Mayorgate
brought the story of an elected Niagara Regional Councillor Andrew
Petrowski accused by anonymous e-mailers in a story titled: 'Salem's
Witch Hunt Comes to Niagara'. Information brought forward was not
only the cowardice of these anonymous accusers but of the
questionable acts at Niagara Region's administration in the handling
of such accusations. More alarming was the self-confessed
involvement of St.Catharines Mayor Brian McMullan. Mayor McMullan
admitted to know the identity of the anonymous e-mailers, all but one
in an interview with columnist Doug Herod of The Standard.
Only
days after this public statement by Mayor Brian McMullan another
anonymous e-mailer took the accusations to a new level and made a
false police report. This is an act that is breach of the Criminal
Code. Yet no police investigation by the Niagara Regional Police.
Now
comes news that the anonymous e-mailers who went by the names Tim
Lewis and Suzie Q, using fake e-mail addresses have committed another
cowardly act. Since the Niagara Region's CAO Mike Trojan would not
conduct a proper investigation an attempt was made by Councillor
Andrew Petrowski to contact both of the anonymous accusers via his
private e-mail address. Only days after the story was published
on Mayorgate the anonymous e-mailers Tim Lewis and Suzie Q had closed
down the e-mail addresses they were using. As was revealed in the
Mayorgate story the IP address of an e-mail can be traced by the
server to reveal the user's real name. Both Tim Lewis and Suzie
Q were in fear of being identified.
Why
were the anonymous e-mailers Tim Lewis and Suzie Q so afraid of
having their true identity revealed? Which by they way can still be
done even though they have closed down their e-mail addresses. Each
had used GMail and in a simplified explanation GMail is really just a
web server. In which case web servers log who's accessed them and
when, by IP address. To directly quote an expert in the field of
computers “you may not be able to trace where the e-mail
was sent from... but law enforcement may be able to.”
Those who operate GMail only
need a legal reason to provide the IP address of the sender who
accessed their web servers.
For
each of the anonymous e-mailers, Tim Lewis and Suzie Q, Councillor
Andrew Petrowski sent a short message. This was the result, “The
e-mail account that you tried to reach does not exist.” Not
only had these cowards used fake names, fake e-mail addresses and
lies to destroy the reputation and credibility of an individual, they
ran as soon as the fear of having their identity revealed was made
public. Yet Mayor Brian McMullan has admitted to know the identity
of those anonymous e-mailers in a public brag. Mayor Brian McMullan
even copied the unknown Tim Lewis a confidential e-mail he sent to
his boss Chairman Gary Boroughs. Niagara Region CAO Mike Trojan did
not make any public statement on that breach of confidentiality. No
one has questioned Mayor Brian McMullan on why he would send a copy
of a communication with his boss Regional Chairman Burroughs to
someone he claimed to not know.
On
Thursday January 26th
2012 it has been reported that regional councillors were advised on
how to manage their information and use of the regional e-mail
system. Chairman Burroughs is concerned with “embarrassing
information leaks.” Grimsby
Councillor and ex-Chair of Regional Council Debbie Zimmerman objected
and was quoted, “There
goes democracy” and
“this point
starts to make me wonder if we can accept anything from
constituents.”
Councillor Debbie Zimmerman where
was democracy when a fellow regional councillor was accused by
anonymous e-mailers? You were on the list of receivers of both Tim
Lewis and Suzie Q. Your fellow councillor Mayor Brian McMullan
publicly admitted to know the identity of the anonymous e-mailers.
It was Brian McMullan who attacked fellow councillor Andrew Petrowski
in a public statement. When you spoke of democracy Councillor Debbie
Zimmerman did that cover the fact that Mayor Brian McMullan had
forwarded a copy of a confidential e-mail he sent his boss Chairman
Burroughs to the anonymous e-mailer Tim Lewis. Was Mayor McMullan
standing by his 'democratic right' in this action or simply allowing
the 'freedom of information'? It would seem that democracy is
somewhat selective to Councillor Debbie Zimmerman. Democracy,
justice and law seem very selective and not only in the perception of
Councillor Debbie Zimmerman.
So the question still hangs, what
was the real motivation behind Tim Lewis and Suzie Q? What was the
real motivation behind Mayor Brian McMullan's forwarding of a
confidential communication with his boss Chairman Burroughs to the
'unknown' Tim Lewis? What was the reason behind Mayor Brian
McMullan's involvement with these anonymous cowards and their lies?
Finally why was Tim Lewis and Suzie Q so afraid of having their
identity revealed?
