In spite of many objections, the city has gone ahead and hired a white knight to act as a buffer between city hall and the people of Penticton.
(Read more: Penticton hires new engagement consultant)
All I can say is that this new engagement consultant, JoAnne Kleb, has both my respect and deepest sympathies.
Standing alone, she will be facing two years worth of mounting frustration. As the engagement consultant, she has most likely been instructed to put a good spin on really bad news. At the same time, she must also work towards healing a festering, ever-growing rift that has erupted between the elected officials at city hall and the citizens they are supposed to serve.
I hope JoAnne has a good suit of armour, and a really big sword in her arsenal because I fear she has a really tough, bumpy road ahead. To her credit, however, this brave soul will be hosting three public information sessions, on Oct. 13, 14 and 15. I look forward to meeting her at one of them.
Regardless of how all this came to be, it is still an opportunity for the people of Penticton to send a message to those in control at city hall. Just what they choose to do with the information, well, who knows, but I would like to remind people of how important it is to remain civil. The engagement consultant, after all, is just the messenger.
David Korinetz
Penticton
