Disconnect with the community
There's a disconnect with the community
From the Ladysmith Chronicle 5/2/06
The
method by which North Cowichan reached a decision to move forward with
developing Echo Heights seems rather politically unwise.
The decision was made at a closed-door meeting almost three weeks ago. Why the delay in letting the public know?
The municipality had every right to discuss a property-related item “in
camera”, but given the level of acrimony that has risen on this issue,
it would have been appropriate to hold a public meeting.
Making the decision in secret only fuels neighbourhood paranoia that developing Echo Heights was the plan all along.
And despite the mayor’s stated intentions to work closely with
disaffected neighbours, such overtures are unlikely to ameliorate the
perceived disconnect between the municipality and Chemainus residents.
In politics perception is 90 per cent of reality, and this just looks bad.