[fusili]

Nenshi's presentation at TEDxCalgary.

qNAMH2_CLfo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNAMH2_CLfo&fmt=22

It sort of makes me chuckle to myself thinking about Ric McIver trying to deliver a presentation with this kind of intellectual breadth. lol.

Did you guys notice the weird sound? It kept going loud to quiet. Other than that, good presentation.

[jeffwhit]

Did you guys notice the weird sound? It kept going loud to quiet. Other than that, good presentation.
Seems like they were doing brief cuts from his headset to the camera mic. Maybe there were problems with his headset.

[srperrycgy]

You actually get uncontrollable lolz if you imagine Joe Connelly.

He would be ranting and yelling about "cowboy values" within 2 minutes. :rolleyes:

[fusili]

Seems like they were doing brief cuts from his headset to the camera mic. Maybe there were problems with his headset.

That is what I figured. Not a big deal though.

[fusili]

Hawkesworth joins race to be Calgary's next mayor: Campaign gets Ceci endorsement

By Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald

CALGARY - Alderman Bob Hawkesworth is trying to build on his 30-year career in civic and provincial politics by pursuing the city’s top job.

He confirmed months of rumours by declaring his bid for mayor at an event with supporters Monday. He becomes the race’s eighth candidate and third from the current council.


Link (http://www.calgaryherald.com/Hawkesworth+joins+race+Calgary+next+mayor/3093845/story.html)

Not surprising news. Looks like we an equally fractured "left" and "right" in the election so far:

Left(ish):
Hawkesworth
Nenshi
Hehr
Hughes?

Right(ish):
McIver
Connelly
Burrows
Lord

[charper]

Did you guys notice the weird sound? It kept going loud to quiet. Other than that, good presentation.

I was at the TEDx event where he spoke. They had problems with the mic cutting in and out throughout the day. Based on what they said it seemed to be the batteries.

[Wooster]

Civic Camp Candidate Question survey. You can sign up and vote for which questions you think (or suggest your own) should be asked of the candidates.

http://civiccamp.uservoice.com/forums/48175-candidate-questions

[jeffwhit]

So did the city used to have a party system in place for civic elections? From the sounds of the article it seems like Hawkesworth was elected as an NDP candidate.

[srperrycgy]

No party system. Hawksworth was elected as an NDP MLA.

[MalcolmTucker]

Stewart is announcing next week.

[jeffwhit]

No party system. Hawksworth was elected as an NDP MLA.
I should learn to read ALL the words.

[Bigtime]

If you're on Twitter check out "Angry Sun Commenter", looks like they just started tweeting. A lot of comedy gold potential there: http://twitter.com/yycRAGE

[srperrycgy]

If you're on Twitter check out "Angry Sun Commenter", looks like they just started tweeting. A lot of comedy gold potential there: http://twitter.com/yycRAGE

:previous: Oh goody, now he's following me.

[Wooster]

If you're on Twitter check out "Angry Sun Commenter", looks like they just started tweeting. A lot of comedy gold potential there: http://twitter.com/yycRAGE

LOL. I'm guessing it's a joke. It must be.

[Bigtime]

LOL. I'm guessing it's a joke. It must be.

Oh yeah, definitely a joke. I like how the two pictures he has put up have lots of 11!!11 like stuff and the term "...pedestrian bridges" just thrown in for good measure. :haha:

[Wooster]

I like the fat cat covered in money. priceless.

[Bigtime]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/109464772.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1275507002&Signature=qG3j5aDNZSwEzSxfSmm%2F4TpUw4o%3D

:haha:

[Bigtime]

Uh oh, the city commitee just defeated the pilot project for the urban chickens. Paul Hughes is going to go clucking crazy!

[fusili]

Uh oh, the city commitee just defeated the pilot project for the urban chickens. Paul Hughes is going to go clucking crazy!

:no: :no: :no: :no: How could this be? If we can't have chickens in our back yard, how can we every function as a society? I am outraged and appalled. I am taking to the streets shortly.

[Bigtime]

I guess you could say that pilot project laid its last egg...


That's the best I could do. :(

[mooky]

I guess you could say that pilot project laid its last egg...


