Annunziata: Delusional or selfless?
Today, we have a multiple-choice quiz.
Relax, it won’t take long. There’s only one question.
It relates to Fort Erie regional Coun. Sandy Annunziata.
First, though, some background.
Last week, Standard reporters Grant LaFleche and Bill Sawchuk wrote a story detailing how regional taxpayers have unknowingly covered the travel costs for Annunziata’s trips to Toronto to appear on a radio talk show three or four times a month. In 2015, the bill totalled $4,100.
Annunziata, a rookie on regional council but a full-fledged member of its ruling conservative cabal, told his inquisitors he uses the talkshow platform “to promote Niagara and the town of Fort Erie.”
He makes this assertion despite the fact the Newstalk 1010 program on which he appears — the Jerry Agar Show — is not structured to deal with Niagara news.
The story noted that in the month of August the Agar show discussed Princess Diana, accessible parking at the Calgary airport, safe injection sites in Toronto and refugees crossing into Canada in Cornwall. No Niagara-specific issues were discussed.
Annunziata claims, however, he always attempts to work Niagara into the conversation whenever possible, say, when GO trains are discussed.
And, he noted, he is always introduced on the show as a Niagara regional councillor, and that alone helps promote the region.
“You can complain about the mileage, but how much would advertising cost on Newstalk 1010? What would be the expense of that?” said Annunziata. “You have to look at my intent. And my intent was to promote Niagara and the town of Fort Erie. Newstalk 1010 has a huge audience and don’t you think that Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet ministers are listening?”
OK, time for the quiz. In arguing that it is a good use of taxpayers’ money to expense trips to Toronto in order to chat about national/international current events and very occasionally name-drop Niagara, Fort Erie regional Coun. Sandy Annunziata is:
a) suffering from big-headedness b) delusional c) doing a great job promoting Sandy Annunziata d) all of the above e) none of the above; he’s selflessly enhancing Niagara’s profile and potentially attracting investment dollars to the region.
You have three seconds. Time’s up.
The answer is (d), although (a), ( b), or (c) would, I suppose, in this education-coddling world of ours, result in a passing grade.
People answering (e) can only be Annunziata’s close friends and relatives, members of the local Ontario Progressive Conservative Association or, perhaps, Jerry Agar.
Gotta hand it to Annunziata, though. The man doesn’t sell himself short in the credit-taking game.
He pointed out to The Standard that there has been an increase in housing starts and investment in Fort Erie during the time he has been on the show, although he couldn’t say how his radio appearances might be responsible for that surge.
Hey, if you travelled more than two hours to Toronto for a brief, unpaid radio gig and then travelled another two hours back, wouldn’t you try to convince yourself you were making a helluva impact?
Otherwise, your effort might seem a tad depressing.
Thing is, though, what if he’s right? It’s not that hard to imagine, is it?
Annunziata gives his views on housing, taxes, refugees, Princess Diana and this season’s Game of Thrones and the radio audience is enthralled with his insight.
Listeners decide to drop their Myrtle Beach vacation plans and holiday in Crystal Beach, instead.
They call Kathleen Wynne’s office and demand the target date for daily Niagara GO train service be moved up to 2019.
They pour all their imported wine down the sink.
They decide to take up casino gambling.
They inquire about investing in the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway.
They vow to stop at a Fort Erie’s Timmy’s before and after crossing the Peace Bridge.
Thank you, Sandy! dherod.niagara@gmail.com