puff 546 Wheeler's Corner

Wheeler’s CornerÓ

Connecting Citizens Who Care

"Broadcast every Thursday at 11.45am on Access 999AM"

Contact Peter at wheeler@inspire.net.nz

18 10th May 2007

This Week: 1. Councillors sat and listened: 2. Frivolous & Vexatious Yeah-Yeah: 3. Victoria House. 4. Tit-bits from submissions: 5. My God speaks.

1. From the 7th to the 10th of May 07 those wishing to make verbal submissions to this years draft annual plan had their chance to do so. Councillors sat and listened to those citizens who had the courage to stand up and express their views. The councillors nodded and uttered nice words as they continued regardless down the already agreed path which, was in the main agreed, planned and organised in public excluded workshops and secret committee meetings earlier in the year.

While the above was happening some selected community groups were meeting and reassessing their future plans and services and in some cases their future existence. Their well-organised future plans having been knocked for six earlier in the month. Wheeler’s Corner makes a plea to all the various community groups who received grants from council to consider the following. ‘So that a sense of justice and fairness can prevail your group will agree to give up five to ten percent of your grant so that those groups who were given zero or had their grants heavily slashed can receive funding’.

Umbrella organisations need to question the process used that has seen some of their members being put under huge pressure. A strongly worded public statement would go a long way toward putting balance and openness back into the grants system. As the council representative admitted ‘that a new and more open process is needed’. [Peter Grey]

This means asking some hard questions like, ‘Are groups like the Youth One Stop Shop or the Te Whare Akonga Open Learning Centre, any less valuable to the communities they serve than our own organisations? These long term and proven organisations have been a part of the local scene for years. YOSS for 13 years and the Open Learning Centre for 16 years, both have received high praise for the quality of both management and financial management from council over the years and especially this last year.

The system of divide and rule has been around and used for hundreds of years by those with the power to do so. But that doesn’t mean that we have to buy into it. The list of groups that received full or part funding or even first time funding has now been made public but the reason for the grant levels has not. Any debate has been strangled in real terms. After all who want’s to argue against their own grant? Each is without doubt worthy but by using the divide and rule policy the argument is transferred to the groups rather than the inequality of the system. We don’t know how each councillor voted in regard to organisations grant. So we can’t rate the Councillor’s and decide how we might vote in the coming election. From the outside looking in one could be forgiven for thinking that Youth and Maori don’t rate highly in the present scheme of things.

I don’t believe that councillors have considered the flow on effects of their decisions. The shutting down of one service simply puts more pressure on others. Youth for example cop the blame for all sorts of community problems but as a group many can't vote so they can be ignored. The groups that have been slashed or ignored have one thing in common in my view they seek to empower their clients and this has great benefits for communities but creates difficulties for the council. Naturally all this heartache could be solved if council better allocated it’s available funding and used a little more logical thought and effort.

We also need to compare the rationality of the decision making process for it appears that council lacks the ability to do this simple but important exercise. Most other councils do it by conducting a simple social impact report. Consider this behaviour.

The rebuilding for the third time in a decade of the council reception area costing half a million dollars Vs no money for Te Whare Akonga Open Learning Centre.
The increase of the CEO’s salary from $250.000 per year to $300.000 per year Vs No grant for the Palmerston North Street Van Incorporated.
The future spending of $13.50 Million on the Esplanade Vs the slashing the Youth One Stop Shop.
What will be the social effect of forcing the closure of the Te Whare Akonga Open Learning Centre on the community? What will be the cost of these effects be? These are the basic questions asked by a social impact report but seemingly not by council.

After discussion of the basic fundamentals I believe most if not all needs can be met. For example: $13.05 million for the Esplanade is simply out of this world. I’m told that the Wellington Design Team has already spent around many thousands of dollars thus far, and I thought that Paul Wylie’s stupid and child like rebirthing ‘Phoenix Project’ was dead in the water after the huge outcry last year during the ten year plan consultations. It appears I am wrong for it has simply been cut from Twenty Million to 13.05 Million. It is behaviour such as this that stretches to breaking point any expectation of balanced and rational thinking by those who profess to represent the citizens of this city.

At Tuesday’s submissions hearing the team from the YOSS was told by Cr. Wall that the grants were to be reviewed, it was assumed that she was speaking about this years grants but on speaking to her later that wasn’t the case. She was talking about ‘next year or even the year after that! Councillors did vote to get ‘this’ year’s grants altered. They are due to be paid after July 07 but the vote was lost. So it would appear that the YOSS submission was a waste of time and without doubt fell on deaf ears.

