Post-election thoughts by Alan Markin

As expected, Penticton's post-election rhetoric includes expressions

of concern about voter apathy. Once again, voter turnout was shamefully low.

I want to suggest that most of the blame for this unfortunate situation ought to placed squarely on the shoulders of our politicians. A long time ago, in a university sociology class, I studied the concept of powerlessness/normlessness. In simple (perhaps too simple) terms, this means that voters who feel powerless to change the "system" soon start to feel normless. The extreme of this is the belief that the norms and values of society no longer apply to them. This, I suggest, is one of the underlying causes of voter apathy, civil disobedience, and even revolution. Someone once wrote that the time top stop a revolution is before its starts.

Of course, it would be irresponsible to compare Penticton's voter apathy to the civil unrest and violence currently happening all over the world. Still, it is fair to suggest that our City Council has not been very good at listening to the concerns and ideas of residents. I have heard many Pentictonites opine that, no matter what happens in the election, nothing will change at city hall. For the record, I do not agree with this stand. As frustrating as it might be, it is always possible to do better.

Penticton's "new" City Council would be well advised to begin work immediately on an effective communications plan that, in time, would show residents that they can have a real voice in civic governance. Otherwise this old adage will continue to plague us: "It doesn't matter who you vote for because the government always gets in."

Final question folks :)

First off, apologies for the delay in posting this. Yesterday was particularly hectic at our end. We now have our last question: Penticton has some very nice parks but it could be better. What can we do about this and who has a plan?

QUESTION 7: Penticton's Parks and Recreation Master Plan and OCP have both identified shortages of park land. What are your ideas for addressing this problem?

(Remember to click 'Back' to return to the Blog):

(D.Ashton) (J.Bloomfield) (K.Robinson) Click these links to read the answers from the councilor candidates: (B.Black) (J.Cavallo) (J.Cox) (F.Conci) (W.Hopkin) (A.Jakubeit) (L.Kelsey) (R.Kirkoski) (H.Konanz) (D.Korinetz) (G.Leaman) (G.Litke) (K.Noonan) (M.Pearce) (J.Vassilaki)

Only candidates who provided answers are listed above.

There will be no posts this weekend out of respect for the voting process. We sincerely hope that our question have helped you and hope to see an increase in voters' participation for the 2011 election. Furthermore, we extend our Thanks all the candidates that responded to our questions.

Please note that Visioning Penticton will be around well after the elections. Please check back often and remember that:

Together, we can do better!

Question #5 - Still an issue in Penticton

The question today is: Did you support the recent prison proposal? Do you continue to do so? Why or why not? Penticton clearly said "no prison" in the June poll, but City Council has since signed a servicing agreement with the Penticton Indian Band for one of the Band's proposed prison sites, the location of which is immediately adjacent to the "Cantex" site in Penticton. Also, the final decision by the Province is still pending. Interesting answers from all, incumbents in particular.

Click the links below to read the answers from the mayoral candidates

(Remember to click 'Back' to return to the Blog):

(D.Ashton) (J.Bloomfield) (K.Robinson) Click these links to read the answers from the councilor candidates: (B.Black) (J.Cavallo) (J.Cox) (F.Conci) (W.Hopkin) (A.Jakubeit) (L.Kelsey) (R.Kirkoski) (H.Konanz) (D.Korinetz) (G.Leaman) (G.Litke) (K.Noonan) (M.Pearce) (J.Vassilaki)

Only candidates who provided answers are listed above.

Thank you for reading the Visioning Penticton Blog.

Now half-way through the list with question #4

The question today is: What is your vision for Penticton's downtown core and what are your specific proposals?

Everyone talks about a vibrant downtown core. Who's got the vision here and might actually get this off the ground? Click the links below to read the answers from the mayoral candidates

(Remember to click 'Back' to return to the Blog):

(D.Ashton) (J.Bloomfield) (K.Robinson) Click these links to read the answers from the councilor candidates: (B.Black) (J.Cavallo) (J.Cox) (F.Conci) (W.Hopkin) (A.Jakubeit) (L.Kelsey) (R.Kirkoski) (H.Konanz) (D.Korinetz) (G.Leaman) (G.Litke) (K.Noonan) (M.Pearce) (J.Vassilaki)

Only candidates who provided answers are listed above.

Not sure who to vote for? You're not alone and it isn't too late. Come back tomorrow for more answers and in the meantime, I recommend the refreshing Blog found here.

And now question #2

As initiated yesterday, we are publishing all responding candidates' answers to the seven questions posed by Visioning Penticton. Today's question is: What are your proposals for fostering economic development and urban revitalization in Penticton? What are your specific priorities? The recent strategy has led to a desperate "follow the shiny penny" approach, as evidenced by the number of stagnant, vacant lots in Penticton (rezoned for various highrise projects) and also this year's highly contentious prison proposal. Click the links below to read the answers from the mayoral candidates

(Remember to click 'Back' to return to the Blog):

(D.Ashton) (J.Bloomfield) (K.Robinson)

Click these links to read the answers from the councilor candidates:

(B.Black) (J.Cavallo) (J.Cox) (F.Conci) (W.Hopkin) (A.Jakubeit) (L.Kelsey) (R.Kirkoski) (H.Konanz) (D.Korinetz) (G.Leaman) (G.Litke) (K.Noonan) (M.Pearce) (J.Vassilaki)

Only candidates who provided answers are listed above.

Given that only one week remains before voting day, please consider sharing this Blog with your friends.

Let's talk about question #1

Today, we are looking at the first question posed to the candidates about their 10-20 year long range vision for Penticton. Long range vision is one of the keys to success and has been lacking for the city in recent years.