That's the best I could do. :(

Next time work on cracking a better yolk. :sly: :D

[Bigtime]

Next time work on cracking a better yolk. :sly: :D

Nicely played! :tup:

Since the urban chicken pilot project got the axe Paul Hughes has been mighty quiet on twitter. Usually he is blathering away with a post a minute on the #yycvote hashtag.

[srperrycgy]

:previous: The guy invited me to a Transit users group on Facebook. I don't think he is a one issue guy by any means. But his main issue has been plucked and rightfully so.

[Bigtime]

:previous: The guy invited me to a Transit users group on Facebook. I don't think he is a one issue guy by any means. But his main issue has been plucked and rightfully so.

Yeah he has a lot of "issues" in his "platform", but I never hear him explaining how any of it is possible in the real world. Him and Connelly are the worst on twitter for this so far, just mindless babble with no "how" to it.

Great pun as well!

[srperrycgy]

The urban chicken isssue is full of puns....Ron MacLean would be proud. :cool:

[Bigtime]

Whoever is posting as 'yycRAGE' is getting better and better at it, check out this fresh off the tweet beauty:

yycRAGE Urban Chickens?!? #yyccc is always shoving things no one wants down our throats - Plan It slums, peace bridge and now cocks. #yycvote #yyc

:haha:

[Wooster]

:haha: The satire of this election is almost the best part. I never thought twitter could be so great.

[srperrycgy]

It's amusing for sure. Hopefully, four months of hilarity and insanity will ensue. I hadn't used Twitter much before, but I'm amazed that people are following my tweets.

[Bigtime]

McIver and Hughes are on CBC Radio One 'Q' in a few minutes on the Urban Chicken debate: http://radiotime.com/WebTuner.aspx?StationId=31103&

[TETT2]

:previous: The guy invited me to a Transit users group on Facebook. I don't think he is a one issue guy by any means. But his main issue has been plucked and rightfully so.

His chicken fight is the one that got media attention. :D

[DizzyEdge]

I really have my doubts if Mr Hughes really expects or even means to become mayor. More likely it's a savvy move to get media exposure for his work regarding food sourcing, chickens, urban farming and the like.

[Bigtime]

The CHBA and UDI are up to their usual tricks:

Calgary developers set to push agenda for civic election
Developers ready website to urge vote on growth plan

By Sarah McGinnis, Calgary Herald June 7, 2010 6:38 AM

Calgary Herald CALGARY - Local developers and home builders are preparing their own election website and plan to campaign heavily for their agenda in the upcoming civic election, a year after the divisive debate on the Plan It blueprint for city growth.

One of Calgary's biggest home builders lays out the campaign in a three-and-a-half-minute video.

"We want a mayor and city council that is open for people and open for business.

"We need to elect candidates that see new residences and businesses as an opportunity, not a strain on our infrastructure," Jay Westman, CEO of Jayman MasterBuilt, says in the video posted on votecalgary.ca.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+developers+push+agenda+civic+election/3121229/story.html#ixzz0qAohkPMm

[Bigtime]

An interesting Editorial by Karin Klassen:

Vancouver envy and Calgary's next mayor

By Karin Klassen, Calgary Herald June 7, 2010

In my family, we joke that we eat our steaks so rare, with good medical care they would be up and mooing again. The first thing I ask people when I find out they're "from here," is "which high school did you go to?" If I had a horse that tripped in holes, I would have no problem shooting gophers stone cold dead. I can tell you where I was the night the flame went out in '88, and I like my tickets infield. In short, I am Calgarian . . . which is why I feel disloyal and dismayed to say that I absolutely, positively love Vancouver.

It surprises me not one bit that it scored number 4 on the worldwide list of the best cities to live in.

I've been there many times before, but for some reason this time it struck me differently.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Vancouver+envy+Calgary+next+mayor/3121258/story.html#ixzz0qAqUYDg9

[AUM]

The CHBA and UDI are up to their usual tricks:

Perhaps instead of putting all this energy into a campaign for their own interests, they could perhaps look at improving their practices and providing 'better' choices not necessarily 'more' choices.

