Monday 23 December 2013

The City Hall (Blurred) Vision Quest - Part 1



That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all lessons history has to teach. Aldous Huxley said this - and he might have been speaking about Nelson.




First we had the bizarre claim of Nelson being the most artistic little place in the universe - even more artistic that Stratford, Ontario. That info: Nelson-supplied for a book by some American who never even came here. We earnestly and gratefully ran with this silliness for years - without even reading the book! At least this guy didn't charge.

Now we have another American - not having been to Nelson either - ready to sell us an identity for a hefty fee. Over the Internet. This would mean artificially superimposing a branding-whatever on Nelson to give it name-recognition as a sales-pitch.
Like: Nelson - President's Choice!

His support-team:
1. Joy Barrett, Cultural Development Officer
She says We realized that unless we have a unified creative vision, what we will be doing is a bit piecemeal. Actually things have been a lot piecemeal and without creative vision for some time: all artsy optics thus far exclusively generated by her Cultural Development Committee (CDC), with gobs of money already thrown at them by an oblivious, unquestioning Council.
Of interest here should be: Often those with the least money are the most creative.
If the CDC does not have a creative vision - there's no point to them; and an outsider coming-up with this vague identity-concept will not make them any more creative. Even more basic: Barrett and her group seemingly do not know the difference between identity and vision.




2. Drysdale & Mackenzie (D&M), Experts at Something
In their presentation to the Committee of the Whole (COW), Nov. 18 - among other examples of our to be unified wonderfulness - they listed the Hall St. redo - which hasn't even happened yet and may take many years to get off the ground and the Nelson Commons - a proposed totally generic, private condo-block - which may never get off the ground at all. They clearly are scrounging!

Not to forget that Mackenzie is married to Barrett - thus he getting part of the job and the 33.000 bucks through her City-Hall connect would clearly present a conflict of interests - no matter how Mr. Cormack spins it.

3. Kevin Cormack, City Manager
Mr. Cormack made himself spokesman for this project by initiating a CBC interview on the subject - being the only Nelson representative on that news-item. This is troubling because he seems to be directly using his position at City Hall to actively promote a non-official project. Troubling: if not legally - certainly ethically. And not part of his job-description.




4. Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
One can see how this group would be grateful for a new angle - any new angle - to sell the place. Seeing that they are in the unenviable position of having to come-up with ever new, inventive ways to sell the same, never-changing product.
So how about: Nelson - The New, Improved!
This group has yet to realize: you want more tourists - you need to offer more! Just a new label will not change the product! Suppose Mr. Star Trek provides a label, and a tourist asks how we got it, and we say: We bought it from an American who's never been here. 

5. Chamber of Commerce
For this group it's money and money only. So now they want to spend more taxpayers' money - they already are supported with it - to create more money for a special-interest group the average taxpayer does not benefit from.
A good one here would be: Nelson - For You Cheap!

6. As Captives Only: The Nelson Public
According to the Nelson Star: over 80% of comments - in the strongest response to any local issue in recent memory anyway - are against this to-be-taxpayer-funded walk to the bank by a few. In the Nelson Daily: voices against are equally strong!



Myopia
The above is my presentation to the so-called Committee of the Whole (COW), Dec. 16. Within 5 minutes. You see: City Council - elected by us to do for us - condescends to allow 15 minutes total per month for an audience with the same us. Or 5 minutes per person 3 tops, never more and timed down to the second, and if there are only 2 or if there's even just 1 - it's still 5 minutes only. An unavoidable routine to look accessible without being so. Usually with an unresponsive HELLO, COUNCIL!!! - thus a committee of the whole not really.
So my aim usually is to reach those sitting behind me in the audience more than Council sitting in front of me. Thinking that maybe some will realize that it's not just okay to tell Council what we think - but it's a necessity! What with Council forming its own exclusive Whole: little room there for those who got them there, campaign-promises and all.

Here - a single in-Council's-face voice from among the many against this GMOed identity-search gets 5 minutes to make their point.




