Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Gushing for Auckland

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  • Russell Brown,

    Actually, no, I insist: Auckland local government is traditionally more dysfunctional than anyone else's.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    I was more thinking along the lines of Beehive / Wellington not giving us enough luv but there must be some fantastic stories of local government tanties that don't involve Auckland.

    In defence of the ancient beach city maybe big cities the size of l.a are harder to run

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Actually, no, I insist: Auckland local government is traditionally more dysfunctional than anyone else's.

    Sadly true. Even when Wellington City is run by dickheads, they have nothing on dickheads running Auckland City.

    And this pearler from UrbanArchipelago.com:

    The lesson is simple for urban residents: Seattle shouldn't cast its lot with the rest of the state. Rural and suburban voters have shown again and again that they aren't willing to fund urban infrastructure. Throughout Washington State, transportation taxes like 2002's Referendum 51 have tanked, while anti-transit measures like Tim Eyman's I-776 have passed overwhelmingly. While that might seem like grim news for cities like Seattle, there's a silver lining: When cities set their own transportation priorities, truly urban systems (like the monorail) get funded and built, while the suburban mega-highways that lard initiatives like R-51 go unfunded. We don't use suburban roads. We can let the suburbs figure out a way to pay for them.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    In Palmerston North it is known as the "Napier syndrome".

    And in Napier they call it nothing, since the energetic pursuit of their blood feud with the hated enemy Hastings takes up all their time.


    When we were fighting for our hospital Hastings did the old Dolchstoss into the back of Napier. Bastards.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    And in Napier they call it nothing, since the energetic pursuit of their blood feud with the hated enemy Hastings takes up all their time.

    That and grooming feral dolts to become Ministers of Education and suchlike

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Blatantly Deviant Sensationalist Media

    noice

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    I would have thought that given the strongest signal from the big Templeton Heart patients prayer study was that those who knew they were being prayed for did worst then Jesus would be barred from the vicinity of any and all hospitals and hospices as a menace.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    We don't use suburban roads. We can let the suburbs figure out a way to pay for them.

    Let's go and tell those 10 year old kids out there the happy news.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    @Craig

    Your complaint would hold more weight if Labour wasn't openly active in local body politics while the Nats use CitRats as sockpuppets. But if we are going to have complete party openness then I am all for it, but will you tribe be?

    And I agree that the church should STFU about the Belgian raids. They also conveniently ignore that the Russian Orthodox church had their churches demolished under communism. But obviously ecumenicalism is a coat you can take on and off at will.

    Mind you us atheists are generally quite happy at seeing The Institution self imploding (YMMV obviously). Us Illuminati haven't even got our shit together yet. Well Dan Brown has raised a culture of expectation though it seems harder to do than he made it seem. I am taking all the necessary security precautions but I haven't seen a single albino monk. Should I hang out in art galleries more do you think? It is just hard to feel the necessary thrill of action when you don't have a visible opponent. Now if you will excuse me I have to charge the batteries on the antimatter containment flask.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Mind you us atheists are generally quite happy at seeing The Institution self imploding

    yes but only when the beast takes control will jesus come again and then who'll be in trouble.

    Us rapturists can't lose.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Even when Wellington City is run by dickheads, they have nothing on dickheads running Auckland City.

    Yeah but only for the past 30yrs...hardly anytime at all.....in local body politics.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Yeh what about "Robbie"...wasn't he Aucklands Tito?

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    and Bruce Jesson.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Your complaint would hold more weight if Labour wasn't openly active in local body politics while the Nats use CitRats as sockpuppets.

    I guess that Karmic debt was better paid sooner rather than later.

    [ETA: Remainder of comment deleted for ill-tempered and tedious failure to add to the sum total of human wisdom and amusement]

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    C'mon man jesus isn't all bad.

    but he does have to watch his marketing & branding department...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    I love Bank's idea of bringing the Olympics to Auckland...

