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The Cllr. Bateman love in with the LANGLEY TIMES is funny and is in my opinion mutually incestuous politicking. Did you notice that Cllr. BATEMAN QUICKLY CHANGED HIS LANGLEY TIMES TRIBUTE BLOG TITLE FROM SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIMES BEING THE BEST LOCAL NEWS AROUND TO NOW A BLANDer and safer TITLE, especially with his previous love affair in mind, The Advance? Is he BITING THE HAND THAT FED HIM FOR MANY YEARS, THE LANGLEY ADVANCE? IF HE KEEPS RUBBING THE ADVANCE'S FACE IN THE MUD WITH THIS NEW FOUND LOVE INTEREST, HIS PREVIOUS key ADVANCE STAR REPORTER relationship MAY EVEN FADE TOO ALONG WITH ADVANCE'S EDITOR AND PROBABLY THE PUBLISHER TOO. BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS I THINK.
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Anon, I love your perspective on 'the boy that would be king'. Could come back to bite him in the foot.
Anon, Thank you for noticing. And by the way I did notice that Cllr. Bateman changed his gushing tribute title to the Langley Times as the premier local paper or someething to that effect. I bet Bob must have loved that tribute indeed!
It is hilarious indeed isn't it?. They all think it's been a gotcha. LOL. What a laugh. THEY should look to themselves. because they all look cheap & petty in the process! People living in glass houses should not throw the first brick or any bricks at all for that matter!
Yet the problem is not that blogs are doing what they should, specifically questioning and inciting critical opinion. We especially need at least ONE dissenting voice in Langley after all!
And face it, the powers to be are ALL listening. The impact IS being made! Clearly the events of the last little while prove that out!
Are the Local Paper's Editors (or at least one!) increasingly not doing their jobs? Are their obvious & blatant partisan political and otherwise loyalties, especially to the ruling establishments that pay hundreds of thousands for ads, at minimum perhaps clouding their biases even more?
I will be following up with a column about boring Partisan local Papers and asking whether they have become too incestuous with their partisan relationships with politicians.
Some have clearly become WAY to over partisan in protecting their establishment ruling fiefdoms! Some also increasingly resort to not so very thinly veiled personal ( sadly in this Editor's opinion) attacks too now against any establishment critics, who ever they are. Even resorting to going after outspoken non politician community critics for simply daring to question the establishments creation of bureaucracies and the like! Stay tuned!
Whew! That was a close one Kurt. It's not too good when ya gotta 'splain yourself. Your getting better at it though.
I saw many motions by Councillor Richter in the local rages of late and even in the past. So, are they also pandering to her? The two local rags seems to report on the same topics and are basically exposed to the same council agenda and such, right? There is little to no investigative journalism going on here, they are two safe newspapers. Why all the conspiracy theories guys? Calm down.
Kurt needs to "'splain himself"for being misquoted by some wet-behind-the-ears kid that thought he could abuse these communities of old farmers out in the suburbs and sensationalize the headlines a bit? I guess I don't connect the same dots as you. Happy fishin!
Edited Reply By Siteowner - "you-know-who loose cannon website that doesn't seem to follow any rules of decency," tsk, tsk,..not nice nor fair don't you think Informed? But certainly partisan!
Informed finally hit one nail on the head. He is absolutely right when he says that the local rags do not investigate the way they should, and therefore in the past we were always of the impression that all was well.
It is by now very obvious that both of the Langley blogs are stirring up a lot of controversy where little existed before. All of us Joe Six-Packs get a chance to comment as well, and everyone but "Informed" seem to see the light.
Example: Mayor Kurt Alberts will be running on his record. Yes, but what record? We have all been looking at it and opining about it on these blogs, and when you sift it all out, his record is in my opinion horribly blotched with errors and wasteage. The local papers have gently touched on some of them, and probably still feel that there are no real issues to think about.
Here's just a few:
His decision to choke off traffic on Zero Avenue has caused no end of traffic problems, and there have been too many serious accidents as well. The blogs nailed him!
He allowed himself to be hoodwinked into the horrific cost overrun at McCloud Park. Millions down the drain from Township mis management. Nailed again!
I'll keep it down to 3 so others can comment....
He had the nerve to sell off the Dixon Pit property without proper notice to bidders, and shows no remorse for such a deed, and not one local rag looked at the financials in terms of comparative land values. A couple of well placed phone calls would have done the job. And again another goof up!
