First about media: It's disheartening to know that our media have become so hobbled, not only by citizen-turned-vigilantes (as in yesterday's note about the Hell Yeah post), but also by the actual tools required to do the job (access to scanners and other unfiltered information sources). I know Facebook isn't reliable, but for very current information it's invaluable.
Take accidents as an example. Commenters on community facebook pages may not know the why and the how of an accident, but often report that one has happened within minutes of it happening. People will often turn to media for the how the why, but unfortunately, that information rarely turns up. It's frustrating, and you're correct when you wonder what the options are.
And speaking of accidents, I'd be curious to know how many pedestrians have been hit in that area of the Hart over the past 3 years, 5 years, 10 years. Despite repeated calls for the province to step up with better lighting and actual sidewalks in that area, it hasn't changed much in the nearly 30 years I've lived in PG. The Frankfurt area has become a hub for precariously-housed and crime-involved people, and more often than not there is a warning on the Hart Community facebook page for drivers to be careful not to hit someone who is wandering on the road.
The Hart hwy is known for drivers and their speed. Yet in my experience, people often slow down to speed limit speeds in that area. People continually cross dangerously, walk in the road and wear all black clothing. Lighting is awful. And yes, people still speed up and down that highway. It's not up to me to say how and why all this happens. I have lots of ideas, though, as do the many commenters on the community facebook pages. Which gets me back to media, and the confluence of factors that make it difficult for media to do its job, and citizens to be well-informed.
a truly great post today, Andrew! My partner was working out of town the last couple of days and came home last night, having listened to CBC radio on his drive, "Did you hear about Simon Yu??" I said, "I bet Andrew K will have a post about this on Thursday." And LO! Here it is.
Suffice to say, we did ask each other the question: what are the checks and balances for travel expenses? We also agree that the travel budgets are pretty small, all things considered, but I thought that perhaps their Finance department would cross-check and flag any potentially questionable items on expense submissions that are not aligned with policy. Unless the city does not have a clear policy on expenses?
Cori Ramsay also confirmed another comment I made to my partner: they DO have training, lots of training, as newly elected council and mayors. Clearly remedial training is needed for Mayor Yu, though.
Side note: both my partner and I are public servants for different levels of government. We both have to go through managerial or higher level approvals for travel, use approved accommodations at gov't rates, submit our expenses with justification for approval before we receive any payment (with all the paperwork including the original travel approval), AND we may get reviewed/audited by our respective financial folks. I once was contacted by a Financial officer several months after a travel-related training session, about the lunch I claimed for that day. Our lunch per diem was around $8 to 10 in mid-2000s (and it isn't much more in 2023). I had to re-provide the paperwork for the training a second time as confirmation that I indeed go to the training. Yes, I went to Subway and bought that 6" veggie sub. Here's the evidence.
I popped down into the comments to highlight that typo specifically. I'm never going to nitpick about inconsequential typos - I mean, I got this newsletter at 6 am this morning, which is half an hour before my alarm goes off and I'm NOT a morning person, so I tip my hat to anyone who can communicate this early in the day - but this one stood out. Anyway thanks a million, as always, Andrew, for your reporting and thoughts and questions and link roundups and bringing together of the community in this little corner of the internet.
The biggest red flag with Yu is how he so quickly threw his staff under the bus. Yikes.
First about media: It's disheartening to know that our media have become so hobbled, not only by citizen-turned-vigilantes (as in yesterday's note about the Hell Yeah post), but also by the actual tools required to do the job (access to scanners and other unfiltered information sources). I know Facebook isn't reliable, but for very current information it's invaluable.
Take accidents as an example. Commenters on community facebook pages may not know the why and the how of an accident, but often report that one has happened within minutes of it happening. People will often turn to media for the how the why, but unfortunately, that information rarely turns up. It's frustrating, and you're correct when you wonder what the options are.
And speaking of accidents, I'd be curious to know how many pedestrians have been hit in that area of the Hart over the past 3 years, 5 years, 10 years. Despite repeated calls for the province to step up with better lighting and actual sidewalks in that area, it hasn't changed much in the nearly 30 years I've lived in PG. The Frankfurt area has become a hub for precariously-housed and crime-involved people, and more often than not there is a warning on the Hart Community facebook page for drivers to be careful not to hit someone who is wandering on the road.
The Hart hwy is known for drivers and their speed. Yet in my experience, people often slow down to speed limit speeds in that area. People continually cross dangerously, walk in the road and wear all black clothing. Lighting is awful. And yes, people still speed up and down that highway. It's not up to me to say how and why all this happens. I have lots of ideas, though, as do the many commenters on the community facebook pages. Which gets me back to media, and the confluence of factors that make it difficult for media to do its job, and citizens to be well-informed.
a truly great post today, Andrew! My partner was working out of town the last couple of days and came home last night, having listened to CBC radio on his drive, "Did you hear about Simon Yu??" I said, "I bet Andrew K will have a post about this on Thursday." And LO! Here it is.
Suffice to say, we did ask each other the question: what are the checks and balances for travel expenses? We also agree that the travel budgets are pretty small, all things considered, but I thought that perhaps their Finance department would cross-check and flag any potentially questionable items on expense submissions that are not aligned with policy. Unless the city does not have a clear policy on expenses?
Cori Ramsay also confirmed another comment I made to my partner: they DO have training, lots of training, as newly elected council and mayors. Clearly remedial training is needed for Mayor Yu, though.
Side note: both my partner and I are public servants for different levels of government. We both have to go through managerial or higher level approvals for travel, use approved accommodations at gov't rates, submit our expenses with justification for approval before we receive any payment (with all the paperwork including the original travel approval), AND we may get reviewed/audited by our respective financial folks. I once was contacted by a Financial officer several months after a travel-related training session, about the lunch I claimed for that day. Our lunch per diem was around $8 to 10 in mid-2000s (and it isn't much more in 2023). I had to re-provide the paperwork for the training a second time as confirmation that I indeed go to the training. Yes, I went to Subway and bought that 6" veggie sub. Here's the evidence.
" there was one on my co-workers death"
um, desk? Otherwise, we had a really interesting way of communicating in Ye Olde 2009.
I popped down into the comments to highlight that typo specifically. I'm never going to nitpick about inconsequential typos - I mean, I got this newsletter at 6 am this morning, which is half an hour before my alarm goes off and I'm NOT a morning person, so I tip my hat to anyone who can communicate this early in the day - but this one stood out. Anyway thanks a million, as always, Andrew, for your reporting and thoughts and questions and link roundups and bringing together of the community in this little corner of the internet.
WHEW, thanks. Fortunately they are alive and well!