Why Vision Vancouver’s Denials ON ANYTHING Will Forever Be Ignored: Their Record Stinks

How many times can someone go to the same well before it runs dry?

It’s a time honoured tradition for political parties that are failing the public, but too, themselves.

From Global TV: “Tonight a feature on our beleaguered Mayor of Vancouver Gregor Roberston…” and “Embattled Mayor Gregor Robertson and his party are embroiled in yet another controversy…”

From the Province Newspaper: “…(Vision’s ) radical green agenda”

If you stop there, that’s enough to understand why they are so desperate. That’s enough to understand exactly why the media ‘hit list’ story was covered by major players in the mainstream press–because it’s precisely the behavior that we ALL expect from the likes of Mike Magee, Penny Ballem, Gregor Robertson and Geoff Meggs. Even poor old Andrea Reimer tried to get into to it a few times but had to apologize profusely to both Rich Coleman and Jenny Craig.

Do you see the pattern? Do you see how these people operate? This isn’t the crew that promised they would continue what they described as the Sullivan series of attacks and denials. This IS the crew that said they would be different and offer openness and transparency; honesty and commitment.

Instead, Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver have stolen SEVERAL PAGES from the playbook of one man.

Gordon Campbell.

Is it any wonder why the Mayor was fawning all over him during the last provincial election? (Quite apart from the fact that he hates Carole James, although I understand the feeling is very much mutual, not only for her but also for most of the NDP front bench. Gregor could never return to the NDP or have Vision go provincial–it would split the NDP further).

Look at the record: Every time any major scandal (and there have been over a dozen) has come to pass where Vision Vancouver are stuck in the middle of–DENY, DENY, DENY. It doesn’t matter what facts seep out from under their doors, DENY.

And then lie.

Here are some of their best.

ITEM: Vision Vancouver’s Penny Ballem and Gregor Robertson deny that former Chief Electrician was fired. THE TRUTH: He was not only fired, they frog-marched him out the door and down the stairs escorting him the parking lot, leaving the city, to this day, much less safe. THE VISION LIE (from Geoff Meggs): “He took early retirement…”

ITEM: Vision Vancouver denied there was a problem with any part of the physical plant of the Olympic Village (after the enviroNazis at the Hall rammed through unsustainable sustainability measures and pushed contractors to finish early, is this a surprise???). THE TRUTH: Every week for the three of the Olympics, when they had occupancy, restoration companies were in revolving formation trying to stop the grey water system from backing up. Massive floods and backed up toilets left more than one athlete participating in the ‘Decrapathon’. THE VISION LIE (from Penny Ballem): “Those are unsubstantiated claims…”

ITEM: Vision Vancouver denied the Beatty Street murals were painted over because of the Olympics. THE TRUTH: CONFIRMED! That’s precisely why they were painted over. THE LIE (Mayor Moonbeam): “No, I’m not aware of any such thing…” Apparently, he’s not aware of much…”to the best of his knowledge.” LOL!

ITEM: Vision Vancouver denied that they were going to side with the Draconian laws which precluded university students from displaying ‘The Owelympics Suck!’ in dorm room windows. THE TRUTH: They even passed a motion supporting VANOC in such gestapo tactics. THE VISION LIE (you guessed it, Meggs again): “No, we want people to be able to say things they want to say…but there are reasonable limits on a lot of things…” Okay Geoffy…

ITEM: Vision Vancouver denied there were problems with homeless shelters over-run by dime-bag hookers and crack dealers, who spent their off time threatening the elderly and families blithely living in previously sedate neighborhoods. THE TRUTH: Here and here. THE VISION LIE: (from Kerry Jang): “We really need less NIMBYism in this city…”

ITEM: Vision Vancouver denied STIR projects in the West End were at all problematic. THE TRUTH: Over 10,000 signatures have been amassed by the brave and principled West End Residents group–thousands of those signatures from FORMER Vision voters. And just this week after taking a beating from residents, the Mayor announces the shelving of a project with a proposed 400% increase in density (by a developer friend and donor of Vision Vancouver). THE VISION LIE (from Vision cocktail waitress Jonathan Ross): “This is NIMBYism at it’s finest…”. Sounds like a theme, no? Very sensitive to neighborhoods…oh yeah..

ITEM: Vision Vancouver denied the Hornby bike lane is a fait accompli. (Notwithstanding the fake stats coming from Penny Ballem’s bailiwick to bolster all the failed bike lanes). THE TRUTH: City Engineering sources tell that they were instructed to scout Hornby Street for “prep work logistics that need to start right away…” THE VISION LIE (from the pungent smoke chief himself): “Ah, we’ve got a process in place and we’ll be looking at that…no decisions are going to be made prior to Sept 22…” Um, Gregor…that’s a pretty big fib, pal.

ITEM: Vision Vancouver denied my story that Ballem and company had told the Vancouver Police that they are “over-strength” and that there would be no new cops for possibly as long as 5 years (this on the heels of moronically cutting the Fire Department). Constable Jana McGuiness of the VPD went out of her way to tell inquiring media members that my post contained “many factual errors”. THE VISION LIE (from City Hall Communications High Priestess Wendy Stewart to one prominent reporter): “That’s totally wrong. No truth to that at all from what I understand…” THE TRUTH: The very next day after my post Chief Jim Chu, Vision’s pal, let’s the public know that he wont be “asking for an increase in members this year…”. And likely not the year after–so how does he already know the demands of the following year too? And internally a memo is circulated “celebrating” a massive extension to Jim Chu’s contract. Coincidence? You be the judge.

It doesn’t matter what Vision Vancouver says or does.

Their members and defenders only lie when their lips are moving.

Be Sociable, Share!

•