I was surprised not to see Mia Kriznic included when the "Independents' launched their local government election campaign at the Townhall last Wednesday, since she has been a big supporter of the 'leader' of the 'independents' South Ward Councillor Marija Vujcic.

But today I received a flyer in my letterbox that Mia Kriznic is also nominating for City Ward, so that will become an interesting fight.

In her flyer Kriznic claims there has been "A complete lack of focus on the Fremantle Town Centre and CBD" under the current leadership, when in fact Council is investing in the biggest development ever at Walyalup Koort/Kings Square in the hope to revitalise the inner city, so Kriznic's claim is non factual.

Kriznic alo promises to establish an Inner City Residents Advisory Group, but why would other Wards not want the same, and how many more meetings does the city actually need? We want action, not more talk fests!

And there will be another Safer Freo City Group to combat ant social behaviour and crime, but that is already regularly happening where WA Police, Council staff and elected members get together, so more talk?

The flyer also claims that Fremantle Council is stalling the building of the new police station on the former Stan Reilly site next to Fremantle Oval, but the land is crown land over which the City has no say, so the State Government can build the police station whenever and however they want, and hopefully soon!

The promise of "Stopping empty shop fronts and restoring the Cappuccino Strip" is total spin. Private property owners decide on tenants, not Fremantle Council. Staff has liaised with retail owners to get a more diverse offering, instead of more hospitality venues, but at the end Council has no power to reject a business becoming a cafe, or a bar, or a shop that sells something that already others shop sell in Fremantle. It would be great to get the good old High Street of diverse shopping back, but it can't be enforced by Council.

The claim that Coles is closing is only partly correct. It will only close for six months when Silverleaf Investments starts on the development of the Woolstores hotel, and Coles will re-open in the same location, just moving slightly east within the building.

Mia Kriznic also does not agree with getting rid off the name Fremante, and I have not heard anyone yet who actually advocated for that on Council.

Elections, hey! We'll get a lot of misinformation, spin, empty promises and attacks on the sitting members, but what we need is substance and real action!

But as I have mentioned many times in the 12 years of publishing Freo's View, I appreciate people putting their hand up and nominating for Council, so I wish Mia Kriznic the same luck as all the other candidates!

The voters decide, so vote on October 13!

Roel Loopers