Brave our Burbs

Last week's Glen Eira Leader, thanks to Karma to burn for this:

Glen Eira councillors have asked the State Government for a pay rise, claiming that flooding, an ageing population and the Jewish community increase their workload.

The Government classifies councils - and sets their allowances - based on population and revenue, but Glen Eira's submission said there were "exceptional circumstances" that justified a higher classification.

If the Government agrees, allowances for councillors will jump $3,000 to $18,000 and from $46,500 to $57,500 for the Mayor.

The Council's submission said the Jewish community - in particular Holocaust survivors - presented additional challenges.

"There can be significant issues of security, anti-Semitic behaviour and community safety," the council said.

The Jewish community's attempts to develop new places of worship "produces tensions which need to be managed and a need for community leadership to be exercised", it said.

A population growth of about 300 people a year had placed pressure on Glen Eira's planning system, it said."

Wow.

Had no idea those elderly Jews were so much of a damn problem.

And was that a population growth of three hundred? Jesus. they should build the new detention centre there instead of Broadmeadows. Imagine the strain on infrastructure (Werribee gets annual growth of about 20,000, but that's ok, the newcomers don't all want inground swimming pools).

No guys, look a bit closer to home if you want to know who's putting pressure on your planning system.

It's a Glen Eira planner called Fatima, who has a reputation for being rude, an asshole and obstructive, and is loathed by real estate agents, architects and draftspeople far and wide, and was given a glowing reference by her former employers at another council because they couldn't wait to get rid of her.

Fatima told my mother - who is building a house in the area - in a meeting that she could arrange an interpreter, and blithely said "i thought you were deaf" when my mother challenged her on her stonewalling.

My mother has accented English, but she is not deaf, and in no way needs an interpreter, but she does need people who will be professional and answer her questions and treat her decently.

And once the house is built, we are going to town on this local govt Nazi. No point doing it earlier, because she has the power to fuck it up for all time.


Anyway, let's meet these guys who need a whopping 600 per cent payrise.



Oops - mustn't tar em all with the same brush - Mayor Margaret Esakoff only wants a 25% pay rise.

Isn't she gorgeous? Are you sure you're not a North Shore girl, dear? You sure have the attitude . Double Pay, perhaps?

Also from Jasper Ward ...

Bob "Mr 600 per cent" Bury

Jamie "Mr 600 per cent" Hyams

From Mackie Ward...



Peter "Honorable backbench member for Eltham" Goudge

Rachelle "Miss 600 per cent" Sapir (who is also a dab hand - allegedly - at tracking down other councillors' Centrelink benefits in her day job)

Veronika "Miss 600 per cent" Martens, founder of the sister city relationship with some town in Japan.

How come these guys never put their hands up to go to Timor?


and from Orrong Ward:

Alan "Mr 600 per cent" Grossbard

Dorothy "Mrs 600 per cent" Marwick (ironically, she was a member of the State Government waste advisory committee) and
Noel ""Let's step outside so I can beat you to a pulp" Erlich (his words to ratepayer association prez David Feldman at a council meeting last year)

Uh, may be if they're so worried about vandalism of Jewish places of worship, they should ask for the cops to get a pay rise?

Feel some Glen Eira rage coming on.

Wonder where these guy's stand on Howard's new IR laws?

Maybe they can back my bid for heritage protection of my award conditions.