Police must stop being so politically correct

Posted to The Age (15/3/2016) on 16/3/2016 at 1:14AM
Commenting on "Police must stop being so politically correct"
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/police-should-do-their-job-without-the-constraints-of-political-correctness-20160315-gnjerf.html

Introduce Glass Windows Policy now! Due to its implementation by former Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, New York has become the second safest city in the US, something beyond many people's expectation. No crime is too small, no matter what the age, sex, religion and race of the offender is. Big crime starts from small crime!

What happened last week is just the beginning of the doom of Melbourne, the most liveable City of the world. Police says similar incidents happened in other suburbs on occasion, but what has the police done to curb such disturbance from recurring so far?

Compounding this is the gangland shooting in Carlton yesterday. Bad news spread quickly, with the aid of almost instantaneous international news broadcast and social media. The once very safe Melbourne will soon be less attractive to overseas tourists.

No one should be above the laws. Laws should not work around these hooligans, but all Australians and immigrants must abide by the Australian laws.

New credit card rules for Lord Mayor Robert Doyle

The Age (8/3/2016) does not accept comment, written 9/3/2016 at 2:05 AM
Commenting on "New credit card rules for Lord Mayor Robert Doyle"
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-credit-card-rules-for-lord-mayor-robert-doyle-20160308-gndydc.html

Sack Them Now!

Once upon-a-time, Australia was young and innocent, and the word "corruption" was rarely heard of. Many Australian were pointing fingers at Indonesia, China, developing countries in Asia, Africa, South America, etc. Those were the good old days when Australian politicians stood tall, representing the people honourably and with great dignity.

Australian newspapers of recent years are having a ball reporting corrupt politicians taking money directly or bribes disguising as political donations, junket tours, misusing public funds or taxpayers' money, using official credit cards for personal use including visiting brothels.

I really like to see no one, including politicians, be exempted from punishment for lack of judgement intentionally and lack the duty of care, and that the punishment should be severe enough to curb future copy cats.

Politicians should receive punishment twice that of a normal citizen making the same offence or committing the same crime.

On 24 September 2013, the Melbourne City Council adopted a Councillor Code of Conduct. It seems some of the Councillors never read the document, or they join many illiterate Australians who can read words but cannot understand the content. They do not deserve to represent the people, and should be sacked with all future entitlements stripped.

A fresh by-election should be called to replace them as soon as practicable.

State government plans overhaul to Melbourne public transport zones

Posted to The Age (26/3/2014) on 26/3/2014 at 3:22 PM
Commenting on "State government plans overhaul to Melbourne public transport zones, ticketing"
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-government-plans-overhaul-to-melbourne-public-transport-zones-ticketing-20140326-35h2o.html

The scheme will cost more than $100 million, because there will be more unemployment or underemployment.

1. How much will it cost to modify Myki software to handle the change?

2. How many more trams or buses will be needed to carry the extra loads of people who choose to have free rides instead of short walk?

3. After the extra passengers alighted from the additional trams or buses, what is the expected spare capacity on these vehicles?

4. Will there be extensions or modifications made to the tram / bus stops in order to accommodate the extra waiting passengers?

5. If less people walk within the CBD, some shops will be bypassed, especially the new ones, and so will their business. Will impact study be done to ensure businesses are not adversely affected?

Tale of two cities a happy story for inner suburbs

Posted to The Age (27/10/2012) on 27/10/2012 at 4:05AM
Commenting on "Tale of two cities a happy story for inner suburbs"
http://www.theage.com.au/business/property/tale-of-two-cities-a-happy-story-for-inner-suburbs-20121026-28b7t.htm

Whatever studies undertaken or predictions made for the next two decades cannot be trusted with a six-foot pole. Technology has changed and will continue to change the employment pattern to such unimaginable extent that even futurists and crystal-ball reading gypsies have problems foretelling what is ahead, even just for a decade.

In late 60's and early 70's, Carlton Association campaigned so hard to save Carlton, an inner suburb next to Melbourne CBD, from being declared as a slump. Brunswick and Richmond were not better off then.The houses were small, and many were not well lit.

