INFAMOUS CLAIMS and QUOTES
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PRICE - About Himself
In his Peninsula News Review poster-ads, Steve Price proclaims loudly:
‘COMPASSIONATE. PROGRESSIVE. PROVEN LEADERSHIP.’
COMPASSIONATE? ("showing sympathy and concern for others")
A history of disdain for residents, bullying behavior and countering any disagreement with outrageous, disparaging comments, frequently using his mayoral pulpit and the media to dismiss citizen’s legitimate views and facts as ‘misinformation’ and ‘propaganda’.
PROGRESSIVE? ("characterized by progress, making use of new ideas, findings, or opportunities")
Price failed abysmally to establish municipal rapport with North Saanich and Central Saanich, and actually WITHDREW from attending Tri-Municipal meetings for over a year!
Despite an overwhelming (67%) public majority VOTING 'YES' during the last election for an examination of the Pros & Cons of inter-Municipality Cooperation, Integration and/or Amalgamation, NOTHING WAS DONE IN 4 YEARS (other than 'writing a letter to the Provincial Government', which was NOT followed up)!
The failure of our Sidney and North Saanich Councils to conduct a cooperative JOINT EVALUATION of the combined social, infrastructure and safety impacts of the Gateway and Sandown projects is a disgrace, and the impacts will haunt us for years to come, like the COSTCO and Hwy-17 Overpass fiascos.
LEADERSHIP? ("the capacity to lead")
Our Price-led Council used every trick available to AVOID HAVING A 'PUBLIC ASSENT' VOTE on the Community Safety Building (CSB) borrowing, OBVIOUSLY SCARED of having to provide comprehensive information which would be subject to critical questioning in public.
Far too many issues dealt with 'IN CAMERA'! Good leaders don't need to hide from critical comment.
Under Price’s watch, the expected cost of the CSB has burgeoned from a 2015 estimate of ‘5 to 8 Million’ to the current $14.7 Million, and STILL COUNTING!!
When citizens asked for additional ‘public notification’ on a controversial development, Price said that it would ‘set a dangerous precedent’! The ‘dangerous precedent’ he himself has established is the consistent failure of Council to listen to the ‘voice of the people’.
The ’20-minute public participation’ limit at Council meetings is a joke, strictly applied to muzzle any potentially ‘negative comment’. The public is unaware that a simple Council motion could increase the amount of time available.
CONCLUSION ! ("the inferred proposition of inductive reasoning")
If Steve Price has ‘LEAD’ us anywhere, it‘s 'down the garden path’!
Given their history of disregarding and disparaging constituents, neither Price nor his cohorts deserve out trust or support.
Let’s vote for somebody that understands that they serve US, not the developers or the VAA!
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PRICE - Website : Himself & Council
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"Mayor Price and Council listen to our residents and act on their concerns"
I don't know where that whopper came from. Although I guess it COULD be read as 'we listen', then we go back to what we already agreed, and then we 'act' according to our original intent, regardless of their concerns!
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"(I) supported increased levels of communication and transparency between the community and Council: More than any other council since the incorporation of the Town of Sidney 50 years ago".
Must have been reading Aesop's Tales? Does NOT understand that 'communication (the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings)' involves more than the Mayor & Council telling us what they are going to do! Transparency? "Characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices." Another MIS-something?
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"Construction of the new Sidney Lions Food Bank, which serves Sidney
and the Saanich Peninsula."
"Development and construction of Lochside Park — one of Sidney’s waterfront gems"
"Revitalization of Seaport East Lands with successful new Distillery and Pub, adding vibrancy and new amenities to our waterfront"
"Reconstruction of Iroquois Park and a strong proponent of the Rotary water spray park
Amazing! I had believed that:
- the Food Bank was funded and built by the Sidney Lions,
- Lochside Waterfront Park was the brainchild of Don Amos (about 2009),
- Seaport Distillery was done by Marker, modifying an existing restaurant,
- Iroquois Park re-development was initiated by Larry Cross (about 2011),
but I must have been mistaken, it was Steve who did it all on his own, according to what he wrote in his '10 Years of Accomplishments'.
