As I said in my Welcome post, this blog was started in response to another blog, started by Saxon Harding. As you know, she then took it upon herself to put slips of paper in every owner's mailbox advertising it.
I read and kept up to date with it for a while, and while the garbage related comments were concerned, I didn't necessarily agree, but opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one and some are "innies" and some are "outies".
What drew my attention and my ire was when she started personal attacks against an individual, who was the President of the homeowners association. These attacks were unwarranted and continued, well beyond the scope of the garbage issue. Some of these posts were untrue, some were completely irrelevant to her concerns and quite frankly none of her business, just as it isn't yours or mine.
She also strayed away from the base issue of garbage preparation and brought up any and all complaints, whether real or manufactured to, in my opinion, slander the president in an attempt to advance her agenda.
It was then that I felt the need to weigh in with my own opinions and began responding to her posts, since after all she asked for feedback. Much to my chagrin, instead of engaging in an open dialogue, she picked which responses to publish, which were the ones that she could argue back. The ones that she had no argument for went unacknowledged.
She then allegedly felt threatened by a response to a blog, and shut the blog down.
After a week or so, she started back up all over again, adding the property manager to her vendetta (apparently it is a massive conspiracy), which you can now read at your leisure at http://costellogarbage.blogspot.com/.
What follows is my response to Ms. Harding's post about my comments where she chose to disect my response (hey at least she printed that one!) intersperse it with her own comments. (The blog was titled "A Leadership Role for Larry". I would have responded to her directly but what is the point? She wants to argue via the internet, I can do the same.
An Open Letter to Ms Harding:
So, you welcome comments and are ready to publish the ones that AGREE with your points, but shun those comments that do not. Once again, not very democratic.
You mentioned that you started your blog to make sure your opinion and the opinion of owners opposed to the garbage system could be heard.
You put notice in all owners' mailboxes (except one I assume) and solicited feedback. I find it quite astonishing that you thought you could post whatever you wanted on your blog about others in the neighborhood that are at times untrue and borderline defamation and slander, and not draw criticism for doing so!
You mention that you require people to be civil and respectful and claimed that I was not. Show me where anything I have said to you is any worse than what you had written on your blog about others. You find my remarks insulting and arrogant when all I did was argue with you about your points, disagree with your methods and in one instance point out a mathematical error that a 14 year old high school student would be able to figure out. It just so happened that pointing the error out destroyed one of your main issues of discontent. Do not preach civility to me, as it is clearly something you do not practice.
In another post you referred to "Power Trippers". What would you call your picking and choosing and editorializing? I wanted an open debate, but you, ma'am, shrugged me off with a statement "If I don't think it adds anything to the issues, I'll leave it out". I ask you, who is the one on the power trip?
In fact, I can't understand why the blog came up at all, since at the AGM a garbage committee was struck that was to address the issues you had brought up. That should have been the end of it. But the personal, petty attacks persisted and expanded to include thinly veiled shots at not just the President but all board members as well as property managers, with your "parallel universe" analogy. (A post I will address that post at another time).
It has me questioning exactly what your agenda is, and wondering how far you will go to execute it. It is clearly not a garbage issue any longer, and that is a result of your blog. So don't complain when it comes back at you with equal vigor.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Simple Mathematics & Rate Increases
This post deals with facts and figures so might be a little mundane but please bear with me...
By her own admission, Ms Harding states that when the garbage system preparation first started, two men were paid $20 (each) per week to clean the pads. That is a total of $40 per week. Multiply that by 52 weeks and that is a total of $2,080. This was in the year 2000.
Fast forward to 2009/2010, and the budgeted amount approved by the board is $60 per week ($3,120) plus a contingency for extra pickups that are required, for a total of $3,500 budgeted.
By her own admission, Ms Harding states that when the garbage system preparation first started, two men were paid $20 (each) per week to clean the pads. That is a total of $40 per week. Multiply that by 52 weeks and that is a total of $2,080. This was in the year 2000.
