As Jordan Bateman continues his unobstructed TransLink bashing (part of a larger strategy outlined here), where are the defenders? Specifically, the board. There is a lot of high-powered talent sitting around that table, many familiar with the operations of large, complex organizations and the kind of talent needed to manage them (and what you have to pay to get them) – and yet, as far as I can tell, they have remained silent on issues such as executive compensation and operational efficiencies.
Perhaps they believe that the record speaks for itself, that the public, when surveyed, is on the whole pleased with TransLink’s performance, and that rational people understand that the attacks are unfair. I presume they think that when the time comes a few months before the referendum, they can mount an information campaign on the importance of transit funding, and the public will do the right thing.
Just like they did on the HST.
In the meantime, crickets. No one officially is responding to the attacks, even though the campaign has effectively started with Bateman’s op-ed in the Vancouver Sun.
No, that’s not quite right. There is someone.
A teenager.
Daryl Dela Cruz is a young Surrey guy, not quite 18, who has a passion for transit. I got an email from him a week ago:
It’s unfortunate that you’re right – I agree that taking a stance of pro-transit is something that now has to be defended for the sake of an anti-TransLink agenda pushed forward by … anti-tansit/TransLink advocates. The op-ed is interesting in that it brings forward a lot of numbers that might seem convincing at first read, but it is also evident that these numbers are spun in a way that might mislead the public …I’ve noticed this happening a lot, and I believe it may have even happened in one of the TransLink audits. …I’m going to be having a look at those numbers, and in the process I hope to build the first real, research-based defence of TransLink efficiency for readers in this Metro.
And by gosh, he did. You can find his first efforts here: Was TransLink audited correctly?
Some key points:
- TransLink is far more cost-efficient, in terms of provision of transit service per operating cost dollar, than both Toronto and Montreal.
- It is very questionable whether people are getting the right picture of TransLink as our transit provider.
- “Cost effectiveness” is fundamentally different from “cost efficiency”
- TransLink does have a cost-effectiveness problem, but the solution this is the opposite of what has been suggested by the anti-TransLink voice.
- By believing the doctrine of TransLink inefficiency and believing that the only way to solve the low cost-effectiveness of TransLink’s services is by rejecting funding for TransLink and voting “no” in the upcoming 2014 transit referendum, advocates like the CTF’s Jordan Bateman are taking an incorrect position in the “fund-transit-or-not” debate.
.
But really, why are we relying on a teenager and other young people (notably Paul Hillsdon and Nathan Pachal) to be putting out the ideas, making the case, mounting the defense and generally doing the job that we expect from the people appointed to boards, elected to office and hired to perform? Where are they?
In one respect I’m almost beginning to agree with Jordan Bateman.
Excellent commentary. Perhaps you can post the names of translink board members and we can shame them into speaking up:-)
I’d like to see a single member from the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation (or even all ten of them!) forgo the compensation they get for sitting on various private boards. It’s a darn site more than $500 per person per meeting, that’s for sure.
I think it’s important to separate out the decisions that Translink makes from general governance issues. Sure, board is out-of-touch and overly politicized, but that’s a different story.
http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Governance-and-Board/Board-of-Directors/Board-Members.aspx
Nancy Olewiler
Howard Nemtin
Robin Chakrabarti
Rick Christiaanse
Lorraine Cunningham
W John Dawson
Barry Forbes
Don Rose
Marcella Szel
Now that I’m retired, I’ve assumed a lot more freedom to speak out against Jordan’s items, at least on social media. The following, however, was sent directly to Harold Munro at the Sun upon seeing the latest pile of meadow muffins in the Friday Province and the Saturday Sun:
Hi Harold,
I cracked open the paper this morning, saw your item on page 2, and immediately grabbed my laptop to send this note.
First of all, here’s to a successful strategy. The Sun remains our ‘paper of record’ thanks to the core of fine writers like Vaughn Palmer, Douglas Todd, Don Cayo and, occasionally, yourself (plus others). Yet somehow, and I don’t want to be unkind, I noticed that the paper became ‘boring’. Of course, you can completely ignore the last comment because, as an old guy, I understand that I am no long anyone’s ‘prime demographic’.
But the message I really do want to send and that I hope resonates concerns the appearance of yet another op/ed from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in the Sun this morning. It’s the same one that appeared yesterday in The Province and one of a very large number from Jordan Bateman that your papers have published. Add on all of the material you’ve published from the Fraser Institute and Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the imbalance of views favouring the anti-government right wing is substantial and has left many of your readers convinced that the Sun and Province are all in the pockets of the people who can look after themselves and object to contributing anything to the common good.
They, and the somewhat shadowy groups they represent, have an agenda to ‘de-fund’ government and grossly manipulate information to do so. This agenda is damaging to the middle class, which relies on the services and facilities delivered by their collective contributions through taxes. Of course, they have no time for the poor.
In Mr. Bateman’s case, his relentless bashing of TransLink is particularly damaging because it sours the prospects of improving a system that by all standards (except his), has worked extremely well and, as four or five major audits and annual reviews by the likes of Standard & Poors and the Dominion Bond Rating Service, has proven itself to be well run. With the help of the Sun and Province, the CTF makes a lot of noise by picking fly poop out of pepper, but as Gord Price recently commented in his blog, this will only serve to damage the region in the long run. Mr. Bateman’s item today is so egregiously specious that I dare not start picking it apart.
