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Welcome to Your Wellington
I’ve been getting some useful feedback about the idea for this site since the first version went live in 2009. You have two main concerns, which I would like to address now.
First, is this a political site for my mayoral campaign? In true politicians’ fashion, the answer is ‘Yes and no’. There will be one more focused on my campaign elsewhere, and there is jackyan.com, which has my blog posts and background. Your Wellington does allow me a forum to put forward ideas.
But at the end of the day, this is a site for all of us, not just me, so we can record our likes and dislikes about our city.
If I am lucky enough to secure a majority of votes as your mayor on October 9, 2010, this site will keep running, as a means of citizen engagement.
Would you rather take your lunch break to attend a council meeting, or would you rather give your voice to an issue on a blog in your own time? I know what I prefer. And rather than set this up a month before the mayoral election, let’s have this dialogue now, as we have had since July ’09. If I’m to represent your wishes, as is only right in a democracy, then we need to be united in our thinking as early as possible.
I have no intention of being a puppet-master with a council to do my bidding. I am here to do your bidding.
Secondly, why is this site light on issues such as crime on our streets and other pressing matters?
I am not so arrogant as to presume that I have all the answers when there are citizens living in areas who are more familiar with their own patch than me. What we will see on this site through 2010 is a gradual building-up of issues, with some of my proposals, and some of your feedback. A mayor should never stop learning from one’s constituents.
I will put forth more of my ideas, and crime and some of the heavy stuff will be covered. The aim is to go from the general, where we are now, and head into the specific.
This site will grow bit by bit and come October 2010, we should have a full picture of what you want—and what I will go to the polls with, representing all our wishes.
My belief is not one of ‘Vote for me’, or ‘Vote for this’, but ‘Vote for us’. It is about putting the power in to the hands of Wellingtonians, not individuals or a bunch of élites backed by corporate interests.
Your feedback is always welcome, as well as other issues we need to address. That’s the whole idea of Your Wellington.
Michael Prince · 2010/03/10 at 10:58
As great as Wellington is, there are a number of shortcomings that I have noticed since coming back after working abroad for the last 5 years.
Two areas that stand out and are interconnected are public transport and the fact that Wellington is not a Bicycle Friendly City.
Firstly there is the cost of public transport.
I was horrified to discover recently that it costs approximately $3 to take a bus from a bus stop on the Hataitai side of the Mt Vic bus tunnel to Cuba St. This is not a fare deal in my opinion. Auckland city has the link bus which will take you from Ponsonby to New Market (easily 2-3 times the distance) for $2, that is a great deal.
Secondly is a lack of bicycle lanes on our streets.
The benefits of having people cycle are too long to mention here and if you don’t have safe streets for bicycles, people just won’t do it.
The connection here is the fact that our buses do not carry bicycles.
We all know that Wellington is littered with hills, this fact is enough to put a lot of people off riding whether it be to work or for leisure. Buses that carry bikes would change this.
I’ve spent the last two years living in Vancouver where the city buses have bike racks mounted on the front of buses (carries two bikes).
This is such a great idea, I feel that any city that doesn’t have this is really missing out.
Mountain biking is very popular in Wellington and would be even more popular if people could take there bike for example, from the railway station all the way to the Macra bike park.
If Wellington is to move forward and reduce it’s carbon emissions it needs to become a more accessible and bicycle friendly city.