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/olympic-games/news/article.cfm?c_id=502&objectid=10655489

    I mean, what better way could you announce "I'm gonna be a serious candidate and spend your rates wisely and miserly" ?

    That should not be an "own goal"... it should be an "own hat-trick"... but somehow, I doubt it's going to effect his credibility as badly as it should.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Ewen Gilmour, eh? Well, comedians have won in Reykjavik. I reckon the Best Party platform is quite easily adapted to Auckland.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    And going from the sublime to the ridiculous, or something, Granny reveals that Quax and Ross claim every last cent to which they are entitled, even if it's less than $2 for mileage for travelling to a meeting nearby. Obviously Quax doesn't believe in walking. And we finally see a reference to their political allegiances relative to Brown's.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Well, comedians have won in Reykjavik.

    Excellent.
    Auckland may have to build a special enclosure to house all its blathering loons. Or maybe put 'em on a leaky boat in the harbour.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Well, comedians have won in Reykjavik.

    Those must be the unfunniest lyrics in the history of song though.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Those must be the unfunniest lyrics in the history of song though.

    Lost in translation? Although the death-metal delivery from one of the singers does make up for this somewhat.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And we finally see a reference to their political allegiances relative to Brown's.

    And, without meaning to carp, in a story not written by Bernard Orsman.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Penny Bright in the news:

    Board chairman Christopher Dempsey says the controversial character is being honoured for focusing attention on water privatisation and pushing for transparency in council contracts. "If you put aside her persistent techniques - the controversial heat that she generates - she has done very valuable services for us."

    Councillor Cathy Casey has spent many occasions waiting with Ms Bright for police to arrest her after clashes at council meetings. With Cr Glenda Fryer, Dr Casey nominated Ms Bright for the award.

    With added quasi-magnanimousness from Banks:

    Mayor John Banks has had Penny bundled out of the council chambers several times but was not at all surprised to hear about the award.

    "I think if the Eden Albert Community Board want to award Penny, then it's okay by me. You've got to admire her pluck, her tenacity, her strength of conviction," he says.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Board chairman Christopher Dempsey says the controversial character is being honoured for focusing attention on water privatisation and pushing for transparency in council contracts. "If you put aside her persistent techniques - the controversial heat that she generates - she has done very valuable services for us."

    Ah yes, well I guess Mr Dempsey can put those "techniques" aside quite easily. Russell, on the other hand, might want to chime in on whether his opinion of Bright and the Water Pressure Group have much changed since he said this on BFM back in February 2002, (or posted this on Public Address in December of the same year) :

    Meanwhile, the Water Pressure Group, the people who delivered John Banks his majority on council, are carrying on as usual. Their media spokesperson, Penny Bright has released her correspondence with Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard, apparently believing it makes her look good and Tizard look bad. Quite the opposite, really.

    What I find really extraordinary is Bright whingeing about "personal attacks on myself". Pardon? These are the people who've spent years making nasty, abusive attacks on Penny Sefuiva and Bruce Hucker and anyone else who does not share their religion.

    I've had email abuse from them in the past, after I criticised the appalling way they hounded the terminally ill Phil Raffils at his home - and then not only failed to apologise but tried to bring a police prosecution against him. I daresay I'll cop some again. That's pretty much their style. I'm sick of walking my kids past their ugly, aggressive signage in Grey Lynn. It's not their views - I don't entirely disagree with them - it's their consistently horrible behaviour.

    Perhaps The Dorklander's little puff piece should be cross-posted in the 'Disingenuous Media' & 'Grade-A lunacy. With your money' threads? Nor am I much surprised by Banks' "quasi-magnanimousness" -- I guess thuggish turkeys of a feather flock together, especially when they both think they're too righteous to bother with respecting people or the law, or show some common decency towards people they don't like.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Wow, that links takes me back! Love Russell's little artwork at the bottom and Fred Dagg's quote.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

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