Anatomy of a news release: how stupid does COPE think we are?
As we approach the Vancouver civic election in November, the political parties are going to try to spin us, trick us, and, I'm guessing, even lie to us to get their candidates elected.
But I never expected them to assume we are as gullible as this news release below suggests. It came from the left-wing Coalition of Progressive Electors, which has an electoral alliance with Vision Vancouver.
COPE Reps say NPA has Head in the Sand on Tax Shift
COPE City Councillor Ellen Woodsworth and Parks Commissioner Loretta Woodcock once again are speaking out on the negative impacts of the tax shift on community services. Recent news that parks across the city are seeing garbage piling up and grass uncut is a reflection on the cuts to core services that have come as a result of shifting millions of dollars of taxes away from businesses say Woodcock and Woodsworth.
“Since the NPA introduced the tax shift in 2008, city services have been slashed by over $50 million dollars, and what we are seeing in our parks today is the result of that,” said Woodcock. “For the NPA to now be coming out and bemoaning the state of our parks strikes me as quite rich.”
Councillor Woodsworth highlighted the fact that Vancouver already enjoys the distinction of having the lowest business tax costs of 41 international cities according to KPMG and that the per capita municipal property taxes and municipal revenues in B.C. are much lower than Alberta, Quebec or Ontario. “It’s clear we’re in a race to the bottom, and if the NPA can’t seem to understand the link between city revenues and city services, then clearly they’re in the wrong line of work.”
COPE Councillors have consistently voted against the tax shift every time it has been debated precisely because they foresaw the devastating impacts it would have on city services.
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First off, the NPA isn't the only one to introduce the tax shift. Vision Vancouver introduced a tax shift in December 2009.
In 2010, the Straight reported that Vision was keeping the NPA tax shift.
"We do want to continue to make sure that our businesses, our small businesses, survive in this tough economic time," Vision councillor Raymond Louie said at the time. "Given that they have been suffering for the past couple of years, it’s thought to be prudent to continue.”
Maybe COPE should put out a second news release tomorrow with the following headline: "COPE Reps say Vision Vancouver has Head in the Sand on Tax Shift".
At least that way, the party would be sending out a consistent and believable message to voters.
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
Comments
14 Comments
Dave Pasin
Jul 11, 2011 at 2:13pm
Good Points Charlie
While the NPA wasn't without fault... goodness knows it has had its warts, the Vision Council and Park Board current have consistently reallocated resources to "pet" projects with nary a word from COPE.
Even in a recession, revenues should prove to be somewhat stable as taxes are still paid regardless of the economy.
The current group says not a peep as Councillor 'Carbon man" Cadman jets off to yet another environmental meeting.
Not a word on the state of parks, boulevards or fields till I and other NPA candidates listened to people and made a point regarding the state of our City.
Nary a peep as the Cityand this COPE and Vision Council created a problem of diverting traffic from the Knight Street Port entrance to streets such as Nanaimo and Renfrew.
I could go on but you get the point.
Hypocracy isn't just limited to the centre and right among us.
Sad part is the City is the poorer for it and we all lose.
James G
Jul 11, 2011 at 2:48pm
It is disturbing. It is as if one partner in an unhappy marriage cannot quite come to the point of criticizing the bad behavior of the spouse but instead can slam the identical behavior of the spouses best buddy.
Sven Crawson
Jul 11, 2011 at 2:49pm
Thank you, Charlie, for pointing out the insane hypocrisy of COPE. They are nothing more than shills for Vision, always misrepresenting the positions of others for their own political gain. COPE could have emerged as a true progressive voice at City Hall, but instead they have agreed to partner with the developer-friendly Vision party. Instead of being a voice of the people of Vancouver, they are now just the voice of Vision Vancouver.
Alvin Singh
Jul 11, 2011 at 3:03pm
Hi Charlie, Thanks for reporting so quickly on the release.
Just to clarify, the release pointed out the hypocrisy of NPA attacks on an underfunding park board. While we are all aware that Vision has continued to carry through the NPA policy, it has been the NPA representatives and candidates that are trying to score political points while ignoring the cause of our lack of funding.
COPE has consistently spoken out about the tax shift every single time it has occurred. And now we are all clearly seeing the impact of this policy.
I'm sorry you missed the point of the release, we'll try to be more clear in the future.
Alvin Singh
Executive Director, COPE
brent
Jul 11, 2011 at 3:10pm
The time to be concerned about the Park Board not having enough money to cut the grass is when the budget goes to Council. Where was NPA Park Board commissioner Ian Robertson when on December 2, 2010, Vancouver City Council held a special meeting on the budget? Not at City Hall
Bull Hupper
Jul 11, 2011 at 3:54pm
What I don't get is all the complaining about the grass not getting cut. It looks way better with high grasses and wildflowers in a few places than it does shaved down to boringness. I'll never get this idiotic notion of the perfect lawn. Letting it grow is better for the environment too. They are cutting the playing fields.
JamieLee
Jul 11, 2011 at 4:34pm
As someone who has consistantly been out at Park Board speaking against the Vision cuts, I find it ironic that until now we haven't heard from NPA candidates. Glad to know Dave that you are willing to speak up now about the cuts after the fact. This is really disappointing! While COPE can critisize the NPA why haven't they put out a release regarding the deep cuts Vision has made at Park board? And not to let COPE Commissioner Woodcock off the hook she did vote to support the privatization of the English Bay concession even though COPE campaigned against further privatization in our Parks. Regarding Commissioner Robertson, the Park Board did not have an opportunity to discuss the budget as a Board before Chairperson Jasper and Vice Chair Barnes took it to the Vision Council and let them set the Park Board budget. At a PB meeting a few days later Commissioner Robertson abstained from voting on the Vision budget as he said the process was flawed which it was. Commissioners Woodcock and Green Commissioner MacKinnon voted against the Vision budget which slashed and eliminated programs.
The fruits of a bad marriage...
Jul 11, 2011 at 7:25pm
This is where lesser of two evils ends, providing cover for the (putative) lesser evil whom you have embraced. This is typical COPE hypocrisy. Thanks for covering the dirty details of COPE's love pact with Vision Charlie.
Mark Fornataro
Jul 11, 2011 at 7:34pm
COPE was truly progressive when Harry Rankin was part of it. He must be spinning in his grave at what has happened since.
be serious
Jul 11, 2011 at 8:52pm
"While we are all aware that Vision has continued to carry through the NPA policy."
And that's precisely the point. Presented with an opportunity to differentiate itself from both the NPA and Vision, in critiquing the ongoing tax shifting policies that have led to the cuts, Cope-acting deferentially towards it's alliance partner- omits mention of Vision from it's news release. How undignified. The follies of junior partnership and self censorship.