Saturday, April 2, 2011

City Halls, Transparency and the Media

In a lesson that all City Halls could learn in their relationship with their local media, Kamloops Daily News Editor and former Kamloops Mayor Mel Rothenburger expresses his unhapiness with the City of Kamloops over the recent handling of a press release on a lawsuit between the City of Kamloops and YVR over rent at the Kamloops Airport

See here

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The sad thing is, is that Kerry Cook and her friends at City Hall will go "see everyone does it".
Did anyone contact Councillor Rathor or Barr as to why they were not quoted in the Moneysense magazine. Too funny how Kerry is trying to ride the wave of good deeds when it seems for the last two years Williams Lake has been regarded as a less then desirable community to live in. Maybe if they had of followed through on their Tourism efforts instead of sending her on a leadership course...talk about money wasted. Oh and by thy way I am not running for office or affiliated with anyone who is...I am just sick of the "high school"antics being dictated out of our City Hall's CEO office (Mayor's)

Steve Forseth said...

Thank you for your comment

Two things:

1)The City of WL Communications Officer informs me that all six City Councillors were contacted and only Councillors Laurie Walters, Sue Zacharias and Geoff Bourdon replied and consequently were quoted. However, the City's press release on the 2011 Moneysense poll did not state that they (Rathor, Barr and Herbert) were contacted but could not be reached as most press releases or media stories usually indicate so that leaves a impression with the public that "political games" are being played from the Mayor's office, who at miminum would be aware of all press releases being released from City Hall prior to be sent to all media and other persons on the City's email list

Also - I am presently trying to contact Councillors Tom Barr and Surinder Rathor. I have had no success to date. Councillor Rathor is in Calgary on a family matter however I hope to discuss this matter with Councillor Barr either on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday

When I get an answer either from Councillors Barr/Rathor - I'll be sure to post their answers here