Fast forward to 2009/2010, and the budgeted amount approved by the board is $60 per week ($3,120) plus a contingency for extra pickups that are required, for a total of $3,500 budgeted.
Lets see....double the $2,080 and that would equal....hmmm....$4,160? That is a far cry from the $3,500 that is budgeted, and nowhere near double the amount paid in 2007 or 2008 (which the audited amounts were $2,746.00 and $2,709 respectively) or 2009 (unaudited).
If you use the $3,120 figure being the anticipated cost, that is an increase of 50% over 11 years, (or 4.55% per year on average).
Now put that aside for a moment while I throw a few facts and figures at you.
From the year 2000 to the year 2009 the following changes have taken place in the world:
*Minimum wage in Ontario has gone from $6.85 /hr to the current $9.50/hr (as of March 31st, 2009) - % INCREASE = 38.6%
*The consumer price index (CPI) for the 9 year period - INCREASE of 20.94%
*The average inflation rate over the period is 2.13%/year
* The average price of gas in Canada in 2000 was 71.5 cents per litre, in 2007 it was $1.01.8. - % INCREASE = 42.4%
So as you can see, costs for many items increase over time, not just for Costello Gardens garbage service.
And even other costs did not increase over time, the last time I checked we were in a free market economy, where service providers were free to charge what they want for their services, and if they want to increase the cost of the service, they have that option. If the increase is approved by those who receive the service, then the relationship continues. If not, then the relationship ends. Simple as that.
I know that the response to this statement will include the words "conflict of interest" and that issue will be addressed in a later posting.
This post is just an explanation of why the rates increase, and also proving once again the falsehood of Ms Harding's claims that the fees have almost doubled in the last two years.
Who else would step to the plate?
Ms Harding's biggest complaint in the beginning was the escalating fees for the service provided. She claims that the budget for the garbage preparation service has more than doubled in the past two years. (More on this claim in another posting to come later).
Perhaps she and her silent "supporters" should stop and think that maybe they were getting a bargain before, and that the current approved amount is more in line with what other people would charge for the service. We live in a free market economy, and service providers are free to charge what they want for the service.
One of Ms Harding's solutions is to find someone else to do it. Maybe we can find someone to volunteer to do it for free or a lot less. At any point I am sure the board would listen to proposals if it meant saving money. They don't have to go out and solicit offers, if someone wanted to do it for less all they would have to do is step up and offer. But I don't see anyone stepping to the plate to do that.
Lets face it, people have better things to do (jobs, family, etc.) than to worry about the garbage issue. As for the value, I think the service provided is well worth the $1 or so a week it costs me, regardless of what it did cost in the past. And I also don't care if it goes to Joe Blow down the street, the President of the Association, the President of the PTA or the President of the USA.
Perhaps she and her silent "supporters" should stop and think that maybe they were getting a bargain before, and that the current approved amount is more in line with what other people would charge for the service. We live in a free market economy, and service providers are free to charge what they want for the service.
One of Ms Harding's solutions is to find someone else to do it. Maybe we can find someone to volunteer to do it for free or a lot less. At any point I am sure the board would listen to proposals if it meant saving money. They don't have to go out and solicit offers, if someone wanted to do it for less all they would have to do is step up and offer. But I don't see anyone stepping to the plate to do that.
Lets face it, people have better things to do (jobs, family, etc.) than to worry about the garbage issue. As for the value, I think the service provided is well worth the $1 or so a week it costs me, regardless of what it did cost in the past. And I also don't care if it goes to Joe Blow down the street, the President of the Association, the President of the PTA or the President of the USA.
Required Service or "Cadillac Service"
Much of Ms Harding's argument stems from the fact that she asserts that the service is not required. She questions why we need to prepare garbage before pickup, and why not just clean it up after. She also wants surveys, email reminders, telephone calls and the like to remind owners when to put it out, what to put out and what is not acceptable to put out to be picked up.