Tunnel Vision
This time there is a response, and how telling it is! Councillor Kozak - magnanimously patronizing - straightens me right out. By telling me that the identity salesman in fact had been to Nelson 2 years ago or so - she isn't sure - and that this project connects with the Downtown & Waterfront Master Plan (DWMP).
This plan also largely created by an out-of-town group and Nelson's Holy Grail du jour. Something to hold on to! Something to make us feel something is happening! It's all part of the plan! Its first expression to be the unimpressive Hall St. redo - zillions of dollars and of little benefit to anyone.
The plan actually only suggests how to level some physical wrinkles - Botox them - it does not address economic considerations. Just smooth-talking the same old vibrant downtown. In essence: Baker Street. The rest of Nelson and its needs: secondary! Like waterfront-issues still not locked-in legally and for good: building-heights there, selling the lake, etc. What plan?




So here's Kozak: telling me that this identity-thing will bring new businesses and more tourists to Nelson. Thus more tax-revenue. In other words: Slap a label on it - they will come! Simple! Yet the more tax-revenue - the more money Council is throwing at non-essential feel-good bits with little economic benefit. While - at the same time - both tourism and downtown-business have leveled-off, have reached saturation under prevailing circumstances.

Visual Impairment
In the previous COW the initial public presentation of this identity-search seems curiously empty. D&M only mumble through a list of Nelson's visual assets of possible interest and the people who have been developing this idea for a while. How these assets can be bundled as an identity by these same people, and - voila! - Nelson is enticingly on the map for hordes of more tourists and relocators. No actual plan is proposed - or asked for by Council. They don't seem to need one! It will probably come down to consensus among the lot on one branding-phrase: baby-sat by Mr. American Star Trek ($12.000) and adherence to it supervised by D&M ($8.000 each) as identity-police. Plus $6.000 for incidentals like paperclips and community engagement. 33.000 to 34.000 smackeroos in total.
Why Mr. Star Trek? It seems he ingeniously branded Vulcan, Alberta Canada's Star Trek capitol. I can hardly wait....!



The Visionaries
At the end of this bloodless presentation: whatever it is (not!) - is referred to staff for further recommendations. At this point it's clear: this whole cliquish affair - cross-pollinating hither and yon - will move through "staff" without a hitch. After all - who is staff but the same people - and their satellites - involved in pushing the project.

Fake I.D.
City Hall does not have a vision (thus identity) of Nelson because it never learned to be an observer of itself while being a participant - at the same time. It never learned to develop a clear, focused, reasonable, logical, linear vision of/for possible growth-components/potential. Vaguely seeing a need for this, it over time engaged "consultants" to come-up with possible game-plans: always expensive and promptly not implemented because artificially imposed by outsiders who are not familiar with Nelson's mindscape.

 

The CDC - under Councillor Macdonald in charge of heritage, arts and culture - ironically is without creative vision: partly because of City Hall's lack of one and partly because it did not clarify basic creative principles towards an economic goal in its modus operandi. It has ideas - but little imagination; they sort-of work - but don't flower. And no constraints are imposed!

Vision Quest
A vision can't be bought! Observant, principled councilors - in their decision-making processes - expressing themselves individually and fearlessly in public; discussing their points of view with each other in public - and all with a common goal: the benefit of the greater Whole - will contribute to forming a vision. And this vision will eventually imprint itself on Nelson as - an identity.








Identity
For instant huge and lasting identity - guaranteed acknowledged nationwide - how about simply giving these $33.000 towards feeding, clothing, sheltering all Nelsonites in need!
NOW! 



Scene: Pierre et Gilles        

Thursday 12 December 2013

City Admins - Gotta Love 'Em!




MACLEAN'S

London, Ont. councillors honour themselves.
City councillors voted to give themselves Queen's Diamond Jubilee medals, leaving other worthy nominees empty-handed.
February 12, 2013



When the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals where introduced last year, they were meant to recognize the contributions and outstanding achievements of Canadians. However, the municipal government of London, Ont., named "the worst council ever" by one local paper, saw it as a chance to honour its own work. After the city's scandal-plagued Mayor Joe Fontana nominated all 14 members for the award, the councillors voted in an in-camera session late last year to give the medals to themselves, a move that only came to light last week.




There is more - but this is the heart of the matter, as reported by MACLEAN'S.

Comment to this story by Embarrassed__Again: You forgot to mention that Councillor Denise Brown nominated her teenage son because he volunteers.

