Light Rail Feasability Study For Four Million?

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Light Rail Feasability Study For Four Million?

LIGHT RAIL FOR WHOM?

If I was a city councilor I would be very very concerned that such decisions are being called for before all submitters on this subject were fully explored. If I was media, I would be digging very very deep into this and asking why is this 'study' being rushed and at these levels of expenditure if it is not to ensure the decision parameters suit some options over others. If we are to internalise the benefits of any form of light rail/steel wheel decision we had better begin from first principles and evolve a needs based rather than an aspirational 'build it and they will come' design. Such a needs based "City Tram" proposal was submitted. Indeed, a rates neutral approach should be one of the design, build and expand criteria. The Christchurch City Council's hasty decision smacks of grift and electoral self interest.

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the Challenge of Reason

Send the signal to the top of the table.

In the civic dialog surrounding leadership for Christchurch being largely mediated by the hard copy editors of the forth estate, new media; the internet, is the natural vehicle for independent thinking, participation and coordination. (ie: see http://canterburyissues.org.nz/)

The 2007 local body elections Christchurch will 'mandate' a direction for the cities foreseable future from the collective fog of signals it sends in electing the head of the Council table.

Such is your mayoral vote. Your vote for reason is a vote for rating equity, for affordable and accessable services and for intergenerational equity; [and more].

If you wish to cast a vote that will deliver beyond 'business as usual' outcomes then consider;

The writer's 30 years of examination of our drug laws has evolved into a comprehensive, long-term effort to bring about meaningful reform of drug policy on many levels. The principal objectives of this effort are:

reductions in crime and public disorder; improvement of the public health; better protection of children; and wiser use of scarce public resources.

Are these worthy aspirations? Worthy of the future Mayor of Christchurch?

It was these very aspirations that sent Seattle drug policy law proponent Roger Goodman of the King County Bar Association to the Washington State Senate. Seattle, Our Sister City, is away ahead of us here in Canterbury, (despite Mayor Moore's 'Time to Talk').

I see my symbolic stand for Mayor as raising awareness of the uncivil consequences of drug prohibition and all that represents.

Send YOUR signal to the top of the table.

Vote Blair4Mayor.comraising awareness of the consequences of drug prohibition and just about everything else others are either (a) intellectualy bereft or (b) compromised by affiliation to discuss.

Time to Talk, Time to Vote.....

Blair Anderson, on the hustings 'canvassing for opinion'

Saturday, October 22, 2011