Low-level sniping aimed at Clover Moore from Labor and Liberal Councillors erupted last night when the Lord Mayor tabled an un-announced Mayoral Minute decrying such politicking.
Let's hope all the councillors remember their first task is to represent us and manage the city. Most of the sniping so-far smacks of politics and has lacked much substance, but it seems to be getting to Clover. Her attack has only worsened the political dynamics, although its own political intention might have been to mitigate the criticisms by exposing them as political. Read the SMH story by clicking the headline.
A reader posted the comment below. My toes are still tappin'.
'Labor councillor Tony Pooley in todays Sydney Morning Herald has given a name to the Clover Moore team. Well done Tony and why had it not been thought of before. THE VILLAGE PEOPLE.
In the Council
Yes, you can just do what you please
In the Council
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the Council
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the Council, in the Council
Can't you see we need a hand
In the Council
Come on, protect the cityland
In the Council
Come on and join your fellow man
In the Council
Come on people, and make a stand
In the Council, in the Council, in the Council (in the Council) '
8 comments:
SMH.23 October
Plumbing the depths
It's been a tough week for Lord Mayor Clover Moore but her City of Sydney team saw the light side of their new nickname, the Village People. As a birthday surprise for Moore yesterday the four councillors dressed up and sang YMCA to their leader.
With Marcelle Hoff as the construction worker, Phillip Black the cowboy, John McInerney the policeman, and Robyn Kemmis the Indian chief, all Moore needed was the sequinned hard hat worn during the pop group's recent Sydney gig. It could come in useful, given the flak she is copping from her political opponents.
After tabling a mayoral minute at Monday's council meeting deploring the "party politics and deliberate activities that have been taking place to destabilise the council", she relished the chance later to have a crack at one person she thinks is in that club - Frank Sartor.
Thanks to a Dorothy Dixer from McInerney, Moore was able to chide the former lord mayor turned NSW Utilities Minister about extravagant water usage at his "pet" mayoral project, the Cook and Philip Park aquatic centre.
"Unfortunately, standard water reduction features such as dual-flush toilet systems were not installed as part of the original design," said Moore.
But the man Moore called the "Minister for Water" was unfazed, claiming he had instituted many water-saving changes before leaving the Town Hall. Sartor also denied being one of the destabilisers.
"Am I a busy minister, or have I got lots of idle time?" he asked. Sartor said his first year as lord mayor was one of massive leaks and unrest. His advice to Moore was to "just get over it" and "just get on with it". "We all want you to get to do a good job," he said.
SMH 22 October
She's not saying exactly how old she is, though we suspect it's about 59. However, Spike would like to extend a big happy birthday to Sydney's Lord Mayor and Member for Bligh, Clover Moore. So this seems as good a day as any to catalogue the many different hairdos worn by this fiercely independent campaigner over the years, hairdos we have come to love.
We're all familiar with her current jet black "spike", but not quite so recognisable is the flowing long bob seen here from the '80s. Moore is almost unrecognisable under the towering angry poodle perm she sported during her Finger Wharf protest days, although there is something vaguely familiar about the bank teller/flight attendant bouffant she paraded about town in the early '90s.
We asked her office if her Lordship would be doing anything special for her big day. "Nothing planned, just the usual 12-plus-hour day working flat out as mayor," came the response.
But all work and no play can make even toughest Lord Mayor a dull girl.
Herald 23 October:
Plumbing the depths
It's been a tough week for Lord Mayor Clover Moore but her City of Sydney team saw the light side of their new nickname, the Village People. As a birthday surprise for Moore yesterday the four councillors dressed up and sang YMCA to their leader.
With Marcelle Hoff as the construction worker, Phillip Black the cowboy, John McInerney the policeman, and Robyn Kemmis the Indian chief, all Moore needed was the sequinned hard hat worn during the pop group's recent Sydney gig. It could come in useful, given the flak she is copping from her political opponents.
After tabling a mayoral minute at Monday's council meeting deploring the "party politics and deliberate activities that have been taking place to destabilise the council", she relished the chance later to have a crack at one person she thinks is in that club - Frank Sartor.
Thanks to a Dorothy Dixer from McInerney, Moore was able to chide the former lord mayor turned NSW Utilities Minister about extravagant water usage at his "pet" mayoral project, the Cook and Philip Park aquatic centre.
"Unfortunately, standard water reduction features such as dual-flush toilet systems were not installed as part of the original design," said Moore.
