We have received an interesting email the other day from a local developer, disgusted with the lack of financial accountability by the current hierarchy. Now, we have to be fair here - Angry Andrew didn't cause this. However, he is perpetuating this ruining of the golden goose that funds so much of our wonderful infrastructure. Read on:
The North Shore City debt is out of control and there are new valuations, Auckland Regional Services Bill ARC Fuel Levy etc all coming forward for paying. The Developers Levies policy is in tatters because they have frozen out the Building Industry to a standstill and North Shore City is buying up new expensive Parkland in advance with borrowed money while telling the public the public they are using Developers Levies. I have been told the kitty for that has been bare for some time now but you offset that by borrowing to politicize the issue and don’t tell the truth. Williams does not answer incoming emails at all (unlike George Wood did). Therefore lets hope Andrew is only a single term Mayor.
Borrowing money offset against future development levies? That's madness....
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Crazy about Qingao
What's not very well known in North Shore City political circles is that we now have a sister-city relationship with Qingdao in China.
That's not particularly controversial, nor is it particularly edifying. It is unlikely this will deliver more than student exchanges and education receipts (arguably we can be greatful for those benefits), but what is of interest is the Mayor and his trip to Qingdao in 2008.
It's well known that there are human rights issues in China. Some on the council wanted Andrew Williams to deliver a letter on human rights issues to our new sister city.
We're mixed on this, because you don't go causing problems with your new best friend for starters (raising human rights issues would better come with a maturing in the relationship). On top of that, local businesses on the shore who are already established in Qingdao and could see some benefits to a sister city relationship pleaded with the council not to get involved in what is a central government matter.
Sigh. Nothing so hamfisted as local government part-timers playing at Henry Kissinger...
That's not particularly controversial, nor is it particularly edifying. It is unlikely this will deliver more than student exchanges and education receipts (arguably we can be greatful for those benefits), but what is of interest is the Mayor and his trip to Qingdao in 2008.
It's well known that there are human rights issues in China. Some on the council wanted Andrew Williams to deliver a letter on human rights issues to our new sister city.
We're mixed on this, because you don't go causing problems with your new best friend for starters (raising human rights issues would better come with a maturing in the relationship). On top of that, local businesses on the shore who are already established in Qingdao and could see some benefits to a sister city relationship pleaded with the council not to get involved in what is a central government matter.
Sigh. Nothing so hamfisted as local government part-timers playing at Henry Kissinger...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Odd and abusive say the NZ Herald
Imagine our amusement finding that the Herald were to describe our beloved North Shore Mayor as "odd and sometimes abusive".
The Herald reached this conclusion when looking at potential mayors for a new supercity. Now, we have mixed feelings about the merits of a supercity. But we have no quibble with the description of Williams:
ANDREW WILLIAMS, NORTH SHORE MAYOR
It will be a miracle if Mr Williams stands for the job. He has been the loudest voice against a super city and is likely to spend all of this year lobbying against change. His odd and sometimes abusive behaviour in the past year has seen him lose credibility locally and at a national level.
Oh yes, that's Andrew Williams - and to have summed him and his dubious term up in only 55 words so comprehensively is ever the more delicious.
But more importantly, the Herald also sums up the consequences of Williams' behaviour - the Shore is now on the outside when it comes to the new Government. We doubt John Key will listen particularly closely to Williams over the Royal Commission recommendations.
The Herald reached this conclusion when looking at potential mayors for a new supercity. Now, we have mixed feelings about the merits of a supercity. But we have no quibble with the description of Williams:
ANDREW WILLIAMS, NORTH SHORE MAYOR
It will be a miracle if Mr Williams stands for the job. He has been the loudest voice against a super city and is likely to spend all of this year lobbying against change. His odd and sometimes abusive behaviour in the past year has seen him lose credibility locally and at a national level.
Oh yes, that's Andrew Williams - and to have summed him and his dubious term up in only 55 words so comprehensively is ever the more delicious.
But more importantly, the Herald also sums up the consequences of Williams' behaviour - the Shore is now on the outside when it comes to the new Government. We doubt John Key will listen particularly closely to Williams over the Royal Commission recommendations.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The consequence of not being on the ball
If Andrew Williams spent less time abusing people and more time showing good financial ledership, then he wouldn't have to deal with journalists asking questions about why rates are higher than they should be.
I don't know why he is picking a fight with the Reserve Bank governor either. Is this another sign of his anger management problems, or is the Mayor of North Shore City fiscally deluded?
I don't know why he is picking a fight with the Reserve Bank governor either. Is this another sign of his anger management problems, or is the Mayor of North Shore City fiscally deluded?
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Another community group abused by Williams
Here we go again, dear readers: Andrew Williams has abused another community group that's come to see the council. First he abused the Youth Town organisation, now he's shaking fists and going "ballistic" at Basketball NZ and the North Shore Events Centre trustees.
