City of Yarra Councillor Watch

05/05/2022

We are big believers in giving the system a chance to work. Late in 2021, a monitor was appointed to prepare a report on Yarra City Council. That report is due soon, but sometimes things come along that can't be ignored.

We ask you - does this reflect a councillor who is showing respect for the opinions of others - the residents, ratepayers and his fellow councillor?

When a councillor openly attacks and disrespects a prominent resident's group, we hope the monitor is paying attention.

Because the councillor himself realised he had crossed the line and deleted the post.

Little lesson in how the internet works Councillor Landes - once it's on the internet, it stays on the internet.

So while you were trying to hide your indiscretion, we were still here watching.

So for the record everyone, this is the published opinion Councillor Landes is now seeking to hide:

23/01/2022

With council returning this week, it's time to get the conversation going again.

And what a place to start...

Anab Mohamud for Langridge Ward get a job. There are plenty on offer right now. That's how the rest of us support ourselves and our families.

15/12/2021

😂😂😂

Top Tip Thursday: Always take an extra 20 seconds to read your caption before posting to avoid embarrassing mistakes.

Perhaps the Councillor of Convenience was too busy chatting with Acland Street traders about their tram woes to take the time for a quick proof read. How exciting to discover Acland Street is now part of City of Yarra. Time well spent...

While we're here - a quick shout out to the new Monitor. Word on the street is that CC is going to be passing along all the criticism he has received online. Because that's why the Monitor is there - as a shoulder to cry on for councillors because "people don't understand/appreciate them". 🙄

04/12/2021

9 days without comment from the new mayor...

(Full disclosure, she did slip a little something on Insta about open libraries, but pretty much nada when it comes to her new roles as the Mayor).

04/12/2021

Just for the record. Shaunna Wilson could you please confirm if you are suggesting Yarra, and if so, how you meet the eligibility? You have indicated on this page that you live in an adjoining local government area, but have multiple residences (like most people???????).

Who tapped you on the shoulder? It was intriguing for about four seconds then we lost interest.

PS - yes we know the Councillor for Bridge Road blocked us for responding to his inaccurate claim about this page with one word - Bunkum. The sole word we have EVER contributed ot his page (and we thought he'd like that seeing as he's happily used it here). Ironic really, because we have allowed him to voice his opinion without censor on this page regardless of whether we agree (which in most cases we don't). Do we care. Yes - not because we want to post on the page, but for all the right reasons, because he nibbled up the kibble we laid down and provided another example of unacceptable councillor behaviour to add to our record.

03/12/2021

Herschel Landes has accused this page of sharing details of private correspondence and prejudicing his role on Council in a decision making process.

We respond to this allegation with proof that this is complete nonsense.

No details of private correspondence were ever shared on this page. In fact the reference, the only reference, is to a "wee sook about the people questioning whether he has an undisclosed agenda with the Greens". This was clearly contextualised as: "Heard on the streets" which means: To hear or learn of something through an informal means of communication, especially gossip.

That aside, how could a post prejudice his role in a decision making process that he had already PUBLICLY abstained from?

Please review the post he is referring to, which contains a screenshot of his public disclosure that he would not be participating in the Mayoral vote.

We fully intend to push back on any and all attempts by Mr Landes to troll us.

https://www.facebook.com/Yarra.City.Council.Watch/posts/263797089112647

29/11/2021

Interesting choice by Yarra City Council to send out an eNews update this morning. Considering the biggest news is actually the appointment of a monitor by the State Government, it looks like they are either avoiding the news or just can't get their act together fast enough to properly inform the community.

Waiting with interest to see how (or if) Yarra communicates this.

29/11/2021

Hilarious.

The State government appointments a monitor for Yarra City Council, publicly stating it is to improve governance and ensure the council acting in the best interest of the people it represents.

The response from Councillor Caulfield - to suggest the monitor should concern themselves with those justifiably calling out poor behaviour and choices by the council... a typical lack of self-awareness and accountability on his part.

Note to CC: it's kind of strange to say you're not going to make a comment. Then make a comment. And last time we checked, just because you don't like the truth you are hearing, that doesn't make it defamation. People in bully houses shouldn't throw bully stones.