Click the links below to read the answers from the mayoral candidates

(Remember to click 'Back' to return to the Blog):

(D.Ashton) (J.Bloomfield) (K.Robinson)

Click these links to read the answers from the councilor candidates:

(B.Black) (J.Cavallo) (J.Cox) (F.Conci) (W.Hopkin) (A.Jakubeit) (L.Kelsey) (R.Kirkoski) (H.Konanz) (D.Korinetz) (G.Leaman) (G.Litke) (K.Noonan) (M.Pearce) (J.Vassilaki)

Please note that only candidates who provided answers are listed. Assuming that you find the question reasonable, did the candidates do a good job at responding?

On this special day

On this special day, one has to stop and remember the ultimate sacrifice made by thousands of troups in Word war I, World war II and other conflicts. My initial instinct was, despite all the material awaiting to be "Blogged", to abstain from posting anything else today, out of much deserved respect. On further thought however, democracy is very much what these folks fought for and it is their legacy. Since we agree that discussion and votes far outweight the use of bombs, I suggest to resume posting later today starting with none other than candidates' answers to questions submitted a couple of weeks ago. Thank you for reading the Visioning Penticton Blog.

Researcher helps rate candidates

A friend brought to my attention an interesting interview on CBC radio. In a nutshell; Sherril Guthrie, a research consultant, has been frustrated with the low bar set for municipal politicians and consequently, has developed an evaluation tool to help narrow down the right candidates. Talk about good timing! Her (interesting) rating guide is here for you to print and fill out. The complete CBC radio interview of Sherril Guthrie is here. Comments are naturally invited... I'd like to wish Rory, our Blog Master, a well deserved break.

Blog information

Please be informed the candidate’s responses have been received and we will shortly begin to post them on a daily basis. As a reminder the visioning group is not endorsing any candidate. However in saying that we are interested in candidates who are committed to long range planning and a commitment to do so. In the main, the questions were formulated to elicit their responses on that subject. The readers of course can draw their own conclusions from the candidate responses.

Further I would like to Introduce Benoit Robert who is filling in for me for a while I enjoy a few weeks in the Southern sun. I have already voted in the advance poll and would remind all the importance of casting your ballot on November 19th.

Visioning Penticton Candidate Questionnaire

For the information of Penticton voters, a series of questions has been forwarded to all Mayoralty and City Council candidates. (The questions are listed below). We have requested that candidates respond by November 8 and their answers to be kept to a minimum of 250 words per question.

The questions are as follows:

1. What is your 10-20 year forward vision for Penticton? (i. e., what do you want Penticton to look and feel like?) How would you approach both developing and delivering that vision?

2. What are your proposals for fostering economic development and urban revitalization in Penticton? What are your specific priorities?

3. What role do you see for the Official Community Plan (OCP) in the City’s decision making? What adjustments, if any, would you propose?

4. What is your vision for Penticton’s downtown core (i.e. in 10 – 20 years) and what are your specific proposals?

5. Did you support the recent prison proposal? Do you continue to do so? Why or why not?

6. There are identified deficiencies in the Arts and Culture in Penticton. What would you do to remedy this?

7. Penticton’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and OCP have both identified shortages of park land. What are your ideas for addressing this problem?

Prior to November 19, Candidates’ responses will be posted both on this blog and on the Visioning Penticton website. We invite all to read their answers. The goal is to gain further insight into their respective election platforms.


Thank you for reading the Visioning Penticton blog.

Guest Editorial by Benoit Robert

Following the 67% majority vote against the prison proposal, residents expected a complete and unconditional retraction of the city's bid for this project.

Unfortunately, Councilor Pearce saw fit to make an expanded motion (during an opportunity to voice comments) to retract the City's bid as well as add a clause to the effect that the city would also support bids
in neighboring communities if highest economic benefit to Penticton could be proven. Mayor Ashton did not see fit to intervene in this situation and simply let the motion be voted upon and carried, then shared with us his wish for "the community to heal". Numerous individuals asked for clarifications at the end of the meeting but few answers were given - we were apparently worried for no good reasons. For those interested in witnessing these moments, they are available for on line viewing on the City's web site, with relevant footage starting at 0:55:12): http://www.penticton.ca/video/2011-06-20.wmv

Penticton electors have recently been treated to a further peculiar decision by City Council to extend services to the Penticton Indian Band IR2 lot, immediately adjacent to the lot in the retracted bid from the City of Penticton and currently the subject of the band's bid for the prison. A prison was not excluded from prospective land uses on this site before the agreement was signed. Yet another decision where there is no need to worry?

The people of Penticton spoke decisively about not wanting this institution located within city limits. By extension, this should preclude our city services from being used by the same institution on adjacent land.

Do the particular wishes of Mayor Ashton, and Councilors Sentes, Jakubeit, Pearce, and Vassilaki therefore override those of the electorate? It is time to consider a strong and strategic vote on November 19.

Collectively, we can do better!

Municipal Election

Today's post is by guest blogger Denis O'Gorman.

The November 19 civic election has special importance to Penticton taxpayers concerned with sound decision making.

And the issue isn't about opposition to economic development as some would have us believe.  Instead, it's about random development approvals such as the highrise on Haynes Street which is out of scale and not compliant with the City's own revitalization goals.  It's also about approval of the P2 project with its towers over 20 stories- excessive height, out of character, and given away with  inadequate community benefits.  It is an ad hoc departure from the height prescribed in the City's Official Community Plan.

And now, there is an otherwise commendable servicing agreement with the Penticton Indian Band for Reserve #2, just off Carmi Rd. Apparently this didn't preclude a proposed prison siting.  Remember, voters rejected that proposal by a 2 to 1 margin.  The risk it presents to other developments means it shoudn't come in quietly through a back door.

The earlier Sierra Club maxim applies here . . . "Not blind opposition to progress but opposition to blind progress."  We need a Council that can set sound policy and abide by it.