She also suggested that people could "sign up" for these reminders. I would argue that people don't want to be bothered with that kind of nagging, friendly or not. Everyone receives a calender every year from the City with the dates on it, and what recycling day it is. The people who sign up for such services as Ms Harding proposes are not the ones who need it. People just want to get the garbage out, either Thursday night or Friday morning, and be done with it. Some people package it properly, others do not. Some put it out when they are supposed to, others are late. Some are a week early and don't put it out properly (as with the bed-frame and bookshelves that were put out Sunday this past week on one garbage pad). There has also been a bag (I can only assume containing dog poop) sitting on the patio stone where a garbage bin once stood, for at least 2 days (this being Wednesday). Whether we like it or not, people walk their animals through Costello Gardens who are not residents and they don't care about what happens. All I know for sure is that the bag would be in a garbage bin right now as opposed to sitting on the ground where animals (or children for that matter) can get into.
In the end, I personally don't care what other Associations do. I have driven down Monterey Dr. on a Saturday morning and seen firsthand the various messes that are left behind in many instances. Not always, but on many occasions. I also know darn well that a similar mess would sure as heck not have been found on Costello Gardens garbage pads in the past. Lo and behold, the first week of the hiatus from preparation, there were empty containers left behind on at least 2 of the 4 pads, and they remained there for more than a couple of days.
I was not living here before the preparation system was started and therefore I cannot attest to how it was, all I know is that since we have moved in to the neighborhood 2 years ago, the grounds have been mostly litter-free, and the garbage pads have been very clean. It was one of the things that attracted us to Costello Gardens in the first place.
She also suggested that people could "sign up" for these reminders. I would argue that people don't want to be bothered with that kind of nagging, friendly or not. Everyone receives a calender every year from the City with the dates on it, and what recycling day it is. The people who sign up for such services as Ms Harding proposes are not the ones who need it. People just want to get the garbage out, either Thursday night or Friday morning, and be done with it. Some people package it properly, others do not. Some put it out when they are supposed to, others are late. Some are a week early and don't put it out properly (as with the bed-frame and bookshelves that were put out Sunday this past week on one garbage pad). There has also been a bag (I can only assume containing dog poop) sitting on the patio stone where a garbage bin once stood, for at least 2 days (this being Wednesday). Whether we like it or not, people walk their animals through Costello Gardens who are not residents and they don't care about what happens. All I know for sure is that the bag would be in a garbage bin right now as opposed to sitting on the ground where animals (or children for that matter) can get into.
In the end, I personally don't care what other Associations do. I have driven down Monterey Dr. on a Saturday morning and seen firsthand the various messes that are left behind in many instances. Not always, but on many occasions. I also know darn well that a similar mess would sure as heck not have been found on Costello Gardens garbage pads in the past. Lo and behold, the first week of the hiatus from preparation, there were empty containers left behind on at least 2 of the 4 pads, and they remained there for more than a couple of days.
I was not living here before the preparation system was started and therefore I cannot attest to how it was, all I know is that since we have moved in to the neighborhood 2 years ago, the grounds have been mostly litter-free, and the garbage pads have been very clean. It was one of the things that attracted us to Costello Gardens in the first place.
Democracy
I agree with Ms Harding that the garbage issue should be solved democratically, however I disagree with her apparent views on what a democracy is.
First of all, I believe in freedom of speech, which is why I will post any comments about the issue I receive, whether they agree with my point of view or not. That is the ONLY way the issue can be solved. Let the stakeholders make an informed opinion by listening to all points of view, and don't force-feed one side of the story while ignoring other valid points if they do not promote or advance a certain agenda.
Secondly, the Board has been elected to make the decisions. Not every decision the board makes will satisfy all owners, but they have every right to make the decision, and they have the authority to do so. Owners should absolutely have a voice and be able to air their opinions, but in the end it is the board members who decide what is in the best interest of the Association as a whole.
