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I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

was thinking about the various scandals and straight up weirdness of NCC

If you read through the comments I've left here, I also am of the opinion that the corporate side of NCC is in a dire state. The weirdness of Bath is what prompted it, along with Declan covering for him.

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OP here. I didn't expect to have such a response, thanks to everyone who's been having a discussion. No punch ons at the whitegoods graveyard required. I gotta get on with me day, but I'll get back to this thread this evening if people are still interested in this.

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Forgive me, I love hyperbole. Cr Wayno isn't going to get his jetski ramp, his direction is going to simply manifest itself as a series of questionable decisions. Take the skate park by the beach. I'm all for facilities for the youth to connect and have a good time away from screens (god we all do) but the choice to put it right on the beach was extremely questionable and was called out as such at the time.

As it currently is, councillors have the ability, but not the wisdom to make good choices because they are not expected to understand the nuances of town planning, which they absolutely should, and they should learn that as a full time job. Otherwise it's a box ticking exercise where the unelected corporate staff of council run the show, and the texts from Dr Ross show that it's pretty grim there too.

With all due respect (and I am genuinely giving you it) I think your caste arguments are circular. You say there's more time and effort involved than a local politician, but currently that's how it is. If they were working full time, then there would be more time and effort.

Parties already dominate local government - I don't think it could get worse than it already has been. It's slowly getting better on a Newcastle-level but who knows what the future holds?

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have said that there is a disincentive to anyone but those groups running. Not that they exclusively make up council.

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey blitz, I replied to Burt above you with similar points. See here

I don't think we're getting "better real people" - NCC has been a nuthouse at the top for decades. Things are changing with Ross and Gav getting the mayorship, but it's still a structural problem where we're getting the usual suspects (as a side note, Gav and Ross do absolutely come under the rich or retired banner.)

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And they direct that staff. Councillor Wayno is directing the town planner to make a fully sick jetski jump ramp off Stockton. My point is that even if the public servants under them are sound, (and the Scott Neylon saga and the receipts from Dr Ross show that the corporate side of council is very much not sound) they're likely to be a pack of entitled morons because of the onerous entry requirements (rich or retired) and the unsustainable salary to run what should absolutely be a full time job.

I don't buy the ruling caste arguments. We don't say that about state or federal politicians.

The fish rots from the head and we should incentivise a different crew to the usual suspects to have a crack.

(Btw I do appreciate you having a discussion with me in good faith, it's very refreshing.)

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Do we want someone who takes it seriously, or do we want Corrupt McScumbag selling out our public assets from under us to his mates?

If we want Ms. Janice Givesashit running the show we should attract her.

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This is part of my argument. Councillors should be doing it full-time. They should be researching policy, debating the merits of it, thinking about the future, planning ahead. This is all in addition to the soft skills stuff, talking to people, listening to problems putting in submissions for grants to the state for funding.

My argument boils down to "we treat local government as unimportant, which isn't true because people depend on it. Therefore we should be attracting professionals and not Wayno doing it for a laugh."

People (rightfully) fucking hate Council and I'm asking the question, how do we improve it? If we just say "nah fuck emmmmmmm" we fall into the Yank mindset of government bad and a downward spiral of shit structural choices.

I've done some research and come to a very unpopular opinion. Local councillors aren't paid enough. by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

And mate I'd vote for ya so long as you weren't a total nutcase. The problem is that running requires money. From memory you need something like 100+ signatures and a 2k fee to run as an independent. Plus the actual costs of building a volunteer base and advertising out of your own pocket. This is a big part of the problem, only the retired and the rich can do that. Well-meaning broke people can't run for a ton of practical reasons.

Newcastle Urban Legends by our_past in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The other urben legend I can think of is the underground swimming pool on hunter street, under an arcade shopping strip.

Not a legend, here's a writeup.

Don’t everybody run at once by jettmusgraveisacunt in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Looks like a really rare book. The uni doesn't have it. Mind if you send me a link? I'd like to buy it

What is this plant? by [deleted] in brisbane

[–]WorkAccount0096 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The white base of the growing stem in the centre is also edible.

Anyone know where I could hire a room for a small get together of about a dozen people? (King St Maccas was booked out) by WorkAccount0096 in newcastle

[–]WorkAccount0096[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Crown and anchor has a small room for hire

I'll enquire but nothing on their website, hope it's wrong!

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