Mayor Gregor Robertson Ignores Life Safety Issues in the City and Covers Penny Ballem’s Lies: The Short of It–He Also Lied to Vancouverites
Many of you have already written me with lengthy and much appreciated congratulations on the story which I broke six weeks ago on the firing of Ark Tsisserev from the City of Vancouver–a story that finally ran yesterday, at length, on CKNW and Global TV.
I must tell you, right off the top, that I was extremely impressed with Janet Brown, who continues to remain their best reporter at NW. She covered this story brilliantly and even had a piece on ‘The Jon McComb Show’ yesterday afternoon. As for Ted Chernecki at Global, this is why Ted’s been one of their go-to reporters over the years from BCTV through to Global. Superb job–as usual. And Global’s exceptional treatment of the story shows that they can still do the material that made them famous–an institution. CTV doesn’t have a hope of catching them.
And certainly, kudos to NPA Clr. Suzanne Anton for her pithy comments on this issue and to the NPA for showing that there may be some life left in them yet. They were on top of this issue all day yesterday.
But let’s get to the heart of the matter, because, in case it hasn’t occurred to anyone, Gregor Robertson is in a considerable depth of hot water. Why?
Because…GREGOR ROBERTSON LIED TO YOU.
After a full day of being mercilessly pounded by CKNW and then having Global’s piece really lay bare what a stunning lie he was caught in, Gregor Robertson personally phoned CKNW yesterday in the late afternoon, at just past 4pm.
From the archives, here is his statement verbatim:
In response to accusations that inspections were skipped and problems were manifest at various Olympic sites:
“Yeah, I think those accusations are baseless. Safety is a number one concern at the city and we’ve been very diligent with our safety inspections and so if there are specific concerns about fire or electrical then they need to come forward to city and we’ll have our staff deal with them immediately.” (Gregor Robertson, March 15th., 2010)
Um…Gregor, it’s me again…you are the recipient of no less than six dozen letters from top electrical contractors, industry leaders and the Exective Director of the Electrical Contractors’ Association. These letters began pouring into the Office of the Mayor (um, that’s your office, by the way) from the end of January/beginning of February. Do you and your staff communicate? Or is that only when they need to find the wind-up toys?
Here’s what the Mayor told Nafessa Karim (another very good reporter) of CKNW Wednesday of last week, when she asked him about Ark Tsisserev’s firing, point blank.
“Ahh, if I’m able to confirm whether he (Arkady Tsisserev) was retired or let go? …ahhh…umm… I don’t really know the details of it, it was a human resources action, so you’d have to check with the City Manager (Penny Ballem), who has that answer. It’s really in the hands of the HR (Human Resources) department at the City and as far as I know, they’re taking care of it.” (Gregor Robertson, March 10th, 2010)
Even though it was revealed here last week prior to his ridiculous and untrue statement, that Gregor Robertson, in fact, chaired the in-camera meeting, when council was lied to by Dr. Ballem (she told council Mr. Tsisserev “retired”)
Then, yesterday again, the Mayor of Vancouver managed to change his explanation TWO MORE TIMES.
In that call he made to CKNW yesterday, below is what he offered up as a newer explanation after one reporter asked him about the report on this blog, that he chaired the in-camera meeting (read: switched for another excuse because that’s the script his Chief of Staff Mike Magee, Press Secretary Kevin Quinlan and millstone, er, excuse me, hand-picked City Manager Penny Ballem provided him)
“Yes, I chaired the meeting and the decision was made at that meeting by council to dismiss him and combine his position with the director of licences and inspections but I don’t know the details of the severance and all of the human resources that ensue once that decision is made.” (Gregor Robertson, March 15th, 2010)
Now, in case some of you were thinking the Mayor was getting somewhere close to the truth. Let me immediately disabuse you of such an impossible notion. The nugget below was, incredibly, fifteen minutes after the above statement he made to CKNW yesterday, clearly in full panic mode.
