayor Manjaks speech at the Chamber. No where in his entire speech did he state that the East Hill expansion was back on the table. I was at the same luncheon.
ReplyDeleteThis is another attempt for your organization to mislead the public...shame on you! Perhaps if you researched so well (as you state in your letter to the editor) you should have requested a transcript of the speech first. Instead you relied on one of your attendees to report thirdhand information and treat it as factual.
Your misconceptions that you continue to promote as factual are causing this community to be torn apart. You want open, transparent and honest dialogue...then follow your own advice and start being honorable and apply some ethics to your publications and letters to the editor.
Thank you "Anonymous" for your comment. As a Director of CLC, I have to
ReplyDeleteagree with what you are saying. I was at the Chamber luncheon too and the
Mayor inferred in my mind that the East Hill is back on the table, but you are correct in saying he didn't come right out and say it. CLC believes in being transparent and respectful of other viewpoints. I appreciate your comment and for calling us on this.
Why Anonymous???? If you have issues, identify yourself and do not hide behind "Anonymous"
ReplyDeleteIn the Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, edition of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman, a letter to the editor submitted by Norma Blissett, Vice-President of Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook, included a paragraph that read:
ReplyDelete“Ten months later, on Wednesday, September 15, 2010, at the Chamber luncheon, Mayor Manjak indicated that the East Hill expansion would become an election issue as, in his opinion, it is the only direction for the city to expand.” We have since reviewed the Mayor’s address at the Chamber luncheon and this was not included in his remarks. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
This is a retraction notice published in the Daily Townsman on Tuesday September 28, following Norma Blissett's Letter to the Editor which appeared on September 27. In Blissett's same letter she states - "Members of the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook take pride in their considerable research and factual information." Hmmm…
If you want to gain any real public credibility, present the actual facts, not the CLC’s version of the “facts”. Doing so may actually garner a little public respect for the CLC’s views. Just my thoughts.
I am uncomfortable with the use of the word "indicated" here.
ReplyDeleteIt can be taken as "alluded to"
but it can also be taken as "said."
Apparently, he did not "say."
A debate about semantics serves only as a diversionary tactic to the real and serious issue. Petty.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't about semantics -- it's about accuracy and accountability.
ReplyDelete