What I bring to the table

1. General government consists of Council, administration, and Ontario Property Assessment.

I have 15 years of senior administrative experience having been the administrator of two public hospitals and the financial director of a third. I have served on very many boards and committees. It is important to develop respectful working relationships. At times, however, one must be frank and forthright where traditional diplomatic methods have failed.

I have also taken the municipal administration courses required of all city clerks/ administrators.

Please note that I also sat on school board for three years, the Kenora Committee of adjustment and the North Bay Hospital Community Advisory Board.

When people tell me their taxes are too high I asked them which services they would cut. When they tell me that their services are not commensurate with the taxes they pay I ask them what improvements they want. When people suggest that they are dissatisfied with council I ask them who they believe will best represent them at the table.

So I wish to serve the citizens of Rideau Rockcliffe and provide good leadership. As councillor I will help plan and build for the future. 

As you can see, I have a contribution to make, ideas, passion and I am committed to do the right thing no matter what. 

I have a thick skin and I know that at some point my popularity will wane. I am lucky to have a stable family.

I am ready to make decisions that benefit the community as a whole.

2. Protection consists of police, fire, and other protective services. These groups maintain the safety and security of all citizens by reducing or eliminating loss of life and property, by maintaining law enforcement, and preserving peace and good order.

I have no particular experience with law enforcement but I did make a submission to the Tippen inquiry and I did attend the meeting at the Wabano centre on the subject of race relations and police violence.

3. Roads, traffic and parking include: 

• parking, 
• signs and signals, 
• streetlights and the 
• maintenance of roads and parks of the City.

I was successful in negotiating a common access road in Kenora. I am of the mind that our pubic works need to move away from the cookie cutter approach. We need to use analytics to help reduce costs and improve services. In this area my experience in business intelligence should be a great advantage.

I fully support the development and expansion of cycling infrastructure and maintenance programs for the benefit of all.

4. Transit services provide local public transportation for citizens. They also include other transportation services such as planning and development.

This is another area where my background in analytics and business intelligence should help in developing optimal services.

5. Environmental services include:

• water supply and distribution, 
• wastewater treatment, and 
• waste and recycling services. 

These services provide: 

• clean drinking water to residents, 
• collect and treat wastewater, and 
• collect and properly process waste and recycling items.

I have no particular experience with environmental services but I did organize a new recycling program at Claremont manor in Manor Park. Further I have been very active in the past with river preservation, giving lectures, writing papers, and I was responsible for the launch of a judicial review that helped lead to the preservation of the Kipawa River.

6. Health services include paramedic and health services. Mandated health services promote and maintain health programs that optimize the health of residents. Paramedic services deliver timely and effective care for pre-hospital emergency care, along with medically required inter-hospital transportation.

I am skilled in this area having overseen the budgets of ambulance services and capital projects in the past.

7. Social and family services include: 

• social assistance, 
• long-term care, and 
• childcare services. 

Social assistance services determine, issue, and monitor clients’ eligibility for financial, social, and employment assistance. 

Long-term care services provide secure and supervised health services for seniors who can no longer live at home. 

The hospital services I oversaw also included chronic care and long term services. I have been involved in extended care programs in the past.

Childcare services provide: 

• subsidized childcare spaces and 
• provide funding for wage subsidy, 
• pay equity, and 
• special needs.

8. Social housing, with the partnership of 120 community-based agencies, provides a range of services, including: 

• housing, 
• emergency shelters, 
• outreach, 
• search, and 
• stabilization to people in the community.

I have used community housing services in the past as a market based payer. I love the built in community aspect of these services but I am also aware of the need for leadership and a sense of ownership which is important to the tenants which must be cultivated and encouraged.

9. Recreation and cultural services include parks and recreation, culture, and libraries. 

Parks and recreation services develop and deliver high-quality recreational programs, and develop and maintain recreation facilities, parks and sports-fields to ensure all residents have the opportunity to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. 

My role has primarily been as a volunteer in picking up trash and involvement in city wide cleanup days. In general I believe that the health of sport, recreation and arts within a community is a strong indicator of the health of the community itself. From a practical stand point, citizens may not become involved in these self actualizing pursuits if they are having trouble making ends meet.

Culture services invest in local non-profit organizations that deliver services on behalf of the City. 