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Global TV news & Chek TV just reported that the BC Auditor essentially trashed the Vancouver Island Forestry land sale under previous Minister Rich Coleman for I think letting prime forestry land go to developers without public input and talked about some related political campaign donations to.
Edited Reply By Siteowner: This Editor is on it and will probably write a column on this asap. One thing for sure I can guarantee you that at least one of the local rags, maybe even both, will either be mum on this or as is normal for Langley establishment protection chastise those that even get close to being critical on this item! Guess who? Amazing what is deemed more newsworthy to some rags, such as, 'Paddlers...Statues...Paddlewheelers...etc'...LOL
BTW, I'm still steamed about the Same Langley riding Senior Minister of Housing endorsing a municipal Mayor (Township of Langley Mayor)! You also only see editorials from guess who again endorsing or ignoring this! All of this is Unacceptable in my opinion!
What would be said if a Health Minister endorsed a municipal mayor's council for reelection if that council supported selling their local municipal hospital to a private off shore contractor and wanted privatization of their local health care? Would that conflict?
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Why would MLA Rich Coleman ever endorse Mayor Alberts with a record of compounding escalating tax increases over the 9 past years that I just noticed? (0%, 3.5%, 0%, 1%, 3.75%, 3.2%, 4.95%, 4.92% and now 5.95%). Their both going in the wrong directions!
Re Minister Coleman & the Auditor General's report: Les Leyne of the Time Colonist says; "The report (Auditor's)he released yesterday will cement Coleman's place as the most hapless forests minister in modern history."
See these Victoria Times reports! Amazing I will follow up with a larger posting. Watch the regular Langley APOLOGISTS come out in defense! This Editor predicts that Coleman will respond with his regular ' a good defense is a good offense'. Well I wonder if this will work this time! (BTW did I mention that this Editor is still pissed over the controversial Mayor Alberts endorsement in my humble opinion! What happened to the MLA Coleman we used to know!?)
Victoria Times Colonist Full Breaking Story Link:
http://www.canada.com/victoriati...27-
322ebb5d598f
Times Colonist EditorialLink:
http://www.canada.com/victoriati...40-
8db3d7080030
Times Colonist Les Leyne column Link:
http://www.canada.com/victoriati...72-
d916208a635b
I wonder if the Langley Times Editor will be critical of you because you once again reported what you saw in the big boy's regional media chain?
HOW ON EARTH CAN LFP EVER BELIEVE THIS ABOUT FORESTRY MINISTER COLEMAN!? Accordingly (per Times Editorial standards perhaps?) you should say nothing at all because we all will have to worry that these reports are not true at all!
How could you believe that Mr. Coleman would be held accountable for this, especially since you should know better because he is familiar to you in Langley!? Heck you should know better because you at LFP are in Langley, not Victoria!
Do you think this could be the Times stance?
Will we now see leters demanding apologies too?
Wow check out the below Vancouver Sun Link too! Naturally Coleman's riding VP on his blog says, 'I don't think it's appropriate to comment on this until the conflict commissioner responds to Rich's request to look into the matter,'
http://www.canada.com/vancouvers...99-
09c5f551c457
That's a lot of interesting info on the above links. The radio news today mentioned much the same details, but you can be certain that much more could be uncovered if this progresses much further..... unless it is stifled somehow. The one fear that we should all have on any controversial issue that progresses is hearing that age old cloaking statement ---" The issue is before the courts and further information will not be available on this issue until the court has ruled".
I would like to know if we've been screwed NOW, not 2-3 years from now when it has been forgotten.
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Isn't it fascinating how often controversial issues in government involve real estate. Hmmm.
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A blogger on the the other Langley blog made what I think is a very important point. He suggested that shareholders of the forest products company that was involved in the Coleman affair benefited from his actions. That possibility could be a serious blow to Coleman's position on this foul-up. On the other hand it does not appear that the public could have gained anything from this.
Our other falling star, Kurt Alberts, must be sorry he ever invited Coleman's presence to prop up his failing image when he announced he will run again for mayor. There's an adage about politicians and strange bed fellows that is ringing in my ear.
This brings back to mind the good ol' BC Rail story. The people of BC got screwed on that, but like Methinks says, we'd like to know now, not 2-3 years away.
It's far too late now for anything to be done about getting our rail line back,(it's in the courts now and probably will be for years) but maybe not too late to save the sale of all this 'used to be crown land'/now private'. I'd sure like to know how that works, maybe we could all make some huge profits.
Regarding Rich Coleman, you could continue to speculate and all, but wouldn't it be prudent to wait and see what the facts really are? Isn't it innocent until proven guilty? Its not any criminal investigation at the moment or anything close to that, right?
