Why Len Brown never got this pensioner’s vote
COMMENTARY
A pensioner who thought he was doing his civic duty by telling an Auckland parking warden a pay-and-display machine was out of order won’t bother next time.
After going out of his way walking up the street on Saturday to tell the warden his coins went straight through machine 6220, in O'Connell St, our man was astonished to get a response which went like this:
“Well, you can go and look for another park … you can drive around and find another one… ”
When told there was no other park in the street, where our man wanted to do a few minutes of central city shopping, the unflinching warden – slapping a ticket on another car – repeated his “go and look for another park” command…
By now wondering if he should have kept his mouth shut, our man told the warden he was doing his civic duty by letting him know the damned machine was not working and it might be worth reporting.
“You’re just trying to get free parking,” came the response.
“F*** you…” said our man.
Just another reason why folk with money to spend avoid central Auckland.
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Comments and questions14
What has this got to do with Len Brown?
The buck always stops with the man...unless you think someone else is really in charge?
Considering the rates CBD businesses pay and the even higher rort that is Watercare adding to any busines overhead, at what point do you have to say the city clearly dosn't care. Maybe if council employees were clearly told that they are public servants and their job was on the line if proved otherwise.
Whats this got to do with Len Brown - get real
In short.......everything. And that goes for the town clerk and the city treasurer too. They set the values, tone, duties and responsibilities.....like any other management committee.....which they pretend to be around salary time.
Of course, when you can park at the malls, yes, why bother with Auckland CBD.
The parking nazis are killing the CBD.
Queen Street should be a mecca for shops but is largely dominated by tourist tatt.
I much prefer to shop at Newmarket or Albany.
Thus, thanks to council policies, the CBD dies.
I gave up spending my money in Auckland CBD when Christine Fletcher was Mayor over just the same kind of parking stupidity and I haven't spent a dime there since.
I also lived in Auckland for 13 years and after an early similar experience with the CBD parking enforcement - when I had just spent $1300 - never ever shopped there again. Just vote with your feet and let them die alone.
It's easy to say walk with your feet but the CBD retailers have no control over this poor service from wardens so why should they suffer from an exodus of customers?
Simple answer - get vocal, create an unholy loud stink, Learn a lesson from the Europeans and Asians if need be and hound the council scum off the streets by threats and standover tactics. Make the guys who are chasing away your customers lives miserable while they are trawling your patch. Trouble with koiwois is there is far too much she'll be right and on issues that really matter not enough civil disobedience.
Yes they do; they fund Heart of The City millions ever year. Just pay some bikini glad chics to go around topping up parking meters...not a new idea other towns have done it
As the man says, take control. Or die impotent.
Len and the rest of the Clown Council will be thrown out next election. It will be a case of 'anyone but Len and the rest of them". That still doesnt solve the problem of McKay and McKenzie who are the real power behind the throne. Both legends in their own lunch times looking to stuff AK big time
I'm picking the problem with Len is his need to get every dollar he can to build all the wasteful monuments to himself. Is there no potential mayor out there who thinks council should stick to core infrastructure and keep out of the other stuff that should all be user pays?