By Pepper Parr
December 29th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette published an article on December 14th, about a delegation Eric Stern made at a City Council meeting on November 25th.
Early in the delegation, Eric Stern mused: “It was interesting to watch Mr. Basit present a 4.97% on November 4th when the Halton Police Budget had been made public on October 30th. Did Mr. Basit knowingly misrepresent the truth?”
Mayor Meed Ward wrote the Gazette with a complaint and copied the National Newsmedia Council, complaining about what we published.
This is what happened:
In the article we published we confused what Mayor Meed Ward said in her Spectator letter with what she said at a Council meeting where she used a Personal Privilege to make her point about what Eric Stern said while delegating on November 25th, 2024
We apologize for mixing up the issue. It was in fact incorrect. The Mayor’s Letter to the Editor of the Hamilton Spectator referred to an issue she had with a different media person.
Click HERE to listen to what the Mayor did say.
For those who want to read Stern’s delegation click HERE
Link to the Mayor’s Letter to the Hamilton Spectator is HERE
Some random quotes to ponder as a new year dawns:
From Brittanica: “Political spin: in politics, the attempt to control or influence communication in order to deliver one’s preferred message.”
“Ego can’t sleep. It micro-manages. It disempowers. It reduces our capability. It excels in control.” – Robert K. Greenleaf
“A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.” – Arnold H. Glasow
And the award for misinformation of the year goes to Burlington Council who would rather we not know the city increased their 2025 spending by 7.51 %.
With regard to the MMW’s musings (Mayor Many Woolgatherings) and a cautionary note to Mr. Basit –
“Socrates said, “The misuse of language induces evil in the soul.” He wasn’t talking about grammar. To misuse language is to use it the way politicians and advertisers do, for profit, without taking responsibility for what the words mean. Language used as a means to get power or make money goes wrong: it lies. Language used as an end in itself, to sing a poem or tell a story, goes right, goes towards the truth. A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what
they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.”
~ Ursula K. Le Guin
The plot so far: Was the murder committed in the library using a candlestick or candlestick holder? “Mark my words, Miss Marple, the press have it totally wrong on this one” “ Have we ascertained the victim’s identity yet Inspector” “All our enquiries at this time are focused on the correct description of the murder weapon Miss Marple” “And the murderer, Inspector” “All in good time Miss Marple, All in good time”……”I see”
Poor MMF …. she was misrepresented by the press. whaa whaa whaa
Why does she constantly believe the press is biased, unfair, or overly critical of her administration ?
Her efforts to minimize the press only amplifies her need to control the narrative and limit scrutiny. Is this a strategy to avoid accountability ?
This administration’s continued reluctance to engage with constituents makes it easy for her to sidestep tough questions or criticism, but it sure raises concerns about transparency or willingness to engage in open dialogue.
It’s time for a bunch of these folks to leave and stop adding to an already sad legacy.