Hobart City Alderman Jeff Briscoe, Lord Mayoral Candidate said today that his shopfront office at the prominent State Library corner (which has been open for nearly week) has already demonstrated that residents and people who work or shop in the city have great ideas and have expressed to him the value of instant and easy access to their local government representative. Local Government has the real potential to listen more carefully to the people Alderman Brisce said and respond accordingly.
Other spheres of Government are not listening to the people well said Alderman Briscoe today. “You can see that with the water meters debate, and subsequent prices rises fiasco, massive electricity increases, health cutbacks and other cost of living increases due to government imposing on the people against their will and probably with not a lot of competence showing recently.”
It is the first time a Lord Mayor candidate of Hobart has opened a shopfront campaign office. It has happened in other capital cities- and they funded by political parties or big corporate donors but not in Jeff’s case. He has taken leave from his daytime job as a teacher and dipped into his family savings to fund this.
“I am here to listen. Fortunately probably for the public, I have no spin doctors, ministerial or equivalent council advisors – you just get the real Jeff but I have some fantastic volunteers that make up our team.”
“The shopfront which is on the corner opposite the State Library is a bit of a fishbowl but I like that because it shows that my firm belief for open and transparent decision making- rather than the alternative.”
“I believe we should all show full confidence in similar ways in the city because if we can’t help ourselves turn the city around, there is no white knight out there to do it for us”
“I made the decision, not to seek money donations from anyone for my campaign and have no party backing as I am an independent. Residents will judge me on my policies and performance not determined elsewhere”
“My aim has been to give easy access to their LM and alderman candidate whatever the outcome and may be able to help people and small business during this period.
“It has been a bit hard on my wallet but I am prepared to do this to give the general public a voice in the lead up to important decisions they have to make about who will represent them locally.”
“It has level access so there shouldn’t be a barrier for anyone.” “Also my team has set up and extensive cyber presence (Facebook, website, twitter, youtube channel) and I make my phone and address details freely available if they cannot make the office” But direct face to face contact is the best if people can do that. So this office does fulfils that ideal well”
“I would love for this shopfront office to continue after the election”
“I have done no publicity about this shopfront office but already many city workers and visitors have come in (often during their lunch hour) and others have seen it and just dropped in”
“They have shared with me fantastic ideas and come to me with their concerns about individual matters to do with the local council”
The shopfront contains many square metres of floor space so Alderman Briscoe has made to available (gratis) for displays to help local artists, small business, various community lobby groups as well as providing recent council reports on domain management plan, the taste, water meters, linear park, and many others will be available.
Shopfront office displays on:
• Heritage Photos of Hobart by C. Dennison
• Panorama of Hobart in 1825
• The people’s struggle to gain access – the past, the present and the future?” Battery Point…
• The Water Meter – a taxing machine?
• Light rail, cycle ways…
• Amalgamation – the answer or a diversion?
• Future of North Hobart and TCA grounds
• Gehl’s report, the findings and more
“A small business owner pointed out a policy decision by council not to remove graffiti that on building that don’t front footpath stopped offensive graffiti (in full view of the public) was not being removed by Council. I will now seek a council decision to slightly amend its policy. Business should not be hampered by silly rules that can be easily corrected.”
“Fortunately for this affected trader – an exception was made by Council management thru’ my intervention and has improved out of sight her shop.
“I hope to be present there every day(including weekends) for the next 4 weeks, so people can call in at their convenience and have a chat.”
[www.youtube.com/jeffbriscoe1, www.jeffbriscoe1.com , jeffbriscoe1 (twitter), ‘Jeff Briscoe for Lord Mayor’ page and ‘Jeff Briscoe Facebook’, 0418127311. 623100749, 318 Liverpool Street]
