Post by John Zeger on Jun 14, 2006 16:08:09 GMT -5
As has been noted elsewhere on this forum, the media has been identified by John Logan and Harvey Molotch in their award winning book Urban Fortunes: The Political Economy of Place as being an important player in the urban growth machine undertaking the role of promoting growth in order to benefit itself and its advertisers. John Harding, the managing editor of the Daily Courier, has not been shy about expressing his approval for those who support unchecked growth in our community while being critical of those who would take a more cautious approach.
Harding's latest target is Mayor Sharon Shepherd who campaigned on a platform of more public participation in urban planning and for the most part has made good on her promise. Unhappy with the task forces and the increased public scrutiny that will be given to planning issues, Harding has established himself as a true enemy of public participation and joins others in our city such as Andre Blanleil and Barry Clark with his forget-the-public-input-and-let's-get-on-with-it attitude. In an editorial on June 14, 2006, Harding is critical of Shepherd for turning the issue of easing restrictions on secondary suites over to the Affordable Housing Task Force which will be holding hearings this fall on alternative approaches to increasing affordable housing. It seems that expressing his own opinion on a myriad of local issues daily is just fine with him but that he would deny the rest of us an occasional opportunity to have our voices heard and our input considered in making city policy.
Harding's latest target is Mayor Sharon Shepherd who campaigned on a platform of more public participation in urban planning and for the most part has made good on her promise. Unhappy with the task forces and the increased public scrutiny that will be given to planning issues, Harding has established himself as a true enemy of public participation and joins others in our city such as Andre Blanleil and Barry Clark with his forget-the-public-input-and-let's-get-on-with-it attitude. In an editorial on June 14, 2006, Harding is critical of Shepherd for turning the issue of easing restrictions on secondary suites over to the Affordable Housing Task Force which will be holding hearings this fall on alternative approaches to increasing affordable housing. It seems that expressing his own opinion on a myriad of local issues daily is just fine with him but that he would deny the rest of us an occasional opportunity to have our voices heard and our input considered in making city policy.