Decentralisation moved the population to the outskirt of CBD, where factories were erected to produce cars, machineries, food processing, etc. By then footwear and clothing industries began to decline and eventually died after tariff was removed. Brick veneer homes were built and a generation of middle income class established. Decentralisation was so successful that the CBD went into a tail spin, and drastic efforts were made to lure people back.

Manufacturing and related industries employed a lot of people. Frankston and Dandenong were the new rich suburbs. Good time needs good money, and our labour cost could not compete with then backward developing countries. Very soon they were handed over "free" high-tech knowledge by the developed and advanced countries. Factories began to close, and set off a chain reaction up-stream and down-stream industries.

Online businesses will have the same impact on brick-and-mortar retail outlets. In addition, online education will produce the same fallout to the teaching sectors.

The question then is "where will employment be found?". Pessimistically speaking, CBD will no longer be the hub, and travelling to work in the CBD will be the thing of the past!

Melbourne's most expensive view

Posted to Sydney Morning Herald (28/8/2011) on 30/8/2011 at 5:56 PM
Commenting on “Melbourne's most expensive view”
http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/luxury/melbournes-most-expensive-view-20110830-1jjba.html

Looking down from any million dollar penthouse (or apartment of lesser value), the sight of Melbourne is untidy, unpleasant and uninviting. The dirty rusty roof tops, surrounding run down warehouses and old factories just downgrade the value of these expensive properties. If one has a few spare million, is good to spend it on an ego ride.

Cold day for a SlutWalk

Posted to The Australian (28/5/2011) on 28/5/2011 at 8:13 PM
Commenting on "Cold day for a SlutWalk"
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/cold-day-for-a-slutwalk/story-fn3dxiwe-1226064654483

If a man sees a female with a beautiful body wearing low cut, or a woman sees a man with a six-pack physique wearing his buggy smuggler, and yet does not go boom-bang-a-bang, we are talking about people with biological and sexual problems. This should be a natural response, and has nothing to do with perversive behaviour.

However, there is a fine line one must not cross over, and that line is defined by human for human and is known as morality.

Despite the best expert advice, we can’t stop obesity; despite the existence of United Nation, we can’t stop war; and therefore it is not unexpected that despite the declaration of fights against crimes, we can’t stop sexual assault.

Wearing provocative clothing will, whether one likes it or not, attract attention, even from the undesirable elements! It is just like what the doctor says, "Prevention is better than cure".

Swanston St to be pedestrianised next year

Posted to Herald Sun (28/4/2011) on 28/4/2011 at 3:12 AM
Commenting on “Swanston St to be pedestrianised next year”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/swanston-street-to-be-pedestrianised-next-year/comments-fn7x8me2-1226045923908

This is the original blog.

Robert Doyle is full of hot air, promises and a member of NATO – No Action Talk Only. God only knows why he wants to close off Swanston Street from cars, taxis and delivery vehicles. Swanston Street is NOT an alternate road but the main thoroughfare that joins the two end boundaries of the City. Only very idiotic person can strategise in this most ridiculous way. Congestion, if managed properly, leads to vibrancy of a City. Stopping traffic to move through Swanston Street is no different from doing likewise to Glenferrie Road in Hawthorne, or Lygon Street in Carlton. The City blackspot is not Swanston Street, but the intersection of Swanston and Flinders Streets. Pedestrianisation of Swanston Street will not make the CBD safer.

Talking about safety, Robert Doyle was in charge of the Crime Prevention Committee during Kenneth’s time. He is just as bad in crime prevention now as he was then, because the crime statistics is no better now in the CBD than when he first became the Mayor. King Street is still the most notorious part of the City, infamous for Saturday night brawls and arrests.

That's the price to pay for NOT casting your votes with your eyes open. That's the price to pay for voting someone who can do back-flip better than a Chinese gymnast. What’s the price? $25.60 million.

Also
http://sinfongchanleader.blogspot.com/2009/11/swanston-street-shuttle-bus-ban-plan.html
http://sinfongchanleader.blogspot.com/2009/12/melbournes-15-million-party-to-bring-in.html
http://sinfongchanleader.blogspot.com/2010/01/city-flash-mob-worth-25k.html