I know some of the Board members personally and I would not expect anything to sway their opinion from what is best for the community.
First of all, I believe in freedom of speech, which is why I will post any comments about the issue I receive, whether they agree with my point of view or not. That is the ONLY way the issue can be solved. Let the stakeholders make an informed opinion by listening to all points of view, and don't force-feed one side of the story while ignoring other valid points if they do not promote or advance a certain agenda.
Secondly, the Board has been elected to make the decisions. Not every decision the board makes will satisfy all owners, but they have every right to make the decision, and they have the authority to do so. Owners should absolutely have a voice and be able to air their opinions, but in the end it is the board members who decide what is in the best interest of the Association as a whole.
I know some of the Board members personally and I would not expect anything to sway their opinion from what is best for the community.
What is the Real Issue?
For those of you who are new to the issue, or just haven't been following along over the last couple of months, a concerned resident started blogging on the Costello Garbage issue, and that blog can be found at http://costellogarbage.blogspot.com/. I urge you to read up on that if you haven't already, because a lot of what I will be discussion arises from that site.
Truth be told, the issue began as a garbage issue, with the blogger voicing an opinion. I have no problem with that, she just wanted to be heard.
The issue I have with her postings began with personal attacks upon another individual and accusations that she made against him that were classless, baseless and had nothing whatsoever to do with the issue of garbage removal at Costello Gardens. She brought up other issues that had no bearing on the garbage issue to try to further what I feel is a personal vendetta against an individual.
Unfortunately, the blogger discontinued blogging and removed all posts for a short period of time, before re-appearing with a new blog, under the same name. She left the original postings off the site, so a lot of the issues are not readable right now if you have not been following along since about early February.
Truth be told, the issue began as a garbage issue, with the blogger voicing an opinion. I have no problem with that, she just wanted to be heard.
The issue I have with her postings began with personal attacks upon another individual and accusations that she made against him that were classless, baseless and had nothing whatsoever to do with the issue of garbage removal at Costello Gardens. She brought up other issues that had no bearing on the garbage issue to try to further what I feel is a personal vendetta against an individual.
Unfortunately, the blogger discontinued blogging and removed all posts for a short period of time, before re-appearing with a new blog, under the same name. She left the original postings off the site, so a lot of the issues are not readable right now if you have not been following along since about early February.
Welcome!
Hello, and welcome to the new blog site that will examine the issue of garbage at Costello Gardens.
I started this blog out of frustration at my voice not being heard on another resident's blog, and the inability to get the individual to acknowledge opinions different from their own. I was also increasingly frustrated with half-truths, spinning of facts and outright lies coming from that blog.
I have a lot to say, and I will get to that over the next couple of days.
Unlike the other blog, I welcome an open dialogue, and any comments received will be published as written, not paraphrased by me in another blog posting. Feel free to comment anonymously if you do not want your identity revealed.
My blog postings will be my opinion only, and are not necessarily those of anyone else. Any comments received will not be my opinion, but those of the sender. Whether you agree or not with my opinion doesn't matter, I only want both sides of the issue revealed in an open dialogue so that the stakeholders can make an informed decision.
That being said, I will get to the heart of the matter and try not to be too long winded.
I started this blog out of frustration at my voice not being heard on another resident's blog, and the inability to get the individual to acknowledge opinions different from their own. I was also increasingly frustrated with half-truths, spinning of facts and outright lies coming from that blog.
I have a lot to say, and I will get to that over the next couple of days.
Unlike the other blog, I welcome an open dialogue, and any comments received will be published as written, not paraphrased by me in another blog posting. Feel free to comment anonymously if you do not want your identity revealed.
My blog postings will be my opinion only, and are not necessarily those of anyone else. Any comments received will not be my opinion, but those of the sender. Whether you agree or not with my opinion doesn't matter, I only want both sides of the issue revealed in an open dialogue so that the stakeholders can make an informed decision.
That being said, I will get to the heart of the matter and try not to be too long winded.
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