http://www.hamiltoncatch.org/articles/art_0606/art_060609lister.htm
Quote
*No tender process:
*Secret negotiations:
*Delayed circulation of staff report:
*No prior circulation of the staff report to the public and media
*Secret debate of councillors
*Missing Formal Information
*Questionable notice of meeting
*Rushed decision-making process
The compliance auditor spent three pages of his report trying to unravel $4,000 in donations to Di Ianni apparently related to LIUNA.
There was $750 from the Labourers' International Union of North America, $250 from Local 837 of LIUNA, $750 from LIUNA Gardens Limited,
$750 from LIUNA Station (which was determined to be illegal), $750 from LIUNA Ontario Provincial District Council, and $750 from
LIUNA Contractors' Training Council (an organization that the auditor was unable to determine whether it was “appropriately constituted
and eligible to contribute to municipal election campaigns”.) Di Ianni got an additional $750 from Joe Mancinelli, an international vice-president
of LIUNA, and the spokesperson for all its local operations, and another $750 from Mancinelli's wife. Mancinelli subsequently co-chaired a fundraiser
at LIUNA Station to address Di Ianni's campaign deficit. LIUNA Local 837 provided $750 donations to five other members of city council in the
2003 election (Sam Merulla, Bill Kelly, Terry Whitehead, Tom Jackson and Chad Collins) and somewhat lesser amounts to two others
(Maria Pearson and Bernie Morelli). Those seven, plus Di Ianni cast 8 of the 12 votes that approved the Lister deal on May 9, 2005.
*Secret negotiations:
*Delayed circulation of staff report:
*No prior circulation of the staff report to the public and media
*Secret debate of councillors
*Missing Formal Information
*Questionable notice of meeting
*Rushed decision-making process
The compliance auditor spent three pages of his report trying to unravel $4,000 in donations to Di Ianni apparently related to LIUNA.
There was $750 from the Labourers' International Union of North America, $250 from Local 837 of LIUNA, $750 from LIUNA Gardens Limited,
$750 from LIUNA Station (which was determined to be illegal), $750 from LIUNA Ontario Provincial District Council, and $750 from
LIUNA Contractors' Training Council (an organization that the auditor was unable to determine whether it was “appropriately constituted
and eligible to contribute to municipal election campaigns”.) Di Ianni got an additional $750 from Joe Mancinelli, an international vice-president
of LIUNA, and the spokesperson for all its local operations, and another $750 from Mancinelli's wife. Mancinelli subsequently co-chaired a fundraiser
at LIUNA Station to address Di Ianni's campaign deficit. LIUNA Local 837 provided $750 donations to five other members of city council in the
2003 election (Sam Merulla, Bill Kelly, Terry Whitehead, Tom Jackson and Chad Collins) and somewhat lesser amounts to two others
(Maria Pearson and Bernie Morelli). Those seven, plus Di Ianni cast 8 of the 12 votes that approved the Lister deal on May 9, 2005.
Bought and paid for, a city claiming it’s in the tax payers interest. Di Ianni’s transparency, like the faded
Lister block woven in historical decay. A political cesspool founded on the backs of tax payers. Conflict
of interest blind the good will of this city. A city embedding their false hopes for future sustainability. A
concrete cow that produces no meaningfully return and image of an era past, re-polished as an emblem
that edifies yesterdays decay.
A city without foundation crumbling on it’s self, a city so concerned with it’s image as it’s leadership paints
a mirage with our hard earned dollars. A city of pride with the highest poverty rate, with a tax rates that
are suffocating growth, advocating, that this city is a great place to live amidst a history of un-sustainability.
In fact 32% of the work force, and rising, leaves this city daily to find meaningfully employment. Perhaps,
the Lister block should remain until a real plan of sustainability for this city is implemented and actualized,
as a reminder to City Hall.
What do you think...?
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ham_editor@yahoo.ca