Too
many questions with no answers for now. A police investigation is to
be demanded. It was the Niagara Regional Police who during the
election claimed to investigate claims by mayoral candidate David
D'Intino against Mayor Brian McMullan. It was the NRP and a
detective sergeant that tampered with evidence and lied on official
incident reports. Now the situation is clear, Mayor Brian McMullan
has made a public statement to have the knowledge of the real
identity of these anonymous individuals who have broken the law. All
efforts by a police department should be aimed to end this, and it
would not take much in detecting to do so. I wonder if Councillor
Debbie Zimmerman's lament “There
goes democracy” really
is true.
Still as author and publisher of
Mayorgate I had to face threat and harassment only four days after
Mayorgate published 'Salem's Witch Hunt Comes To Niagara'. In return
I published the threat and all the details. I will not cower under
anyone's threat or harassment. A letter was delivered to the City
Solicitor and to both Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister Harinder
Takhar. And now more to reveal on this.
The
City Solicitor's letter stamped and signed for after lunch of the
25th
of January 2012. Following day my landlord made an attempt to talk
to Building Inspector II Steven Sunderland. First I want it clear
that Gordon is a gentle and caring individual, rare to find.
Sunderland hung up on Gordon as Gordon tried to work things out with
him. It would be clear that the City Solicitor had made some
enquiries by now. Sunderland's unprofessional attitudes raise even
more questions. Sunderland claimed he was coming to the house, I
waited all day prepared for him. He did not show nor call. The same
for the following day of the 27th
January 2012.
Monday
morning on the 30th
Sunderland called to say he would come by 10am. He did arrive with
another individual. I met him on the porch with my recorder in my
left hand in clear view. Sunderland had no visible identification
nor the other male. He introduced himself in a mumble with his head
down. I had one question and immediately asked. By the way the
whole recording is posted HERE.
I
asked Sunderland that as an order (I had a copy in my hand) was
placed on the front door of the house was an inspection done. He did
not answer, he instead said that he saw it from the back lane. I
asked him straight out if he had done an inspection. He would not
answer. I asked again. He remained silent. I finally said to him
that he did no inspection. He then said he would not be recorded.
His pal whoever he was only did the macho angry stares, my 19 year
old daughter watched from the window. Man I had such fear of his
angry face, maybe he thought he was Clint Eastwood and this was a
Spaghetti Western. Sunderland said he won't be recorded. I said my
solicitor wanted everything recorded. Sunderland responded with a
threat.
First I want to say that I have
recorded four Constables of the Niagara Regional Police and a
uniformed Sergeant, and caught them falsifying official reports. I
have recorded a Detective Sergeant of the Niagara Regional Police and
Niagara's Region Manager of the Ministry of the Environment. Finally
I recorded Property Standards Officer Rick Randall and he gave his
business card. So Steven Sunderland what were you afraid of? You
did not answer me, the pregnant pause is long enough for a delivery.
What do you have to fear Steven Sunderland?
Sunderland's
response was a threat and its recorded! City Solicitor Auty it is a
legal criteria that if a reasonable individual would perceive this as
a threat it is a threat legally. I sat through two trials, one on
harassment and one on liable to do a story and heard the judges.
Sunderland responded “I'll get my lawyer and
I'll be back.” PLEASE
COME STEVEN SUNDERLAND WITH YOUR LAWYER! Now
this sounds like he intends to get his private lawyer as in “my
lawyer.” Or
is it you Madame Auty? Will you come with Sunderland? Or is it
CUPE? He did not clarify this threat unfortunately.
When
Mayorgate published the facts of St.Catharines Mayor fixing a lawful
by-law fine and the voice recording of Merritton Ward Councillor Jennie Stevens confirming that the fine was fixed, threat came.
Councillor Stevens threatened me with her “solicitor,”
I
recorded her and posted the voice recording on Mayorgate. Only two
days prior to the election of 2010 Mayor McMullan called me to
supposedly wish me well as a mayoral candidate then threatened me
with his Toronto lawyers, because as he put it, “you
called me corrupt on your blog.” I
told him fantastic, and waited for months. Nothing came, no one
came. On September 1st
2011 Mayor Brian McMullan had Christopher Bittle of Lancaster, Brooks
and Welch deliver a threat to my door of legal action. I posted the
Bittle letter of threat and the remaining evidence against Mayor
Brian McMullan, all on Mayorgate, all for the public to see. What do
you think happened since then? Nothing! Does Sunderland think for
one moment he has brought fear to me?
Truth is not something that is
welcomed in this City of St.Catharines. I won't back off the truth
and always back it up with evidence that is undeniable. Sunderland
has acted on behalf of the City of St.Catharines. He is a public
employee, paid with public money and he abused his powers. There are
serious consequences for this and under no circumstances will he walk
away from them. He can threaten me as much as he wants.
Just
before Sunderland walked off the porch I asked him if he was going to
inspect. After all remember his response to Gordon and the hang up.
After all remember the order number: 12-100624 BO. His response was
“you can go out back if you want.” Whoops!
