By Pepper Parr
August 10th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
There are times when the communications people in the Mayor’s office find themselves in a damage control mode.
What has become clear now is that when under pressure the Mayor will manipulate the way she chooses to communicate with the public. She once said she had 17 different platforms from which she can send message. Does that meet the being transparent and accountable standard.
The Mayor had issued a Statement which we didn’t get; usually they are sent along to all media.
We asked:
Was there a reason for you not sending a copy of the Mayors Joint Statement to the Gazette?
The response was:
Regarding the Mayor’s statement – It was published exclusively via the Mayor’s website and reshared via her social channels which is why media partners (including yourself) wouldn’t have received an email directly. There is an option to subscribe directly to her site should you wish to – I believe other media partners have done so as well.
That answer came from a Staff person in the Communications department.
We also asked:
In her Joint Statement the Mayor made mention of a court case on naturalized gardens that the city won.
The response:
I wanted to touch base so that you know I’ve received your inquiry and am working on gathering the case details.
“This matter was recently before the courts and the ruling was in the City’s favour.”
We followed that up with:
Would you advise us as to when the case was heard; where the case was heard and provide us with a copy of the decision?
We haven’t received an answer to those questions.
Related news stories:
City puts the boots to a citizen with a garden that didn’t meet a standard.
As predicted she wrote yet another letter to the editor, this time to the Star, with the same message, again missing the part about the heavy handed mess and calling the mortgage company, threats of huge fines, etc.
Today the Spectator ran the Star article on the front page, so cue the letter to that editor up next. It’s all so predictable. Any criticism and off to the defensive statements on the website and letters to the editor. Thankfully other politicians don’t do this. Who would want to read the paper? Funnily, the statement now adds Rory’s name – even they forgot him at first. Deputy mayor of environment, right.
The Spec reprinting the article on the front page is weird.
They already ran the article on August 6.
Nothing new in today’s article that I can see.
I would have thought Ford’s slamming Burlington on housing would have been more newsworthy.
https://mariannemeedward.ca/statement-from-burlington-mayor-on-auditor-general-findings-on-greenbelt-development/
The spin machine is in overdrive!
“In all our actions, we must demonstrate the highest level of accountability and integrity to the public we serve – ensuring an open, fair and transparent process for all.”
So what happened on Bateman?