I support the arts and I practice artistic expression myself at every opportunity.

Library services provide public library services to the citizens through:

• physical facilities, 
• bookmobile, 
• virtual, and telephone services.

I am a regular and enthusiastic user of library services.

10. Planning and development services manage urban development for residential and business interests, as well as infrastructure and parks.

• Non departmental includes equity in earnings of government business enterprise, investment income, shared lottery earnings, and miscellaneous sundry revenue

The city is the sole shareholder of :

1. Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. [“Hydro Ottawa”], and the 
2. Ottawa Community Housing Corporation [“OCHC”], 

The City also provides hydro and housing services to the residents of Ottawa. 
Ottawa Community Lands Development and the Manotick Mill Quarter Community Development were created for the purpose of promoting and undertaking community improvements in the City by managing real property.
Corporations were created for the purpose of promoting and undertaking community improvements in the City by managing real property.


Employee benefits liabilities, property tax assessment appeals, legal claims provisions, landfill closure and post-closure liabilities and liabilities for contaminated sites are part of the cost of running the city of Ottawa. Costs to settle legal claims are based on available information if likely and reasonably determinable, are reported as an expense

Ottawa is required to provide for closure and post-closure care of solid waste landfill sites.

Ottawa Art Gallery works of art are not recorded in the City’s consolidated financial statements.

Fees and user charges relate to transit fares; utility charges; water, wastewater, and solid waste; licensing fees; fees for use of various programming; and fees imposed based on specific activities. Revenue is recognized when the activity is performed or when the services are rendered.



The “city” activities of all committees of Council and the following boards, Business Improvement Areas [“BIAs”] and entities:

1. The Police Services Board
2. The Ottawa Public Library Board 
3. The Ottawa Board of Health
4. The Ottawa Community Housing Corporation
5. Manotick Mill Quarter Community Development Corporation
6. Ottawa Community Lands Developmen Corporation
7. The Bank Street BIA
8. The Westboro Village BIA
9. The Sparks Street BIA
10. The Somerset Street Chinatown BIA The Glebe BIA
11. The Heart of Orleans BIA
12. The Carp Road Corridor BIA The Carp Village BIA
13. The Vanier BIA
14. The Manotick BIA
15. The Sparks Street Mall Authority The Somerset Village BIA
16. The Preston Street BIA
17. The Byward Market BIA
18. The Downtown Rideau BIA
19. The Barrhaven BIA
20. The Wellington West BIA
21. The Kanata North BIA
22. The Bells Corners BIA
23. The Kanata Central BIA

Rideau-Rockcliffe: Burning Man - Shining City

For decades a community of artists and free thinkers have been imaging and reimagining the organization of a temporary community called Black Rock City. They build it and creatively destroy it every year.

The beauty of this concept is that it’s institutions are virtual and its infrastructure idealistic.

You can learn about this organization and it’s evolution at http://Youtu.be/xzyfCbubyyk

We cannot have the civic design nor the circular layout of Blackrock City but the creation of networks of communication and interaction are definitely in scope. We can plan and implement communal gathering places, traditional sites of ritualistic quiet contemplation of lost loved ones.

What are the shared values of the Burning Man Community?

• Radical Inclusion
• Gifting
• Decommodification
• Radical self reliance
• Radical self expression
• Communal effort
• Civic responsibility
• Leaving no trace
• Participation
• Immediacy

Art is an important aspect of Black Rock City. Over the years it has been an elementary indicator of civic and community health.

The effigy, the Burning Man, has no particular significance, it is not idolic, rather it serves as a focal point and guidepost. Perhaps it mainly serves as a temporary physical reminder of the virtual and idealistic nature of the community.  Our most important aspects are virtual, our morals, values, ideals,   Beliefs, are what make Rideau - Rockcliffe the shining city that it aspires to be.

We are all here, and then, we are all gone. Our shared values live on.

On the hustings ...a field report

2019 04 11

Today was spent glad handing on Beechwood, the interface between wards. People were happy to see me. Many had made up their minds and voted but others were persuaded.  I wish there was more of me to go around.

2019 03 21


Sign, sign everywhere a sign. I had one voter call saying "you disregarded our no soliciting sign"....its called canvasing. So yes, for those like her it is a fail. The Joy's of politics...because apparently putting signs ups everywhere else is  OK.

