“Spring Fever”
the old man in the hat
A Saint John businessman recently ran afoul of the authorities while committing a public crime so horrendous that I shudder to repeat it here. He took his own gravel, his own equipment and his own time to perpetuate this monstrous affront to civil order. He filled in a pot hole. Several in fact. In front of his own business, no less. Oops!
Big brother was not amused. In Saint John it is totally against public policy to have level, un-potted roads. I had always suspected that this was official government policy (both municipal and provincial) and now we have the confirmation.
How else would we ever know that an election was forthcoming- if not for road repair- we would be in the dark. Pot holes are the truest representation of democracy. If you do not have them, you must be living in a banana republic!
What is even more amusing about the pot hole fiasco is that, with a straight face, the city has not only demanded removal of the objectionable material in the holes, but also decreed that it be done to a standard to be approved by the city. So, just to clarify- city personal are going to drive out to inspect that the recreated holes are suitably deep, and round, so that at a later date (see above for election timing) they can be filled in according to Hoyle.
Does anyone remember why Saint John is so screwed up? Must be the fluoride in the water. No, I guess they took that out. Perhaps it takes some time to wash out of the system!
In total journalistic fairness, the city has a small point. There are standards, and it is the responsibility of the city maintenance staff to repair the roads. It is the responsibility of the elected city officials to ensure the various services of local government are being supplied to the citizens in a timely manner. This, however, does not appear to happen in Saint John. Perhaps four year municipal electoral terms are too long. Pot holes get awfully deep in four years. Perhaps a recall mechanism should be put in place for bad government.
Whatever the solution, the political process in Saint John is totally tone deaf. Where is his councillor, standing by his constituents side, commiserating with his misfortune and pledging a speedy remedy to to dangers and damages posed by the gaping chasms in the road surface? Did not happen.
Public officials constantly bemoan the lack of public participation in municipal and provincial elections. The last several years have seen many communities unable to field a complete roster of candidates for their municipal election. Is there really any wonder? Do you think your representative, in general, represents your community’s best interests?
Do you think that the recently publicly disclosed agreements with the Irving forest group show that the government negotiated in your best interest? Do you think that the Energy East pipeline project is really going to benefit you? Have a look at the royalty scheme for the fracking folks. Good for them. Not so good for you.
I read a lot and I am sorry, I just cannot find anything factually substantive that supports the wildly optimistic benefits of these projects. Lots of sizzle, just no steak!
So until next time, take care. Whatever you do, do not fill in a pot hole, do not stop to move an impediment off the road way, and whatever you do, don’t call town hall- they are busy drafting the regulations on properly formed pot holes.
Further reading:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/pothole-vigilante-ordered-to-remove-gravel-could-face-fine-1.2636595