I could be wrong I suppose, but I don't see Coleman as being a fool. Shouldn't we wait and see before judging him as guilty?
Maybe one of the local rags could hire Methinks as their Investigative Reporting stringer. Although he seems to get his facts wrong very often. Still, Langley would then have many smoking guns to think and write about. I think it could be fun and entertaining!
Informed, no one is speculating, yet! But face it without full and complete and satisfactory answers the only thing left is speculation. That speculation is pretty much always the fault of the one that doesn't, can't or won't provide the full picture promptly and effectively!
We the taxpayers want answers, justification and we want it now! That is our right isn't it? We don't want another century long drawn out Basigate affair!
The magnitude of the information before us is shocking so far. This Editor would love to give the present forestry minister or the previous forestry minister as big a column as they want to give us all the other side of the story. Just contact me! That will be a frosty day in hell I bet!
As of yet the only thing that we can hopefully so far still believe in is the report of the Government independent auditor despite the government's terrible attack on him, the 'shoot the messenger' political ploy in my opinion. This Editor sure can sympathize with that! LOL! After all that is his taxpayer paid job, to point out weaknesses and strengths in our elected Government with recommendations no matter how difficult. In my opinion kudos for his apparent courage so far apparently in a very difficult situation.
Major questions remain unanswered in my opinion and the powers to be in the Liberal party in Victoria past & present have a lot of PROPER & HONEST explaining to do and to not hide behind written formal quasi or even formal legal correspondence when asked to review and discuss it first hand! Clearly these simple actions alone causes the average taxpayer to sit up and want to ask even more critical questions.
I am fed up with the 'keep your mouth, blog, newspaper, etc. shut tight' until this or that or whatever essentially any deemed delay or roadblock is completed or installed first anymore before making pertinent critical comment or asking critical questions. What you suggest INFORMED won't cut it anymore with this EDITOR. Twice now out of pure respect and certainly not out of any 'Libel Chill' risk, this Editor has done what I thought was the right thing, in deleting and respectful restraint in the comments, postings and questions. Yet you and other media bozos still slam me for something I never even had to do! I seriously question whether I will keep doing so in light of this obviously heckling partisan crowd.
Tough Critical thought and critical questions should not be censored because it tends to just mask the real truths. Tough critical thought, comments & questions are important in ferreting out the truth. These are not slander or libel but attempts to get at the truth and elicit even more good thought and then action! Our job as citizen's, voter's and taxpayers, blogs and media are to ask the tough questions and not ignore them like our partisan Langley "Good Ole boy's Club" incestuous, sycophant local media and politicians!
There is a lot here that stinks so far that even any half witted amateur can't miss and question and this time it can't simply be blamed on a rookie reporter can it? At least so far! So give us the taxpayer, the break here, not the partisan joined at the hip ruling politicians, bureaucrats and power brokers especially in Langley. I'm fed up to HERE with that kind of stinking BS!
If the Auditor's comments are BS, prove it! But as I said it smells bad to me so far, and should to any amateur, and heads or a responsible head better roll in my opinion if this is not refuted! And if proper answers and justifications are made, thank God democracy and free speech was able to clear everyone and everything in the end and clear the air. But enough of trying to muzzle critical thinking, comments & questions especially in the only truly FREE PRESS vehicle left in the Langleys!
BTW, Whatever happened to taxpayer paid politicians & bureaucrats simply saying, I made a mistake, huh?
LFP, when you give away something that is not yours to give away, that's more than a mistake.
Land deals seem to be the soupe de jour these days.
LFP rocks!
A mere $10 million sponsorship scandal revealed by the Canadian Auditor General's (Sheila Fraser) report brought down the Paul Martin Liberal Government. How on earth is it possible that this at least 15 times larger $150 million scandal exposed by B.C.'s Auditor General's (John Doyle) report won't bring down the Gordon Campbell Liberal Government? Or at least the failed former B.C. forestry minister, Rich Coleman? How is this possible?
P.S. - Note that the Langley Times Editor was brutal on the Paul Martin Liberals about the $10 million scandal yet is remarkably soft and gentle and forgiving on Rich Coleman and the Campbell Liberals $150 million scandal! How is that possible? Betcha he will never answer and if he does he will find some weasel excuse that in his mind differentiates the two. The bottom line is that both were exposed by their Auditor's and both were questionable and stinky mismanagement. Both squandered taxpayers hard earned dollars.