Scandal-plagued: May 26, 2014 will be the first day of Mayor Fontana's trial. Accused of using taxpayers' money - while still a Liberal MP - to help pay for his son's wedding reception.







tourism London
C A N A D A  -  Can't Wait to See You!



I'll bet you can't!

Now - YOU got an identity!
A vision - not so much!



Ella & Pitr   

Thursday 5 December 2013

Commons Plan B: Through the Roof!



Suppose the condos won't happen this time around. Surely a shock to the system - yet if this hasn't been considered as a possibility from Day One: the dread learning-curve must be steep and painful by necessity.




Nelson Commons...
But with this one door closing another one opening thing - follow me through the one ajar now..... well, at least have a peek!

The store has to be built - irregardless like - so build it now and build it up to its ceiling/roof as planned; all lower regions like parking as planned. Keeping future development from the roof up in mind: structurally the roof so sound as to carry whatever development then. 
Or a song and dance now!

So now we have a large flat roof - and here comes the Nelson Commons. After all! Up on the roof!

With...
this space the cultural universe on which Deirdrie Lang got us hooked initially: a space for performances, demonstrations, presentations, classes, exhibits, dances, etc. Lots of etc! 
A multi-use space - its basic components, building-blocks allowing for easy reconfiguration: like staging, seating. Part of it under a trellis supporting quick-climbing flora like morning-glories as shelter from the sun, backdrop for performances. A light, simply attachable cover as shelter against sudden rain. A railing around the whole, with vertical posts part of it to support lighting/sound-systems. Strings of colorful theme/seasonal lanterns/lights - all around and across - always visible from a distance, inviting.
Different parts/services within this process sponsored by local businesses - not only because they are community-minded, but also because ultimately they will gain through increased activity downtown.

Right now...
a huge, most fantastic, brightly lit, visible and audible from afar Christmas (tree) extravaganza in its center. Different musical groups, choirs performing appropriate music - during the day and early evening until the store closes. Again - sponsored.
The Co-op hosting season-defined events: ski-swaps, a Christmas market.




And during the year...
Kootenay Co-op Radio using this space as venue to showcase local music of any kind - regularly scheduled. Theatrical performances. And dances - from swing over pop to whatever moves you! From teens to seniors - theme dances. Kids stuff. All done within regulation-time - not to frighten the horses.

Establishing traditions-to-become...
like in San Francisco this year the 71st annual rose-show was held again on Mother's Day, with - years ago - a blind person judging roses by their fragrance. We could have something(s) like it. Best-pie contests! Largest-squash contests! Anything-spring/summer/fall/winter contests! Theme-weeks! International-food days! Flea-markets!
Creative provincial/federal holiday-celebrations.

Think/imagine old-time commons-events!

And promoting well-being...
Qi Gong, Yoga, Pilates, meditation - on a rotating regular basis in the very early morning. Tourist drop-ins welcome. Chess, scrabble - you name it!

Together!
1.
The Co-op with its own and sponsored events; Selkirk and the KSA; the street-market people; youth/seniors groups; groups of various cultural backgrounds; performance groups; clubs.
2.
City Council coming to life this time around, taking a proactive interest. While keeping the Cultural Development Committee at careful arm's length - they tend to take over and don't bleed like only community-driven organizations can: running it on passion.
3.
Bringing the Columbia Basin Trust and other funding-sources into the mix for help with financing the physical construct of the Through the Roof! concept. A smaller, less formal, financially more easily doable performance-space than the Capitol. Primarily where to nudge and nurture emerging talent: a testing-ground. But not exclusively.

Private enterprise, community groups, City Hall, cultural-funding organizations co-operating on common ground. Can-do community-building!
On this scale, with this abundance: uniquely Nelson! Ideas communally expressed and celebrated creatively: identity!




Through the Roof!
Regular events are scheduled for the year to come - this info-as-a-whole made available far-and-wide by the area-tourism people and Visitor Center. A tourist-magnet - sorely needed to get them to come. Once here - we feed them culturally! In the evening too, when we currently have absolutely nothing going to keep them in town. 
Cultural tourists and cultural locals - a win-win!



Aside from the concept itself, ideas in this post are just sparks - taking it Through the Roof! is up to all of us!





Lanterns: Todd Slater 

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Public Office












                                                                                                                               











To some degree it matters who's in office, but it matters more how much pressure they're under from the public.

                                                 Noam Chomsky