The Public Record

[worldlyhaligonian]

New thread to gather objective data/information on individuals and organizations that have indirectly or directly affected housing starts in the HRM.

The purpose is to articulate effects of these, plausibly undemocratic/gerrymandered activities, on housing/development in Halifax.

[JET]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

New thread to gather objective data/information on individuals and organizations that have indirectly or directly affected housing starts in the HRM.

The purpose is to articulate effects of these, plausibly undemocratic/gerrymandered activities, on housing/development in Halifax.

So, we’re outing people now?

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by JET

So, we’re outing people now?

It would be useful to have a record. These things have been lost in the shuffle for almost 20 years on the forum.

[JET]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

New thread to gather objective data/information on individuals and organizations that have indirectly or directly affected housing starts in the HRM.

The purpose is to articulate effects of these, plausibly undemocratic/gerrymandered activities, on housing/development in Halifax.

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

It would be useful to have a record. These things have been lost in the shuffle for almost 20 years on the forum.

A record of?

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by JET

A record of?

For example, news articles that are currently spread across all the threads.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

It would be useful to have a record. These things have been lost in the shuffle for almost 20 years on the forum.

Useful for what?

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Useful for what?

Certainly it would be nice to have a summary of how each councilor has influenced various development projects, whether positive or negative, to remind or inform prior to the next municipal election.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Arrdeeharharharbour

Certainly it would be nice to have a summary of how each councilor has influenced various development projects, whether positive or negative, to remind or inform prior to the next municipal election.

I think this would be a good idea, but it doesn’t sound like what the OP is intending to accomplish.

Specifically, the thread title includes “most wanted”, which is popular lingo used in the process of rounding up criminals who are not in custody, for example.

Secondly, the post refers to gathering data and information on individuals and organizations, not discussing the performance records of our elected officials.

Then there is a standing accusation of undemocratic activity of these individuals/organizations, which sounds like a thread that’s open to false accusations and misinformation… a moderator’s nightmare, IMHO.

Just my opinion, as usual, but the whole thing feels a little cringey to me.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Arrdeeharharharbour

Certainly it would be nice to have a summary of how each councilor has influenced various development projects, whether positive or negative, to remind or inform prior to the next municipal election.

Yes, this would be of great value if publicized prior to the election, to inform voters of the sorry track record of many of the incumbents opposing developments and their culpability for the housing shortage. Their involvement in approving of HRM's many wasteful spending initiatives would also make for a good item for the public record.

I am less sure that a rogue's gallery of the Usual Suspects who oppose every building taller than 3 floors is of any particular value. Those people generally are only of importance to CBC Halifax and occasionally the Chronicle-Herald.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Useful for what?

Has anyone every stood in council and actually used data to describe how individuals/groups have somehow taken control of the system in various circumstances?...

Even to the extent that granted variances or new rules that were publicly decided upon are called "illegal"? That's not even an opinion, that has actually happened.

Some have even tried to refer to their previous status in government as somehow a point of influence!!!

[LikeCranes]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Useful for what?

To mount a campaign of deniable harrassment??

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by JET

So, we’re outing people now?

If it's people taking part in public activism such as expressing their views in public consultation sessions, mounting legal challenges, organizing petitions, or lobbying for/against certain policies or decisions then they're not being "outed". They're already out by participating in public life. It would only be outing people if it involved revealing private, particularly confidential, activity. People have a right to do all these things assuming that they're done legally and free of interest conflicts. But in a democracy we also have a right to transparency around anyone special interests influencing governments and the public decision-making process beyond confidential voting or surveys.

[JET]

I expect that a moderator could change the title of the thread. Who is/are our local mod(s)?
Mark and I would appreciate the effort.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by JET

I expect that a moderator could change the title of the thread. Who is/are our local mod(s)?
Mark and I would appreciate the effort.

I agree. Suggestions on titles?

[someone123]

Originally Posted by JET

I expect that a moderator could change the title of the thread. Who is/are our local mod(s)?
Mark and I would appreciate the effort.