LFP has had enough of the incestuous & partisan apologists for the outrageous politics of mismanagement, out of control tax and spending habits that these apologists consistently turn a blind eye to. This does not serve the public interest but rather the ruling establishment political cartel. Fantasctic 4.5 indeed!
While everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, linking the current Coleman story to the Federal Liberal Sponsorship scandal, legitimate local land purchases and other related stories that keep getting stirred up here will not help anyone, as they are not based on FACT. That is all I am saying. It does help all you angry people to vent, but its all just not based on any facts to date.
An Auditor General is not always perfect. These people tend to have a background in accounting and numbers. I'm not sure how the auditing of numbers makes this Auditor General an expert at how to make informed public policy decisions.
Its much like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that used to be Revenue Canada. For some time they went on a frontal assault against small corporations and small business over legitimate business expenses and deductions. They thought they could tell people how to run a business. One day these cases were appealed to the courts who examined the evidence and declared that it was out of CRA's expertise to tell some business person how long he has to write expenses off and when he should start turning a profit.
By the way, with the sponsorship scandal and other related messes, the Federal Auditor General was dealing with numbers and things within her realm of expertise. I think she did a fine job with that.
So, when the facts are in and the information provided by the Provincial Liberals is reviewed, it will be interesting to see if this Auditor General was within his expertise and authority to second-guess Rich Coleman and the Ministry. If he was within his realm of expertise, then more power to him. But Isn't this a fair question that should be asked these days?
Informed, if you look up the auditor generals responsibility to the B.C. public on the BC GOV website, you will clearly see that he was doing exactly what he is supposed to do. That should put an end to what is being said about him going beyond what his office is supposed to do.
Colemans' performance reflected poor judgement on the issue in my opinion. To begin with, he did it without consultation with all parties with a vested interest in the land involved, and also because there are other ministries that should have gone to the public for input as well.
That would include the ministries responsible for the environment, Tourism, fisheries, and Indian affairs at least. Any of these ministries could have sought input to bring out the pros and cons of what became a unilateral decision on the part of Coleman. In other words, Coleman acted like a Czar more that an elected Minister of the B.C. Government. That can't be tolerated.
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ahhhh, I don't know whether we should be jubilant to think we have a great AG that is honest,unbiased and forthright, or be down in the dumps because it has illuminated the ineptness and betrayal of the leaders we voted in to look after our best interests. Shame on them.
Easy answer Eagerbeaver, BOTH in spades!
Mayor Alberts Langley Township Council has controversial after controversial land deals and now our Langley Minister Rich Coleman has a very big controversial land deal. Thank God that they aren't working together, tied to the hip and endorsing each other politically. Oops!
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I think the Langley Free Press and their followers should either get a proper investigation together by an accredited agency, or drop the talk about "land deals in the Township". DCC funds and NOT property tax dollars were used, and they were used for their intended and legal purpose. If you disagree, then file a formal complaint and get an investigation launched, but stop taking cheap shots as these people.
Don't forget Informed to suggest that we also should also conveniently drop the other big Langley Township Council land deal, the airport subsidization fiasco & "Good Ole boy's Club" slate gloss over too! Check out the lease rates for tenants at the new airport buildings. They are similar to NW Langley's industrial park with no sweetheart 1000 year long lease deals below market value taxpayer subsidized land lease deals! OK 1000 years is exaggerated but I will be dead before that lease ever expires!
At about this time Mayor Kurt Alberts will be hell bent on making the opening of the new rec centre a gala affair for his benefit, but with our tax money. Oh that man loves to cut ribbons.
On a much more serious note though, I really want to see what the latest cost estimates are to finish this grand complex. Somebody asked for that before, and I have not seen an answer. Since the township tax payers are stuck with picking up the costs that exceed the original $15 million (1/3rd), then someone please tell us what the tab is estimated at today, and where it will be at time of completion. I see another McCloud Park blow out brewing here, and it would be a damn shame if we don't find out about it until after the election. It could easily make the McCloud Park stadium cost overrun look like pocket change if it is managed with the same lack of control.
Maybe the Times could do a little worth while probing in that direction, since bloggers do not have the clout to do so. That information should be front and centre where we can see it though.
Do you really think the Times would divulge anything other than what would make Kurt look good? I don't. I've lost all faith in our local news rags. If you want anything printed, unless it falls in line with 'the establishment' you're S%^$ Out of luck.
Pity really, because what has good unbiased reporting come to anyway? Is it possibly a matter of getting paid for Township Ads, so they're afraid to go against the tide?
