December 19, 2022
Mayoring by media release not on
An Auckland councillor says mayor Wayne Brown strategy of governing by media statement will lead to a dysfunctional council – and that won’t be good for the super city or its ratepayers.
The Manurewa – Papakura Ward’s Angela Dalton, says it’s fine for the mayor to raise issues that need a closer look – but a 30 percent voter turnout is not a mandate to dictate wholesale changes without proper independent advice and consultation.
She’s upset Mayor Brown’s proposed budget will scrap the Southern and Western Initiatives – which have social and economic goals.
“Supporting Maori and Pasifika business to grow, and also employment, ah many jobs for our people into the city-rail link – at hourly rates far and away above the living wage. And, these are life-changing things. Now there’s proposals that a lot of this work will cease.”
Angela Dalton says much of Mayor Brown’s budget demands run counter to the council’s own 10-year plan, and he doesn’t have the mandate to change six years of previously agreed council work.