2. Frivolous & Vexatious Yeah-Yeah

Funny how words come back to haunt one: Cr. Gordon Cruden last year said Chris Teo-Sherrell’s lodged submission was both frivolous and vexatious and that his [CEO] buddy Paul Wylie was correct in removing the submission without discussion. Strange as it may sound the opening submission this year was the exact same submission by the exact same person. Now since Paul Wylie couldn’t interfere Cr. Gordon Cruden had to sit there, lips sealed and silent and listen. The other councillors present were attentive and judging by their questions the subject most certainly was neither frivolous nor vexatious. Not only was the submission successful and dynamic it held those present captured by its content. When the committee finally gets to meet regarding Cr. Cruden’s long delayed code of conduct charge it needs look no further than this first up 2007 submission to reach a verdict in favour of Chris Teo-Sherrell. But don’t hold your breath the tight eight can be very tightly wrapped and hard to unwrap at times.

3. Victoria House the old Post Office building in the Esplanade was put out to tender for alterations etc in Saturdays Manawatu Standard…and council hasn’t even agreed to any changes as yet! How is that for beating the gun? Will some one get a smack on the hand, not if the tight eight has its way?

4. Tit-bits from submissions: Cr. Pope, Naylor and Wall plus others were no doubt unable to comprehend Eric Constantine and his submission on the gradual but never ending increase in rates for those with lower value properties. Put simply, said Eric they are robbing the poor to pay the rich. Eric was particularly naughty in that he uttered the words ‘Gordon Cruden’ as the leader in this attack on the poorer members of our city. Frank Judd who lives in Park Road suggested that council should get to grips with reality and stop spending on stupid schemes such as the Square and the CEO driven Esplanade. He also thanked the Mayor Heather Tanguay for her efforts to save the Esplanade, which brought a laughing fit from Cr. Wall. Dr James Lockhart the boss of Vision Manawatu made a passionate plea for more funding; they already get half a million that is mainly used to pay the salaries of 14 staff. Cr. Broad pointed out that they haven’t had a salary increase for four years…tell that to some community groups around town.

5. A Wheeler’s Corner special covering aspects of the YOSS submission and an invite to a public meeting will be published shortly. My God says for all those who care about our youth this meeting should not be missed…and I agree.

Peter J Wheeler

Wheeler@inspire.net.nz

I would like to thank those who have donated to Wheeler’s Corner, while I don’t know whom you are your assistance is humbly accepted and highly valued. Thank you. If any one else would like to donate the address is Wheeler’s Corner Access Triple Nine PO Box 4666 Palmerston North.Catalogue



Composed by Peter Cleave. Bass by Leo Cleave. Guitar and vocal by Peter Cleave. For Paula Miranda for her role as Mia Hill in Perfect Stranger

Sweet Killer Love

Sweet Killer Love

Come from the stars above

You smile

The devil is in your detail

The devil is in your detail
\
You walk into the market

Hand up on your hip

You look

The price is way too high

The price is way too high

Sweet Killer Love

Sweet Killer Love

Come from the stars above

You smile

The devil is in your detail

The devil is in your detail

You touch the base of your neck

You set your shades down on your nose

You look again

Who are you waiting for?
Who are you waiting for?

Sweet Killer Love

Sweet Killer Love

Come from the stars above

You smile

The devil is in your detail
The devil is in your detail

Moving right along now
Looking down the line

Who will take you home?

Who will take you home?

Sweet Killer Love

Come from the stars above

You smile

The devil is in your detail

The devil is in your detail


puff 532 Last Gasp Cafe 22

Concert for gold diggers, claim jumpers, future super stars, foxes and trout. 女子高生 Two songs composed and performed by Peter Cleave Concert for gold diggers, claim jumpers, future super stars, foxes and trout. 女子高生 Two songs composed and performed by Peter Cleave: Johnny Rockaway and Red Bus

Johnny Rockaway
For Johnny Rockaway
The gangsters came to play
To throw a rose
into the grave
of Johnny Rockaway
Brando on the screen
so high on his machine
waves a hand to all the fans
along the way

Wear your hair up high
Turn your collar to the sky
No surrender
No sweet goodbye

(guitar break)

For Johnny Rockaway
The gypsies came to pray
to light a bonfire
at midnight
for Johnny Rockaway
Bardot on a motorbike
The chrome so bright
so lost, so lost
in her shades

Wear your hair up high
Turn your collar to the sky
No surrender
No sweet goodbye

Johnny Rockaway
loved Jimmy Dean
the Dodge, the De Soto and the Galaxy
Go Johnny Go ,
Go, Go said Chuck,
the American King,
Johnny Rockaway