2019 03 10

I notice that in the area of Carson Grove I am one of two candidates that is actually knocking on doors. People are readily saying they are glad to see me. There is a good reason why so few have been out and about, it is very hard work going door to door, much harder than sticking a sign in the snowbank.

People like the dog, Dusky

2019 03 07

Today I attended the candidate taping at Rogers TV Community Channel. I met Jamie and Raulston there so that was fun. While at Bridgehead I spoke to a voter who had placed a Jamie sign in his snowbank....she is a beautiful person he said. That is but one reason to vote I replied, adding that managing a 3 billion dollar budget does not require much beauty.

2019 03 05

Today on Rue Guy a voter insisted he lived in Rideau Vanier and said he had a Mathieu Fleury sign on his lawn last fall.  That may be that you had a sign but I showed him the electoral map indicating the boundary at L’eglise Street. And so we have the wacky politics of civic engagement and an indicator of why people may not be engaged.

See my post below: where is Rideau Rockcliffe.   https://peterkarwacki.blogspot.com/2019/02/where-is-rideau-rockcliffe.html

And here is Craig MacCauly with some radical ideas. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sVfjjCLtlvg
The zany approach likely turned off some voters but Craig still has some good ideas. more transparency, accountability and integrity from our politicians.

• ranked-choice voting would lead to fairer elections and better decisions at council
• Candidates for council should reveal the sources of their funding BEFORE the vote, not after. Politicians should not take large sums of money from the 1% and then reward them with their votes at council.
• incumbent politicians should not misuse their “office budgets” to buy votes and campaign illegally
• healthy transportation: better pedestrian, cycling and public transportation infrastructure
• a sustainable and compassionate city where clean energy, air, and water, public transit, recycling, and green space protection take priority

Craig MacAulay
@ottawaowl
ottawaowl2@yahoo.ca
https://bellscorners.wordpress.com
613 518-2107

2019 03 03

Yesterday I was out for a relaxing walk with Dusky and my wife.  At the foot of the Adawa foot bridge was Mathieu Fleury, Sheila Perry and Johan Hamels, complete with Mathieu’s portable pop up exhibition tent handing out coffee and Timbits.

This was a nice affair celebrating the fact that the NCC path called the poet’s walk had been ploughed.

Here is a blast from the past, the preservation of the Kipawa River.

Kipawa River Preservation

2019 03 01

It is an unusual thing but today I was asked by a voter to return to her home to meet with her, Dusky and all.  After a few questions, she said, “I am voting for you, and I am going to ask my friends to do the same” This generous statement took me by surprise, but then she said, “get ready, you are going to win”, I had to weigh this for a moment.

I am ready to win, you need to be ready. In many ways my whole life has led me to this point.

That is why, when I later hit the social assistance housing projects it was a bit humbling seeing the disconnect between the single family home community of Rockcliffe and this area, recognizing the difficulty of representing both groups well with their completely different needs.

In politics one has limited political capital and it must be spent wisely until eventually it is gone.




2019 02 24

Making my way around east overbrook I can readily see the importance of privately owned low cost rental accommodation. Virtually every building has multiple residences.

The issues appear to be poorly cleared streets, difficulties with garbage disposal and recycling. People are making homes for themselves but it is hard.

With all the rain and standing water one woman said to me, “man I’m votin’ for you!”

Once again I encountered one person who admitted, “I don’t vote”



2019 02 23

Stomping around my neighborhood before I cross the moat this evening, first the hot tub!  It seems Johan Hammel and I were in the same locality, in the trenches, going door to door.  There are very many MURBs, or multiple unit residential buildings, many like rabbit warren...286 a, 286 b etc.  People are generally happy to see me when they actually come to the door but today I encountered three that admitted they would not vote and were not interested in my stuff. I didn’t take it personally.

When canvasing we often face a nobody is home situation.  I am leaving behind my business card ...just big enough for my name and blog URL....one woman complained as she found this to be excessive.

I have found no matter how hard you try, no matter how good your reasons, at best only 50% of people will agree with you. The rest will disagree and for their own very good reasons. Alas the last time I checked, this is a democracy.

Sometimes there are signs like the one above.  We are campaigning. We are giving citizens the information they need to vote intelligently.

