City worker relieved she won't have to endure more 'abuse' at BRT meetings
原始发布日期： 2016-02-25 发布者：李方字变大 字变小
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Nenshi ends future face-to-face consultation plans over southwest rapid-transit proposal At least one city worker is relieved Mayor Naheed Nenshi has cancelled future public meetings into the contentious bus rapid transit project on 14th Street S.W., saying she is pleased she will no longer be “put in a position that compromises my safety and well-being.” In a public Facebook post, Emma Stevens, a communications strategist with the City of Calgary, identified herself as the city staff member Nenshi referred to as having been physically assaulted back in October. “I’m also the one (and certainly not the only one) that comes home late at night, physically and emotionally exhausted from the verbal abuse endured in the name of public engagement,” she wrote. Stevens, who has been involved in communications on the project for months, said she loves her job and believes in public engagement, but “not all citizens demonstrate the respect that my colleagues and I deserve, not just as City staff trying to do a job, but as human beings. I have been berated, demeaned, physically assaulted and disrespected by complete strangers on too many occasions.” On Wednesday, Nenshi cancelled all future face-to-face public meetings into the project, after a meeting earlier this week descended into what he described as verbal and physical assaults directed at public employees. “My staff will not be subject to that kind of abuse,” Nenshi said. A citizens group opposed to the project criticized Nenshi’s decision, saying it was undemocratic. “I am appalled at the intimidation tactics the city is using,” said Rick Donkers, a spokesperson for the group. “They are trying to intimidate their citizens from asking and doing their democratic right to question the city on a poorly timed project.” Here is Stevens’ complete post: I love my job. I get to work on high-profile, city-shaping projects. I spend my days planning communications for bikeways and transit projects that will effectively put Calgary on par with other North American cities in providing reliable, long-term transportation options. I spend many of my nights at public engagement events. Lots of citizens have great ideas that help us improve our projects, and I’m thrilled that I can be a conduit for those voices. But not all citizens demonstrate the respect that my colleagues and I deserve, not just as City staff trying to do a job, but as human beings. I have been berated, demeaned, physically assaulted and disrespected by complete strangers on too many occasions. Today our mayor cancelled all future in-person engagement on the SW Transitway/BRT project (a project I believe in and have been leading communications on for a few months now). I’m sorry for the Calgarians that now won’t get the chance to provide their input in person because of the behaviour of some of their neighbours. But I’m also, frankly, relieved that I won’t be put in a position that compromises my safety and well-being. I’m the colleague Nenshi mentions off the top, the one who was physically assaulted in October. I’m also the one (and certainly not the only one) that comes home late at night, physically and emotionally exhausted from the verbal abuse endured in the name of public engagement. I love my job and I believe in public engagement. I also believe in good behaviour and being kind to one another. Let’s do more of that. I love my job. I get to work on high-profile, city-shaping projects. I spend my days planning communications for… Posted by Emma Stevens on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 (摘自Calgary Herald) |