Red Bus
On the Red Bus
nothing seems to matter much
say what you like or what you don't
the bus runs on

she was a claim jumping, gold digging future super star
I sold cars on Saturdays

we met on the Red Bus
where nothing seems to matter much
say what you like or what you don't
the bus runs on
and on

she was a city girl and a foxy trout who left nothing out
I was a valley boy

we talked on the Red Bus
about anything that came to us
about life after life after life
and the bus ran on



trout 女子高生 red bus marlon brando bridgette bardot chuck berry gypsies cars gangsters

puff 531 Last Gasp Cafe 21 女子高生

Concert for the Batcave 女子高生Two songs composed and performed by Peter Cleave: Broken Road and We got lucky



Robin catwoman 女子高生 broken road ring moon cat cream bubbles bath
We got Lucky

It was all over before it had begun
it was good night nurse on the midnight shift
it was red, red wine, blue bubbles in the bath

we got lucky
there was a ring around the moon
we got lucky
and we slept till noon
gave cream to the cat
and that my friends was that

It had just begun when she said she'd won
so it was lights for the tree and wood for the fire
candles, blue bubbles in the bath

we got lucky
there was a ring around the moon
we got lucky
and we slept till noon
gave cream to the cat
and that my friends was that



puff 530 Last Gasp Cafe 20 女子高生

Concert for the Black Hawk 女子高生Two songs composed and performed by Peter Cleave: Johnny Rockaway and We got Lucky.



black hawk 女子高生 cat cream bath bubble red wine marlon brando gypsies gangsters pray hair high collar sky

puff 529 Last Gasp Cafe 19

Concert for Spiderman 女子高生 Two songs composed and performed by Peter Cleave: Long Black Jar and Johnny Rockaway



Spiderman 女子高生 long black jar picture wall hall no surrender sweet goodbye

Long Black Jar

Saw your picture on the wall
thought I heard you in the hall
put flowers in a long black jar

Now I'm playing such a sad guitar
and I'm wondering where we are
o darling talk to me

talk to me about the way things used to be
don't talk about setting me free

Thought I heard you in the driveway
Thought I felt you behind me
but there's only one person here
puff 514 Last Gasp Cafe 18
Two songs in new keys. Another concert for Mary J Blige. Long Black Jar and Idol. Both songs written and composed by Peter Cleave




idol maryjblige peter cleave last gasp cafe long black jar ghosts
Idol
It was just a wish
From high on a wish list
but it had to be you
cos you are so fine

And the idol smiles
there is a door in the wall
the traffic stops
the rain begins to fall

Latrice and Labelle
are lost in LA
But they find a sign
meant for you and me

And the idol smiles
look out the window in the wall
The traffic stops
the rain begins to fall

Way on down the hall
Uncle Phil is asleep
You whisper to me
about Dragon Ball Zee

And the Idol smiles
it is written on the wall
the traffic stops
the rain begins to fall

puff 470 Last Gasp Cafe 17
On the deck...Idol and Broken Road for the Goo Goo Dolls...concert by Peter Cleave

puffshop
女子高生
Idol
It was just a wish
From high on a wish list
but it had to be you
cos you are so fine

And the idol smiles
there is a door in the wall
the traffic stops
the rain begins to fall

Latrice and Labelle
are lost in LA
But they find a sign
meant for you and me

And the idol smiles
look out the window in the wall
The traffic stops
the rain begins to fall

Way on down the hall
Uncle Phil is asleep
You whisper to me
about Dragon Ball Zee

And the Idol smiles
it is written on the wall
the traffic stops
the rain begins to fall

Last Gasp Cafe 16 Two songs for Green Day



Last Gasp Cafe 15 女子高生
Concert for Donnie Darko. Long Black Jar and You're Free composed and performed by Peter Cleave
long black jar you're free ana carolina reston green day

puff 291 Last Gasp Cafe 12 Will there be Fox in the Metaverse


Will there be Cher in the Metaverse? Roaches? Peter?

puff 290 Last Gasp Cafe 11 Two songs for the Astrochick



Puff 285 Last Gasp Cafe 10- Upstairs Studio Concert
Long Black Jar
Colin


Last Gasp Cafe 9
A concert for the Metaverse



puff 281 Last Gasp Cafe 8 A two song concert for Tyra Banks


puff 265 Last Gasp Cafe 5
A concert for Mary J Blige by Peter Cleave featuring songs dedicated to Ana Carolina Reston and Daniela Cicarelli


puff 261 Last Gasp Cafe No 3 For Peter Wheeler
Featuring Colin, To see you is to love you, Nadine...