What I found extremely interesting is that NOWHERE in his '10 Years' is there any mention of his obvious support for GATEWAY, the sale of the Firehall + Parking site, or other contentious Council decisions over that period. Is he not proud of those?
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"Voted in support of additional development notification processes and opportunities for community members to address Council , including;
Public Participation at Committee of the Whole meetings."
Another example of wishful thinking? I would say that there are MANY people in this community that think that Council does everything it can to LIMIT the 'opportunity to address Council', particularly when 'the community' is clearly in opposition to what the Mayor & Council are proposing to do. Mayor Price probably thinks there are 'TOO MANY'!
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"​Negotiated for and voted to approve the new Community Safety Building’s lease on Victoria Airport Authority land for 65 years at a total cost of $65 dollars, providing vast savings for Sidney residents during the 65-year term."
More wishful thinking? The $1/yr lease was 'traded off' against a similar 'deal' for the VAA and Omicron on the much-disputed GATEWAY lands, so what we (Sidney) get with the one hand, we give away with the other! NO 'VAST SAVINGS'!!! Check out 'The CSB' page for what I think about the approval of the VAA land as the location for the new CSB.
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"MAYOR STEVE PRICE, A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY"
You can say THAT again!! FAR TOO MUCH BUILDING IN OUR COMMUNITY!
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​Successfully worked with the CRD to have solar lights installed on Lochside Trail at the Weiler Ave overpass to improve safety for our West Sidney residents"
I seem to remember that the 'Sidney-CRD cooperation' on this mini-project left something to be desired! Nevertheless, it WAS good for West Sidney residents.
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MAYOR PRICE'S VISION
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Quote : Price "is working to introduce the Regional Housing First Program with Capital Regional District and Provincial funding to build 2100 new rental units. These new rental units will be set at the shelter rate, with rent adjusted to income level, and below market rents. These units will be built over the next three years throughout the Capital Regional District at a cost of $400,000,000. This initiative will greatly assist our population of seniors that are at risk of homelessness or displacement."
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(Ref : RHFP Program : https://www.bchousing.org/partner-services/funding-opportunities-for-housing-partners/regional-housing-first-program )
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As the "current Chair of the CRD", one would think that Steve MIGHT get his facts right, but one would be wrong, just like Steve!
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The BC HOUSING website (Ref above) provides the following information:
BC Housing has made available $30 million
Matched by $30 million made available by the CRD/CRHD
The total $60 million in capital funding will be approved through the Regional Housing First Program (RHFP).
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The BC Govt has promised $355,000,000 over a number of years, but
the $355 Million and 2100 new units will be the TOTAL ACROSS BC.
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SO, IT IS JUST NOT TRUE THAT THE CRD + BC HOUSING WILL SPEND $400 MILLION AND/OR BUILD 2100 LOW RENTAL UNITS THROUGHOUT THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT, as claimed by Price in his VISION for Sidney!
NOR IS IT TRUE THAT "this initiative will greatly assist our population of seniors", as claimed by Price.
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Quote : A recent (CRD-RHFP) Community Plan provides guidance with respect to program targets and has identified the following population groups as priority for funding in this stream:
Indigenous people experiencing homelessness
Youth aged 16-25 experiencing homelessness
Women fleeing violence
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There is NO mention of 'Seniors in Sidney' as potential beneficiaries of the RHFP program. Another 'whopper' from the pen/mouth of Price!! Has he NO shame?
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QUOTES
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​Vibrant Victoria : 2014 : "Price says he aims to continue the work he started over the last three years. Price pledges to continue casting his council vote in common sense ways that defend the people and character of Sidney as the town grows and changes".
The way I see it, it is the 'people and character of Sidney' that need to be defended against what Price has been doing for the past 4 years!
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Price (PNR) : “I think I answer people’s questions clearly, concisely and honestly.”
I think NOT!
Price : "Protecting and enhancing Sidney’s spectacular waterfront and ‘small town charm’ will be a priority for me".
Pity he didn't tell us that the impact of his "priority" would be to destroy it!
