Raise the Hammer

You raise exactly the point that I was aiming to raise today on Twitter, Andy.

For Councillor Whitehead to say something like this, in essence saying that staff are lying or incompetent, is at best bullying, and at worst defamation. Either way, it's completely unacceptable, and warrants a full investigation by the City.

The way that City staff are treated is complete bullspit. When they stand up and try to institute change based on data, facts and indeed the City's own plans (Rapid Ready, Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan etc etc etc.), they get run down in the media by pandering Councillors. I've worked positively with Terry in the past, and hope to continue that in the future, but for him to insult City staff in such a public way is completely inexcusable.

Can you imagine the backlash if senior City Staff came out and said "I've never believed for a moment that Councillors Whitehead and Collins would be swayed by data and evidence meticulously prepared by staff and consultants. They've made up their minds already, and they're just trying to do the best they can to ignore the data to justify their positions."? That's tantamount to what Whitehead said. It would be CHAOS. heads would roll, resignations would be demanded, it would, undoubtedly, be the end of that staffer's career.

But staff can't say those things in public. They can only do their best to defend their methodology, their work and the work of the consultants that the City hires in boring, bureaucratic language so as to avoid the wrath of the political representatives. It contributes to a risk and change averse culture at City Hall, and creates a toxic atmosphere where people are afraid of being bullied by Councillors. I sincerely hope that the city takes action against Councillor Whitehead, and that his council colleagues recognize the importance of creating a work environment at City Hall that fosters creativity and innovation, not fear and status quo.