“Council made a decision to dismiss (Ark Tsisserev) and that was the details, well they’re obviously are dealt with by our HR department, so I didn’t have information on that specifically but the decision was made by council for restructuring and basically saving money in the budget.” (Gregor Robertson, March 15th, 2010)
I know what you’re thinking: Which one of Mayor Robertson’s lies do we start with first.
Well, in reverse order:
1) It is impossible to have fired Ark Tsisserev for budgetary reasons or restructuring. Gregor Robertson obviously has never read the City Charter because the reasons he is citing are IN CONTRAVENTION of said Charter. The City Electrician could have been fired for only two specific reasons– “merit or fitness.” So how do you fire THE recognized Canadian expert on life safety issues? And with a profit of $3.5 million to $4 million in the last two years alone, courtesy of the electrical branch, tell me again where your shortage was? For your benefit, your Worship, here’s the relevant section of the City Charter you need to read. Now, put down that propeller-beanie and please read this carefully. Mikey, Maria and Kevvy can help you after they detach the puppet strings and send them back to Joel Solomon and Carol Newell at Hollyhock, for the latest in eco-dry cleaning.
Mr. Tsisserev’s former position as “City Electrician” is mandated by:
Section 312 of the Vancouver Charter which makes no reference to budgetary issues as a means of defining either “fitness” or “merit” for the position of City Electrician. An amendment to the Charter can affect any change in his status as an officer under the Charter, but this can only be done by the Province of British Columbia. Can you show us, Your Worship, where your idol Gordon Campbell provided you with an out, on this issue, by having his government send along an amendment?
2) In the myriad of excuses and drivel offered up by the Mayor about no safety issues or violations through the Olympics, notwithstanding the picture of burning cables from behind the Canada Pavilion–a picture which I featured here in the middle of the 2010 Games (copies of which went to the Vancouver Police and Vancouver Fire Department–and was authenticated). So much for the Mayor’s embarrassing contention that life safety concerns are “baseless”. What about the letter from the Executive Director of the Electrical Contractors Association? Lies too, Gregor? And let me give you a little tip Mr. Mayor: Instead of shoveling the fertilizer to cover for your breathtaking incompetence and willful ignorance, explain how at two different pavilions, the stages and metal stands were actually rigged as ‘grounding’. If there had been a short, you’d have seen certain death for anyone on both. What about propane tanks inside tents? What about no fire alarm panel in the tent of a major sponsor that saw thousands pour through there every night of the Games. Stop lying, Sir, and come up with some real answers.
3) Engineered electrical drawings for Olympic sites were sent with applications to the City for approval. They were then reviewed by plan examination staff, and necessary corrections made on the drawings before the permits for each site or each venue had been issued. Unfortunately, not all such installations could be inspected in accordance with the Vancouver Electrical By-law, as the requested accreditation for the inspectors – (to access these installation sites) WAS NEVER GRANTED–MEANING NO FOLLOW-UP INSPECTIONS BY CITY ELECTRICAL STAFF. If it’s true Mr. Mayor that they were all inspected, then prove me wrong: RELEASE THE RECORDS SHOWING WHICH CITY INSPECTORS DID THE WORK, AND ON WHAT DATES–ACCORDINGLY, THAT THE CITY SIGNED OFF. If it was all done above board, let’s see it. Surely, you have nothing to hide, Sir.
And in case anyone was thinking that Dr. Ballem and her tower of twits were on the side of right…
The smear job begins. Instead of telling the truth, instead of resigning her position for lying about Ark Tsisserev, Dr. Ballem’s evil empire is selectively releasing information calling into to question Arkady Tsisserev’s travel expenses for some of the industry committees he chaired. Problem: They don’t bother to include the additional information that all his expenses were picked up by ULC and CSA and that the City of Vancouver has NEVER had to cover any expenses or paid Ark Tsisserev while he was engaged in activities relating to Canadian Electrical Code Committee meetings, even though that participation was clearly part of his job description as City Electrician. Last year, Mr. Tsisserev actually used two weeks of his own vacation time to attend those meetings.
I tell you, the nastiness and pure evil of the smear job against this man is astounding.
Here is the clip from yesterday evening’s GlobalTV News.