Outbursts by Shore mayor Andrew Williams have sparked com-plaints about his behaviour.
Several sources told the North Shore Times the mayor went "ballistic" at North Shore Events Centre trustees shaking his fist at them and speaking angrily.
People who saw the incident on Tuesday were stunned by his behaviour outside the council chamber after a parks committee meeting.
Trust board chairman Wayne Miles was contacted by one of the centre’s senior managers about the incident and hopes the mayor will apologise.
"It was a rather astounding reaction and I cannot understand it."
The trustees contacted didn’t want to comment.
But trustee and Basketball New Zealand president Barbara Wheadon has been reported as saying she was stunned by the incident.
Mmmm.
Outbursts by Shore mayor Andrew Williams have sparked com-plaints about his behaviour.
Several sources told the North Shore Times the mayor went "ballistic" at North Shore Events Centre trustees shaking his fist at them and speaking angrily.
People who saw the incident on Tuesday were stunned by his behaviour outside the council chamber after a parks committee meeting.
Trust board chairman Wayne Miles was contacted by one of the centre’s senior managers about the incident and hopes the mayor will apologise.
"It was a rather astounding reaction and I cannot understand it."
The trustees contacted didn’t want to comment.
But trustee and Basketball New Zealand president Barbara Wheadon has been reported as saying she was stunned by the incident.
Mmmm.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Cr Miles vs the Mayor
Another councillor who has been standing up to the antics of the Mayor is Margaret Miles of Albany, representing the Northern Ward. Miles, who would be best described as centre-right politically, has been a dignified voice against some of Andrew Williams' antics on council.
Her husband is Wayne Miles, who has been on the brunt of a Mayoral temper tantrum back in October of 2008.
We can count on Miles to keep a dignified pressure on Mayor Williams to ensure better standards of behaviour are kept at council meetings.
Her husband is Wayne Miles, who has been on the brunt of a Mayoral temper tantrum back in October of 2008.
We can count on Miles to keep a dignified pressure on Mayor Williams to ensure better standards of behaviour are kept at council meetings.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Does he have a problem with late night emails?
Late night emails, reputedly of an aggressive and angry nature - what's this an indicator of I wonder?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Andrew Williams threatens a blogger
The Whaleoil Beef Hooked blog isn't exactly highbrow commentary. But it is a useful hub of information on NZ politics.
Williams simply can't deal with criticism, and threatened the Whaleoil blog with legal action if a post describing Williams as "mental" wasn't removed.
It turns out that the Whaleoil blog won't be threatened easily.
Quotes Whaleoil: "Andrew Williams is a fool. He would have been better to STFU and not raise the ire of me. He has now guaranteed that I will take a constant and deep personal interst in him and his silly antics. Numpty twat!"
Quite.
Williams simply can't deal with criticism, and threatened the Whaleoil blog with legal action if a post describing Williams as "mental" wasn't removed.
It turns out that the Whaleoil blog won't be threatened easily.
Quotes Whaleoil: "Andrew Williams is a fool. He would have been better to STFU and not raise the ire of me. He has now guaranteed that I will take a constant and deep personal interst in him and his silly antics. Numpty twat!"
Quite.
Cr Darby vs the Mayor
We are not alone in the fight against the Mad Mayor of North Shore. On the council itself, there are a number of politicians acting as stalking horses to "mark" Williams.
Chief protaganist is Cr Chris Darby, who has earned and returned the wrath of Williams on a number of occasions.
Key to this particular relationship dynamic is that Darby doesn't lose his temper. While Williams jumps up and calls Darby a "smart arse", the councillor from Devonport carefully avoids provocative statements while baiting the stroppy and cranky Williams into losing the plot.
Darby, a good family man, reputedly doesn't seek the mantle of Mayor, but we are sure that a vastly different looking council with a more moderate Mayor would surely need an experienced and level-headed Deputy.
Chief protaganist is Cr Chris Darby, who has earned and returned the wrath of Williams on a number of occasions.
Key to this particular relationship dynamic is that Darby doesn't lose his temper. While Williams jumps up and calls Darby a "smart arse", the councillor from Devonport carefully avoids provocative statements while baiting the stroppy and cranky Williams into losing the plot.
Darby, a good family man, reputedly doesn't seek the mantle of Mayor, but we are sure that a vastly different looking council with a more moderate Mayor would surely need an experienced and level-headed Deputy.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Williams shows he is out of touch
Here's a great example of how our beloved leader is out of touch with local residents - he's reviving hugely unpopular proposals that cost his predecessor George Woods a good number of votes.
The Northcote Point bus depot was a bloody dumb idea now being revived by a bloody dumb Mayor.
Simply unbelievable.
The Northcote Point bus depot was a bloody dumb idea now being revived by a bloody dumb Mayor.
