I appreciate your blog as do many other people. My comments were not directed to you, but to those that lately want you to start filtering comments based on opposing view points.

What I find most disturbing are those that feel the need to tell others where they should go (as above) and those that post comments asking you to moderate your blog because of something they don’t like.

It’s your blog and I suspect if you have a problem with certain comments or people, you’ll email them directly or merely delete their post. There is simply no need for certain people here to call for mommy. The grown-ups here are not behaving like grown-ups lately.

Another behaviour that starts in childhood is the establishment of cliques. What I see when I read your comment section is that most who comment here are of similar opinion, except the occasional opposing viewpoint. There used to be healthy debate here, lately I just see cheerleaders.

One could ascertain that that means these people represent the opinion of the majority, however I highly doubt this. It is more likely a hijacking of your blog by supporters of a certain mindset, with intent to try and control the message in social media circles.

This is plainly obvious whenever there is a post on the Burrard Bridge. This is not limited to just your blog, but to the realm of Vancouver media in and out of the blogosphere.

It is the very same people who post ‘everywhere’ spreading their good word like a bunch of JW’s going door to door in the neighbourhood.

Give credit where credit is due, they do a good job of spreading their “good” word, but you should at least be able to see it for what it is and what your blog is becoming because of them.

You may welcome view points from both sides of the fence Frances, but as the time approaches where those who comment here are all of the same opinion, then you have become to the right of center what citycaucus is to the left of center.

Good day Frances. Time to go join my friends and brothers at the games today.

There’s nothing I find sadder and more disturbing than blogs that do nothing but promote conversations among the entirely like-minded. There are too many of those out there, promoting a world in which groups whip themselves into a frenzy of angry at “the evil others” and a sense of self-righteousness about their own opinions.

And, just to add to the debate, I do not find Just Plain Sad’s comments that outrageous. I have been hearing for at least three years now that Vancouver city hall has become a difficult place to recruit for because of the turmoil. It started in the last regime and, in spite of hopes that it would end with the new regime, it is continuing.

The loss of new, young, good people; the hiring freeze that has added to that loss of young people; the core review; and the sense of the ship being adrift are all factors.

In case people have lost track of the body count, it looks like this:

- Judy Rogers, City Manager – GONE
- Jody Andrews, Deputy City Manager – GONE
- Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Olympic Operations – GONE
- James Ridge, Deputy City Manager – GONE
- Kevin Ramsay, General Manager of Human Resources – GONE

This isn’t a murder mystery anymore, its a serial killing. In case you’re thinking ‘good, this is a case of gettting rid of the dead wood’, think again. Four of these five top managers in the City were in their positions for less than two years before the new regime took over. At least one, and probably two, were in their forties. Mr. Ramsay was tough on issues, but fair. He genuinely cared about this City and the people who chose to dedicate their careers to public service here. Those who squared off against him knew what to expect: he always reflected the interests of the taxpayer.

Up until last November, Vancouver was one of the best run cities on the planet. It has been ranked one of the most liveable cities on the global stage again and again. Top politicians and private and public sector executives from around the globe came here regularly to learn from Vancouver’s top team.

This carnage and bleeding out of the top talent at City Hall is beyond just plain said for Vancouver taxpayers. Where is the continuity of leadership? Where is the staff morale? What can it possibly feel like to work there now? Duck and cover. Keep a low profile. Stay out of the gun sites.

How much is Vancouver having to shell out for executive temination packages? For those who don’t know, Vancouver has a massive unfunded liability in terms of staff who have worked too hard to take their time off. This time off accrues year after year and must be paid out by law when an employee’s employment terminates. Now, this rapid rate of senior executive turnover turns unfunded liability into a cash flow problem, at a time when the new regime is making all sorts of noise about pinching pennies (sorry, no pun intended Ms. Ballem). Watch for the numbers next spring when the Courier does its annual salary report on City Hall. But add to that the costs of at least national recruitment for these executive positions. And program and customer service slippage. And international reputation damage. Will Vancouver continue to be one of the top empoyers in the country? Lets wait and see. Wouldn’t look too attractive to me if I were a young professional looking to start a career in public service.

This is a needless tragedy that is degrading Vancouver’s public service to an all-time low, and just doesn’t seem to be ending. Good luck to us all, and hang on to your cheque books.