And,, later today…I’m going to tell you about a couple of local long-time reporters, who have sold their souls to Vision Vancouver–particularly on this story…and how after today’s coverage, they look like utter fools.
Also, this week’s video commentary will be released Friday afternoon and will be specifically on Vision Vancouver’s spiral downwards. Last week, I was busy helping get two out of three little ones on the mend.
Thanks for your patience.
Enjoy!
“Ahh, if I’m able to confirm whether he (Arkady Tsisserev) was retired or let go? …ahhh…umm… I don’t really know the details of it, it was a human resources action, so you’d have to check with the City Manager (Penny Ballem), who has that answer. It’s really in the hands of the HR (Human Resources) department at the City and as far as I know, they’re taking care of it.” (Gregor Robertson, March 10th, 2010)
“It’s standard with…uhh…with these kind of dismissals ‘n’ and severance issues. There’s…uhh…there’s a need to…uhhh…obviously ensure that the, the process is clear, and, and clean. Uhhh…we made the decision in council. Our human resources department carries out…uhhh…by the, by the book basically. (Gregor Roberstson from yesterday’s 6:00 p.m Global News)
Clean??? Hardly!
And by “we”, do you mean “you” were part of the decision you previously implied you knew nothing about Mr. Robertson, sir?
“Out damn spot out! out, I say! One; two: why, then ‘tis time to do ‘t. Hell is murky! Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier, and afeared? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (Lady Macbeth Act V. Scene I)
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Hell, is indeed murky. What a great and appropriate quote from the Scottish Play…
Here’s my favorite from Lady Macbeth:
“Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand…”
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Don’t forget this little gem, tho:
“I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”
ps. Had lunch with D.F. ~ month ago. Blith!
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“Give me my sword!”
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Looks like I owe you a huge apology for “farting in your general direction” You did a very good job here and deserve the accolades you are getting. I agree with you that Gregor was indeed looking like the deer in the headlights in claiming he did not know the details around the Tsisserev settlement. Clealry Gregor is missing the considerable talent of Meggs at the table to be able to spin out of this one.
The issue itself is one thing; however the embarrassing manner how Gregor has stumbled along in the handling of it is indeed troubling. I am off to go fart in his general direction….
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Thx, I appreciate your comments. Yeah, I think he was pathetic actually. And I agree that Meggs, to his credit, was the one who pointed out that Ballem told council that Tsisserev was “retired”–which we all know is bunk. But then there are the legal issues. If he was fired for reasons outside the city charter, then the Mayor and council need to be called on this. Council to a lesser extent, since it appears they were largely in the dark.
And I’m glad, er, your trying to cure your gas issue. At least it’s not in my “general direction” any more.
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Another well written and researched piece – please keep up the good work. It sure would be nice if some overseas newspapers were to take an interest in the apparent corruption (no other words describe what is happening here in BC) at city hall. These officials are supposed to be serving the people of Vancouver and not themselves – oh what a wacky Campbell world we now live in !!!
Thank you
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Well, thank you and everyone else who seems intent on circling back with such kind words. I feel that maybe, the peopl eof Vancouver might be a little safer today, because this adverse media will force the Mayor and council to ensure that Ballem’s ham-fistedness won’t cost someone their life.
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Excellent work Alex!! Give ‘em hell.
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Thank my dear. Much appreciation for coming around a joining the celebration.
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Okay; Kudos (is that Greek?) to the gang at Global, it almost makes up for the item the other day when they showed us an entrepreneur who was making cheese out of his lactating wife’s breast milk and sending it to various TV personalities who were seen consuming it – all this during my supper hour!
Thanks Alex for the lead, that might make the folks at Global seek out the really important aspects of the news, or, might we add, hire a damn good investigative reporter. I know of one.
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Sir Larry, you are something else. I think Global did a superb job. The Mayor’s office is in full panic mode today. And they should. They mishandled this story from the beginning. And I will not let it go until we find out why Ark Tsisserev was really fired.
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Good to hear from you Alex!
Confession to make first… I was looking forward to your second TV Blog experience… .
