The Daily Blog Open Mic – 3rd August 2022
Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day.
Moderation rules are more lenient for this section, but try and play nicely.
EDITORS NOTE: – By the way, here’s a list of shit that will get your comment dumped. Sexist language, homophobic language, racist language, anti-muslim hate, transphobic language, Chemtrails, 9/11 truthers, Qanon lunacy, climate deniers, anti-fluoride fanatics, anti-vaxxer lunatics, 5G conspiracy theories, the virus is a bioweapon, some weird bullshit about the UN taking over the world and ANYONE that links to fucking infowar.
Luxon said the cost of living payment is an insult to taxpayers he said its their money so he is insulting the 2.1 million who pay taxes and are on lower wages and have received this. And now he has resorted to beneficiary bashing by putting all beneficiaries in the same basket when many have different circumstances, like discrimination, racism, criminal convictions effecting employment chances, caring for sick and elderly whanau, suffering from poor health, dealing with trauma in their lives all of these factors need to be considered rather than making a blanket statement like he is doing.
In The Press today Mike Yardley points to a problem of Council’s not dealing fully with fast-approaching nasty reality.
In ‘No cheap fix for flood trouble-spots in Christchurch’ he relates the drainage problem in a part of Christchurch called Edgeware which gets flooded. Butchery owner David Timbs says he has considered raising his shop’s low floor level but some flooding would still occur. He has had interaction with Council about the Edgeware St Albans drainage and flood plans.
“We aren’t simply asking the Council to fix the problem, but to discuss the options for a solution, so we can determine what course of action is the most affordable, cost-effective and time-effective.”
An earlier estimate of works in the area was $12-$15million. In 2015 the Council decided to work on a limited area. One possible plan is now up to $23 million.
It is probable that similar discussions and price rises are happening around New Zealand. It underlines the need for wide-ranging discussions perhaps with a choice of costed plans to consider. Mr Timbs is calling for greater transparency, and I think that and open discussion at well-run meetings with affected businesses, ratepayers and residents having some say, with good note taking and perhaps written questions of less than 50 words to be succinc followed by write-ups with a number of copies available at the Council premises or on-screen if requested; all possibilities being discussed with ‘all interested stakeholders’.