In the September 6th Record, M. Lovick claims that Bob Osterman and Betty McIntosh have joined a political party. Voice is not a political party but an elector's organization formed by concerned citizens of New Westminster. We come from various backgrounds. Some of us are, or have been, active members of various federal and provincial parties and some of us have not belonged to any party. Our purpose is to support candidates for Council and for School Board who put the common interests of our citizens before those of any special interest groups. We do not have "policy guidelines" for our candidates to follow. They will be free to vote their conscience when they are serving as elected representatives of the people of New Westminster. We do not "target" labour as many of our members, including some of our candidates, are members of unions. If one looks at the Labour Council supported candidates they usually vote as a block, and usually side with the Mayor. It is curious how these representatives of labour are so willing to do what the Mayor and his developer friends want. Zoning by Variance has become an all too common practice with those members of city council. As one who is active on my residents' association it is disheartening to see how the wishes of neighbourhoods are pushed aside by these councillors who claim to represent the working people of this city.
- Joan Davis
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7 comments:
You're spot on, Joan... Well said... I don't recall seeing any Voice "policy guideline" directing anyone to hold any specific viewpoint other than the common commitment that all Voice members and candidates have to put the community's interests first in all things... Other than that it's pretty much wide open... In fact, the main purpose of Voice is to support candidates who can be counted on to always put the community's interests first...
Patrick O'Connor
Very well said Joan.
Further to what Joan said, I have two messages for Mr. Lovick and all of those individuals who share his thinking. First,just because I am pro-community, that does not make me anti-labour.
Second, Voice has no requirements of it's candidates in how they vote or act. As Joan so aptly said, we trust our candidates at the city level will listen to the community and make decisions based on the common good. We trust they will make decisions with integrity, and do so in an open and transparent way.
At the School board, we trust that our candidates will make decisions for the best learning outcomes for our children based on what they hear from students, parents, staff and other experts, and the community.
We trust they will do so with integrity and with transparency.
No special interests, no feather-bedding, no pandering, no nepotism, no cronyism.
What part of that do you have trouble with Mr Lovick?
In his letter, Mr. Lovick's ignorance is superceded only by his paranoia. He is wrong in his premise that Voice is a political party, he is wrong in his assumption that Voice has policy guidelines for candidates and he is wrong in his statement that Voice targets labor.
Mr Lovick blatant attempts to create divisions are based on the usual politics of fear, the politics of special interests, the politics of elitism, and the politics of disinformation.
Many Voice members are union members, and many Voice members understand the valuble role that unions bring to society.
What Lovick is simply not able to understand is that Voice has one overarching goal, and that is to act in the best interests of the community at large. That is the lens that objects are viewed through and how decisions are made.
Voice understands that strong partnerships need to be made in the delivery of services to municipalities.
Voice members and candidates welcome support from unions in the upcoming elections.
There are, however, limitations on what candidates will do to garner this support. Candidates will work closely with all groups and interests, but they will not become lapdogs for the highest bidder.
Mr Lovick speaks to the issue of trusted elected political officials revising history.
This comes from a person who does not disclose his own role in all of this, nor does he seem to find a problem with the fact that his organization goes to great lengths to hide just how deeply involved they are in the financing and support of their chosen candidates.
Mr. Lovick, we have little objection to what you and your organization do, just have the courage of your convictions and be up front about it.
That is what Voice is all about, tranparency , honesty, respect, egalitarianism.
Casey Cook
Why is Mr. Lovick making and declaring policy statements for Voice New Westminster? He is not a member of Voice and, to my knowledge, has never attended a single Voice meeting. He is making false and unfounded statements based solely on his personal assumptions. These statements are completely false and totally inaccurate.
Because campaigning has started, we forgive Lovick for his passionate and determined effort to attempt to derail the growing support Voice is receiving from all over the city. This ground swell support is coming from all walks of life including individual members of labor unions. We believe Mr. Lovick is attempting to mislead citizens about Voice in order to stop this trend.
Voice believes in the right of each and every citizen to individually choose who they support and vote for. We were formed because of the concerns numerous community leaders from all over the city have in regard to the current direction civic governance is taking. Voice is fed up with the arrogant and unsolicited direction numerous council members and the current Mayor are taking in regard to long term decisions which will affect the future of this great and historic city.
We, as Voice directors, invite all interested individuals to our ‘Meet and Greet the Voice Candidates’ fund raiser. This event is being held Saturday September 13th at 1025 Eighth Avenue, New Westminster 4PM – 9PM. Get the facts, not the fiction Mr. Lovick and his cohorts are spewing from uninformed and inaccurate assumptions.
Mr Lovick's self-serving rant's are not new to the political scene in New Westminster. What is new however, is the desperation of those people who are directley involved and benefit the most from the efforts of hard working people. While many rank and file union members, like myself, welcome the efforts of Voice, our leaders who sit in cushie offices, doing cushie jobs, obviously feel threatened. Where were they in the asbestos situation at the High School when the teachers and employees at the school needed their help?
They knew all along that there were major health issues. They were busy hob-nobbing with their elected friends engaging in a cover-up. Shame, shame shame.
Thanks to Voice's efforts the issue came to light.
Where was our MLA? No doubt doing research in the Chilcotin area.
I'm not sure who Undercover is but I think they must be inside. They should have ended it, "With friends like these who needs enemies!
Steve McClurg ran for Member of Parliament in New Westminster - Coquitlam for the NDP in 2005 (www.stevemcclurg.ca). This important fact is missing from his VOICE bio. VOICE is very proud of the broad inclusiveness of it's council slate. Why has Mr. McClurg not included this information in his CV? Are NDP credentials seen to be a liability by VOICE strategists?
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