We ask for your patience, and that you accept our material.

Thanks

The management





2019 02 22

Today I entered the dragon’s den, Linenlea and Rockcliffe. One pointed to the Penny Thompson sign out front. “Yes”, I said, “All candidates have something to bring to the table”. I sat on school board for three years myself. You are pretty hemmed in as trustee. It’s the province and the superintendent that runs things. The question is, “ who will do the best job on council.” Especially in the wake of Tobi who had been specifically omitted from committees?

One woman added, “I didn’t care for Tobi”. ( he had 80% of the vote). When I asked why she said that for $7,000 per year what are we getting, poor snow clearing, and garbage collection...in her view he was ineffective. When I asked what she would cut, she admitted that the city was too complicated for the average taxpayer to understand.

Which leads us to the question of who do you think will hold senior city managers to account for their decisions?




2019 02 21

Behind the CMHC lies Rockcliffe Mews, a suburban bedroom community. I stomped around Merganser and Borealis, Solace Crescent...with most people at work I left my card at the door.

The wall of garage doors and unshoveled walks make for hard canvassing.There is no place to park if you are not from around there. Plenty of french. Içi on parle français!

Dusky and I did the loops together. Best regards to Fred Perkins, the only life present on the street.






2019 02 20

Today Dusky and I stomped around Cardinal Glen in Manor Park off St. Laurent N. for two and a half hours. Mostly seniors greeted me at the door. I thought maybe they were as interested in seeing Dusky as they were in my pitch.  This is a really nice area of higher end triplexes all grouped within a tight crescent with a brand new park.
Everybody on DunBarton Crescent seemed genuinely glad to see me so I found myself grateful to be out there, knowing that I had to run in order to have the privilege of going door to door to meet them.

Finishing up my day at the University OF Ottawa listening to Sanjay Cherian of Telehealth talk about health system transformation.  How do we transform our health system to meet the tsunami of older citizens. Home health monitoring has been helpful in reducing emergency visits.

How can the city's health services portfolio help make electronic collaboration work better?

Sanjay used the analogy of Lego pieces and the design and construction of solutions.  Here we have a race car. What is the flight path from horse and buggy to Edsel to formula one race car?

I finished the canvas day on Donald at the MURBs, always a challenge.

For those that miss me I am holding a meet and greet at the Rideau Sports and Recreation Center ( the old Rideau Tennis Club) on March 7th at 7:00 pm. Come out and meet me and bring your concerns forward.

2019 02 19

Today I took my fat bike into 45 O'Conner for a meeting. There were no trucks so Truckmagedon seems to have fizzled. On the plus side, the bike was a hoot to ride. On the hustings this morning I visited many homes. People are quite friendly at the door, even amused since I have Dusky with me. I like the interest that has been shown and meeting my neighbors has been fun. Needless to say I am way outside any comfort zone I may have been in. Trust me, you need cleats. There is ice everywhere.

Links to declared candidates: compare and contrast platforms

Please choose wisely. Thanks to all candidates for stepping forward to run.

Go to Ottawa.ca/vote

Rideau-Rockcliffe By-Election Nominated Candidates - 2019

Last updated: February 15, 2019 Nominated candidates for Ward 13. Here are all of the candidates making their pitches on Rogers TV, for your convenience. It is in the best interests of Rideau Rockcliffe that you vote, vote wisely based on who will best represent our ward. Good luck!

Marc Dorgeville
613-809-2937
marc.dorgeville@gmail.com(link sends e-mail) www.marcdorgeville.ca

 Johan Hamels
613-744-6009
Johanhamels2019@gmail.com
www.johanhamels.ca

Peter Heyck
613-853-4251
Peterheyck@gmail.com

Miklos Horvath
votehorvath@gmail.com

 ✔  Peter Jan Karwacki
613-304-5844
peterkarwacki.overbrook@gmail.com
www.peterkarwacki.blogspot.com

Rawlson King
613-868-1860
info@rawlsonking.ca
www.rawlsonking.ca

Jamie Kwong
613-252-8366
Jamie@jamiekwong.ca
www.jamiekwong.ca

Patrick Mayangi
613-262-8342
Pat.mayangi@gmail.com
www.patrickmayangi.ca

Oriana Ngabirano
613-252-4364
info@voteoriana.ca
Www.voteoriana.ca

Chris Penton
613-883-1012
votepenton@gmail.com
www.votepenton.ca

Penny Thompson
613-851-9623
pennythompson@rogers.com

Walking in the footsteps of Tobi Nussbaum

"I wish I had asked more detailed questions and requested clearer answers earlier than I did. I acknowledge this shortcoming in part because I believe we need to build a greater culture of accountability at city hall. "

Tobi Nussbaum

Who do you want to have as your councillor? What did Tobi mean when he said we need a culture of accountability? Here is a description of your councillor’s oversight responsibilities.

