News / Politics
Rees: ‘I wish I could click my fingers and solve problems but I can’t’
Queen Elizabeth spoke to her Commonwealth on Christmas Day from a room in a palace with a gold piano. Donald Trump addressed the USA this week live on television during primetime from the Oval Office in the White House.
When Bristol mayor Marvin Rees took part in a Facebook Live Q&A on Wednesday evening, it was from the mayor’s office at City Hall with the backdrop of a bookshelf, framed photos and awards.
Fresh from “knocking around” Bristol with his children over Christmas, Rees is back at work for 2019 (“a big year for us”) and his beard is back too.
is needed now More than ever
https://www.facebook.com/MarvinJRees/videos/371655546901228/
The Q&A lasted for just less than one hour from 8pm, with the mayor choosing to answer questions that were dominated by two issues: the proposed South Bristol Ring Road, and the fight over Stoke Lodge Playing Fields which sees local residents pitted against Cotham School who according to many want to build their own version of Trump’s wall.
“One of the most challenging things about being a mayor – and my kids ask me this – is when I walk in, I’m responsible for the city,” Rees said.
“And I wish I could click my fingers and solve problems and I can’t… If I could scoop people up (from doorways) and solve the problems and housing right there and then, I would.”
Rees also spoke about issues including Brexit, gentrification, housing, homelessness, social inclusion (“a real asset to us”), pavement parking, recycling, the arrival of Channel 4 and the release of the One City Plan on Friday (“trying to get the city as a city to bring into focus what it wants to get done”).
On his beard, Rees said that over Christmas he misplaced his razor. “I have not so much grown a beard as in not shaved,” he explained. “So the balance is important to make the distinction.”
The mayor even appeared to scold one person from a church who asked about parking on a Sunday and green belt land being taken away for housing, and who expressed concern that Rees was not listening to people’s concerns.
“Of course we listen and that goes into the mix,” Rees said. “That’s the nature of leadership otherwise you just run a place by referendum and you’ve seen what kind of mess that creates for us. That’s just the reality of what we have to do in Bristol.
“I attend church myself so I am sympathetic to the challenges that it faces… But let me talk frankly as well. I’d have loved the first church question up here today to talk about poverty and life expectancy and child hunger and fuel poverty. I think that would be where the church is at. So thanks for that.”
Among the questions addressed live to Rees during his most popular livestream yet were a few comments on his performance as mayor so far.
Holly Maurice said: “Just wanted to say I think you’re doing a great job! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us!”
But Julie Browne was not so much of a fan. “Clearly out of his depth re anything to do with Whitchurch,” she wrote.
One new piece of information revealed by Rees was the possibility of Bristol becoming a trial city for an electric scooter hire scheme run by Bird, one of the main sponsors of the Global Parliament of Mayors event hosted in Bristol last year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsTS0UKFWzi/
Like YoBike, the scooter rental scheme – that has already been launched in cities across the USA and Europe – is dockless, with users unlocking a scooter with an app and paying per minute of use.
There is only one problem at the moment: Department for Transport regulations currently classify electric scooters as “mechanically propelled” vehicles, which means that to be used on the road they need to be registered with the DVLA, licensed, taxed and insured and fitted with number plates, with riders needing a driving license and to wear a helmet.
Rees, however, still remains confident that something can be done in Bristol to make the scheme work.
Read more: The future of the Cumberland Basin
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