For active mods in this section it's mostly me and Dmajackson.

We can rename the thread if people decide on something better. Not sure what it should be and what the content of this thread would be.

It's okay to collect public quotes from people (like short passages from news articles or municipal meeting records) but sharing private info or "doxing" are not allowed on SSP and that stuff will be deleted (please use the report function on the forum if you see it). It would be good to keep the focus on the ideas and not personalities, although I think there is a bit of an exception there for people who choose to become involved in politics. There's nothing wrong with respectfully criticizing the public positions of politicians or activists on issues relevant to the forum.

Not sure if they still do it but The Coast used to do councillor scorecards. It would be interesting to see something like that but from a development perspective.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by someone123

For active mods in this section it's mostly me and Dmajackson.

We can rename the thread if people decide on something better. Not sure what it should be and what the content of this thread would be.

It's okay to collect public quotes from people (like short passages from news articles or municipal meeting records) but sharing private info or "doxing" are not allowed on SSP and that stuff will be deleted (please use the report function on the forum if you see it). It would be good to keep the focus on the ideas and not personalities, although I think there is a bit of an exception there for people who choose to become involved in politics. There's nothing wrong with respectfully criticizing the public positions of politicians or activists on issues relevant to the forum.

Not sure if they still do it but The Coast used to do councillor scorecards. It would be interesting to see something like that but from a development perspective.

May I suggest "the usual suspects". Great movie BTW, but Its not just the usual anti development folks out there, its the lazy journalists that hide behind the tight deadline excuse to get that quote. The Local journalists should be reaching out to maybe Dave Jackson if he was willing to comment on the development situation and future. I know CBC reaches out to other interested Bloggers in the HRM such as they guys that run ShipFax and Halifax Shipping news. They are very informative without being too partisan.
Why does Waye Mason seem to be the only Halifax development voice out there.

[Keith P.]

It doesn’t take much to get certain groups of people worked up against development. Right now on FB Halifax Retales posted pictures of 4 murals that are going away with the impending demo and construction of new developments at Moffatt’s Pharmacy, Freak Lunchbox, the Blois Nickerson building (Skye) and one or two more that escape me. Personally I think they’re no great loss, having about as much artistic merit as a painting on velvet of dogs playing poker and not being a fan of building murals in general, but people seem to love them. Most seemed unaware of the development plans and so the outrage quotient is high. Questions like “Why are they tearing down the heritage buildings“, “We need to tear down the new towers instead”, “They’re destroying the city’s history “ etc seem to be among the nearly 100 comments so far, with nobody advocating any different viewpoints. It doesn’t take much to get a group of people all whipped up.

[someone123]

I like some of the murals but in the scheme of things they're not that expensive to replace or recreate and they were often meant to be temporary. To me it looks like the quality has gone up over time and a new mural is likely to be nicer than one from the 90's.

It's true there are a lot of bad takes and that probably shows to some degree what the median or lower percentiles of informed opinions are. There seems to be a kind of negative selection in some places like Reddit where there's pervasive negativity and vague unconstructive anti-capitalist sentiment. There is tons of complaining about developers without any acknowledgement of the constraints they work under.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by someone123

It's true there are a lot of bad takes and that probably shows to some degree what the median or lower percentiles of informed opinions are. There seems to be a kind of negative selection in some places like Reddit where there's pervasive negativity and vague unconstructive anti-capitalist sentiment. There is tons of complaining about developers without any acknowledgement of the constraints they work under.

The r/Halifax subreddit is an utter cesspool unfortunately and seems to be overrun with devotees of the Young Marxists and other left-wing extremist groups who seem down on most everything - businesses, landlords, developers, employers, politicians, you name it. The negativity is mind-numbing. Some seemingly are outraged that entry-level no-experience-required service jobs don’t pay 6 figures. The lack of sense on display is quite bizarre. It’s one thing to be young and clueless, but that place is next-level.

[OldDartmouthMark]

These are all very good reasons for avoiding reddit. At least that's why I don't go there... I feel that the negatives outweigh the positives. YMMV.