I love New Westminster. I also love New West.
To many readers this may seem like I am repeating myself, but to those in the know these are critical code words. Code words that can mean the difference between being considered one of the in crowd or the out crowd in this small city.
Perhaps this is the kind of attitude one should assume exists in a city built on just 15 square kilometres, a city that shares its borders with much bigger 'burbs and often feels that it is merely viewed as a shortcut for commuters.
When you're the small kid on the block, perhaps you have to puff up and look bigger to protect your turf. Perhaps there seem to be fewer "in" crowd spots to fight over, hence the constant jostling for position. Perhaps folks living in smaller cities feel pulled to carve out as much distinct personal territory as they can, just because it appears achievable. They must mark, in as many ways possible, their "turf." That turf could be a garden plot or a volunteer group. But no matter what the item of contention is, the apparent need to own - and I mean own - as in declaring public ownership to the exclusion of all others, is often glaringly obvious in New Westminster, or New West, as the case may be. And it's not a pretty trait.
The recent, and apparently continuing, Hyack firing/hiring brouhaha, might be traced to this need to stake out one's territory.
Depending on who you listen to, or believe, the firing and rehiring of the executive director is a) simply a symptom of a deeper issue of control of the esteemed Hyack organization, b) a plot to have the city take over the group, c) a plot to have certain individuals make money off of any potential expansions of the group d) a plot to get rid of certain individuals who are using the group for their own political agendas e) a plot to remove any traces of tradition (code word for old fuddy duddies) in the city, and/or f) a plot to stop change - any and all change - in the city.
One might just expect Jessie Ventura, host of the TV show Conspiracy, to turn up in New Westminster, er New West, any day now to do a segment on the Hyack brouhaha. He might well name it, "Who's got the Anvil now?"
I think firing someone is a pretty serious subject, but the behind-the-scenes campaigns and conspiracy theories are becoming byzantine. When a person going to be axed, it merits sober deliberations and thought. The possibility that Hyack's executive director may have been removed from his position without proper deliberation or process raises red flags about how Hyack was operating. The fact that
Hyack then withdrew the firing and brought him back to work within the organization doesn't quell anyone's concerns about the process. And now, city hall says it's concerned about how the organization is dealing with its internal problems, given that it gets a whack of taxpayer money. And, of course, we are reminded by some folks that that move is probably part of the whole 'plot'.
In a word, it's a mess. And make no mistake, we're covering this mess - but we're drawing a line on how deep we delve into the accusations and counter-accusations.
Pretty much everybody who has told us, off the record of course, that we're not doing enough to uncover the other side's agenda has some skin in this game.
In fact, there's not one individual who has expressed a strong feeling about the whole fracas that hasn't got some connection to the group, or someone or something the group is connected to.
That is understandable in a small town. In fact, it's the beauty of a small town.
There are probably only three or four degrees of separation between folks who volunteer or work for the good of this community. That can also be a dangerous thing.
Lines are drawn in disputes, loyalties are expected to be honoured, and campaigns can breed bad feelings from which there is seldom full healing. Political grudges in this city have the lifespan of uranium.
As the hometown newspaper, we stand firmly on the side of transparency, full disclosure and, most importantly, goodwill towards others. I am encouraged somewhat by the latest development. At least the group has put plans for a full membership vote on the shelf for now and is trying to work things out in camera.
It may be too late for a mediator to wade into this melee, but I'm hoping saner minds will prevail and this dispute won't have to end in a winnertakes-all vote. Because open warfare will surely not be good for anyone in this battle.
Pat Tracy is the editor of The Record and Burnaby NOW newspapers. Follow her on twitter.com, @pattracy.
