Two sides to the fingershaking incident

DOES it really matter if Cr Lee Vandervis shook his finger at an old lady or a little old lady?

That she was 80? She could have been 28 or 58. What’s the difference?

His behaviour should be the focus of this story. Does Cr Vandervis need help? Support?

He’s standing for mayor. He’s a public figure already and he’s often in the news for not managing his anger.

Can he be deliberately provoked in order to show this side of his personality? If so, there’s a very unhealthy dynamic at work here, but he holds the responsibility to contain himself, even if he admits he ‘‘has disputes with people all the time’’.

It's ideal newspaper fodder and

‘‘tut, tut, tut’’ we go. But seriously, is Cr Vandervis fit for a public role when his behaviour detracts from the actual issues he purports matter so much? Liz Benny Middlemarch

I HAD ‘‘fear in my belly’’ when I read the frontpage report today (ODT, 22.9.22) about an incident in which Dunedin City councillor and candidate Lee Vandervis intimidated a woman at a candidates’ debate.

Fear that you, a prominent newspaper, should make it the foremost headline over such a trivial matter.

Fear that you seem to be making a point instead of reporting impartially.

Fear that we have a biased media in New Zealand.

Annette Wale Wanaka

SOME balance is needed to the smear piece on Cr Lee Vandervis today (ODT, 22.9.22).

It seems we can set our watches by the Otago Daily Times’ attempts to either amplify or manufacture allegations against Cr Vandervis in the last two weeks of Dunedin mayoral campaigns.

The woman complaining of ‘‘fear in her belly’’ after tipping over Cr

Vandervis’ sign and thereby inviting a confrontation, is a serial agitator.

I sat next to her at last week’s Dunedin ratepayers’ meeting and she attempted to hijack the meeting to heckle Cr Vandervis and had the microphone taken off her.

This also caused her visible distress, but clearly the ODT chose not to report that unsuccessful effort. Russell Lund Macandrew Bay

City centre for people

INSTEAD of businesses demanding that we revert to a George St where cars move both ways, why don't we upgrade our city centre to be more sophisticated like European towns, where previous road space for cars is now space for the community?

Imagine going restfully here and there, moving among gardens and inspiring art to browse leisurely in interesting stores and markets, buying locallymade products from people you want to support.

Imagine sitting down on a bench in the sun and having a snack, a chat with friends and colleagues.

Instead of stressing about finding parking for your car, all the above can be achieved by relaxing in a bus, walking, using your bike, sharing a ride with a neighbour, or taking a taxi to an appointment.

Upgrades of our city centre should move in the direction which enables and promotes true sustainability.

Our city centre should become a place for people and not cars.

Sue Novell

Tainui

St Barnabas reunion

St Barnabas Anglican Church Warrington/Waitati

150th celebration, November 13, 2022. A special service with a light lunch to follow in the Warrington Hall. $15 subsidised price.

Please register with Louise Booth for catering purposes, at stbarnabas. ch@gmail.com or phone 0274 821 932.