From My Bottom Step

Newspaper Subsidies

We hear a lot of talk these days about the hard times being faced by traditional news media. Most often the industry’s problems are associated with declining interest by subscribers and a subsequent drop in ad revenue. But a study just released this past week paints a slightly different picture:

The troubles in the news business have coincided with a continued drop in government subsidies…as cash-strapped state and local governments turn … Continue Reading

Thanks For the Assist

It’s nice to get some help.

L.O.A.F. Conference

Community Events Calendar is a free public service of FMBS.

Senior City Staff Are Feeling Cramped

Will more space make City Hall a “more collaborative workplace”?

Obama won’t prosecute CIA interrogators

Violating U.S. laws against torture is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, or if a person dies, by execution or life in prison.
The Bush administration held the view that the president had the authority to claim broad powers that could not be checked by Congress or the courts in order to keep Americans safe. Obama and Holder, among others, have said that the use of such unchecked powers has actually made Americans less safe, by increasing anti-U.S. sentiment, endangering American troops when captured and handing terrorists a recruiting tool.
But, almost immediately upon taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama:

restricted CIA questioning to methods and protocols approved for use by the U.S. military
ended “extraordinary renditions” of terrorism suspects to other countries if there is any reason to believe those countries would torture them
ordered the CIA’s “black sites” closed (secret overseas prisons)

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Who’s Responsible for GM Pensions?

What happens to GM pensioners if the company folds?

Petitioning Local Government

It was interesting last Monday, listening to what transpired during the ETC meeting during discussion of a citizen’s submission to have the direction of one-way travel on his neighbourhood street changed.

In 2000, a similar attempt by the individual resulted in a city mail-back survey of residents. “The survey had a 63% response rate with 40% supporting the proposed reversal, 50% against and 10% indicating no preference. Based on the survey, … Continue Reading

Committee Meetings – 2008/05/05

Here’s my blow-by-blow description of what’s happening in this week’s committee meetings at City Hall…
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City Hall Committees – 2008/04/07

Here’s my blow-by-blow description of what’s happening in this week’s committee meetings at City Hall…

04:00
ETC(01)
3rd Report of the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee

(post … Continue Reading

STV Gets Another Shot in BC

Although the ‘yes’ side attracted 58% of the votes in BCs 2005 referendum on a STV (Single Transferable Vote) system, the measure did not pass because of an arbitrary 60% bar. Sort of like the stacked deck that London’s politicians dealt from when they asked citizens whether or not we wanted to retain our Board Of Control.
On May 12th, 2009 British Columbians will get another chance.
… Continue Reading