But the man Moore called the "Minister for Water" was unfazed, claiming he had instituted many water-saving changes before leaving the Town Hall. Sartor also denied being one of the destabilisers.
"Am I a busy minister, or have I got lots of idle time?" he asked. Sartor said his first year as lord mayor was one of massive leaks and unrest. His advice to Moore was to "just get over it" and "just get on with it". "We all want you to get to do a good job," he said.
..........................................................................................................................
Just as we thought Cowboys and Indians. And how they make fools of themselves. These people are not serious. And from the council staff " it is a tragedy what is happening"
Smh 24.10.04
Moore takes aim at Sartor over attacks
By Angela Cuming
October 24, 2004
The Sun-Herald
A bitter war of words has erupted between Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and her predecessor Frank Sartor.
In an unprecedented attack on the former lord mayor, Cr Moore maintained the new Labor MP for Rockdale was behind recent attacks in the media over her reign at Town Hall.
And she sent this message to Premier Bob Carr's Minister for Energy and Utilities: "Frank Sartor should keep his nose out of Town Hall."
She was responding to weeks of vitriolic criticism on her tenure at the head of the City of Sydney.
"The so-called problems highlighted in the media over the past weeks have been fuelled by Frank Sartor, who is frustrated the deal he did with Macquarie Street to deliver Town Hall to the ALP fell through," she said in an exclusive interview with The Sun-Herald.
She said Mr Sartor had been promised a ministerial portfolio in the State Government in exchange for ensuring Michael Lee, Labor's lord mayoral candidate, won office.
The former minister in the Hawke/Keating government was publicly endorsed by Mr Sartor. The failure of the ALP's plan for Mr Lee - he has a council seat but failed to win the top spot - had given Mr Sartor a nasty serve of sour grapes, Cr Moore said.
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But an angry Mr Sartor called Cr Moore's claims "nonsense".
"For goodness sake, as if I have got time to be bothered with involving myself in Town Hall," he said.
"It is entirely fanciful to say my entry into State Parliament had anything to do with who would become mayor. In fact, the claim is complete rubbish. Clover is only starting to gain an idea of what it's like to govern a world city.
"Conspiracy theories will not help her out on this one."
Cr Moore has weathered weeks of attacks from past and present colleagues who say she's not up to the job.
The issue came to a head two weeks ago when council general manager Robert Domm quit after a public falling out with deputy mayor John McInerney over the South Sydney Development Corporation's future.
In leaked correspondence, Mr Domm cited a lack of support from Cr Moore and her team of independents as the reason for his departure.
Letters between the pair cast doubt on Cr Moore's explanation of Mr Domm's exit, which she said was for mainly personal reasons.
Many have questioned Cr Moore's ability to juggle the Town Hall role and her job as the state member for Bligh. But she refuses to give up either job. "I am not going anywhere," she said.
CLOVER: MY ACHIEVEMENTS
Clover Moore was elected Lord Mayor in March. A list from her office outlining her achievements in the past six months includes:
Graffiti covering the size of 170 tennis courts removed from the former South Sydney suburbs.
Purchase of the old Water Police site at Pyrmont Point for parkland.
Worked with Myer and David Jones to promote Sydney as Australia's fashion capital.
Introduced planning controls where all new major developments are required to include child-care places.
Extended funding for Sydney's programs for the homeless.
Introduced a policy to accelerate greening of the city.
Started negotiations with State Government for efficient public transport linking city "villages".
Every village has its idiot
Clover calls Sartor the “Minister for Water”. Well at least he is coming up with a solution (pun intended).
I voted for her in Bligh and for Lord Mayor. Now I can see the criticism that was levelled at her over the years is justified. One retailer I spoke to suggested that she has the skills of no more than a small village mayor. One hack suggested more likely a community centre receptionist. I am terribly disappointed and frankly I am sick to death with all her P.R releases about herself.
I am told that the Labour and Liberal side of politics are sniggering and will let her destroy parts of the city like she did Kings Cross to show up her incompetence. This is being done in the belief that the longer she remains the worse it will become. Carr will not act as it is far too early to do anything yet
Many have questioned Cr Moore's ability to juggle the Town Hall role and her job as the state member for Bligh. But she refuses to give up either job. "I am not going anywhere," she said.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH CLOVER - SHE IS GOING ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE.
"Clover calls Sartor the “Minister for Water”. Well at least he is coming up with a solution"
Yes she remains the biggest drip in the Town Hall.
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