This is the summary of City of Ottawa Services that your councillor/ trustee must oversee. The City Must provide (is accountable for) these municipal services including:

1. employment and financial assistance;
2. long-term care; 
3. community services and libraries; 
4. emergency and protective services including police, fire and ambulance; and 
5. transportation, 
6. utilities and public works, including roads, 
7. sewers and wastewater, 
8. drinking water, 
9. waste collection and disposal.

These services are at times described as:

1. General government
2. Protection to persons and property Roads, traffic and parking
3. Transit
4. Environmental services
5. Health services
6. Social and family services
7. Social housing
8. Recreation and cultural services Planning and development

A brief description of each segment follows:

• General government consists of Council, administration, and Ontario Property Assessment.


• Protection consists of police, fire, and other protective services. These groups maintain the safety and security of all citizens by reducing or eliminating loss of life and property, by maintaining law enforcement, and preserving peace and good order.


• Roads, traffic and parking include parking, signs and signals, streetlights and the maintenance of roads and parks of the City.


• Transit services provide local public transportation for citizens. They also include other transportation services such as planning and development.


• Environmental services include water supply and distribution, wastewater treatment, and waste and recycling services. These services provide clean drinking water to residents, collect and treat wastewater, and collect and properly process waste and recycling items.


• Health services include paramedic and health services. Mandated health services promote and maintain health programs that optimize the health of residents. Paramedic services deliver timely and effective care for pre-hospital emergency care, along with medically required inter-hospital transportation.


• Social and family services include social assistance, long-term care, and childcare services. Social assistance services determine, issue, and monitor clients’ eligibility for financial, social, and employment assistance. Long-term care services provide secure and supervised health services for seniors who can no longer live at home. Childcare services provide subsidized childcare spaces and provide funding for wage subsidy, pay equity, and special needs.


• Social housing, with the partnership of 120 community-based agencies, provides a range of services, including housing, emergency shelters, outreach, search, and stabilization to people in the community.


• Recreation and cultural services include parks and recreation, culture, and libraries. Parks and recreation services develop and deliver high-quality recreational programs, and develop and maintain recreation facilities, parks and sports-fields to ensure all residents have the opportunity to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Culture services invest in local non-profit organizations that deliver services on behalf of the City. Library services provide public library services to the citizens via physical facilities, bookmobile, virtual, and telephone services.


• Planning and development services manage urban development for residential and business interests, as well as infrastructure and parks.


• Non departmental includes equity in earnings of government business enterprise, investment income, shared lottery earnings, and miscellaneous sundry revenue

The city is the sole shareholder of :
Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. [“Hydro Ottawa”], and the 
Ottawa Community Housing Corporation [“OCHC”], 

The City also provides hydro and housing services to the residents of Ottawa. 
Ottawa Community Lands Development and the Manotick Mill Quarter Community Development were created for the purpose of promoting and undertaking community improvements in the City by managing real property.
Corporations were created for the purpose of promoting and undertaking community improvements in the City by managing real property.


Employee benefits liabilities, property tax assessment appeals, legal claims provisions, landfill closure and post-closure liabilities and liabilities for contaminated sites are estimates.

Costs to settle legal claims, based on available information if likely and reasonably determinable, are reported as an expense

Ottawa is required to provide for closure and post-closure care of solid waste landfill sites.

Ottawa Art Gallery works of art are not recorded in the City’s consolidated financial statements.

Fees and user charges relate to transit fares; utility charges; water, wastewater, and solid waste; licensing fees; fees for use of various programming; and fees imposed based on specific activities. Revenue is recognized when the activity is performed or when the services are rendered.