I wish they would also quit calling themselves the Urban Development Institute. Their focus is primarily suburban therefore call it what it is. Suburban Development Institute.

[DizzyEdge]

"We need to elect candidates that see new residences and businesses as an opportunity, not a strain on our infrastructure,"

But what if they are a strain on our infrastructure?

[Bigtime]

Exactly, that one quote summed up the developers position perfectly.

We don't care about the consquences of our actions, we just want more money.

True leaders in business can adapt to a changing marketplace, not just cry and whine that it will make all of us suffer.

I know I'll never be giving a cent of my money to Jayman Homes. Didn't he also have a rambling speech during the Plan It talks that was nothing more than a glorified advertisement?

[DizzyEdge]

Really, if surcharges and tax rates reflected the actual cost to the city for any new development, then it would all be moot, then people's wallet can do the 'social engineering' (you can thank me later Rick Bell) rather than Silly Hall.

[LFRENCH]

I'm a speechless...............

[Wooster]

Nenshi's secondary suite proposal: thoughts?

http://www.nenshi.ca/new/2010/116

Today Naheed released his policy on secondary suites in Calgary — a policy that brings safe, legal affordable housing to Calgary while respecting the rights of people in existing communities.

Secondary suites are not the entire solution to our affordable housing crisis, but they are an important part of the puzzle. Naheed will be releasing a full policy on housing in due course, but this piece could be implemented today.

Here’s the text of the media release:

Nenshi proposes common-sense policy on secondary suites

McIver-led motion is Councilitis at work: an attempt to hide from record, delay issue until after election

Mayoral candidate and long-time housing advocate Naheed Nenshi today announced a policy for secondary suites that will immediately bring safe, legal affordable housing units to Calgary, while minimizing disruptions to existing neighbourhoods. This stands in stark contrast to the Notice of Motion being presented to City Council today by aldermen Ric McIver, Jim Stevenson, and Gord Lowe – all ardent opponents of secondary suites in existing neighbourhoods in the past – which would tie up any decision on suites in administrative paralysis for at least eight months, if not longer.

Nenshi’s proposal envisions secondary suites being allowed in all residential communities without need for a land-use rezoning, subject to the following simple conditions:

◦All provincial building code rules must be met, notably the need for fire safety (e.g. fire walls between suites, smoke alarms that ring on all floors)
◦One off-street parking spot must be provided for the suite, in addition to the spots required for the main dwelling. This rule would be waived for suites within 500 metres of an LRT or BRT station.
◦The owner must occupy any home with a suite; both units cannot be rented simultaneously.

“It’s unbelievable that this has been allowed to go on for so long,” said Nenshi. “This city has been out of step with other cities, with public opinion, and with its own plan to end homelessness due directly to a lack of courage at City Council to address the issue.

“Alderman McIver’s motion would just extend this untenable situation even further. It’s a clear indication that he and his colleagues suffer from “Councilitis” – an inflammation of analysis characterized by an inability to make tough decisions, even when they are the right thing to do. :haha: We don’t need eight months to study the issue – we already know what works and we just need to do it.”

There are an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 illegal suites in Calgary, whose tenants lack any safety protection or recourse. All major cities in Canada save Calgary have a secondary suite policy, with Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, and Toronto, amongst many others, having legalized them in all neighbourhoods.

[Bigtime]

I like his proposal. What I really like is Nenshi is the ONLY candidate actually giving us a platform and how they intend to implement it.

[MalcolmTucker]

I like his proposal. What I really like is Nenshi is the ONLY candidate actually giving us a platform and how they intend to implement it.

In time, in time.

The proposal isn't bad, but the owner occupied rule is likely unconstitutional, unenforceable. If I can lease a single house to 8 boarders, why can't I lease a house broken into two units safely to two groups of 4. A better rule would be a universal 'in good repair/good neighbor' bylaw in conjunction with the wide scale zoning changes to enforce community standards of property upkeep and conduct.

As for parking, the devil is in the details - is one spot enough for the owners so the second spot in a garage can be for the renters? Does that spot always need to be available to the renters even if the renter has no car? Again, why does the parking rule apply to a secondary suite, but no one cares if I rent a house to many many people as one unit.

