Victoria Coun. Jeremy Caradonna has taken to social media a couple of times lately to blast the Times Colonist, saying that we are “systematically undermining new housing” by reporting on community opposition to new projects.
Elected officials have been blaming the media for their own failures for decades, so in that regard, Caradonna’s comments are nothing new.
But by diving into an Oak Bay issue, Caradonna apparently believes we should stop quoting people who are not happy with any municipal hall, not just Victoria’s.
One theme we hear from readers is that elected officials of all stripes are tuning out the voices of those who disagree with them.
It’s understandable, then, that these politicians would like us to ignore those voices as well.
But people have a right to express their points of view, especially when they don’t agree with the local council.
We have an obligation to give a voice to those who don’t have one.
That does not mean that we are to blame for the housing mess, despite Caradonna saying this about the Times Colonist:
“It has played a major role in fomenting opposition to housing, and therefore is a component of the anti-housing culture that has taken root in Greater Victoria for decades and contributed to the housing shortage.”
I get more complaints from readers who believe that we are too soft on builders and developers. Those readers would like us to be far more critical.
Getting complaints from both sides (on any issue, not just housing) is generally a sign that we are taking a balanced approach.
Whether the Times Colonist is discouraging or encouraging new housing construction is not the issue.
The real issue is this: Why are elected officials so opposed to listening to the people they are supposed to represent?
There is a lot of anger out there. I see it in the letters to the editor and I hear it throughout the community. The overall feeling is that political leaders are running roughshod over the people who elected them.
People are frustrated. People don’t think their concerns are being considered. People don’t know how to get through to their elected officials. Now that public hearings for many development proposals are a thing of the past, it’s tougher than ever to be heard.
Muting people will not make the anger go away.
How out of touch are the people in charge?
Consider that the City of Victoria scheduled a public meeting regarding its controversial plans for Dowler Place with only five days’ notice. North Park neighbours were justifiably upset with the short notice, and the meeting has been postponed.
Yet Caradonna seems to believe that we should make it even harder for people to express their thoughts.
We will not deny a voice to people who disagree with council decisions. Our news stories will continue to quote people who disagree, just as they will quote people who support new developments.
On our comment pages, we run letters to the editor as well as longer commentaries. We strive for a diversity of opinions, including from elected officials. We have published four commentaries by Caradonna since he was elected in 2022.
We see the differing points of view as a healthy discourse. I don’t agree with everything that we publish and I don’t expect any of you to agree with everything either.
Another Caradonna comment: “If I didn’t have other things to do in life, I’d love to document and analyze the way that local media here and elsewhere has contributed to the housing crisis.”
I agree that he has other things to do.
Among those things, he is the council representative for Vic West, where Bayview Roundhouse, the city’s largest housing development, has been stalled for a decade.
It’s a controversial proposal, to be sure. But why has it taken so long for approvals to come from City Hall?
Bayview is the gold standard for delays, but we hear complaints about the length of time it takes for other projects to be approved by Victoria and other jurisdictions.
These builders and developers would like us to report on the delays, but won’t let us use their names. They are afraid they will be punished if they do — punished by municipal halls that are, to borrow Caradonna’s words, “systematically undermining new housing.”
But sure, blame us, blame the messenger. It’s not justified, but it’s easier than listening to the people who elected you.
Dave Obee is editor and publisher of the Times Colonist.
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