As a courtesy to free speech, we won't limit comments on this post - unlike a certain no comment/comment councillor.

29/11/2021

Sorry/not sorry to break this to the new mayor Councillor Sophie Wade and her deputy Edward Crossland for Melba Ward but the leadershp of Councillor Gabrielle de Vietri has not put Yarra City Council on good footing for the year ahead. It has led to the State Government appointing a municipal monitor.

This is the team behind a banana sculpture in Fitzory funded by a TAC grant (which it's pretty clear the TAC didn't intend for street art). And that's just the latest in a long string of poor choices.

You might want to get your house in order before this all rubs off on your mate Adam Bandt at the Federal election.

29/11/2021

BREAKING NEWS

The Supreme Court has thrown out Anab Mohamud's attempt to go up the chain to stop the Inspectorate having her step down while criminal charges are pending against her, and is sending her case back to VCAT where a decision will be made, as it should've been in the first place.

AND the Victorian government has appointed a municipal monitor to help guide good governance and forge a strong future for the municipality and its residents.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/municipal-monitor-appointed-yarra-city-council?fbclid=IwAR1o6T8XAu5eZ7aH7LnyqZI1X6-nJVaENYqTBAxVG3gtVqS_N1_61dJrg3M

A municipal monitor will be appointed to the Yarra City Council to help guide good governance and forge a strong future for the municipality and its residents. Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane made the announcement today to ensure the council has the guidance it needs to perform its role su...

25/11/2021

Looks like Sophie Wade finally figured out how to improve her 'poorly paid' position as a Councillor.

Hopefully she'll also figure out how to update the record on how much the Greens really donated to her election campaign (which is on the record via Facebook Ad Library).

25/11/2021

At 8pm tonight, the Yarra Councillors met to vote for a new Mayor. Councillor (Caulfield) was absent 'on leave'. Yet at that exact same time, he was more than capable of logging on to Facebook to spit the dummy at this page over the commentary regarding his recent behaviour surrounding the vote. How ironic.

25/11/2021

No words. Okay got words. Looks like Councillor Caulfield has a buddy in the flip when it suits me club.

24/11/2021

We're all for people going on leave.

But if you can find time to post on Facebook whining about your fellow counsellors, doesn't logic dictate that you could find a few minutes to log on to the meeting and actually vote?

This post is utter nonsense. Thank goodness for the TRULY independent counsellors who are actually listening to the people.

20/11/2021

Heard on the streets - Councillor Caulfield is having a wee sook about the people questioning whether he has an undisclosed agenda with the Greens.

Let's take a little look.

Today he announced he's taking prearranged leave (fair enough) but, and it's a big but, just a couple of days ago he was planning on attending the Mayor vote and had allegedly agreed to back the majority (AKA the Greens candidate).

So why the about face today Councillor Caulfield. Have you shared your reasons for no longer attending with the other councillors? And if so, in the interest of transparent represenstation, will you share them with the people of Yarra?

Oh, and back to that claim of "I have no agenda; there are no deals" well, history tells us that there is a public association between Councillor Caulfield and the Greens - and the letter to prove it is below.

Now mate, stop spitting your dummy and man up. If you didn't flip flop around on issues like a stinky dying fish, people might not give you as much of a hard time.

12/11/2021

If we had a say, here's why we'd say no (even though it's slim pickings).

Let's start with this post - a whole lot of problem, but not a lot of solutions. And more money to be spent on an external review.

There's a lot of big ticket items here, yet when residents (dare) to complain about cuts to services, they are fed a line about all of us having to pay the price because of COVID.

Anyone else think it's time to bring in an administrator and fix the problem at Yarra City Council once and for all?

11/11/2021

Deeply disappointed to report that of the four (active) Greens Councillors, only two acknowledged Remembrance Day yesterday on social media.

We would like to thank Amanda Stone, Nicholls Ward Councillor and Edward Crossland for Melba Ward for stepping up. Herschel Landes of Richmond also posted.

Sadly, our other 'representatives' - Mayor Gabrielle de Vietri, Councillor Sophie Wade and Stephen Jolly - did not pay respects to all those who have served.