The defamation case between Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson and Councillor Katie Neustaeter is inching closer. Some media outlets are continuing to advance Council’s “Communication Strategy” by rallying in support of her; yet the mayor continues to undermine his own position.

Take the $60,850.76 Harding Report – completed after Councillor Dale Bass complained that the Mayor breached council’s code of conduct and FIPPA this past March.

In his eagerness to “show an unvarnished representation of the problems facing Kamloops and its business community”, the mayor forwarded photos of unhoused people (that he had received from the Executive Director of the KCBIA) to the Chamber of Commerce for collaboration in advance of his presentation – but without proper review by himself or his staff. This lack of due diligence comes across as sloppy and amateurish.

An issue lies in his refusal to accept the recommended training. When such training is offered, you take it—anything less suggests a disregard for improvement.

None of the councillors, including the Mayor; seem to consistently demonstrate honour, integrity, or a genuine sense of civic responsibility.

They all took an oath to work together, so why give up so easily?

Taxpayers do not care what the reasoning is. They care that their money continues to be spent on a fight they wish to have no part in.

City Hall dynamics resemble a dysfunctional soap opera:

• Katie harasses Reid; clutches pearls every episode.
• Reid, ever naive, falls for the same traps time and again.
• Bill harasses Reid, tries to frame him-and gets caught.
• Dale files 12 misconduct complaints, all without merit.
• Stephen is caught lying, “Fartgate” drama ensues.
• Mike ensures no one stands in the way of his real estate projects.
• Kelly makes sure Reid knows he didn’t vote for him, whispers it to Bill every meeting.
• Margot and Nancy side with the “mean girls” to avoid becoming targets themselves.

Honestly, how can one not comment on this chaos? It’s like watching a train wreck—impossible to look away.

A civic watchdog group like KCU should be busy with things like requesting long-overdue financial audits of city hall.

Instead we are tasked with watching from the sidelines as our elected officials show complete disregard for the taxpaying citizens of Kamloops; by not being responsible enough to settle their differences on their own dime, and time.