Posts by Russell Brown
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to Jim Cathcart,
However, wasn’t Brown the promoter of family values and Christian ideals?
No, not particularly, although he probably played up the family angle more for some audiences than others. It really hasn't been a significant element of either campaign.
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to Jim Cathcart,
Anyway, why is the guy so revered? Because he says the right things? What has he actually achieved?
For all his faults, quite a lot. Simon Wilson’s Metro feature last year is a useful overview.
Basically, Brown inherited a structure and a set of appointed CCO boards that was not to his advantage. But he was able to forge alliances – with nominal opponents both on the council in in central government – that have actually been productive. The speed with which a vision was set for the city is testament to that. He’s also stuck by key projects like the CRL. Otoh, he’s been too willing with compromise on key elements of the Unitary Plan.
Although it has been damaged by the revelations of the past couple of months, Brown's ability to get disparate groups working together should not be underrated. When you look at the dysfunctional attempts at leadership from Brewer, Fletcher, Quax and Wood, it’s pretty clear things in the Super City could have been a lot worse.
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to 81stcolumn,
A bit sad really Quax has not only marginalised himself but also the needs of those he purports to represent.
Yes. He's not representing his constituents in any useful sense. He and the other four are basically deadweight on council.
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Hard News: Friday Music: Cinema 'Tron, in reply to bob daktari,
I’d quite like one of the bright young things (or old timers) dabbling in electronic stuff to make something sampling cicadas
I do not understand why this didn't happen years ago.
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to Gareth Ward,
From the Mayor’s office Twitter account this morning, they’ll be asking for a retraction on the Japanese consulate threats story. Never happened according to the consulate…
And apparently the consulate has been trying to communicate this to the Herald since yesterday afternoon.
This is just weird.
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Okay, this has to stop now. Stop enabling and encouraging crazy people.
Anti-Brown hate mail raises fears
The Japanese consulate in Auckland has notified the police after receiving threats from anti-Len Brown protesters about his planned attendance at a festival this weekend.
The mayor has been the subject of protests over public appearances around the city after the controversy over his affair with council adviser Bevan Chuang, hotel stays and censure by councillors.
He is to attend the opening of Japan Day at the ASB Showgrounds on Sunday morning and is expected to apologise for the demolition of the Fukuoka Friendship Garden at Auckland Zoo.
The festival, in its 13th year, showcases traditional and modern Japanese art and culture and is organised by the Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland and the Japanese Society of Auckland.
A spokeswoman for the consulate told the Herald threats had been received from people opposed to Mr Brown's involvement in the festival. Threatening emails had been forwarded to police.
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Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies, in reply to david kinniburgh,
Sent this off to Sharon Stewart
Ironically, Stewart has been busy today insisting to the TVNZ reporter that "this isn't political at all."
Except, of course, that Dick Quax is answering her emails for her.
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Fucksake. These people are really nutty. Stephen Berry's latest press release:
Auckland resident Rick Splinter has had his request for speaking rights at the Governing Body meeting of 27 February 2014 declined. The request has been declined by Deputy Mayor, and Len Brown toady, Penny Hulse.
Affordable Auckland Leader Stephen Berry has come out in support of Mr. Splinters application asking, "What democracy do we really have in Auckland politics if a private individual cannot have a mere five minutes to address the Council and make his opinions known?"
The reason the application to speak has been declined is given as follows by Governance Support Manager Jason Marris:
Your public input request for the 27FEB14 Governing Body meeting has been assessed by the Deputy Chair of the Governing Body, in conjunction with the Chief Executive, and the decision has been made to decline your request under Auckland Council Standing Order 3.21.3 which states:
3.21.3 Subjects of Public Input
Public Input is not to be used to speak to a matter:
(i) that has already been considered and determined.
Your request asked to speak on the actions of councillors to censure Mayor Brown. The matter regarding the Mayor was considered by the Governing Body and determined at their December 2013 meeting. Given that the Governing Body has already debated, deliberated and decided on the matter, your request has been declined.
Mr. Splinter argues against this decision saying, "At no stage has any Auckland ratepayer had any opportunity to speak on this matter to the council and accordingly, I view this to be a clear case of the deputy mayor running defense for Len Brown."
Stephen Berry is in full agreement with Mr. Splinter. "The discussions over the censure of Mayor Brown were exclusively conducted amongst councillors without public input. All Aucklanders should have the opportunity, if they wish to use it, to express their opinion on the legitimacy of Brown’s Mayoralty in a formal Governing Body setting. Is a five minute speech really that much to ask?"
Berry believes Brown is now attempting to restrict his activities to private ‘smile and wave’ events where he will not be challenged by outraged members of the public. "Brown’s last two public events have been a private Rotary Club meeting on Monday and his State of the City address on Wednesday was done in front of an invited business audience."
The Len Brown Stand Down March takes place this Saturday February 22. Marchers assemble at QE2 in Britomart from 11:30, with the march leaving Britomart at 12, travelling up Queen Street to Airedale Street. With opinion polls showing consistently that 60-75% of Aucklanders believe Len Brown should resign, it promises to be a very successful march.
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So I did the One News interview and was called back an hour later to be told that the story won't be run after all. Which probably reflects its real importance.
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Dear god. the TVNZ news headline is Residents ask Len Brown to stay away from Military Tattoo
Naturally, the only resident they seem to have spoken to is Councillor Sharon Stewart.
This is ridiculous.
Happily, they're coming around soon to interview me, so I actually get to say something.