There are many who are hoping that Fazil Mihlar’s departure might signal a return to at least more balanced representation. Jordan, Mark Milke and Laura Jones deserve to be heard, but surely there must be others who can offer alternate views and perhaps spark the kind of lively exchanges that readers might enjoy.
That’s my rant. Now back to the rest of the paper.
Ken
Aside:
Yes, woe is the fate of the middle-aged white man in Canada!
By the way: I did receive a response from Harold (below). In its own way it challenges someone to step forward and take Mr. Bateman on, and in the absence of anyone from my old company willing to do so, I will do my part.
Hi Ken,
Thanks for taking the time to write.
My goal is to build a newspaper and digital platforms that encourage conversation on the most important local issues facing the Lower Mainland. One piece of this puzzle is to present strong opinions on both sides of an issue. But it cannot end there. We must also provide in-depth reporting that gets at the “invisible” story, and trends here and elsewhere, to elevate the level of conversation and (hopefully) contribute to solutions.
This is what I think Sun readers want. Our research tells us that they are better informed and more community minded than the average Lower Mainland resident.
Oh…and one more thing: A group called Get Moving BC were very active advocates for comprehensive transportation investments a couple of years ago. One notable person on this group’s advisory committee said the following:
“Let’s not lose another generation to gridlock. Transportation is the most important public policy issue facing municipal leaders today, and what we do–or worse, don’t do–will have lasting effects on our children and grandchildren. We need more of everything in this region: roads, bridges, light rail, transit, cycling lanes, HOV lanes, and walking paths.”
…it was then-Langley Township councillor Jordan Bateman
Of course the Translink board should be advocating for transit funding, but they will inevitably be perceived by the public as biased. What’s really needed is the participation of high profile pro-transit people who are not seen as benefiting from a better transit funding model. We’ve already got Gordon, who else can step up to the plate?
It is worth to note that the board of directors is appointed by the Mayor’s council.
and their work, or lack of, is eventually following mayor’s council directive…
You will have also noticed that the most outspoken person at Translink, have never lasted long in the organization (former CEO or former VP Michael Shiffer among them)
and as raised by Sean, Translink voice is now so discredited, thanks to the successor of Ken Hardie, especially after the lies spread regarding the Compass card, that the organization has probably better to keep silent.
Support needs to come from other quarters:
An obvious candidate is Metro Vancouver (and more especially its recently created “board of Transportation” )
Requiring to have Translink to be put under the helm of Metro Vancouver (and remove many duplicate board, as mentioned above, and planning job in the process), is also a natural move which can be integrated in a referendum
Since long before I was born roads have gotten most of the attention and money. Drivers see that as the way things should be. They honestly believe that driving when and where they like is some sort of right bestowed upon all citizens. If the roads can’t handle peak traffic flows then they should be expanded until they can.
Anyone who dares to challenge those beliefs is playing with fire. Telling people they’re wrong is never a good way to attract support. Tell them their long held beliefs are wrong and they’ll actively fight against you. It doesn’t matter how logical your argument or how many facts you can produce to back it up. Belief trumps fact.
Tell people that traffic through the Massey Tunnel dropped and you’ll have users of the tunnel tell you otherwise. Even transit users are promoting the new bridge and rejecting calls for it to be subject to scrutiny or referendum. Self interest trumps the greater good.
In all aspects of life the status quo offers familiarity and instills fear of everything else.
These are but three of the many heads of the demon that must be defeated by pro-transit forces. It’s not an impossible task, but it won’t be easy to successfully take down even one.
To your question: why do we have to rely on teenagers like paul and nathan and daryl? Because they have the time! And of course, people like Ken Hardie who currently work for translink would be denounced as biased and undemocratic (appointed directors). So it’s a fight between teenagers and taxpayers (or at who they say they represent). It’s great to have a retired translink representative on board now. Maybe he can elaborate more.
But it won’t be enough. Where the decisions actually happen is a 3-4 hour trip and ferry ride away. A teenager has time, but compared to paid employees like Jordan whose full time job is to fight for taxpayers, the fight has already been lost.
Actually, I’m retired and could blissfully sail off into the sunset, but that’s not going to happen. As for Jordan, there are too many people ‘on’ to him, and while he is good at what he does, what he does is ultimately a bug speck on the windscreen of life ;o)
Time to organise television advertisements running during the news hour stating the facts, asking the questions like if a small city like Salt Lake City is currently building/expanding Lightrail, streetcars and Commuter Rail lines why is Vancouver moving backwards. And then there’s Los Angeles moving away from Motordom with Lightrail and Subway expansion through taxation.
Oh dear! Somebody has managed to get a peek inside the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation:
http://albertadiary.ca/2013/03/minuscule-canadian-taxpayers-federation-in-running-for-turfy-award.html
I have read sso many posts on the tokpic off the blogger lovers except this paragraph is in fact a pleasant article,
keep it up.