Staff is to blame
Note to Newbies: There is a lesson to be learned somewhere in this debacle…read on…
Both Sue Sherring of the Ottawa Sun and Randall Denley of the Ottawa Citizen write about the green bin program:
City Hall math misleads by Randall Denley
Something stinks and it’s not the green bin waste by Sue Sherring
Denley takes on the truthiness of the numbers being discussed in regards to the costs to haul away regular garbage versus green garbage. He points out the numbers presented are not apples to apples comparison. Councillor Peter Hume has a staff memo that shows these skewed numbers that try to support the green bin program. Hmmm…staff!
Sherring takes on the intelligence of the original deal with Orgaworld. According to Councillor Jan Harder and before her, Councillor Maria McRae, they say that staff was not forth coming with all the details about the deal and that lead the previous council to accept a bad deal. Hmmm…staff!
Okay, so now I’m nervous. When council asks staff for their opinion on OMB challenges or refer to staff reports to back up new bylaws and zoning issues, why should the public believe that they are accurate? Taxpayers are paying these staffers $60K plus on average so that we can ensure we are getting the best talent to manage our city. But according to some councillors, we’re clearly not getting our money’s worth.
The facts are the city is stuck with this “bad deal” as negotiated by “misleading staff” and approved by “didn’t know councillors”.
Of course then there is this: Councillor Eli El-Chantiry on CFRA
Every councillor from the previos council including Larry can take the BLAME for one of the BIGGEST BOON DOGGLES THIS CITY WILL EVER HAVE . ALL of a sudden now its exposed “THE GREEN BIN ” THE VERY COUNCILLORS ARE NOW COMING UP WITH A ZILLION EXCUSES (THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT LINE ) THE VOTE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF YOU GOT US INTO THIS STINKY MESS YOU GET US OUT & NO BI-WEEKLY GARBAGE PICK UP WILL NOT WORK FORCED WEEKLY GREEN BIN PICK UP WILL NOT MAKE UP FOR THE AGAIN BIGGEST OTTAWA BOONDOGGLE ON OUR CITY IT WILL MAKE BOBBY CHIARELLI ‘S LRT SECRET CONTRACT LOOK LIKE “CHUMP CHANGE”
Every councillor from the previos council including Larry can take the BLAME for one of the BIGGEST BOON DOGGLES THIS CITY WILL EVER HAVE . ALL of a sudden now its exposed “THE GREEN BIN ” THE VERY COUNCILLORS ARE NOW COMING UP WITH A ZILLION EXCUSES (THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT LINE ) THE VOTE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF YOU GOT US INTO THIS STINKY MESS YOU GET US OUT & NO BI-WEEKLY GARBAGE PICK UP WILL NOT WORK FORCED WEEKLY GREEN BIN PICK UP WILL NOT MAKE UP FOR THE AGAIN BIGGEST OTTAWA BOONDOGGLE ON OUR CITY IT WILL MAKE BOBBY CHIARELLI ‘S LRT SECRET CONTRACT LOOK LIKE “CHUMP CHANGE”
What I fail to understand is why garbage of all things is tax supported and not rate-supported. We pay for electricity base don how much we use; we pay for water based on how much we use; but we don’t pay for garbage based on how much we put out?
Put another way, what does the value of my house have to do with the amount of waste I produce? Why not state that basic taxes will pay for one can or bag at each house. If you want more, you buy a ticket from your local Macs or Loblaws and slap that on the extra bag. Bingo – An easy, cost effective solution.
This will encourage people to reduce waste, lower one portion of our taxes, help in the long run (as we can extend the life of our existing landfill) and promote responsibility.
Ah well…
What I fail to understand is why garbage of all things is tax supported and not rate-supported. We pay for electricity base don how much we use; we pay for water based on how much we use; but we don’t pay for garbage based on how much we put out?
Put another way, what does the value of my house have to do with the amount of waste I produce? Why not state that basic taxes will pay for one can or bag at each house. If you want more, you buy a ticket from your local Macs or Loblaws and slap that on the extra bag. Bingo – An easy, cost effective solution.
This will encourage people to reduce waste, lower one portion of our taxes, help in the long run (as we can extend the life of our existing landfill) and promote responsibility.
Ah well…
We need green bin or to get compost taken care of, I have compost box which I use in summer, but in winter we need green bins. People I hope will agree.
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