A LAW UNTO HIMSELF

Christchurch City Council CEO Tony Marryatt ignores a councillor's legitimate request...

Christchurch councillor Yani Johnanson writes a weekly column for The Star and this week he has fired a few shots at the way the earthquake 'recovery' process is 'progressing'.

Johanson is a councillor for the Hagley/Ferrymead ward in the eastern suburbs, so he is acutely aware of the plight of many Eastside residents.

Johanson is critical that the Eastside has, once again, come off a distant second to an obsession by politicians and business interests alike to 'deal' with the devastation within the central city 'red zone'. Despite a whole load of huffin' and puffin' though, nothing much has actually happened.

Johanson observes that since the severe quakes of June 13:

'There has been a huge focus on central building assessments while there appears to be no or very limited rapid assessments of properties and businesses outside the red zone.

So the safest part of the city that is already blocked off gets a focus while in local neighbourhoods potentially dangerous buildings sit ready to collapse at any minute without any inspection. This makes nos sense to me at all.'

The Minister of Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee, has refused to give councillors a briefing on the situation. Not surprisingly, Sideshow Bob has said nothing. When Brownlee says 'Jump!', Bob asks 'How high?'

Meanwhile Christchurch CEO Tony Marryatt has been causing problems again. Johanson says he asked Marryatt for 'key contacts to get things done'. Marryatt has simply ignored his request.

He isn't so uncooperative with Sideshow Bob though, who doesn't seem to have a problem with 'Tony' refusing to act on the requests of councillors.