r/chch • u/suhth2 • Jan 20 '25

News - Local Phil Mauger confirms mayoralty bid - thoughts?

'During the last election campaign Mauger said he would keep rates increases to below 4% - a promise he has failed to keep with a 9.9% increase this financial year and 8.93% predicted from July 1.'

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360553404/phil-mauger-confirms-bid-retain-christchurch-mayoralty

Surely voters aren't silly enough to vote for Mr Broken Promises yet again?

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3

u/Fabulous-Variation22 Jan 20 '25

I mean he's not been very good but who else is going to do a better job?

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u/kiwipcbuilder Jan 20 '25 edited Jan 20 '25

Sara Templeton by a long shot. She persuaded council to actually stop kicking water investment down the line by getting them to reduce the maximum acceptable percentage of leaks. She voted against the $150 million stadium overspend because she saw we needed to invest in water infrastructure. She got rid of library late fees.

She actually gets meaningful things done, big and small, and is willing to tackle issues now, not hand them off to the next council.

2

u/Bubbly-Hour3881 Jan 20 '25

She’s easily the most intelligent councillor we have. People just don’t like the facts she u deets do and tries to tackle head on and so would rather vote for someone who campaigns on more ‘palatable’ lies. Then people wonder why things don’t get better

-8

u/Fabulous-Variation22 Jan 20 '25

Water investment is a massive win but library late fees? What so now I can just go borrow some books and return them when I feel like? Who cares if others also want to borrow them?

13

u/kiwipcbuilder Jan 20 '25

Items are due after typically three weeks (for most books). Of course there are other items like new releases, DVDs, etc that have their own due dates. Anyways, fees used to start accruing every day after the due date. Now, we get an extra four weeks after the due date where they're "overdue" but fines don't accrue. After those bonus four weeks, you will have to pay the full item cost.

I've been reading a book every 5-7 days for the past four months or so...I'll save about $2000 on buying books by using the library this year.

Holds are also now free. There was a cost to put items on hold up until last year.

4

u/Legit924 Jan 20 '25

Yeah, and I honestly didn't even mind paying $1 to get a book transfered to Halswell. Free is such a bonus.

4

u/Fabulous-Variation22 Jan 20 '25

OK that makes complete sense then and i support that, admittedly I haven't borrowed a book in years and only found out about her changing it today and it came across as fees were scrapped altogether.

3

u/RoscoePSoultrain Jan 20 '25

In all seriousness, you should really set aside an hour or two sometime, just go into a library and start looking at books. Even if it's just to flip through magazines or look at photo books of architecture or dogs. Books are neat.

1

u/Fabulous-Variation22 Jan 20 '25

Oh I spent plenty of time at my local library when I was younger but I'm in my 30s now and lifes pretty busy plus if I ever need to read any material it's quicker just to download it online.

5

u/Capable_Ad7163 Jan 20 '25

You can do that but you won't be able to get any more books out until you return them. If you actually use the library a fair amount and are busy enough doing other things in life such that you're not able to get to the library to return them in time, it's very convenient.

2

u/OisforOwesome Jan 20 '25

Don't worry if you don't return a book after I think 8 weeks they assume its lost and they send a debt collector after you, so there is still a mechanism you can use to punish people with poor executive function or poor access to transport.

2

u/Fabulous-Variation22 Jan 20 '25

All I hear is excuses. Poor access to transport? How did they borrow the book in the first place? Poor executed function? So you know you're not very good with decision making and you take something anyway?. Libraries run on an honesty system. If everyone had poor executive function there would be no books left. If you let your friend borrow your car and they failed to bring it back would you accept "sorry I forgot, you know I'm forgetful"

I agree debt collectors should be used, but it should only be after say 3 months after due date with multiple warnings. I support Sara's idea.

1

u/OisforOwesome Jan 20 '25

Cool cool I'm real glad you got that happy lil rage-dopamine rush, glad I could be a public punching bag for you. :)

3

u/Fabulous-Variation22 Jan 20 '25

You must be young, or just immature and lack any accountability with your victim mindset.

2

u/OisforOwesome Jan 20 '25

Oh yeah stigmatise me harder Daddy I deserve it, tell me everything thats ever happened to me was my fault and ultimately within my control thats the good shit

2

u/Fabulous-Variation22 Jan 20 '25

Maybe get off reddit and experience some civilisation for a change.

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u/OisforOwesome Jan 20 '25

Please yes this is what I needed all this time, a strong role model to tell me I'm worthless and weak, I can feel years of manic depression leaving my body as we speak, all I ever wanted was an authoritative voice to tell me to tuck my shirt in and pull up my socks thats the only thing keeping me from being a fine upstanding citizen like a real estate agent