Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
In Praise of David Schmitz
Further to my earlier post, I also wanted to put on public record my appreciation of the work done by David Schmitz, the Harringay Ward Councillor.
When our landlady became gravely ill, we tenants were put in a very precarious position. Ostensibly she was estranged from her family and despite our many pleadings she refused to make a will. So when she died, we were left in limbo.
From the moment I first contacted David about the problem, he was on hand with lots of good advice and useful pointers in directions that had never occurred to me. He also kept in close contact at all times and eventually, when we got our marching orders, it was he who suggested a visit to the council offices, where, to my amazement they put me in touch with my current landlord which is a housing association for key workers. I’d previously gone down there and got nowhere.
As a child, I used to help my mum who was a volunteer for the Paddington Labour Party and saw at close hand the sort of problems local councillors have to deal with. From then onwards, I have always believed that at local level, it’s the (most effective) person rather than the party you should vote for. I have never been able to fathom why for example, people express their anger at the government in Westminster by voting out of office the guy in the next street who gets your drains unblocked or your broken windows fixed.
And the same here is true of David. I hope that when election time comes around, people in the area will realise they have a hard-working conscientious LOCAL councillor looking after local people. Thanks David, your help has been much appreciated.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Antoinette on
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I'll certainly second that. David puts your faith back into local politicians.
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Permalink Reply by David Schmitz on
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Dear "Veggie Reggie",
How immensely kind of you to say these things and to present me with such a delightful dilemma: should I "like" this posting in the Facebook sense, or should I not? If I "Liked" it, the twittersphere would be alight with messages saying "David Schmitz Likes 'in praise of ...'" which would seem rather big-headed, and if I didn't I might seem ungrateful.
So what I think I'll do is simply to express my very deep thanks right here. As you yourself have highlighted, local councillors in this country have a great tradition to live up to, and I find it very reassuring to hear that someone thinks that I am getting some things right.
The job of a Councillor is, of course, made a great deal easier in a community, such as ours, where so many people are buzzing with good ideas and creative energy. Those people include many Council officers, who are often residents themselves, and sometimes the most useful thing we as Councillors can do is just to put people in touch with each other. These people include you in particular, as I know that you took considerable pains to help your neighbours and your late landlady as problems arose.
From day one Karen Alexander and I have tried to be good neighbours and "the friend on the Council" to everyone we've met. And for the past six months, Asha Kaur has been giving us very valuable help.
I hope that your kind remarks will lead others to realise that local Councillors are keen to help wherever we can be useful, and that they should get in touch when they need us. It is, after all, what we're there for.
I wish you joy in your new quarters and in your visits to the Falkland Road market. And may the 6 numbers be kind!
All the very best,
David
P.S. Our contact details:
Me: 07854 002742 David.Schmitz@haringey.gov.uk
Karen: 07875 490055 Karen.Alexander2@haringey.gov.uk
Asha Kaur: 07878 382186 Asha.Kaur@HaringeyLibDems.org
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Permalink Reply by Salsa on
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I second that too! David just helped me out immensely with a parking issue. Excellent councillor!
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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David Schmitz is not my ward councillor, but we did once both take part on an Internet radio programme, based in sarf London and broadcasting mainly to Africa. The subject was gambling and the experience of betting shop proliferation in our Borough.
I am aware from a relatively apolitical friend who does live in the Harringay Ward, that David has been highly helpful over a local issue.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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About 9 months ago I was about to post something saying that the Lib Dems were toast in Harringay and that if you really wanted to have a vote you should get along and join the Labour Party. Selection for the three Labour candidates for the 2010 election was undertaken by nine members of the local party so it's ripe for a bit of taking over.
However both David and Karen have put a lot of effort into their roles and deserve no such posting, especially from me.
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Some years ago, before David became a councillor, he was active in closing down out a drugs house in our road. He tried to help the owner of the house as well as addressing the concerns of local residents.
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I like toast. But while the Lib Dems may be toast in Effingham (NOT), tonight they're sushi in Tokyo. David Shinzo-Schmitz is all set to defend those islands against the Chinese and enter a coalition with Vladimir Putin. I always knew they had stickability. After 31 months I'm still trying to scrape an LD poster off my front window.
In May'14, David, try Blu-tak - not Bostick or Sticks-like-Sh1t.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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I've no idea how many people took part in selections in each ward. But the Labour Party's selection processes do leave something to be desired, John. Although the process as a whole doesn't depend on quite so few people as you describe. For a start, there is a preliminary screening of potential candidates.
In the interests of openness and transparency I hope that all the main parties can be persuaded to publish clear accurate information about the process each party uses to select its candidates. And also what actually happens before and during their election campaigns: to draw up their manifestos; write leaflets, and organise door-to-door canvassing. I think it would be helpful as well if people knew what party campaigners do on election day. Including, for example, giving clear information on the rules about party expenditure; and the role of the party "tellers" outside polling stations.
To be clear, I am not pretending to be neutral. Though I no longer have the Labour Whip I am still a Labour Party member and will be supporting principled hard-working Labour candidates. In the coming year as candidate selection approaches, I very much hope that some of my fellow Labour members will summon up the blood, imitate the action of the tiger, stiffen the sinews, and stuff some of the councillors who should no longer be involved in running Haringey.
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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Oh the Lib Dem selection process was even more laughable but funnily enough turned out three good candidates and the Labour one only one. David is also the Lib Dem candidate for Member of Parliament for Tottenham so there's one. Karen Alexander won her seat on the council in 2006 (along with Carolyn Baker in the great "first three candidates on the ballot" election) so there were two and David bumped into Chris Read when he was out campaigning so then there were three!
When you consider that these six were the only possible winners of council seats in 2010 because the vast majority of the electorate vote along party lines surely you see where things can be fixed?
As David has already alluded to, it will be him, Karen and Asha Kaur in 2014. If you're not happy with that, join the Labour party or you just risk being handed the usual crap they serve us up around here and expect us to be happy with.
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I think it's a shame that a posting about David's good work has descended into the usual party political finger-pointing.
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Permalink Reply by L F T Snowflake on
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Thank you Antoinette.
Now boys and girls, how about you go play somewhere else eh?
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You have big upped a local politician for doing his job. I'm sorry if you expected this to bring forth nothing but similar adoration from the locals but that's politics for you.
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