In viewing public statements and promos being made and published by the opposition to our current majority on the Township of Langley Council, the word OBFUSCATION comes to mind – (the act of making something less clear, especially intentionally, or putting false or confusing information on the internet – Cambridge Dictionary definition). This is not new for politicians; it is also called POLITICAL SPEAK, talk a lot and say little; it is a tried-and-true act practiced by most politicians over many years. I said most, because the current Council majority have lived up to exactly what they said they would do in the last election, actually highly unusual. That has been very refreshing, and the residents of the Township of Langley have experienced more positive investments and positive improvements than ever before in our community to look after our growth – More important, development is paying for it, and it is NOT on the backs of property tax payers!
So, what are we hearing from the opposition – lack of consultation? – lack of transparency? – lack of listening? Accumulation of debt? Really? So, let’s deal with those one at a time!
Lack of Consultation? The current majority on Council (Mayor and Councillors) ran and got elected with a strong mandate, not on an obfuscated campaign of political speak, but in a campaign focused on specific goals. So, what is the expectation at the Council table after getting elected with that mandate, go out to public consultation? or go into endless public debate at the council table? NO – have normal discussion and debate at the table, every councillor has their say, there is a vote and Council proceeds on the decision of the majority! That is how it works. The same applies to budgets. Going into an endless cycle of debate only leads to nothing being done, end of story! There is a reason that the majority decides – Municipal, Provincial or Federal, that is our system, after reasonable debate! Unfortunately, this obfuscated reason is used to re-fight the last election!
Lack of Transparency? There was nothing more transparent than what the majority of council said they would do during the last election campaign, followed up by delivering on those promises. You hear about the use of the term slate or team? Don’t be fooled, if you run together as a group (call it what you want, team or slate) you are all supportive of a platform, unfortunately that word comes up again – OBFUSCATION or put into an every-day vernacular, a platform filled with political speak, means nothing, tells you nothing and promises you nothing! That, prior to the current majority on Council is the how and why the Township is in the infrastructure deficit and crisis it is in today. Our long-suffering population plus the 60,000 NEW residents with family needs and wants for their community are finallyseeing and receiving PROGRESS, the first time in about 12 years.
Lack of Listening? Anyone listening to the regular debate on council is fully aware of the ability of every councillor to state their opinion or object to others on whatever issue is on the table. Sometimes it can be heated, however after the debate, governed by the procedural by-law, a vote is taken, it is public for all to see, a decision is made and the majority wins. So, who isn’t listening? Those who vote in favor OR those who vote against a particular issue. To use an old saying “It depends on whose Ox is being gored”? At the end of the day, it is a democracy! As I have said many times you can disagree without being disagreeable! We have all witnessed the PROGRESS in Langley, none of that existed prior to the current majority on council.
Accumulation of debt? I have dealt with the issues of infrastructure, debt and budgeting in my last two Blog Posts (April 7th & April 14th) but I will attempt to reinforce my argument. I am a traditional Progressive Conservative who is very conscious of debt and its downside, BUT I am supportive of debt used properly with an affordable and reasonable way of repaying it. So, as I said previously “You face the world how you found it, NOT the way you wish it was”, we are in a crisis! That is the position the Township is in today. Put it another way, did you get a mortgage when you bought a home? The recent year end audit had no difficulty with the amount of debt being carried and how it will be repaid. Again, it is being paid off through development, not on the backs of property tax payers. This is only having to be done due to the inactions of previous councils, approve development, but don’t contribute a dime toward the necessary infrastructure!
The CAC Issue (Community Amenity Contributions)? The origin of CACs comes out of Vancouver pre-2000. It was a new concept for development that could pay for community amenities not covered by the traditional DCCs (Development Cost Charges) which covers sewer, water, drainage, parks, roads, solid waste and recycling facilities, fire protection facilities, and police facilities necessary to adequately service the demands of that new development. It doesn’t cover recreation facilities and all that that entails. CACs have been introduced and used in virtually all municipalities in the lower mainland to the benefit of taxpayers. In Vancouver it had been legally tested and found to be a safe and legitimate program. Fast forward to today and the court loss with the subsequent court challenge for reimbursement, the decision to come? What is very disturbing, concerning and objectionable to me as a resident is to see a political opposition party or their supporters seemingly being a cheerleader supporting developers against the Township of Langley? Why? Is there any connection between developers and this group? Have promises been made to developers that will negatively affect taxpayers? Have donations been made by developers to this group? Just asking questions, it is suspicious? A negative legal result can only hurt taxpayers? Never before in my 51 years involved in politics, have I seen a political party and/or their supporters get involved and be in any way siding with one side or the other of a legal issue affecting the municipality or city. I find it distasteful and frankly disgusting?
Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs) A Replacement program to CACs! As communities grow in British Columbia, there is an increased need for amenities, such as libraries, daycares, recreation centres, swimming pools and public squares to support this growth. The costs associated with these new amenities create significant cost burdens for the public and local government who may require that development share these costs, under the “benefiter pays” principle. A range of development finance tools have been created and exist to enable local governments to collect a portion of growth-related expenditures from development. Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs) represent one such tool. ACCs are a development financing tool that enables local governments to collect funds from new developments that result in an increase in population or workers to help pay for community amenities that support this growth. What Are ACCs?
■ ACCs are one-time charges that allow local governments to collect funds for amenities such as community centres, recreation facilities, libraries, daycares and public spaces from new development that results in an increase in the population of residents or workers.
■ ACCs fund capital costs, including planning, engineering, legal costs, and the provision, construction, alteration, or expansion of amenities.
■ ACCs can be used by local governments to pay principal and interest costs on the debt necessary to finance amenity acquisition before sufficient funds are received from developers.
■ ACCs are imposed at building permit issuance or at subdivision approval stage and are applied to residential and non-residential developments (e.g. institutional, commercial or industrial developments).
■ ACCs must be adopted by bylaw and comply with applicable legislation and regulations. ACC bylaws do not require approval from the Inspector of Municipalities. Why Are ACCs Important?
■ ACCs ensure that new developments contribute to the cost of amenities that serve growing populations.
■ ACCs reduce the burden on existing taxpayers of servicing new development.
■ ACCs create predictable and transparent funding for community amenities.
When elected “You Face the world how you found it, NOT the way you wish it was”!
In Summary: I believe I have made my case against a minority of councillors and a small vocal minority in the public who are doing nothing but playing cheap politics (don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story) and fighting past personal issues at the expense of all residents of the Township of Langley. To be clear, I am not working for any politician’s campaign but I follow politics closely and will endorse individuals that meet with my expectation, I will not stay silent when I am seeing all of the old traditional Township of Langley political games being played, by many with old ulterior motives and political agendas. I will always speak out and support good government.
I have owned a successful business, and am a former Mayor and Alderman with years of experience on managing municipal budgets, how they are constructed and the games that are played in their construction. 51 years of political experience in total, I know from where I speak!
The Township of Langley can’t go back to the ways of a do nothing, obfuscating, political speak Council that we have experienced for eleven years.
And last, here is an example of growth pressure in two comparative areas of Metro Vancouver:
Willoughby (TOL) 14 sq. miles Projected population 87,000 – 106,000 Current 60,000
North Delta (Delta) 20 sq. miles Projected population 87,000 (2050) Current 60,000
NOTE: Willoughby is 2/3rds the size of North Delta with a projected population 20% greater!
At this stage of our re-bound we do not need a Mayor with ZERO experience in elected office (Leading a Council is not like running a business), and three councillors who must carry the responsibility for getting us into this mess we are in today. The current Mayor and his majority are trying to clean this up – being criticized for doing so by the opposition!
When elected “You Face the world how you found it, NOT the way you wish it was”!
We need to elect a majority of the “Progress for Langley Team” so they can finish the important and critical work they have already started, long ignored by past councils!
Next Blog Post – Our council has gone through the last 3 ½ years with constant obstructionist debate at the council table plus a small but vocal community campaign spreading nothing more than Fake News. A culmination of a lot of that was displayed at the March 9th and March 23rd council meetings dealing with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th readings of the 5-year Financial Plan which was passed on a 5 to 4 vote; however, the story lies in the content of that debate. The pathetic and unbelievable political attempt by the council minority to try to have it both ways -OBFUSCATION / Political Speak at best– They support the initiatives but vote against the budget. Three of the four minority members of council were a party to some or all of the 11 years of inaction that got us into this position in the first place. Stay tuned for our next Blog Post, we will be covering the election in detail!
RG
Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!
langleywatchdog.... and more! 