To the editor:
Re: "City worker alleges privacy breach," May 1.
I am one of the community association presidents engaged in facilitated negotiations toward renewal of the Joint Operating Agreement ("JOA") with Park Board. I was not copied on the email in question but it appears to be a light-hearted and unguarded exchange between association presidents and it is not at all clear that a breach of privacy occurred.
Prior to the schism between negotiating and non-negotiating associations, such an issue would likely have been discussed and probably resolved in discussion between the presidents - sadly, without prejudice, we now "lawyer-up."
The last two paragraphs of the article and associated emails imply that the negotiating community associations sympathize with ".the city's plan to centralize control of the 23 community centres and redistribute revenues." This statement is incorrect! Let me be crystal clear on this point - the negotiating associations are all against centralized control and redistribution or pooling of centres' revenues. We recognize that the current JOA is some 40 years old and needs renewal. A lot has changed over 40 years, including; many aspects of the law and financial control, the expectations of various levels of government and the public, demographics, media and community engagement. The issues under negotiation are complexly interwoven and our various positions not easily resolved but progress is being made.
Finally, the phrase "have-not" is pejorative and deeply resented by communities such as Thunderbird. We have site restrictions and a catchment demographic that limit our community centre's ability to generate revenue. Most of Thunderbird's program offerings are subsidized by the Neighbourhood Association Board, to best serve our diverse community.
Mike Bradley, President, Thunderbird Community Association
