The City and What It Gets Up To

Written by Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

What Counts

 

Some estimated numbers on events around Auckland over the weekend and last week.

  • Len Brown Stand Down Protest: peaked at 300 but was 50 people there by the end of the last speaker. Note of comparison the John Banks protest in 2002 where he got booed more that Len Brown did at the respective League matches attracted 2,000 if not more back then
  • Pride Parade: 50,000 being estimated
  • Unitary Plan submission count was 1,300 as of Monday 17th February and should be around 2,000 by now

What this does show is two things:

  1. There will be always animosity between the populace and the civic institution
  2. People get on with their lives and if so participate with the said civic institution

I will leave the rest up to your own interpretation but I do have little time when it comes to vexatious protesting and people start interfering with the legitimate business of the civic institution and who those who participate in it.

An example of those who though might not be “pro-Len” but put maturity and their communities first:

Orakei Local Board Chair Desley Simpson again rising to the occasion with maturity that is respected when it comes to our City politics:

From Facebook:
Desley Simpson
Yesterday
The heat of politics was potentially reduced yesterday with a cool ride in the back of the mayoral limo with HWTM…….( all puns intended) 
I have no doubt he now has a greater understanding of investment needed in Orakei particularly around transport and community facilities 
He supported them all – so let’s hope he follows true with the $

My reply was:
I do think some days there is simply not enough Desley Simpson to go around the rest of Auckland (as there is not enough Penny Hulses to go around Auckland either) with the fine advocacy both do – especially for Desley and her Orakei area and Penny with wider Auckland.

As for you now daily reminder – HAVE YOU SUBMITTED ON THE UNITARY PLAN YET?

Submissions close 5pm this Friday coming up. For a quick breakdown on what you could submit on, Shape Auckland have left some pointers behind at these posts:

  1. http://shapeauckland.co.nz/what-will-you-submit-on/
  2. http://shapeauckland.co.nz/what-will-you-submit-on-2/
  3. http://shapeauckland.co.nz/what-will-you-submit-on-3/
  4. http://shapeauckland.co.nz/what-will-you-submit-on-4/

 

My own submission has gone in and for those inclined can read it below