Doug James
03-22-2007, 11:14 AM
Well I had intended to talk specifically about Storm-Away-Norm’s State of the City address now that more details have been published. But, doesn’t the Mayor go and surprise me by announcing that he intends to run for re-election!?
According to McFarlane, Saint John has moved ahead tremendously in the last three years, presumably because of all his hard work. He goes on to cite a number of dubious statistics to prove his point, including the fact that the city’s unemployment rate is at a record low and the number of people on social assistance dropped from 8.2 per cent to 7.5 per cent. I’m not sure why he believes this is his doing, but he must have his reasons for thinking so. Lots to talk there but I’ll leave that for another day.
As for Canadian Business Magazine choosing Saint John as one of the top 10 best cities for business in Canada…twice now…anyone who understands how people or companies or cities get such great PR will be inclined to brush off the dubious honour as nothing more than the successful ‘spin’ that it is.
In his address, the mayor said the challenges for 2007 include out-migration, education, and recreation. You’ve got your priorities upside down, Norm, if you think new recreational facilities take priority over taxes, services and infrastructure. If ever there were a case of Nero fiddling while the city burned down around him, this is it. Storm-Away wants UNBSJ to field a football team. Does he expect you to pay for the facilities when, presumably, the city can’t even afford proper snow removal?
It will be very, very interesting to see now who challenges McFarlane for the Mayor’s job in 2008. According to the Telegraph-Journal, Deputy Mayor Michelle Hooten and Councillor Ivan Court are two possible contenders. There will be others, I assure you.
Doug James
According to McFarlane, Saint John has moved ahead tremendously in the last three years, presumably because of all his hard work. He goes on to cite a number of dubious statistics to prove his point, including the fact that the city’s unemployment rate is at a record low and the number of people on social assistance dropped from 8.2 per cent to 7.5 per cent. I’m not sure why he believes this is his doing, but he must have his reasons for thinking so. Lots to talk there but I’ll leave that for another day.
As for Canadian Business Magazine choosing Saint John as one of the top 10 best cities for business in Canada…twice now…anyone who understands how people or companies or cities get such great PR will be inclined to brush off the dubious honour as nothing more than the successful ‘spin’ that it is.
In his address, the mayor said the challenges for 2007 include out-migration, education, and recreation. You’ve got your priorities upside down, Norm, if you think new recreational facilities take priority over taxes, services and infrastructure. If ever there were a case of Nero fiddling while the city burned down around him, this is it. Storm-Away wants UNBSJ to field a football team. Does he expect you to pay for the facilities when, presumably, the city can’t even afford proper snow removal?
It will be very, very interesting to see now who challenges McFarlane for the Mayor’s job in 2008. According to the Telegraph-Journal, Deputy Mayor Michelle Hooten and Councillor Ivan Court are two possible contenders. There will be others, I assure you.
Doug James