If I write "The Troubled Olympic Village" one more time...

I don't profess to be a know-it-all about civic politics. Far from it, in fact. If you want real discussion about recent catch phrases like "Gregor's Blank Cheque" or "Milleniumgate" or "The Troubled Olympic Village", there are many more credible sources found online - even them.)

I've only lived in Vancouver for 3ish years and until I had to learn names for current event quizzes in my Broadcast Journalism program, all I knew was the mayor was in a wheelchair. Slowly that changed, especially when I became part of the mainstream media. I have previously spoken of my political leanings and I'm not ashamed to have views even as part of the "unbiased" press.

In the last year, I've picked up a lot - be it contacts in public office or general knowledge and background information.

In the last week or so, I've picked up a lot of other details. The moment news rolled out of city hall regarding the status of the athletes' village project, I was on the case. My job was to find reactions - the easy targets would be the Olympics critic and the taxpayers federation. I heard their stories, the horror stories that the games would bankrupt the province for all eternity and leave a black mark where there was once a happy rainbow (or something less LGBT-themed).

Am I a fan of the Olympics? Sure. I was an amateur athlete and know people who once trained beside me who will be in Whistler in 2010. Am I a fan of everything that comes with the Olympics? Hellz no. The nature of the organizing committee terrifies me and there's the outstanding cost.

First, it's a publicly funded event with little to no accountability to the public. Freedom of information requests don't exist for VANOC. Their meetings do not have to be documented for the taxpayers who will be shelling out for the games. We have no idea what is going on behind the doors of that building in Burnaby.

I've tried calling them for stories before. Often I required simple answers to simple questions - a matter of confirmation. But nothing. They don't have to answer to anyone.

Then there's the cost. I'm not talking about the Olympic Village. I'm talking in general. There is a huge burden on the city and province. Security, buildings, transportation, two weeks of mass pandemonium...

Okay, I'll be honest, my inner anarchist is hoping for the last thing. Not just the mini-A, but my interest in earth-shattering, world-changing events and my coverage from the front line.

Back to the dolla-dolla-billz.

In addition to reading every comment posted on Frances' blog and rolling my eyes at the content elsewhere, I've also been asking my friends (educated folk who care about what happens in this city but don't subscribe to a newspaper or even turn on the radio) about the whole bru-ha-ha.

Last night I got the best comment: "I thought the Olympics were supposed to make us money."

(Tell Montreal I say hi.)

Lets fast forward to today.

I'm working in the newsroom, getting up to speed on the 20 hour overnight marathon of an emergency legislature meeting. (5 hours of watching hansard on Saturday nearly killed me.) I'm prepping for a chat with Carole James when we get the call that Gregor (yes, Happy Planet's Gregor Robertson) is ready to scrum in about 30 minutes. I book it down there with some questions in mind - focused on reaction to the lengthy legislature discussion.

The scrum is typical. A couple personalities take over, asking questions with little variance that result in the same answers over and over. I know that I can turn nothing into something, so I don't fret about getting my questions in. I know the reporters are looking for particular answers or the ultimate, a screw up. Gregor is safe balling it all day, "That's a good question and a valid one." Ha.

At the end of the scrum, we know these things:
He's thankful for the province's decision.
They will continue negotiations with Fortress.
They don't know how much of their costs will be recouped.
There could be a penalty for pulling out from their Fortress contract.
They won't ask for money from higher levels of government, abiding by former guarantees (but will take money if offered).
And other stuff. (I've been meaning to check the CBC story, because I'm in their shot and likely looking a bit unimpressed.)

As the scrum ended I heard one of the journalists (not sure who it was, looking back) tell a particular media guy, "Thanks, the public really wants to know." (NO THEY DON'T)

But really, what do they want to know?

Remember how I've been talking to friends? Those educated people who may browse The Hook from time to time?

They get stuck on that one number. 1 Billion Dollars. They don't know why they are stuck with it, but they know the whole thing is a mess. They are terrified this debacle is gonna get bigger and that we are all going to get caught in it.

All this provincial legislature stuff? People think it means the government is bailing out the city. Really, its just the go-ahead for team Gregor to keep negotiating with the lender without having to head to a referendum.

While I know the papers need the depth of information, the nitty-gritty, the rest of us need (or should be looking for) the answers that will satisfy the public.

Don't get me wrong, there are moments in every journalistic career where you dig deeper and get the real story. But with the leaks of in-camera documents and the latest off-hand Raymond Louie remark, haven't we all had enough? The city is between a rock and a hard place right now.

And despite what my right wing readers will think, I'm not apologizing for the mayor. I think there have been moments during the last while where too much blame was put on former councils. At this point, what's done is done, you're beating a dead, old, out of touch horse. Sure, I cringe everytime Suzanne Anton gets asked questions just because she's the opposition in this ridiculous civic house of partisan politics *cough*wards*cough*please*.

I guess I wonder where we would be right now with the NPA and Judy Rogers secretly running the show. I bet we would still have no idea where we are.

If I didn't sit on my laurels today, what were those questions I would've asked of the mayor... (and take into consideration, usually you know the answer you're going to get, but sometimes it's just the clip you want)

1. How do you respond to the 20 hour debate that erupted in the Legislature, especially the concerns from the opposition about transparency of Olympic costs?
2. How do you maintain the level of transparency that you preached in your election promises with many of these documents involving VANOC and other in-camera settings?
3. How can you ensure that overrun costs for simple things like transportation costs during the games are not passed down to the people of this city?
4. Many people don't understand exactly what is going on with this project, how would you explain it in the simplest of terms?
5. People are afraid. How do you calm the fears of taxpayers who fear a large burden will be put on them?

I guess I just wanted a question that couldn't be answered...
"We'll be looking at our options in the coming days to figure out what kind of deal can be negotiated as the best solution for the people of Vancouver."



Reporters keep dig dig digging, but I think the meat of this story is on the surface. We're in a pickle.