Vote Crist out of office (ban together)

[Cucumber Jones]

I think that most of us are missing the most important part of this war we are fighting. Crist is elected to represent us. I am a 34 year old tax paying North Van resident. He is paid by us to represent our needs, concerns and interests. I keep hearing that he cannot be removed from his position. We can ban together and vote him out when the time comes. I know that many of you are not old enough to vote – but your parents are. If we all get together and talk to our friends, family and neighbors who vote in North Van we can get him removed. It is not just us who he has harmed with his bizarre initiatives. I believe that he was in involved with trying to get movie filming banned from the shore if the movie had any violence. Every one of my neighbors who I talk too have had confrontations with him in the past. If we work together we can have him removed from his position. I am a resident of North Van and he is not representing my interests.

Another rant: I live in Deep Cove very near Panorama Park also very near the entrance to the Baden Powel (Corey Rock part of the trail). On a Saturday there may be up to 1,000 hikers on this trail who never do trail maintenance. They park all over my block and many of their dogs crap in front of my house. Not to mention they let the dogs run the trail off the leash. I put up with this because this is what you need to expect when you live near a PUBLIC recreation area. We should consider ourselves lucky to live in such a beautiful place. We should not get public servants revved up about useless issues that cost us more money then they are worth.

I know that I will be talking to everyone I know and encourage them to vote Crist out of office. This is my right as a tax paying resident.

[REM]

I plan to do the same. It will also be helpful for NSMBA/NSMB to actually endorse or recommend candidates that are pro-recreation, or at least not complete kooks. I am sure that if enough riders spread the word to their familys, friends and neighbours, we can get a city council that better reflects our needs. Municipal elections also tend to have low turn outs, so if the community can get together to get people out to vote it should make a big difference.

[CraigH]

A reminder from the last municiple election for DNV.

http://www.nsmb.com/shore_news/election_11_04.php

http://www.nsmb.com/shore_news/byelection_11_04.php

[BrianPark]

Do you mean banD together?

[AnTi-TrAiL_nAzI]

i know this is a stupid question.. but do you have to be a resident of north vancouver to vote?

[michelin man]

yes ryan

[michelin man]

also you need to be 18 both of which u are not lol

[AnTi-TrAiL_nAzI]

i know you have to be 18.. i was thinking parents..

[Duncan]

Originally posted by Cucumber Jones
I know that I will be talking to everyone I know and encourage them to vote Crist out of office. This is my right as a tax paying resident.

Just out of curiosity, have you voted in past municipal elections in the District? "Voting someone out of office" isn't really an option. You have a long list of candidates (grouped according to whether they are running for mayor, councillers, school board trustees plus bylaw referendums etc). You then have to choose a fixed number of candidates from the list for each postion. You can encourage people not to vote for someone, but that probably won't do much good either, unless a lot of people are encouraged to not vote for someone AND put down votes for another particular candidate. Otherwise their votes will be split among lesser candidates. This is especially true for a strong candidate like Ernie Crist. In municipal politics, Name Recognition rules, and Ernie has that in spades (anyone care to ask why?). You would probably also need to convince a lot of people to back a strong challenger to Crist. I don't think Ernie will be worrying about that in the next election ... but I hope I'm wrong. D.

[Duncan]

Originally posted by REM
I plan to do the same. It will also be helpful for NSMBA/NSMB to actually endorse or recommend candidates that are pro-recreation, or at least not complete kooks.

Why do you need someone else to tell you who to vote for? You should do your own homework and find out who stands for what ... election day is Saturday, Nov 19. D.

[Wayne P]

The shitty deal about Ernie's situation is "bad publicity is good publicity". If enough dumb people keep hearing his name, it gets stuck in their collective minds. Then when voting time comes...voila! Ernie's back and there's gonna be trouble.

[DaveM]

Originally posted by REM
I plan to do the same. It will also be helpful for NSMBA/NSMB to actually endorse or recommend candidates that are pro-recreation, or at least not complete kooks.

Wasn't this done at the last election? I recall listening to a bunch of candidates at the NSMBA annual general meeting, and a review of them posted on the front page here at NSMB.com. Anyone who is an NSMBA member should have known all about it.

[Smoke]

That was a byelection for the mayors seat left vacant by the old mayor moving up to a legislative seat (and 1 councillor seat). Just a little warm up for the main event coming soon.....

[pwrslm]

These are the last election results (http://www.dnv.org/election/results.asp?ElectionID=2)
since Harris is now mayor Crist is the most popular candidate, all the other candidates need more votes than him to get him out. Not impossible, but it would take a lot of organization and publicity, and the publicity may backfire and just make more people recognise Crist.