Nevertheless, this is a hot topic and you reported it brilliantly in the recent weeks. And by you I meant ONLY you! I too want to get to the bottom of this as much as any Vancouver citizen, you know, the unsuspected single mom or dad, the senior on a fixed income, the software programmer and his Czech visiting girlfriend, the Yaletown yuppie and Affenpinscher companion and even the Coal Harbour middle Hong Kong class family taxpaying suckers of this city, they all want to get to the bottom of it.
BTW, where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? And by Carmen Sandiego I meant the NPA (Naturo- Pathetic Actors) on this one? Weren’t they supposed to be the Medical Alternative to the currently established Medical Vision? Hello, is anybody still alive?
I am member of no Party, but let me tell you, I feel like starting one. The party of one! I would not want them sleeping in my bed even if they were growing on my butt!
Anyway. Following is a piece of simple logic that I played with yesterday. Do you concur?
The QED Thought of The Day
“Strange how the City of Vancouver`s top Manager thinks that QED stands for – QUITE EASILY DONE when everyone else knows that it means – QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM.”
Let me clarify this one for you. Following are three statements.
Statement ONE
Ark Tsisserev claims he was fired without just cause after decades of impeccable service with the City of Vancouver. (If true, he has the right to sue the City and may be entitled to compensation)
Statement TWO
Penny Ballem claimes that Ark Tsiserev was instead “retired” with dignity. She doesn`t think there was any wrongdoing. (If true, the City is safe from litigation)
Statement THREE
Mayor Gregor Robertson says that he didn’t know about the matter despite him being the head of a Council whose role was to hire Ark in the first place and would have been their role to fire Ark if necessary. (If true, the Mayor`s office is as useful as an extra large condom on a Panda`s yingyang)
DEMONSTRATION
Let`s assume now that statement ONE is WRONG.
(That means that any lawsuit filed by Ark and his lawyer is doomed from the start.)
However, Ark hires lawyer, sues the City and apparently they settle for an undisclosed amount.
If TWO and THREE were RIGHT there would have been NO settlement.
(Note: no accused party would get advice from a top lawyer to go to trial if there was no way in Hell to win the case. Settlement comes to mind in most cases. Eliminates humiliation for the accused and why not mitigates (as in “hides”) path for future lawsuits.)
Which gets us to the one and only conclusion: statement ONE is RIGHT!
QED!
“that which was to be demonstrated”
It bothers me dearly when a manager, public employee or an elected official tries to cover up their one degree of separation wrongdoing with… MY MONEY! I say it`s about the right time for the Taxpayers to correct the situation and have them fired. The City of Vancouver Manager would probably agree with me when I say that is QUITE EASILY DONE.
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
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Everytime you post here, I can only think of one word: Priceless. Thank you Glissando. And yes, I agree with the breakdown of the scenario as you’ve painted it. The permutations are many–but know this: Ark Tsisserev was fired because he was interested only in the safety of the people of Vancouver. Those that fired him made all of us less safe. And they don’t appear to care, either…
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“Keep your jaw loose and teeth apart. When you start going to the high parts of your range, it gets more natural to want to clamp your teeth because you think and tighten everything up because you have to tighten your lips for a high note. Don’t! The only thing needing tightening is your lips and that’s it. If you tighten your throat and clamp your teeth, the air won’t come out smoothly (hence the fact you breathe with an open throat) and air is one of the most important things in getting the note out. Pretend you have an egg in your mouth whenever you’re playing.”
Alex. LOL
These are real Tuba playing techniques on how to get a good sound! Honest!
I don’t know about you, but after reading it I am absolutely sure that inside this passage there is some sort of subliminal message to do with lying through your teeth while talking to the Media!
Anyway. Stay with me. Thank you.
Accidentally, I came across a piece of apparently trivial content, in the music pages of last month’s Georgia Straight (Charlie Smith).
Guess what? Our Boy Gregor …plays the tuba, believe you me I have a joke for this one too, but it’s unprintable. Wait, wait, wait, listen to this, so he does a cameo appearance on a music recording, are you ready for this, titled “She Believes Her Own Lies”! I could not possibly make this one up Alex! The title was most likely changed from something like “Simply Penny”.
