I just finished re-reading a book that I thought might help me gain insight into how many of our current City Councillors and Mayor think and work.

The gang that couldn’t shoot straight was a 197

1 book by Jimmy Breslin described the inside workings of a Mafia family at war with another.  One of the main characters is Kid Sally Palumbo, a would-be capo who “couldn’t run a petrol station at a profit even if he stole the customer’s cars”.  Each of the remaining characters seems, at best, to have a fragile grasp on reality. 

Upon competition of this book I felt much better because I can now be a bit more sympathetic with why a majority of our elected councillors have such trouble understanding even the most basic of concepts.  It isn’t that they don’t get it; a majority don’t believe they have to get it. 

Get what? For starters, how about three basic concepts:

• Transparency:  Our elected councillors work for the residents of Christchurch – not senior staff or special interests.  We elect them, we pay them and we have every right to be kept informed.  How difficult is that to understand?
• Responsibility:  The simple truth is that elected councillors are, first and foremost, responsible to the people regardless if they voted for or against any councillor.  They are not responsible to the Mayor or the CEO. How difficult is that to understand?

• Participation:  The people have the right to be included in the decision making process.  Being denied this right and having decisions made behind closed doors or “Public Excluded” signs are unacceptable.  As he is often called; “Back Room Bob” and Tony Marryatt have, in my opinion, perfected the art of darkness.  The only light Parker seeks is the lights of TV cameras.  This is our city - not theirs.  How difficult is that to understand?

A few days ago at a council meeting, Parker was quoted as saying; “Excusez-moi, Mr. Media, this meeting is not open.”  The fact was the meeting was open to the public and Mike Theelen, Council General Manager, had to remind Parker that the meeting was in fact open to the public.

About a week ago, Parker, once again confused, summed up a meeting by saying one of the best things about the day’s meeting was no media had been present.  Sadly for Bob, a reporter from The Press was there.

Until a basic understanding of transparency, responsibility and participation happens for a majority of councillors we will continue to be led by The gang that couldn’t shoot straight.