[bygdaug]

Originally posted by pwrslm
These are the last election results (http://www.dnv.org/election/results.asp?ElectionID=2)
since Harris is now mayor Crist is the most popular candidate, all the other candidates need more votes than him to get him out. Not impossible, but it would take a lot of organization and publicity, and the publicity may backfire and just make more people recognise Crist.

It would appear that making sure Christ gets 900 votes less in your next election is all you're going to have to do. How many members from NSMBA voted in the last election? Those who weren't old enough to vote, what did your parents vote? And your friends, parents friends, Uncles and Aunts etc. etc. etc.

[Dude]

Originally posted by Wayne Parsons
The shitty deal about Ernie's situation is "bad publicity is good publicity". If enough dumb people keep hearing his name, it gets stuck in their collective minds. Then when voting time comes...voila! Ernie's back and there's gonna be trouble.

So true.

I'll do my part to speak with relatives and friends to try and sway their votes away from Crist. That said, you really need a strong opponent to his views to run against him, to get their face in the media (as he has), and give the voters a person to move their votes to. As many mountain bikers there may be that are educated on the issue, most of us aren't residents, and most North Van folks are probably ignorant to the real story. What they may see is a guy championing preservation of the environment, protecting it from dangerous mountain bikers. They don't know or care that this guy seems to be inconsistent on his public motivations, while carrying out this crusade. Simply stated, it is too easy to get elected to council.

Question: has anyone from NSMBA or NSMB every considered running for council, to give Crist a direct opponent? Sharon would seem like a natural leader, though this kind of commitment would be asking a lot over what she already does for us. There are leader amongst us who live in North Van...hopefully one has the time and motivation to take something like this on.

BTW: Sharon, thanks for the hard work, and my yearly donation to NSMBA will be in the mail this week.

[Cucumber Jones]

Crist has pissed of most of the residents of North Van in one way or another. It is crazy how many North Van residents bike. Most of the adults who ride do not read this webpage. Thus they are not aware of the issues. I think flyers in cafe's and bike shops on the shore would help raise more awarenes with people who can vote.

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

Originally posted by davet
Wasn't this done at the last election? I recall listening to a bunch of candidates at the NSMBA annual general meeting, and a review of them posted on the front page here at NSMB.com. Anyone who is an NSMBA member should have known all about it.

I remember that meeting as well. I honestly wasnt impressed with any of their speechs aimed at getting our vote - with the minor exception of ones idea regarding a local bike park training grounds of sorts. It does show we are a large lobby group. How big and influential I dont know but I think its only going to get larger.

[cam@nsmb.com]

You need to come and speak at a council meeting.

Originally posted by Cucumber Jones
I think that most of us are missing the most important part of this war we are fighting. Crist is elected to represent us. I am a 34 year old tax paying North Van resident. He is paid by us to represent our needs, concerns and interests. I keep hearing that he cannot be removed from his position. We can ban together and vote him out when the time comes. I know that many of you are not old enough to vote – but your parents are. If we all get together and talk to our friends, family and neighbors who vote in North Van we can get him removed. It is not just us who he has harmed with his bizarre initiatives. I believe that he was in involved with trying to get movie filming banned from the shore if the movie had any violence. Every one of my neighbors who I talk too have had confrontations with him in the past. If we work together we can have him removed from his position. I am a resident of North Van and he is not representing my interests.

Another rant: I live in Deep Cove very near Panorama Park also very near the entrance to the Baden Powel (Corey Rock part of the trail). On a Saturday there may be up to 1,000 hikers on this trail who never do trail maintenance. They park all over my block and many of their dogs crap in front of my house. Not to mention they let the dogs run the trail off the leash. I put up with this because this is what you need to expect when you live near a PUBLIC recreation area. We should consider ourselves lucky to live in such a beautiful place. We should not get public servants revved up about useless issues that cost us more money then they are worth.

I know that I will be talking to everyone I know and encourage them to vote Crist out of office. This is my right as a tax paying resident.

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

Originally posted by Cucumber Jones
I think flyers in cafe's and bike shops on the shore would help raise more awarenes with people who can vote.

If you want a hand coming up with anything, I'd be willing to colloborate some idea's to get the ball rolling around summer time. I think we have some good information to work with. PM me or anyone else for that matter.

[Duncan]

Originally posted by bygdaug
It would appear that making sure Christ gets 900 votes less in your next election is all you're going to have to do.

Nope, its not that simple. It depends on who those 900 people choose as an alternative to Crist. You vote for 6 (as I recall) councillers at a time, not one. It would depend on how those 900 votes are cast among the 16 other candidates for councillor. I think Ernie is here to stay, for the next little while. Basically the next best option is that he continues to remain isolated from council and reality in his opinions (which he is perfectly entitled to - his opinions, that is). Thank god for Sharon, Lee, Dave and the crew at the NSMBA. D. <- Maybe my PhD in statistical physics wasn't such a waste of time.