The “city” activities of all committees of Council and the following boards, Business Improvement Areas [“BIAs”] and entities:

1. The Police Services Board
2. The Ottawa Public Library Board The Ottawa Board of Health
3. The Ottawa Community Housing Corporation
4. Manotick Mill Quarter Community Development Corporation
5. Ottawa Community Lands Developmen Corporation
6. The Bank Street BIA
7. The Westboro Village BIA
8. The Sparks Street BIA
9. The Somerset Street Chinatown BIA The Glebe BIA
10. The Heart of Orleans BIA
11. The Carp Road Corridor BIA The Carp Village BIA
12. The Vanier BIA
13. The Manotick BIA
14. The Sparks Street Mall Authority The Somerset Village BIA
15. The Preston Street BIA
16. The Byward Market BIA
17. The Downtown Rideau BIA
18. The Barrhaven BIA
19. The Wellington West BIA
20. The Kanata North BIA
21. The Bells Corners BIA
22. The Kanata Central BIA

All interfund assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses need to be eliminated.

Hydro Ottawa and its business enterprise’s accounting policies are not adjusted to conform to those of the City, and inter-organizational transactions and balances are not eliminated.

Other comprehensive income or loss of the enterprise is recorded directly to the City’s accumulated surplus and net debt.


School boards

The taxation, other revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities of school boards are separate and the City does not control or have any involvement in the operations of school boards.


Note: from the Ottawa Citizen "the lack of urban representation on arguably the most important council committee: the Watson-chaired finance and economic development committee. That’s the committee tasked with major policy oversight for things such as LRT planning, corporate finance and real estate. Not a single downtown-area councillor will sit on the finance committee if the proposed membership passes at council meeting Wednesday. In fact, of the 11 proposed members of the finance committee to sit with Watson, nine members are either rural or suburban councillors."

Social responsibility, accountability and the sense of obligation

There are some who remain unknown and unseen who have a sense of entitlement with no sense of responsibility or sense of accountability. We need to find them, educate them while protecting ourselves. There is evidence they are among us and we need to help them so everyone can live a better life.

Canada is well know for its Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Keep in mind that the unwritten part is that you also have responsibility as a citizen, simple things like keeping Canada clean, and voting when there is an election!

Here is a chance to participate in your community.  Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 6:00 am to Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 11:00 pm

Road Safety Action Plan Public Consultation Questionnaire(link is external)

The City of Ottawa is seeking the insight and opinions of residents about road safety. We want to know what you think are the most important issues on our roads today. The survey will only take 10 minutes and will be available until March 19, 2019.

The feedback will be used to build a Road Safety Action Plan - a strategic plan that will guide decision making and policy.

Contact

Krista Tanaka

Email: 

rsap-pasr@ottawa.ca(link sends e-mail)

Road Safety Action Plan Public Consultation Questionnaire

For 10 points, What is community resilience Alex?

Ottawa is a government town more than any other. In 1998 Paul Martin said he would meet his deficit reduction targets come hell or high water.  The Harris provincial government amalgamated, consolidated and eliminated services and soon the impacts of similar measures by Rob Ford will be felt.  It is unreasonable to expect that Ottawa is immune to the impacts of future austerity programs resulting from the consequences of a world awash in debt induced by record low interest rates.

The federal and provincial governments are both deep in debt and at the municipal level we are not immune. Since Jim Watson was elected mayor in 2010, the City of Ottawa's total net debt has more than doubled — and is topping $1.7 billion by the end of 2016, for annual interest cost of about $170 million to service the borrowings. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-city-debt-doubled-to-1-69-billion-since-2010-1.3836398

Meanwhile we are starting to see the knock on effects of climate change with extreme weather events like floods, tornados, record snowfalls. There will be more of the same.

The implications of this are that the city must prepare and revisit its business continuity plans. Neighbourhoods too, need to have considered and updated emergency plans. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-city-budget-draft-2018-1.4393408

Resiliency means neighbourhoods can withstand increased taxes or decreased government funding. It may present itself as poorly maintained streets, inadequate housing, poor transit services and many other indications of financial stress within the city.

We are starting to see the cracks. The writing is on the wall for all to see.

As the future ward representative you have to be thick skinned enough to handle the immense pressure that will mount from all sides as it becomes increasingly apparent that the status quo will not hold.