Touchdown: Councillor says what it is, not what it isn’t

OK, let’s set aside positions on whether we agree about this or not from a policy standpoint, because TD&F is all about communications, not policy. And, let’s also set aside my obvious conflict as one who makes his living as a paid consultant (though one not involved in any way, shape or form on this particular story). In responding to criticism that the City of Toronto spent some 50 grand on consultants as part of the process of trying to come up with a better way to recycle disposable coffee cups, Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker said “this is $50,000 of due diligence and proper research to make sure we have the best public policy possible. It’s money spent to make sure the city does the best thing for the environment and the taxpayer.” Too often, people being presented with a contrary, negative view of something they actually are championing will make the mistake of repeating the negative characterization being suggested by their critics or the media while they’re trying to refute the suggestion. But De Baeremaeker resisted any temptation to do so, instead focusing his comments on how he wants the issue to be positioned. End result: ideal quotes in print, and a Touchdown.