Speaking of Township ads, who is paying for all those full page ads in the local papers?
A couple of weeks ago it was about transportation, now this week it's some other sales column on Parks. That must be costing a fortune and it is pure re-election garbage and it's us taxpayers that are left to pay for Kurt Alberts Copuncil's re-election ads in my opinion. DISGUSTING.
That would make a great letter to the editor but these 2 papers probably wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. The reason being....they're getting paid big money for the ads. Talk about a conflict of interest, guess we'll just have to start our own printing press!
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Right on Lois! As these projects get out of control, it doesn't happen over night for sure. If you want to get stone walled, drop in to the township hall and ask your question.
In any and every community, a respected and validated local paper, paper's editor or even the paper's publisher should be ever vigilant that there should NEVER EVER be the slightest impression or hint of any partisan political bias especially towards the current elected politicians. This applies to all political levels, federal, provincial & local politicians.
The slightest bias by a paper brings it's total credibility into question. This should never be acceptable IN ANY COMMUNITY. As the local paper is the only real opportunity for the population at large to provide an independent watchdog and an independent opportunity for them to publicly voice their opinions.
Unfortunately I must agree with Langley Free Press that it is sadly the case that the obvious bias against Councillor Richter and positive biases for Mayor Alberts as well as all the incumbent other sitting Langley politicians is skewed and very obviously partisan, in my opinion.
One other item that I question is the fact that in Langley the local paper reporters are also now writing editorials as well. This is a very bad precedent as their biases are also revealed and will jeopardize their credibility when reporting and in fact in obtaining proper information in reporting especially from those that they have written editorials about. This should not be acceptable AGAIN FOR Any credible fifth estate paper especially smaller local papers
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Dear LFP Editor,
I never suggested a "gloss over". But with the comments that fly on this blog, one has to ask why you are not obtaining thousands of signatures and demanding criminal investigations, as that is what you suggest here between the lines. The fact that we don't see these types of investigations into the subjects you write, is good proof that your smoking gun does not exist and the conspiracy theory group here is off-base. If not, then bring on the investigations and let the chips fall where they may. Plain and simple.
Edited Reply By Siteowner - Nobody here on LFP has yet suggested that criminal investigations are needed nor any suggestions of criminal activities. You are the first to bring it up INFORMED. But I hear a lot of other proper comments that suggest very bad and questionable judgment that has certainly not been in the best interest for the taxpayers. For instance this Editor has been consistent in suggesting that in my opinion, the due diligence of our Mayor & Township Council's tax, borrow and spending decisions has not been the best business practices that they should have been to say the least. In fact I suggest that the proof, as demonstrated by the countless cases described herein our LFP postings, points to quite the opposite end of the financial best practices spectrum by them. Hence this Editor suggests a major change in Township Mayor and council, the (Good Ole boy's Club slate) be made in November by the Township voters so that the taxpayers will vote out the tax, spend and borrow Good Ole boy's Club slate and elect a new and much more fiscally responsible and much more fiscally competent Mayor & councilors, certainly, that is my opinion. Just for the record, INFORMED. - LFP EDITOR
Lois, no matter how much the rec centre costs, it's the $3 M dollars from the school district that will stick in my craw. How on earth a school district that is displacing students and overcrowding schools in the name of saving money can justify giving away education dollars for such a purpose is beyond me. Unless, of course, we see someone, maybe even the board chair - who knows?, decide to run for township council - well, that would make sense.
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Those are good comments Newspwpers
Maybe Informed knows what the final cost will be on that Rec Centre in Willoughby?? He seems to have his nose in on everything, and defends the mayor and his buddies like his job depends on it (perhaps it does!).
Prove to us how informed you are Mr. Informed. Give us some numbers on how Mayor Alberts Township council has done it again using OUR fat wallet.
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The Events Centre is a public/private partnership and a good one. I'm not your lackie (read from Urban Dictionary "your bitch"). Get your butt over to Town Hall and check it yourself sweetie and bring Clark Kent along to help you read.
Then I guess tou're not as informed as you think you are Mr. Informed.
The information will eventually come out, but the timing will tell us a lot.
Now girls! Stop it before someone gets slapped!
The Langley Advance has a smiling picture of Kurt Alberts plying his shiney shovel at another event. This time his brother in arms Rich Cloeman also is at his shoulder, also with an unstained digger. Kurt's always there for a photo shoot so, but Novemeber is looking tougher this year. About time.
I drove down 61stAve tonight looking for a little excitement, but alas, there were barricades galore and probably 200 cops out there, what party poopers.
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