[Dude]

That's why it is important to have someone run for council that supports our cause, who's platform will be in opposition to his. It's about diverting away his voters, and about having the opportunity to debate and explain our cause.

My belief is that the district of North Van have a fairly sensible electorate, along with being outdoor enthusiasts. The NSMBA has so many sellable strong points in support of riding and the community that, when presented to voters, can't be ignored. People need a reason not to mark the X next to Earnie's name. If it's a matter of money, put the idea out there, and many of us from outside the district will gladly part with some hard earned cash to support the common cause. If Crist is successful, the spin-off would be disastrous...

[Rat]

we can call our canidate the "anti crist"

[Dude]

Then we could say "If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.":D



:rolleyes:
Try the veal, tip your server. I'm here all week.

[Duncan]

Originally posted by Dude
That's why it is important to have someone run for council that supports our cause, who's platform will be in opposition to his. It's about diverting away his voters, and about having the opportunity to debate and explain our cause.



Yeah, but the worst-case scenario is that outdoor enthusiasts crowd out the field and split the anti-Crist vote (sorry, I couldn't resist). That could open the door to a Crist protégé getting in (the Second Coming: Jesus just-call-me-HEY-sus Crist). Its probably worthwile focussing on current/electable councillers who are sympatheric to us. D.

[BrianPark]

...so was it ban or band?

[Ispy]

Christ gets too much attention. He is unreasonable when it comes to his views on mountain biking and that is what gets him in the paper and on the radio. He says crazy things that get a reaction and bring in the calls. It just makes him a good politician. He picks issues that get noticed in these same venues and his name gets out. On that front we could learn from him. Ultimately, he'll get re-elected and he knows it.

The best move we can make, as I see it, is to stop talking to, and about, him. The more we complain about him the more press he gets. He'll keep doing his thing so we just need to do ours...

Keep showing up to trail days, keep vocal in the community, keep vocal at council meetings and keep doing positive things that the papers and web sites can report on. Mostly, just keep riding.

Cheers folks, see ya in the trails.

[bygdaug]

I listened to the radio show via thier audio vault. Mr.Crist did not make one point whatsoever. On the other hand the callers as well as the rep from NSMB, not to forget the bike shop owner sounded very articulate in responding to and aswering any question put to them. I would imagine that quite a few people listen to that radio show. I'm wondering how the majority of them feel about the issue, even those that don't ride. I mean there's the revenue issue, which is quite large. The recreational factor as far as fitness and time well spent.

It strikes me as rather odd that this guy has been elected. He obviously voulunteered to be on the show but the man shows up virtually unarmed, no valid points or documented situations to back up what he claims. Something just strikes me as being a little odd.

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

I say we read some legislative rule books, see if he's crossed any other or more lines and get him ejected on a technicality.

[heckler]

Duncan, here's some more fodder for you statistics...

4050 members of NSMB.com - if 1/4 are NV residents, could an overthrow happen? I didn't think so either.

[Incorrigible]

Our community of bikers depends on getting more involvement in the political process, whether it means going to meetings, or voting. This momentum of immediate interest must be kept up til the next election! Remember, municipal elections have notoriously low turnouts, so we may be able to make a difference!

ps. no I am not a N Van resident at this time. But I have written letters.

[Farmer]

I think that the most important thing if someone from the bike community ran for it would be that they couldn't come accross as an anti-crist, but as someone who is for mtb. This way they don't seem like they are there to get Crist out of office, but to help the sport

[Cucumber Jones]

Ban - Band whatever. When I am pissed off I type too fast.

People need to realize that many MTNbikers are not members of the NSMBA. So those stats don’t work.

I like the idea of Sharon running as against Crist.

[TheGiggler]

Originally posted by Cucumber Jones
Ban - Band whatever. When I am pissed off I type too fast.

People need to realize that many MTNbikers are not members of the NSMBA. So those stats don’t work.

I like the idea of Sharon running as against Crist.


a) yes. if we have more than 400-500 paid members... we could do a lot more. maybe even hire some paid trail crews for CBC, etc.

b) i don't think Sharon likes that idea. being a councillor is a ton of work, low pay and you need to put with all the politicial BS'ing. we should be supporting what Sharon and Lee are already doing, not trying to make them do more... Sharon's job should really be paid IMO. for most of us, working on the trails is not really work. i doubt anyone can say that about the paper work/etc that is required on the admin side...

[Cucumber Jones]

I only suggested Sharon as I think she would do a wonderful job. I know Lee and Sharon do a lot.

[BrianPark]

Originally posted by Cucumber Jones
Ban - Band whatever. When I am pissed off I type too fast.

Okay I thought it was a typo til you said ban a 2nd time. I just wondered if you meant something other than what I thought.