Simply unbelievable.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Andrew Williams abuses Youth organisation leaders
More evidence of the Loony Mayor's personal problems - he abuses Youth Town representatives - a group who came to present to our council.
Why on earth would he do something like this? We remain convinced Andrew Williams has issues that run deeper than just that of anger.
Here is the text from the Herald article in October 2008.
Prominent North Shore citizens are upset after a "ticking off" from Mayor Andrew Williams, who said they were letting down the city's youth.
Mr Williams confronted members of the North Shore Events Centre's board of trustees after they spoke out at a council meeting on Tuesday against Youth Town's bid for a home base next to the centre.
Mr Williams told the trustees, who included Basketball New Zealand president Barbara Wheadon, they had let down youth by opposing Sunnybrae Bowling Club's wish to sublease surplus land to Youth Town.
Council approval was recommended by councillor Callum Blair and seconded by the mayor, but it was defeated in a 7-6 vote.
The trust says the move cut across council's assurances in May.
But its members would not talk publicly about being on the receiving end of a tirade from the mayor.
Mrs Wheadon told the Herald only that she was shocked.
She had been awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit honour for her contribution to getting sports facilities on the North Shore.
Other trustees in the events centre's deputation were Bob Jay and Michael Thomas.
Inquiries were directed to trust chairman Dr Wayne Miles who said he missed the meeting. "But I have to say I was amazed at what I heard about the [mayor's] reaction."
In the presentation, the trust said it was supportive of Youth Town and its activities.
"But it appears the trust and Youth Town are being set apart and are against each other and that's not true.
"What we are against is the process."
Although the centre was splitting at the seams with demand for indoor court space for basketball and gymnastics, it supported a strategic development plan being developed for using A.F. Thomas Park and nearby public land. "But it seems a deal was done behind closed doors,"said Dr Miles.
"It was surprising and unfortunate and I think we will try to do our bit to undo what could be some damage."
Mr Williams said yesterday that the bowling club had had an empty paddock for 25 years and Youth Town, with a temporary arrangement to run its programmes at the Onewa netball courts, planned to locate a portable modular building there.
"It seemed a good fit and it was presented to the events centre board four to five months ago," said the mayor.
"But they didn't seem to pick it up and do anything about it.
"It came to the committee yesterday and suddenly the trustees turned up all aghast that this was going ahead.
"I said I was very disappointed because 3000 young people a year go across the bridge to Auckland City for Youth Town programmes and the events centre have chosen to see this as opposition to their future expansion."
Why on earth would he do something like this? We remain convinced Andrew Williams has issues that run deeper than just that of anger.
Here is the text from the Herald article in October 2008.
Prominent North Shore citizens are upset after a "ticking off" from Mayor Andrew Williams, who said they were letting down the city's youth.
Mr Williams confronted members of the North Shore Events Centre's board of trustees after they spoke out at a council meeting on Tuesday against Youth Town's bid for a home base next to the centre.
Mr Williams told the trustees, who included Basketball New Zealand president Barbara Wheadon, they had let down youth by opposing Sunnybrae Bowling Club's wish to sublease surplus land to Youth Town.
Council approval was recommended by councillor Callum Blair and seconded by the mayor, but it was defeated in a 7-6 vote.
The trust says the move cut across council's assurances in May.
But its members would not talk publicly about being on the receiving end of a tirade from the mayor.
Mrs Wheadon told the Herald only that she was shocked.
She had been awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit honour for her contribution to getting sports facilities on the North Shore.
Other trustees in the events centre's deputation were Bob Jay and Michael Thomas.
Inquiries were directed to trust chairman Dr Wayne Miles who said he missed the meeting. "But I have to say I was amazed at what I heard about the [mayor's] reaction."
In the presentation, the trust said it was supportive of Youth Town and its activities.
"But it appears the trust and Youth Town are being set apart and are against each other and that's not true.
"What we are against is the process."
Although the centre was splitting at the seams with demand for indoor court space for basketball and gymnastics, it supported a strategic development plan being developed for using A.F. Thomas Park and nearby public land. "But it seems a deal was done behind closed doors,"said Dr Miles.
"It was surprising and unfortunate and I think we will try to do our bit to undo what could be some damage."
Mr Williams said yesterday that the bowling club had had an empty paddock for 25 years and Youth Town, with a temporary arrangement to run its programmes at the Onewa netball courts, planned to locate a portable modular building there.
"It seemed a good fit and it was presented to the events centre board four to five months ago," said the mayor.
"But they didn't seem to pick it up and do anything about it.
"It came to the committee yesterday and suddenly the trustees turned up all aghast that this was going ahead.
"I said I was very disappointed because 3000 young people a year go across the bridge to Auckland City for Youth Town programmes and the events centre have chosen to see this as opposition to their future expansion."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
