The brew-haha over “Starbucks-gate” wasn’t supposed to happen. Opening a Starbucks in Servus Credit Union Place should have been a tidy affair. After all, we’re talking about giving rec centre patrons the premium coffee fix they craved while boosting the money-losing facility’s bottom line by $90,000 a year.
Instead of pats on the back, city councillors — and certainly a few administrators — were absolutely taken aback by the backlash, which has left a bitter taste in many mouths far worse than a scorched latte. The ingredients were all there: a costly $280,000 price tag; private sessions behind closed doors; appallingly little public detail about the pro forma; and the major sore spot, a municipality gambling taxpayer dollars while competing with other private-sector businesses, including an industry giant across the street.
It’s enough to send some coffee klatch circles buzzing with outrage, even giving rise to an online petition calling for the resignation of Mayor Nolan Crouse and Coun. Cathy Heron — “the most vocal supporters of this decision and consequently they have eroded [public] trust,” it reads.
As of this writing, 76 “people” have supported this exercise. I refrain from calling it a “petition” due to its sorely flawed nature that allows anyone with an email to make up a name and attach it to the petition. For example, it's just as implausible for Coun. Roger Lemieux to call for the heads of his two council colleagues in an obscure online poll as it for Tom Cruise to monitor St. Albert headlines and lend his support.
Suffice to say, the petition is about as well thought out as the original Starbucks plan. One has to wonder if the circulator and signees — the legitimate ones, if I can use the term — actually believe it has a snowball’s chance in hell of reaching the end goal. For starters, there is no recall legislation in Alberta, and unless a city councillor takes kickbacks, winds up in jail or takes a prolonged holiday without checking in, this lot is here to stay.
Of course, I'd lose more trust in Crouse or Heron if they actually felt the need to resign over this petition than any decision they might make in council chambers. The online sign-up sheet and its complete lack of credibility makes it a joke, and not much of a political statement. The only saving grace for this poll is that it didn’t waste paper.
If the signees do want to make a political statement, take “Starbucks-gate” up with council. Register to speak at an upcoming council meeting — although you'll have to wait a while since they're on break until Aug. 15. Be respectful and make logical arguments backing up your case. Engage your friends and neighbours. Support candidates who represent your beliefs and values during the next election and hold the current ones to account. And then be prepared to respect the majority wishes in a representative democracy.
The only problem with the above is it's not achievable with the click of a mouse. It's hard work to engage people, get them to see your point of view and build relationships. But hey, that's politics. This online petition is just noise, and judging by the lukewarm response, it's not generating much.
I wasn't happy about the Starbucks vote either, but the decision has been made and the contracts have been signed. It's time to move on and hope this enterprise fares better than other aspects of Servus Place operations. If you still don't like it, take it up with council — or better yet, take it up with your friends and neighbours in 2013.
Bryan Alary is a former Gazette editor who loves the rich aroma of coffee he hasn’t invested in.
