RATINGS GUIDE:
$ to $$$$$ with $ being a leftist trougher and $$$$$ being small government dynamo
For some, however, a clown is more appropriate. More than one may be awarded.
Albert-Eden-Puketapapa Ward
Candidates – Council
Cathy Casey – City Vision
If rottweilers came from Scotland, that would be Cathy Casey. Without a doubt, the most cantankerous, choleric, crabby, communist councillor in Auckland.
She supports increasing social housing at the expense of open space (not a council responsibility).
Upon a statue of Lord Auckland ‘disappearing’ she criticised the naming of our city after him, calling it a case of “the old boys network at its best.”
Has long lobbied for the ban of private fireworks sales, driven by her dogged self-interest as a pet owner; something that has not impressed Chinese Aucklanders. Her wowser credentials are backed up by repeated attempts to stop Steve Crow’s Boobs on Bikes event.
She shows a flagrant disrespect for ratepayers with her support for the Living Wage campaign; funded by asset-rich, income-poor pensioners.
Casey is the liaison councillor for the Auckland Council Rainbow Panel because it seems homosexuals have homogenous needs other than sewage, rubbish, roads and water that can’t be met without special treatment by the council. Identity politics is a constant theme with Casey, who wants to “give a voice to diverse communities like refugees and migrants (excepting Chinese fireworks enthusiasts), rainbow communities, seniors, youth and people with disabilities. What she doesn’t understand is that there is no such thing as a ‘rainbow community’. It is a mishmash of increasing numbers of niche imaginary identitarian factions who fight each other for scraps of power and public funding.
Casey supported the targeted transport rate, as well as the enormous 9.9% rates increase imposed during Len Brown’s tenure.
Cathy Casey and City Vision championed a $6.5 million upgrade of the Mt. Albert village centre with Rocket Park being rendered an eyesore; scarcely used cycle lanes merged into the footpath and one business selling up, due to the decline caused by the ‘upgrade’. When the Chair of Auckland Transport admits it was “a job not well done,” you know it’s buggered.
Casey has stuck her nose into the Ihumatao mess, trying to stop the construction of 480 residences while backing the construction of Council-funded social housing on publicly owned parks.
Albert-Eden-Puketapapa, whatever you do. Don’t put Auckland through another 3 years of Casey.
Chris Fletcher – C&R Communities & and Residents $$
Fletcher has been a National MP, Mayor of Auckland City pre-amalgamation and Councillor of Albert-Eden since then. Having straddled the centre for the entirety of her career is the reason why she is often described as flakey. This flakiness is probably the secret to maintaining her Council seat in a very red part of Auckland.
Fletcher was the first MP for Epsom, formed in 1996, and became Minister of Local Government, Women’s Affairs and Cultural Affairs. She resigned in 1997, objecting to the proposed sale of the assets of the Auckland Regional Services Trust.
As Mayor of Auckland City, Fletcher oversaw the building of Britomart station and was a supporter of the City Rail Loop, currently under construction. She opposed the Eastern Transport Corridor which Mayor John Banks had proposed as a major motorway, with East Aucklanders paying the price ever since.
In 2013, C&R Deputy Leader George Wood split with Fletcher to run on a North Shore ticket and she rejected an approach by current running mate Mark Thomas to stand with her in Albert-Eden-Roskill. The CLR construction further fragmented C&R with Fletcher in favour, and George Wood and Dick Quax opposed. Fletcher referred to their views as “extreme.”
The costs of the CRL have rocketed which will surprise few, but Fletcher has lived up to her flakey reputation by opposing paying the extra $500 million Council share needed to cover the blowout.
On John Tamihere’s Mayoral campaign as his proposed Deputy Mayor, she has kept quiet as John Tamihere lobs one policy grenade after another. Some of them are amazing (selling Watercare and freezing rates), others kooky (heavy vehicle bans on the waterfront and a double-decker harbour bridge). The best she can do is say “I don’t always agree with John,” as she fears losing her red ward seat.
I guess Fletcher’s strongest asset is that she isn’t Cathy Casey.
Mark Graham – City Vision $
Cathy Casey has ditched prehistoric knobhead Peter Haynes as her running mate, replacing him with Mark Graham. My first interaction with Graham was this tweet…
Some careers have been re-born with the phrase “I’ve been thinking,” but they weren’t followed by “Our rates need to increase. I’m not sure by how much but they need to go up.”
He wants more of your money. He’s not sure why, or how much. He just wants it.
Surprisingly, for an Olympian, it’s difficult to find out much more about Mark though I just hope his business experience counts for something.
Mark Thomas – C&R Communities and Residents $$$$$
Mark’s political career has been somewhat unfortunate, starting with the knifing he got from Jim Bolger while running for Wellington Central as National’s candidate back in 96.
Thomas has correctly identified multiple debacles in the AEP ward, inflicted upon it by Cathy Casey and the leftist governing body. No doubt his day job leading a business solving international city problems makes him very well equipped for fixing these ones:
- Mt Albert village “upgrade”
- The $30m Chamberlain Park plan
- Unitary Plan problems
- The AEP ward congestion which threatens to reach crisis point if the Dominion Rd tram is inflicted upon them.
Mark did a stellar job on the Orakei Local Board. His decision to run for Mayor in 2016 was an unusual segue in local body politics, but he was certainly the best-qualified candidate in the race.
Council is where Mark Thomas belongs, once the crazy has been fumigated out of Cathy Casey’s spot.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: You have 2 votes in this FPP contest
Chris Fletcher – C&R Communities and Residents
Mark Thomas – C&R Communities and Residents