Local body politics are supposed to be democratic, and what can be more democratic than the free and open contest of ideas? Free speech in other words. When we democratically elect our local body representatives we elect them to act as our voice for issues and to run the council’s budget prudently in a similar manner to how we run our own household budgets.
Wellington City Council is in the news this week for all the wrong reasons. Firstly for ignoring the democratic decision made by the majority of its councillors to choose the cheaper and best option long term for the Wellington Central Library and secondly for trying to gag some of its councillors.
City councillor Fleur Fitzsimons, who hold [sic] the council’s libraries portfolio, said she was surprised by the proposals given councillors had previously rejected the most expensive strengthening option.
stuff.co.nz/national/122144151/ratepayers-set-to-foot-the-bill-for-proposed-200-million-wellington-central-library-upgrade
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster has called in the lawyers in what is being seen as an attempt to hush councillors talking about the city’s library.
stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/122182198/wellington-mayor-uses-lawyers-in-attempt-to-hush-councillors-then-the-media
Wellington is the epicentre of New Zealand’s democracy. The accusation that Wellington Mayor Andy Foster is using legal means to try to gag councillors expressing views about the Wellington Central library is a very serious charge indeed.