[Duncan]

Originally posted by heckler
Duncan, here's some more fodder for you statistics...

4050 members of NSMB.com - if 1/4 are NV residents, could an overthrow happen? I didn't think so either.

Probably not ... if 1013 new people (1/4 of NSMB.com) voted this time around, and none voted for Crist and all voted for the 7th place candidate, it still wouldn't be enough. But hey, maybe there will be a groundswell of opinion that it is time for Crist to go. But if the next election trends are anything like the last, I'd say no way. D.

[TheGiggler]

instead, what if even 1/2 of NSMB members paid their $20 to NSMBA?

in my opnion, this could very well make far more difference than getting Ernie out...

the fact that there's less than 500 paying members is ... (you finish it)

[Tom]

Originally posted by statix
instead, what if even 1/2 of NSMB members paid their $20 to NSMBA?

in my opnion, this could very well make far more difference than getting Ernie out...

the fact that there's less than 500 paying members is ... (you finish it)

...disgraceful

[switch]

Originally posted by Cucumber Jones
Another rant: I live in Deep Cove very near Panorama Park...
Anything else after that part of your statement doesn't matter as you do not live in Upper Lynne Valley.

I live right beside a park and a school (Dorothy Lynas). There are cars parked all over the place at various times of the day, noise from the park, lots of people with dogs on/off leashess, etc. But hey, guess what? I live next to a park and a school, so those kinds of acitivities are to be expected and make sense to me. Makes sense to a lot of people actually, as demand for housing in the area is very high because of the proximity of the park/school.

I suppose if I lived at a higher elevation I might think differently.

[Cucumber Jones]

Originally posted by switch
Anything else after that part of your statement doesn't matter as you do not live in Upper Lynne Valley.

I live right beside a park and a school (Dorothy Lynas). There are cars parked all over the place at various times of the day, noise from the park, lots of people with dogs on/off leashess, etc. But hey, guess what? I live next to a park and a school, so those kinds of acitivities are to be expected and make sense to me. Makes sense to a lot of people actually, as demand for housing in the area is very high because of the proximity of the park/school.

I suppose if I lived at a higher elevation I might think differently.

Are you familiar with the entrance to the Baden Powel trail in Deep Cove. This trail gets more hikers then CBC gets bikers any day of the week. The hikers park on front of my home and leave litter and dog crap every day. I could form a very strong argument that that trail cannot support that many hikers. Ask Smoke, this trail has crazy erosion – more erosion then our work eroded trail Neds. My point is I realize that in BC we are blessed to have outdoor activities and we need to see beyond our own petty wants. Accept that we are lucky to live near the forest and deal with it. The Frog Lady needs to wake up and realize how luck she is to live where she does and let people continue to enjoy our own land.

[Duncan]

Originally posted by Cucumber Jones
Are you familiar with the entrance to the Baden Powel trail in Deep Cove. This trail gets more hikers then CBC gets bikers any day of the week. The hikers park on front of my home and leave litter and dog crap every day. I could form a very strong argument that that trail cannot support that many hikers. Ask Smoke, this trail has crazy erosion – more erosion then our work eroded trail Neds. My point is I realize that in BC we are blessed to have outdoor activities and we need to see beyond our own petty wants. Accept that we are lucky to live near the forest and deal with it. The Frog Lady needs to wake up and realize how luck she is to live where she does and let people continue to enjoy our own land.

As a fellow Deep Cover, I suggest we dig a frog pond near the trail entrance and then freak out on Council about all the people on the trail. Maybe we can get them to drop some $$$ on it. I have thought of joining the Stream Keepers and adopting one of the little creeks. Last summer I saw a pretty big fish (about 6 inches long, I'd guess) hiding in a rock pool in Gallant Creek below the underground culvert behind the Cultural Center. Must have been washed down the mountain. There are fingerlings and fry in the creek, and kids go trying to catch them. I've told kids that all the fish they catch need to go back in the creek when they're done lookng at them. D.

[Tom]

Originally posted by switch


I suppose if I lived at a higher elevation I might think differently.

high elevation = lack of oxygen to the brain = NIMBYism?
:lol:

[switch]

Exactly.

CJ, I know exactly what you're talking about as I've used that exit a few times - I was being facetious. :)

IMO, this is my primary concern with regards to the Mt. Fromme kerfuffle. Banning use of a facility/location because of NIMBY types is wrong; logically wrong, morally wrong, wrong in every manner. If everyone took Monica Craver's attitude, there would be no BP trail, Kinsmen Park, and North Vancouver would loose a lot of it's lifesyle, appeal, and sense of community.

[Cucumber Jones]

Originally posted by switch
Exactly.

CJ, I know exactly what you're talking about as I've used that exit a few times - I was being facetious. :)



Shhh.... It does make a nice exit.