The parking requirement would require costly site visits and overly bureaucratic rules to be developed, and implies that you would still need a permit of some kind beyond something signed by an architect/engineer/whatever authority can show the correct building code was followed.

Still, even if unworkable, it is a step forward, and politically palatable. After it is in place for a year or two and the problems come forward I am sure it would be fixed for the better. Sometimes flawed incremental-ism is the correct path versus the alternative of no change.

[You Need A Thneed]

I like the proposal, but I don't know how the owner occupation would be enforced. That also would mean that an owner could own no more than one house with a suite.

While owner occupied suites are best, there are many other factors that determine whether the property will be kept in good condition. We all know that many houses without suites are in terrible and ugly condition as well.

The current policy regarding suites is hilariously bad.

[Ferreth]

Perhaps instead of putting all this energy into a campaign for their own interests, they could perhaps look at improving their practices and providing 'better' choices not necessarily 'more' choices.

I wish they would also quit calling themselves the Urban Development Institute. Their focus is primarily suburban therefore call it what it is. Suburban Development Institute.

That POS votecalgary.ca site currently is just video with Jay Westman "Chairman and CEO, Jayman MasterBUILT President; President, JWI Investments".

I have four friends who have dealt with Jayman/Excel homes (same company) and they are 0/4 in terms of satisfied customers. If Jayman decided how to build this city, we'd be faced with surprise sinkholes, roads that suddenly narrow because there isn't enough ROW, LRT repairs that end up leaving more damage than what was fixed, and mid-year tax increases to cover "unforeseen expenses". And yes, I am translating actual house situations into comparible city situations.

Choices? CHOICES?! Two of my four friends ventured over to Jayman exactly because they had so LITTLE CHOICE. You want this house design? Only Jayman has it. You want this builder? Sorry, they don't build here. Fah! - the home building industry is all about corralling you into a few neat categories where they can sell you one of a few cookie cutter designs in a particular area defined for your salary and stage of life. You are SOL if you don't fit their mold.

End rant!

[Ferreth]

I like the overall proposal as well; also have concerns about enforcability.

SHA, I could buy that it's not within the City's powers to enforce owner occupation for a secondary suite, but unconstitutional? Any specific points of the constitution in mind on that one?

YNAT, Overall, I'd say it's a GOOD thing that a landlord could only own one house with a suite. I can pretty much pick out the rental properties in my neighborhood by their lack of care - having owner/rental units would provide an intermediate form of property that on average would get better care, IMO.

I don't see an issue with parking - the tenant is provided with one off-street parking stall - while the tenant may not want to squeal on a landlord shirking his duty there, the landlord's neighbor's would have fewer qualms on that front. It's a reasonable "one size fits all" compromise.

The Fire code thing seems most unenforceable to me, particularly firewalls. Is it at all easy to determine if there is a sufficient firewall between an upstairs main and an downstairs suite? I can't see many potential landlords going to that red tape and expense.

The proposal is a start - it has to be something that is going to be not too hard for landlords to comply with or else we are going to just keep having a ton of illegal suites, barring some serious enforcement.

[halifaxboyns]

Legally you can't enforce owner occupied. Plus; who an owner rents a unit out too is a constitutional issue related to family. This is why you don't typically seen Single Family Dwelling as use in bylaws anymore. They are Single Detached Dwellings.

There was a court case (I don't recall what City) that took a fraternity to court because as far as their land use bylaw was concerned, the frat house was a rooming house. They lost because the court said that a family was no longer able to be defined as people by blood or marriage - since common law families are neither. So the same effect had to be applied - was very interesting.

[charper]

I attended the focus groups on secondary suites. It was an interesting discussion. The main concern seemed to have little to do with secondary suites and much to do with tenants. There was concern of parties and 6 people living in one basement suite etc. I felt like these issues were valid even when a secondary suite wasn't present. For example, people rent out entire houses with the same situation.

Parking was another issue but addressed through permits.

