One Auckland? Not for National's Mt Albert Candidate
14/5/09
RAM Press Release

The Residents Action Movement, better known as RAM, condemns Melissa Lee's comments at a recent public meeting in Mt Albert that the proposed Waterview motorway would prevent criminals from South Auckland coming into the suburb. (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10572203)

"This comment shows what hypocrites the National-led government are when it comes to Auckland", said RAM spokeswoman Daphne Lawless.

"On one hand, they support a single ruling body for all of Auckland, from Orewa to Pukekohe.

"On the other hand, their Mt Albert candidate thinks that some of our suburbs have to be defended against people from other suburbs.

"It's repulsive to see such ignorant and offensive attitudes from any MP," said Daphne Lawless.

"But Melissa Lee recently had to face bigoted comments about her ethnicity on the campaign trail. She should know that it's just not on to stereotype any part of our community.

"RAM supports a single Auckland where north, west, central and south Auckland support each other to grow and develop," said Daphne Lawless.

"But it seems that National don't want a super-city to help fight inequality and social division. Instead, they want to perpetuate it.

"Melissa Lee thinks that there are nice parts of Auckland which have to be defended from people from bad parts of Auckland. There's nothing super about that vision of our city.

"It also shows that this Waterview motorway isn't about helping people get around - it's about keeping the have-nots away from the haves."

The Residents Action Movement (RAM), formed in 2003, is a broad left political movement. RAM's successes have included the election of an Auckland Regional Councillor, organising the Auckland Rates Revolt, receiving more than 100,000 votes in the 2007 Auckland elections, and the widely discussed GST-off-food petition.

ENDS

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