What was that?!! Let's rewind this. Sunderland after hanging up on
one individual who tried to work this out, after putting a threat on
the door of the house without inspection so it would be seen by the
whole neighbourhood. He now responds with “you
can go out back if you want.” That's
exactly what Sunderland said! Listen to him for yourself. Then he
walked away with his angry faced pal who did not identify himself.
By the way I'm curious was that building inspector I or III?
I tried to talk to him as he was on
the sidewalk, you will hear my voice louder now. So there is no date
on this order to Remedy Unsafe Building from Sunderland it appears,
only a threat. Oh and Sunderland doesn't call this Order a threat.
Look at the Order!
Refer to page 2 Code of Conduct
Threat
one, the City will do the work and charge us for it! Threat two, the
threat of being guilty of an offence and courts! Threat three, fines
of $50,000 to $100,000! Threat four, fines of $100,000 to $200,000!
I guess that's all meant to tickle someone?
Sunderland stuck this on the front door, a red painted door and the
paper white. He did this at eye level from the street so it could be
plainly seen. Does anyone have any doubts as to why it was done in
such a fashion? He used nice bright orange city stickers!
Some questions that pop up. What
was Sunderland a building inspector doing in the back lane? When he
claims to of seen this, and the time it took him to make up this
order had to of taken some days, true? Or did he pop it up in his
car, on the spot so to speak? He never came to the house, he saw the
new roof, soffit, fascia and all the new work. Yet he never gave a
damn. Was he taking a leisurely stroll down the lane or was he
driving? I bet driving? How was he able to be so darn observant?
He would of been in a sitting position, unless he drove a MONSTER
TRUCK. Then when asked to his face if he inspected he would not
respond! Again a legal observation, lying by omission is simply
lying. The only response by Sunderland was to threaten.
So where do we stand now? I love
this piece off a City of St.Catharines web page for Planning and
Development Services. City Solicitor Auty you should look at Page 2
of 3, the heading is Building Officials Code of Conduct. Every legal
effort will now be made to have Steven Sunderland Building Inspector
II face an official review on Code of Conduct. The Corporation of
the City of St.Catharines has placed my family and this home under
threat and harassment for the last time. When that log remained on
the roof for close to seven months compromising the safety of all who
lived in this house, the City didn't give a damn. In fact the
harassment is clear, you're a lawyer look at the facts and try to
explain them.
Sunderland acted not only in an
unprofessional manner he has abused his powers in an unethical and
illegal fashion. Consequences for such abuse will be demanded.
Answers to questions will be demanded, even if Sunderland thinks he
can refuse to speak.
Enough is enough. Neither I nor
Mayorgate will be silenced by threat, harassment or terror of any
kind. Facts will still be published with evidence to support them,
as all of this has been. Sunderland's threat is now made public, you
can decide to handle it yourself, for now. The work is being done
and will be completed anyhow but there are legal ramifications to
Sunderland's threat and it will not pass without consequence.
Another development to the
information regarding the feature 'Salem's Witch Hunt Comes To
Niagara'. As already published the letter from CAO of Niagara Region
Mike Trojan of December 9th 2011 to Regional Councillor
Andrew Petrowski in which Trojan states this, “I've also
received correspondence from CUPE 1287 leaders who have demanded that
we take whatever action necessary to ensure that inappropriate
behaviour towards their members ceases immediately.”
CUPE had little care whether their
members may of been in the wrong or not. Leaders of CUPE 1287 simply
sent out a threat. Now it is a member of CUPE who has acted in more
than an “inappropriate” manner. Steven Sunderland has breached
the Building Officials Code of Conduct and the Building Code Act.
Sunderland is a member of CUPE and that was confirmed by phone. WHAT
WILL THE LEADERS OF CUPE DO NOW? All the information has been made
available and is public on Mayorgate. CUPE see's fit to threaten a
Regional Government and a Regional Councillor. What will it do now
that it is a member of CUPE who has committed unethical acts?
CUPE response or lack of response
will be updated here.
Finally, Sunderland arrived at the
house with another individual, one who he did not introduce, one who
had not stated his purpose for being with Sunderland nor provided any
identification. Who was this individual and why was he there? A
presumption is that this 'unknown' individual is a City employee and
has something to do with building inspections. It is also safe to
assume that Sunderland brought him along as a witness not as a
bodyguard or some thug. So why would Sunderland refuse to be put on
record? Sunderland refused to answer when asked if indeed he had
inspected anything prior to posting the order. What did Sunderland
have to hide? Was he afraid of further questions? Yet with a
witness present what did Sunderland fear? He could of asked for a
copy of the recording yet instead Sunderland threatened with his
lawyers. Why? Where are they? Who was that unidentified individual
and why was he with Sunderland? If he indeed was another City of
St.Catharines employee then he is also a member of CUPE. He will be
identified and his purpose clearly stated.
Send comments to: demtruth@gmail.com
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