| Topic: | LM? | |
| Posted by: | Paul Lynch | |
| Date/Time: | 30/01/11 16:39:00 |
| I share Mrs Selig's puzzlement about LM. Michael Brown deamed it up. I don’t know why. Mr Brown also thinks I am a "parking expert." I wish I was so that I might bring such skills to bear on the problems we face. Still, it is a benign misnomer compared to some things that have appeared about us Councillors on this thread. Sam Hearn has made clear the context of his remark. It was a robust but entirely justified remark. Yet many are posting as if it were the crime of the century. Years of practice have made me much more emollient, so you don’t catch me using such emotive words. In the 25 years that I have been in local politics, an asymmetry in dialogue has developed. In exchanges such as these Councillors and Council staff are expected to just sit and take repeated accusations of incompetence, dishonesty and, for those who cannot think of an original epithet, "being patronising." Any glimmer of assertiveness by Councillors and Council staff gives rise to squeals of unconvincing rage. I am struggling with the question of whether I really want the votes of people who expect me to unthinkingly oppress minorities at their bidding. Some of those who have taken such offence at Sam seem to want Councillors in that mould. Such parties do not usually field candidates in this ward. The CPZ meeting was rather what I expected it to be. Some good points were made and I learnt from them. There was a lot of needless barracking, which inhibited rational discussion. (I would be interested to hear from anyone who regularly does serious business in such an atmosphere.) It has been said often on this thread that the meeting was good-humoured and friendly. It might seem that way to the "antis." Actually, it was quite intimidating for those in support of the schemes. Some told me so at end of the meeting, and some emailed me later. This may explain where, as some have asked, all the supporters were. I have long experience of unruly meetings, and the CPZ meeting of 26/01/11 was quite moderate in global terms, but that does not mean it was easy for those, unaccustomed to speak in public, to put forward an unpopular view. It even takes a bit of courage to stand up to the majority view on this web-site, especially on an issue like this, where one is easily identified by strong minded neighbours. Some contributors to this thread have asked why the Councillors said so little at the meeting. The answer is that we were there to listen. However, for what it is worth, I will say what I really think about the whole issue, in the sure and certain knowledge that I will be vilified and wildly misrepresented. I live in a street with no parking problem except for the occasional tourist fortnight. The proposed eastern CPZ would change all this and tip a lot of commuter parking into my street. If the CPZ were extended to my street it would be a very great nuisance and another expense hard for me, a pensioner, to afford. Nevertheless, I believe that on street parking is a resource we all must share, and where neighbours have problems my first response should not be rush to preserve my own privileges, but to see if I can help. We do this with schools, libraries and every other Council service. If I can endure a bit of hassle to make the lives of others bearable, then maybe I should. I say maybe, (people who are certain I am part of some nefarious plot will discount that) and I mean maybe. Good arguments for preserving privileges instead of helping our neighbours may exist. My mind is open to them. Please tell me what they are. I have heard "fear of change" and "the shocking cost" and “the war stories of my friend who lived in Ealing,” I sympathise, I actually feel the same myself, but that is all about me. I was elected to work for others. What we should do, (as someone suggested at the meeting, to an inexplicable round of applause) is make the entire area a CPZ in one hit, (this was ruled out at a previous consultation meeting) and save all the nonsense and expense of repeated consultations street by street. We cannot exist as an island forever, not with www.parkforfree.com sending us new friends every day. |