Rants & Raves
We discuss travel allowances, athletes who clam up, summer concerts and more
RAVE: For fighting the good fight. For many years, former businessman and ex-Sydney Alderman Roy Jessome was a regular contributor to our letters to the editor section and no topic bothered him more that the $ 140 weekly travel allowance that CBRM councillors have pocketed with no receipts required for more than 10 years. In his last letter, which appeared June 1, Jessome noted that Mayor Cecil Clarke had stated that the allowance would be dealt with during the budget session. The concerned citizen also expressed concern that council would recess in June, which meant the issue would remain unresolved until September at the earliest. Sadly, Jessome died unexpectedly last week. We’ll miss his candor and we call on other letter writers to carry the torch until council does the right thing by changing the allowance to kilometres used.
RANT: For clamming up. High praise to the Canadian women’s soccer team for a quality performance at the World Cup. And what fine ambassadors they were in the build-up to the event with media coverage reaching all-time highs. But it’s very disappointing to hear that several members of the team refused to be interviewed immediately following their tough quarterfinal loss to England. Here’s the thing. For too many years women’s sports has not received the coverage it deserves. But the coverage goes both ways. As an athlete in a sport fighting to be recognized you can’t only make yourself accessible after wins and ties. Sure, it was a tough loss. But suck it up and, like star striker Christine Sinclair did, answer a few questions. Even through a few tears. It comes with the territory if you want your sport to continue to grow in popularity.
RAVE: For summer concerts. The Makin’ Waves concert series seemed like a good idea when it was announced back in early May. A chance to hear some great bands at beautiful Wentworth Park in downtown Sydney for free? Hey, what’s not to like. Still, event organizers Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative and Cape Breton Regional Municipality Recreation had to be satisfied with last Thursday’s turnout of more than 1,000 people for the first show and from the sounds of things the event was very well received. No doubt, the beautiful evening weather helped but, regardless, events such as this add vibrancy to a community and that’s a good thing.