Michael Dockery (letters – “Councillors speak up” February 11) obviously does not know that ex Deputy Lord Mayor Marcelle Hoff has a record of speaking up.
She does not slavishly follow Clover Moore; she speaks out for her community. Not that this has done her a great deal of good. She lost the Deputy Lord Mayor position to Councillor Phillip Black (Phillip WHO?) after speaking out on a number of matters. In particular, she took a stand against the other Independent’s position on Orphan School Creek at Glebe.
In a trade-off with locals (so that they could build higher apartments) the developers promised to provide a native habitat at Orphans School Creek.
Instead, Council staff turned it into a neat, tidy park with huge paths right through it. The then Deputy Lord Mayor, Marcelle Hoff, defended the plan for a native habitat. When this was debated in Council she withstood a furious barrage from the Lord Mayor and her husband. The rest of the so-called Independents supported Clover and Peter Moore.
Perhaps other Independents could be encouraged to Speak UP! I doubt they will if they want the position of Deputy Lord Mayor.
Chris O’Brien, Forrest Lodge
