Comments on North Vancouver Politics.com: Food for thought letter

Nice to see reading comprehension is alive and wel...

2012-01-26T14:14:11.188-08:00

Nice to see reading comprehension is alive and well on the North Shore. Something to think about next time you start whining about teachers.

before computers. it's explained in the post....

2012-01-26T10:32:30.571-08:00

before computers.

it's explained in the post.

Who's B.C.?

2012-01-26T00:13:50.993-08:00

Who's B.C.?

I am Anon 4:06 and not a disgruntled gov't wor...

2012-01-23T11:19:59.138-08:00

I am Anon 4:06 and not a disgruntled gov't worker.

I'm a disgruntled tax payer.

There are those that expect staff to set aside their scheduled duties undertaken for the majority of taxpayers and pay exclusive attention to their personal interest.

This is reasonable if the requests are infrequent and quickly dealt with. Others are persistent, frequent and like the idea of second guessing and micromanaging the process.

If they take an inordinate amount of time that should have been spent servicing the majority then their requests should be paid for.

These are exactly the little cumulative time eaters that add up to commplaints by the same folk that staff are inefficient and too numerous.

I want my taxpaid workers to (mainly) be getting their work done for the majority of us and using our tax dollars in the most efficient and best interests.

As far as the old saw that putting stuff on computers saves paper, carbon footprint etc. I worked in offices B.C., that is, before computers and then after their adoption.

I estimate that we used about 1/4 the paper B.C. Many documents require originals to be stored anyway and the ease of everyone and their dog just pressing the print button is a huge waste of paper. Just take a look at any office's paper recycle bin and if you are old enough to remember how little paper was wasted BC you will agree.

Anon 4:06 Sounds like a disgruntled government w...

2012-01-22T21:14:08.912-08:00

Anon 4:06

Sounds like a disgruntled government worker.

2012-01-22T20:35:00.513-08:00

This comment has been removed by the author.

Anon 12:15 Pm, Well now we don't know that ex...

2012-01-22T20:34:45.607-08:00

Anon 12:15 Pm,

Well now we don't know that exactly for sure now do we? But I see the numbers and they are much larger than the comments.

I like the standard that West Van sets. Have a rea...

2012-01-22T19:46:02.042-08:00

I like the standard that West Van sets. Have a read letters to the editor North Shore News Sunday Jan 22nd “WV’s budget work is impressive”

If the weekly council package is the size of a pho...

2012-01-22T19:38:44.323-08:00

If the weekly council package is the size of a phone book it makes perfect sense to store this online. This process alone would reduce paper, carbon foot print, storage space, etc. The costs would be nothing.

Unfortunately, it would seem that just because we ...

2012-01-22T17:59:47.657-08:00

Unfortunately, it would seem that just because we pay taxes, some here feel that that equates with treating municipal staff as though they are indentured servants, available at the drop of a hat to service the slightest whim. When did we become such an entitled bunch?

Now let's see. We have the usual suspects end...

2012-01-22T16:06:17.759-08:00

Now let's see.

We have the usual suspects endlessly whining about tax costs and inefficient municipal staff.

Then we have someone suggesting that staff should take the time to publish "public documents" online.

For who? The 1 person out of 86,000 that is interested?

Have you ever seen just the weekly council package of documents? It's the size of a phone book, full of staff reports and opinions, maps, supporting materials.

What a waste of staff time for some entitled beauty who wants to avoid paying for a special document request. I for one am not interested in paying higher taxes for that.

Isn’t all the information generated with public mo...

2012-01-22T12:39:34.830-08:00

Isn’t all the information generated with public money and therefore owned by the public domain? Local government should actually make all this information available on line for anyone.

John, how many of those 'significant' numb...

2012-01-22T12:15:02.412-08:00

John, how many of those 'significant' numbers are from different people and not repeat visits by the same old same old?

Anons 7:30 PM, 11:28 AM, 5:21 PM, As the blog adm...

2012-01-22T09:44:47.211-08:00

Anons 7:30 PM, 11:28 AM, 5:21 PM,

As the blog administrator I can tell you that this little blog is not so rarely read as you say. I have access to the statistics and, all things in perspective for a locally oriented little blog the page views here are significant. Many people visit, relatively few comment.

That said, I'm always on the look out and open to new posters, new ideas, and constructive discussion here on NVP.com

The budget documents are available for free to the...

2012-01-21T20:51:06.965-08:00

The budget documents are available for free to the public prior to and during budget debate meetings so that the public may make comment to council.

If you want information retrieved outside of budget deliberations so staff has to spend time researching and printing information for one person then you have to pay for it.

And so you should.

Others have requested information and at a cost. ...

2012-01-21T19:29:54.631-08:00

Others have requested information and at a cost.

Some bloggers may be perceived as having a victim mentality while others may be perceived as obsequious, especially when it involves council. Either way it promotes dialogue.

But, the 'victim' mentality is easy and co...

2012-01-21T16:20:32.781-08:00

But, the 'victim' mentality is easy and convenient for the lazy. And best of all, they have no need to feel accountable for their words.

Nonsense. I have requested DNV budget docs at bud...

2012-01-21T09:22:26.584-08:00

Nonsense. I have requested DNV budget docs at budget time and received them free of charge.

So have others, esp. the well-known "Council watchers" who make detailed comments on the budget figures derived from those same docs every single year.

All public and recorded by cameras in Council chambers.

Put away your "victim" mentality and get into reality.

It does not turn out they can! They cannot. FIA ...

2012-01-20T18:04:13.682-08:00

It does not turn out they can!

They cannot.

FIA looked after by the BC Liberals does not want people to know what is going on.

And most especially the Liberal-led DNV Council.

Look, there was a bunch of bitching because poster...

2012-01-19T18:17:53.491-08:00

Look, there was a bunch of bitching because posters thought that they couldn't get budget docs.

Turns out they can.

Now there's bitching because there is no "official" opposition on council.

Have you ever watched a council meeting? The opposite positions are commonplace, never mind the sniping and politicking.

Why are you so concerned with the dialogue that is...

2012-01-18T17:21:59.654-08:00

Why are you so concerned with the dialogue that is presented on this rarely read little blog?

That's all fine and good, but if the latter ha...

2012-01-18T11:28:56.320-08:00

That's all fine and good, but if the latter have no influence on council, what's the point? Do you really think the rantings on this little blog has any influence?

Some prefer the orchestrated confines of council a...

2012-01-17T20:46:23.016-08:00

Some prefer the orchestrated confines of council and/or the left/right wing influenced newspapers as a means of participating.

Some prefer social blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Internet forums, wikis, and podcasts as a media for social interaction and participation.

It doesn't matter how many voted. Complaining...

2012-01-17T19:30:15.377-08:00

It doesn't matter how many voted. Complaining, rather than participating, is just lazy and a cop-out. If you have issues, voice them to council, not a rarely read blog. If council doesn't listen, contact the media. Council gets away with what you let them get away with.

No 20 odd % voted them in. The system is broken. G...

2012-01-17T19:19:17.651-08:00

No 20 odd % voted them in. The system is broken. Go stick your head back in the sand.