Price : “We are working towards .. enhancing Beacon Wharf, along with adding a (new, Gulf Islands) passenger-only ferry service.”
We ARE?
Talk about hitting the ground running! Mayor Cross wasn’t even out of the hot-seat and Mayor-Elect Price was gung-ho to set up a Gulf Islands passenger ferry service!
David Howe (Southern Gulf Islands) ‘floated the idea’ earlier, but it sank. Frank Bourree (Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce) said “the business case may be a challenge”. Bill Elford (Gulf Islands Water Taxi) “ponders just how practical it might be” and predicted the need for “strong organization and big marketing dollars”, neither of which are Town of Sidney hallmarks. Alpine operates the Sidney Spit ferry during the busiest summer months, and a roundtrip of less than 10 Km costs $19 per passenger. Although doing a ‘milk-run’ on the proposed Sidney-Gulf Island 30+ Km runs might reduce costs, would anybody actually choose to take a multi-stop, multi-hour ferry trip which is certain to be more expensive, less comfortable, less frequent and less reliable than the existing BCF service? Will BC Transit be adding new stops and route-time to serve the ferry site?
BC Ferries already have the Transit connections, terminal facilities, vessels and staff in place, with established routes to and from Swartz Bay. BCF also receives significant BC government funding to underwrite those routes, yet Mayor Price deemed their service ‘expensive’. Did he not think before he spoke? Does he really believe that the Town of Sidney will be able to run a passenger service competing with BCF? Does he believe in the Tooth Fairy?
As far as being ‘an economic driver’ for Sidney is concerned, the number of new people actually staying and doing business in Sidney would likely be zero, other than unhappy Gulf Islanders 'stuck for the night' needing hotel rooms, so there is little real potential for ‘economic gain’. Just like the Anacortes ferry traffic, most riders would simply be passing through.
On the downside, this proposal would have resulted in “unforeseen consequences”, such as exacerbating existing parking problems in the waterfront area. It is pretty easy to envisage regular Gulf Island business commuters leaving vehicles parked in Sidney ‘overnight’ (or longer over the weekend) for use next business morning.
The 'proposal' certainly raised the question as to whether Sidney would have sound and fiscally responsible judgement at the helm for the next 4 years, and we have seen how THAT panned out!
I said at the time that Price and his Council should forget about subsidising an unnecessary ferry service for non-residents and concentrate their and Town staff efforts on reviewing operational cost effectiveness and resolving known problems in the best interests of their residential and business taxpayers.
Price : "Continued prudent fiscal management is critical to both our residents and business community.”
CSB COSTS out of control? NOT 'prudent' enough!
Price : Actually claimed that he would “contribute to people’s enjoyment in living, working and playing in Sidney …. by providing greater opportunity for public consultation and input, and exercising responsible fiscal management”. !!!
Reality? Public consultation and input WAS CONSISTENTLY IGNORED!
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Mayor Steve Price said "the (GATEWAY) development will bring millions of dollars in new public infrastructure, hundreds of new jobs and tax revenue.
I think this is going to be the start of an economic renaissance in Sidney"
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I'm familar with the term 'renaissance' being used with respect to the 'revival of art and literature', not the building of strip-mall shopping centres!
People with better credentials the I seem to believe that we are more likely to see an 'economic disaster' in downtown Sidney.
What 'new public infrastructure' is he talking about, the pedestrian crossing that may, or may not, be built?
Lots of 'new (low pay, part-time, 'service') jobs' for people that can't afford to live here anyway?
Since GATEWAY is on VAA land, will we really see 'millions of dollars' of tax revenue?
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About Residents
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Steve Price has REPEATEDLY made unfounded assertions about 'groups of people out to get him' and publicly inferred that the residents of Sidney were not intelligent enough to be trusted to make the right decisions.
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Price : “Richard Talbot and his organization continue on with their campaign of negativity and fear.”
Maybe that's because they have GOOD REASON to feel that way?
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About the Firehall Site Development
Price stated in his response to McNeil-Smith's suggestion that 'there can be a more ideal development' for the community, that McNeil-Smith would be "loose with the residents' money."