Boy oh boy, Gregor never learns. You don’t want your name to be associated or in the same sentence with the word(s) lie(s). I’m done!
I have to go work on my Cover Letter now. What, I haven’t mentioned it to you? I’m applying for Tom Timms’s position. If I could only find that hard to find Human Angle in Penny, so I can better start focus my plea.
I’ll probably run the draft by you; maybe you can check it out for brevity and malcontent.
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
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You are too brilliant for your own good. It’s frightening.
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Glissando,
I can’t stop laughing. Alex is correct, you are brilliant. I look forward to reading your thoughts. Seriously, the two of you have me laughing out loud. What a gift you have…
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“There’s a need to obviously ensure the process is clear and clean.”
Very true, Mr Robertson, so how about practising what you preach? Release Mr Tsisserev from the gagging order and open up the files.
I just want to join the chorus of praise for this story. Bloody brilliant!
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Very kind…too kind. Always a pleasure David. Let’s see what the Mayor’s Office does.
I have more bad news for them…very soon.
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Good stuff. Alex you’re headed towards stardom. How about being something like Ken Schram in Seattle for Vancouver? We need more investigative reporting. John can’t do it all, and you look at CTV News 9, not enough. The weather reporting on CTV News 9. Hate it when she bubbles.
Good item on BCTV last night.
Suzanne sounded a little dippity, but the report was excellent.
Need more!
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Thank you! And, yes, there will be more, soon, Stay tuned!
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Fantastic work Alex. Please hang in there and keep fighting the good fight.
Your website is titled “Rebel with a clause”. I think you should change it to “The Re-nouned Rebel with a Clause”
Cheers
O
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Hi Observer. Thank you. I’m certainly going to continue to expose the ruthlessness of City Hall under Penny Ballem…and the breathtaking incompetence of the Mayor.
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A while back you penned a post about “The Artful Dodger”.
Here is the end to that post:
“…..There is a marvelous act in Oliver Twist, well along, where the Dodger is eventually caught, and Dickens writes;
“With these words, the Dodger suffered himself to be led off by the collar, threatening, till he got into the yard, to make a parliamentary business of it…and then grinning in the officer’s face, with great glee and self-approval”.
Oh to dream…
Gregor Robertson, caught red-handed by many of us, not consulting with a huge swath of concerned citizens is nothing more than a continuation of the bait and switch campaign they committed to (read: lying to get in office)–that Mayor Robertson committed to. Clearly, it was nothing but a pack of bald-faced lies.
I’ll leave you with his own words; once again, from the Mayor’s inauguration;
“Over the next three years, we will consult (emphasis added)…we will rebuild confidence and ensure transparency and accountability”
Jolly Green Gregor, laughing, grinning from ear-to-ear…at all of us. The Artful Dodger indeed.
Just not collared.
Yet………..”
I believe you’ll recall that this was about yet ANOTHER LIE.
It would be interesting to count just how many lies “Mr. Transparent” has been caught in give or take the last 15 months.
Very soon, Vision will no longer be able to slam poor old Sammy Sullivan ’cause he ain’t got nothing on Gregor.
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I don’t think they can slam Sam Sullivan now! A least Sam’s initiatives were too airy fairy to implement. This Vision crew is about hurting people’s lives and not caring about the safety of citizens. It’s astounding. Thx for stopping by.
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Glen Hall,
As a tribute to Alex for his use of “The Artful Dodger” reference and as a thank you, to you, for bringing it back, I give you my humble…
Thought of the Day
“Gregor is a hypocrite. Today he is covering up for Penny’s wrongful dismissal and then lies about it, tomorrow who knows; he may be covering up for a Skytrain fare Dodging and then Artfully lie about it.”
Glissando
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Hi Alex, Thanks, for proving once again that time spent reading your blog, it is time well spent.
Beyond the truth factor (or lack of it) you did expose the Mayor as someone who doesn’t “Know Anything About Anything”. I commend you on your gracious compliments to Global and others, however, maybe next time their reaction to real news, will be SLIGHTLY FASTER.
