What Would Paul Van Meerbergen Do?

Lots of chatter by the local radio talk-show guys yesterday about Mayor-elect Joe Fontana's request to have his Coronation ceremony moved from the traditional site of council chambers at City Hall to the more opulent setting of Centennial Hall.

The usual Fontana apologists and gloaters were pretending that Joe's proposal was a good idea. That it was part of making municipal politics more inclusive to everyone. That it's a refreshing way of making boring old London City Council meetings more show-bizzy.

Never mind the fact that the City just spent millions on renovations to Council chambers and the swearing-in of the new council would be the first time the space would officially be used by this latest incarnation of 'Everyone You Hated in High School.' Never mind that taxpayers would be footing the bill to rent the glitzy Centennial Hall and have it staffed for that few minutes of "I swear to blah,blah,blah."

True, it would give a bit more pomp to the historic occassion when Joe is crowned King, but it won't be showbiz. It won't provide a little "flash and dash" - as one radio pundit suggested. ... Instead, it's more like "a little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."

Joe's fan-base and consiglieres know damn well that this is just a bad move. It doesn't look good. This is the guy who successfully campaigned on the promise of getting rid of all the waste at City Hall. Putting an end to unnecessary spending. This is the guy who promised no proptery-tax increase for his entire four-year term. All coming from a guy who don't even live in town and pay the same property taxes as the rest of us.

The main reason this guy got himself elected in the first place was because enough sap-heads actually believed his guff about fiscal accountability. And before he even takes office he wants US to throw HIM a party at OUR expense for HIS swearing-in ceremony?!?

On MY dime?! What's this guy's catchphrase? "JUST PICK UP THE DAMN TAB!"

One of his AM-radio apologists suggested yesterday that this big splashy event would be good because it would get Londoners interested and start talking about municipal government. Well, he's right in one sense. It's got Londoners talking alright. But they aren't saying nice things about Fontana. Or else they are keeping their mouths shut and their second-doubts to themselves. They realized they've been had. And it's only taken two-weeks before the first broken promise. And the guy ain't even on the job yet.

Because EVERYONE knows that this request for the venue change has nothing to do with 'transparency' or 'accessibility' for the public to take part in the democratic process. That's just a loada crap.

Rather, it is all about Ego. A big ego. For a guy who already has a big head as it is.

The Mayor-elect would do well to ask himself just one question the next time he pulls a boneheaded stunt like this.

But first, Joe has to remind himself about the real and ONLY reason he got elected. And the truth is it's because he stole a page from the Paul Van Meerbergen book on municipal governence. City Councillor Paul VanTheMan (pictured at the top of this post,) keeps getting re-elected in this town because he talks the talk and walks the walk. He's the tightest guy on council when it comes to parting with a buck and he begrudges every dollar misspent as if it was coming out of his own wallet.

So, Joe - the next time you want to throw taxpayer dollars away on another vanity project, ask yourself this - "If Paul Van Meerbergen were Mayor - what would Paul do?"