That's a really great example of the 'pot calling the kettle black', and if I were Cliff, I'd be demanding a retraction!
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Talking about his fellow Council members, Price said “It’s nice that some people around the table here are prepared to roll the dice with the Town’s financial health. I’m not”.
I really do wish that Steve had had that attitude when he voted for the NEW CSB location and expenditures!
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Price : Talking about the current Firehall Site decision : “If you’re that loose with residents’ money, you should not be a councillor. Period.”
Maybe he should consider standing down in the light of the CSB costs escalation fiasco which has contributed massively to putting Sidney in the position that they HAD to sell both the Firehall and our public parking site to get out of the hole that HE and his Council dug us into?
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Price talked about “developing town-owned land to make the municipality a better place to live”.
Which development was that Steve? Not much 'town-owned land' going to be left after we have to sell it all to pay our debts?
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When citizens asked for additional ‘public notification’ on a controversial development, Price said that it would ‘set a dangerous precedent’!
Really Steve? Giving your tax-paying public more information 'sets a dangerous precedent'? The 'dangerous precedent' which HAS been set is Council's aggressive attitude toward citizens that ask questions they don't want to answer!
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Sidney Mayor Steve Price said “the amalgamation question was just recently addressed by the (CISGI) report released by the provincial government which showed that on the Peninsula, we already are heavily integrated in regards to water, sewer, recreation, police, library, to name a few.”
Sadly, the CISGI study commissioned by the Province had a VERY LIMITED SCOPE, and certainly DID NOT "address the amalgamation question" with respect to the Saanich Peninsula! “There’s been a lack of leadership on this issue,” North Saanich Councillor Weisenberger said, adding the CISGI report “didn’t answer the questions the electorate wanted them to.”
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Price : “As you know study after study has shown that amalgamation increases costs and reduces the level of service and local autonomy which is not what our residents have asked for.”
And which particular set of studies WAS that Steve? Could the people that produced them possibly have had a conflict of interest in the outcome?
I thought what 67% of the area residents HAD ASKED FOR was for the Peninsula Municipalities TO DO THAT STUDY?
It must be that illusive 'silent majority' that convinced Steve to ignore what 67% voted for!
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Price : "Sidney’s policing costs, if amalgamated with others in the region, would in all likelihood be substantially higher. I don’t believe our residents would appreciate that. We are not seeking any more studies on amalgamation, nor is the provincial government.”
And which LEARNED BODY are we quoting here Steve, or is it just your personal opinion again?
Anyway, why not let the RESIDENTS decide if they would 'appreciate' whatever the real situation would be?
And who are the WE 'not seeking any more studies on Amalgamation'?
DID THEY FORGET THE '67% WE', THAT LIVE HERE AND PAY THE TAXES, WHO SAID 'YES' TO THE REFERENDUM, AND HAVE YET TO SEE ANY REAL 'PROGRESS' ON THAT FRONT?
And did 'WE' consider that for the money we pay, we ALL might get DIFFERENT, BETTER area policing, answerable to our own LOCAL authority?
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Cam McLennan : "It was clear when I was elected in 2014, that residents felt there was not enough transparency, and a general lack of information available to the residents with regard to Town of Sidney operations."
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It is equally clear that Cam did not understand that increasing the ways that Sidney Council tell us while they THEY think and ignore what WE think doesn't solve the problem.
Like his mentor, Price, his list of 'Accomplishments' is devoid of references to GATEWAY, the sale of the Firehall + Parking sites, and a host of other 'yes votes' that he supported enthusiastically over the anguished cries of the citizens. Their 'lists' are pretty much word-for-word, except that Cam doesn't seem to claim that he did it all on his own.
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Steve Weller : "People should have their voices heard and they should never feel like the Mayor or Council are out of their reach."
Price : "That Steve Weller guy is quite impressive, I do say !"
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Says it all, doesn't it? Has Weller ever seen Price 'in action'?
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Steve Weller - Post election : “Well I had 6 doctors all lined up to move to Sidney but when I told them I had not been elected they moved to Nanaimo”!
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Can you send us their names Steve$ Cliff may be more persuasive!
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