Perhaps Mr. Taylor should ask himself if it really is "grossly inappropriate for Al, having attended a private meeting, to divulge the contents of that meeting to the media...It's not a great reflection on his way of doing business -to deal through the media."???
The purpose and responsibility of media is to inform and reach the people. I enjoy this website as it informs me and keeps me up to date regarding what is going on in my city and province. By speaking to Sean Holman about what happened at that meeting, Degenova was keeping citizens informed of the good, bad and ugly....a promise he made when elected. He should answer to the people of Vancouver first (as he did when he topped the polls last election).
It is tragic that the NPA feels that silencing their elected officials should be procedure after special meetings or situations. Someone needs to explain to Matt Taylor that he is the president of an association that must face accountability to the people and media, not a secret society.

I think that 'todayinthenews' has purposefully missed the point Matthew Taylor makes...

Allan De Genova did not accurately represent many aspects of his meeting with the Mayor and Matthew Taylor. It appears as if Al made statements that were intentionally crafted to injure everyone else in this affair, except him. I find that very disappointing as I always liked Al. I don't know what his problem is. Apparently, he doesn't either.

Al is a public servant, yes, but as a matter of course, he is also a member of NPA caucus. What's the point of being part of a group that you evidently can't stand being part of??????

Matthew Taylor's comments are very appropriate and I commend him and the NPA Board for acting so very responsibly and capably.

"Allan De Genova did not accurately represent many aspects of his meeting with the Mayor and Matthew Taylor. It appears as if ... "

Posted by A. G. Tsakumis on May 29, 2006 09:20 AM

Wow. Talk about high grade BS, this is really rich stuff, pretty much the kind of gossip you expect from the self-described, Westside "creme de la creme".

Tsakumis was at the meeting too? If not, then what does he base his statement on? "It appears as if" ... ? Nine year olds with big mouths use phrases like that when they have some explaining to do.

Here's something worth explaining. How is that noveau trustee Holden has so much more pull in NPA backrooms that De Genova? Are the other NPA pols blinded by the blonde aquanaut's famous good looks?

Mr. Campbell,

I have not attended any NPA meeting for months, as I am a former Director.

To answer your question, I based my comments on fact: Al Degenova made statements about his meeting with the Mayor, in the two previous Public Eye posts. His statements were refuted by Matthew Taylor, who was present at the meeting, and who has unimpeachable integrity and is as honest as you appear rabid.

If you had bothered to read Sean Holman's very fine reporting of this issue from it's genesis and had not allowed yourself to be led by your own political bias, you could have spared yourself the embarassment of making the childish statements which you commited to above.

As to what pull you think Heather Holden has in the NPA...she is a very intelligent, caring and loyal representative of this City, who has taken completely unecessary flak from philosophically driven nutbars and COPE/VV/NDP (whatever it is you call yourselves this week) lickspittles both in and out of the press, for matters which she removed herself from long ago.

It is hard enough in public (or private) life to soldier through issues we all encounter from time to time, without having to battle ones created by people who live to drive hardship into the belly of those wanting to better the City for all of us.

And by the way, to your sexist, chauvanistic comment about her "looks", Ms. Holden is not a blonde and is rightly appreciated by anyone who knows her for her intelligence and grace.

Alex,

the whole point of running for elected office is to represent the public interest. If after being elected the question becomes who do you represent -- the public or party board members/funders of your party?

I think the answer is you must represent the wishes of your constituents. That is why we have elections.

When Mayor Philip Owen was at odds with his NPA caucus over harm reduction, I didn't see a move to suspend Mr. Owen.

This ritual now of all four mnuicipal parties (COPE, Greens, Vision, NPA) to make elected officials accountable to the party before the public sets in motion a very dangerous thing. Is autocratic rule now the norm for municipal politics?

Tsakumis hasn't attended meetings for months?? I guess he just lives in the internet then, and holds his NPA meetings in cyberspace, because how on earth did he manage to get so involved in attacking De Genova this week and Christy Clark a few weeks ago, and all the while seem to have so much "inside information" about all of these people and their "motivations"?

jamie lee,

i think it was Al's insinuation that Heather might act innappropiately that was the actual reason for the suspension. You don't get away with dissing your hommies in public.

Alex, Heather is already taken... sorry buddy, but I dont think you have a chance with her!

Even if it's a perceived conflict, she [Holden] should be removing herself, De Genova said taken during a phone interview on May 16. I guess perhaps she's concerned how I may vote [if she abstains], and if that's the case, in a tie vote between COPE and myself, it [a motion] is defeated. The aquarium has a project coming forward, and if I'm not supportive, it doesn't move forward. It'll be interesting to see if she does remove herself

The above quote taken from the May 18, 2006 edition of the Straight hardly seems to be dissing someone. And Al gets trumped out of caucus for this? It needs to be mentioned that in this same article Ms Holden infers she is not in a conflict.

Disclaimer--this morning I had a personal call from Ms Holden who informs me that she will not participate in the Aquarium vote tonite over conflict of interest. So what gives then with Sam Sullivan shitting on Al DeGenove?

"It'll be interesting to see if she does remove herself"
Genova assumed that there was doubt to whether she would recuse herself. He was openly questioning her integrity. That is dissing in my book.

Hey Public Eye Fan

Al de Genova make the statement to the Straight after Ms Holden had participated in discussions at the committee level to move this Aquarium issue forward onto the Park Board agenda. Subsequently, in the latest issue of the Straight, Ms Holden informs us through the Straight that she had legal advice in which she is advised that she isn't in a conflict situation.

Now tonite, she is going to declare herself in a conflict and step out of the mtg.

So the looming question still remains-whether it was appropriate to turf Al DeGenova from the NPA over his questioning of whether Ms Holden may be in a conflict position? That is not dissing!

I think Sullivan and Taylor are a few french fries short of a Happy Meal, if ya get the context!

goodlistener looks like he's got a huge case of Tsakumis-envy! what's the problem bud? the guy defended his friend. what's your problem with that? you seem real fixated on the guy. i thought his comments were actually kinda nice and pretty tame for him.