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Thx my friend. I was complimentary to Global and CKNW because they did a good job.
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Thank you, Alex, for exposing the manner in which our City Hall, led by the Jolly Green Gregor as Mayor, has dealt with this extremely important issue of public safety – by ignoring it and then attempting to cover up their actions.
After listening to the Mayor on Global TV last night I became convinced he was lying and making it up as he went along. When asked why there was a clause in the settlement agreement precluding Mr. Tsisserev from talking to the media, he implied that this was standard practice in these kinds of dismissals and severance issues.
Well, I’ve seen many settlement agreements, including some from other levels of government, and I’ve never seen such a clause in any of those agreements. Usually, such non-disclosure clauses state that only the amount of the settlement is not to be disclosed.
Furthermore, I question whether such a clause would even be enforceable since it clearly intends to override Mr. Tsisserev’s rights under section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states:
“2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: . . .
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication. . . .”
Of course, if Mr. Tsisserev did speak to the media, the City’s lawyers funded with our tax dollars would likely sue him, costing him thousands of dollars, rather than admit they put this clause in knowing it’s probably not legally enforceable.
So here we have the Mayor of Vancouver, who is not a lawyer falsely claiming this is a standard practice. Well perhaps this is becoming the City’s practice under his City administration, but it is certainly not the standard practice in most settlement agreements.
In my view, the real crux of this issue is that this Mayor and his Council and administration do not seem to understand that they are supposed to act solely in the “public interest”, not in their own self interest. To act in the public interest means to act on behalf of those members of the public whose rights or financial obligations may be affected and includes a focus on issues such as public safety, public health, publc finances, etc.
Instead we have a Mayor that seems to think he’s there only for the photo ops (smile pretty now) and to implement his greed agenda, while deferring all important decisions on issues in the public interest to staff, who are apparently not accountable to anyone.
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Thank you Gasp, fro your very kind words. Yes, we have a Mayor who doesn’t get it. And you are correct. I’ve also reviewed enough settlement contracts in my time, in and out of the political arena. Not one had the additional ‘media clause’. Stop by again. Take good care.
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Your full of yourself. And yes I did see this story on CTV before the Olympics. Lisa R didi the story.
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Ah, Stevie, perhaps instead of navel-gazing or misreading….I have credited Lisa Rossington of CTV umpteen times for asking the tough questions before anyone else. But the spade work and research that I did, no one did. Or are you trying to tell us that someone else did? Pls forward their work. I’d love to see it. Thx for stopping by.
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I think you should know that every time your name comes up with most of us we want to send up a cheer. You have no clue how much we appreciate what you have done but none of us can show it because we will definitely lose our jobs. Please do not stop. Think of us as the silent majority cheering you on Alex. The atmosphere here is so terrible we wish Judy Rogers came back tomorrow. Penny Ballem is the worst thing to happen to anyone here at city hall. She hates you unless she can use you and now one will stand up to her, except you! Please Alex, do not stop. You are getting to all of them. I think they are afraid of you now. Thank you for everything you have written because we have no voice around here.
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Well, I really appreciate your words of encouragement but I am most disheartened to see how much hurt and angst Dr. Ballem is causing you. YOU hang in there and if there is anything I can do, pls send me a note through the ‘Contact’ section of this blog. Take care of yourself and tell all the folks at the city who have been so generous with their time with me, that I salute them and amire their tenacity and principle. We are blessed to have you working for us. Be well and thank you again.
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Where there’s smoke there’s fire Alex.
I hope you keep looking and that your sources keep talking.
The mayor wants this to go away and everyday it stays in the news is another day his collar feels a little tighter.
I am counting the days until you break the next scandal with these Vision phoneys.
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Well you don’t need to wait long.
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Most gratifying to see such fruition. Your superb efforts have signaled the end, I hope, to these corrupt practices. I salute your tenacity and determination.
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Thank you comrade! Another busy day.
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Time for this laughable “mayor” to go. Bye bye…
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You said it brother!
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