I summed up the discussions on an old blog post: http://www.harperonside.com/2/post/2010/04/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit.html

Charps

[MalcolmTucker]

For constitutional there is also equal treatment under the law provisions, tenants as renters have equal rights over a property in a legal sense (home is castle, landlord can't let police inspect without the same provisions that would allow police to inspect an owner occupied unit, etc). When the first person/ family got kicked out of one or both levels of a house because one wasn't an owner, there is no equal treatment under the law.

Add to that that kicking someone out of their housing if there is no other reason than this bylaw would be harmful to someone's security of the person, the law is not fulfilling a greater good that is justified in a free and democratic society (Oaks Test).

Plus applying it would be full of slippery slopes, since the law could never really take into account the full scope of situations. Would having not the direct owner but lets say a son or daughter live in one of the units fulfill the 'owner' quota? I know at least a couple houses during university that were set up in such a manner.

Best solution is still neighborhood standards (if want to go beyond normal city functions then a home owner association or whatever legally it is called, a group that can dictate standards like in a condo but applied over a normal neighborhood, which does exist in Calgary), parking controls (maybe mandatory passes on a street once it passes 10% with secondary suites), and

[Wooster]

Good question. Not sure how you could enforce owner occupancy.

[Me&You]

Good question. Not sure how you could enforce owner occupancy.

You can't. That's just plain ridiculous.

[Bigtime]

Wayne Stewart just tweeted that he is in the race.

www.waynestewart.ca


The key elements of Stewart's platform include:

1) Renewing faith in city government through a commitment to integrity at City Hall, in part by appointing an independent auditor to review the way the city does business, including the way we buy goods and services

2) Continuing to improve the city's infrastructure; roads, LRT, public transit and snow removal, as well as cultural infrastructure like libraries, public art, music and theatre

3) A focus on innovation, making Calgary the World's Energy Capital,

4) Support to public safety agencies, the police and fire departments, to ensure safety at all times and in all places, and

5) A bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

[Ferreth]

After further reading and thought, I'm agreeing with all of you's who are saying Owner Occupied is unenforceable, plus even if it were, there are situations that crop up such as renting a house and sharing it with 8 of your best buddies, leading to the same problems. It's too bad because in my rental days, I lived in a owner occupied rental and really liked it. Perhaps it helped that every time the Italian landlords threw a party, they'd bring down the left over homemade pastas next day. :slob:

Perhaps Calgary needs to scrap the idea of free-for-all parking in front of residential units and make it by permit only, 1 permit per X linear feet of property border. Allow public parking only in excess space, with 48 hour maximums applying only there. Parking in front of your house would still have to be parking, not storage - with rules to the effect that the vehicle must be drivable at any time, so must have valid plates, insurance, 4 inflated tires :)

Is this feasible? Would any candidate campaign on this promise?

[DizzyEdge]

After further reading and thought, I'm agreeing with all of you's who are saying Owner Occupied is unenforceable, plus even if it were, there are situations that crop up such as renting a house and sharing it with 8 of your best buddies, leading to the same problems. It's too bad because in my rental days, I lived in a owner occupied rental and really liked it. Perhaps it helped that every time the Italian landlords threw a party, they'd bring down the left over homemade pastas next day. :slob:

Perhaps Calgary needs to scrap the idea of free-for-all parking in front of residential units and make it by permit only, 1 permit per X linear feet of property border. Allow public parking only in excess space, with 48 hour maximums applying only there. Parking in front of your house would still have to be parking, not storage - with rules to the effect that the vehicle must be drivable at any time, so must have valid plates, insurance, 4 inflated tires :)

Is this feasible? Would any candidate campaign on this promise?

That is already the case:
http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Business/Running+a+Business/Bylaws+of+Interest/Streets.htm



- Do not leave unregistered, uninsured vehicles on City streets or lanes.
- A vehicle must be operable and moved within 72 hours or it may be considered abandoned and removed as such.*

*This regulation is a part of Alberta's Traffic Safety Act and is enforced by the Calgary Parking Authority .

[Bassic Lab]

For constitutional there is also equal treatment under the law provisions, tenants as renters have equal rights over a property in a legal sense (home is castle, landlord can't let police inspect without the same provisions that would allow police to inspect an owner occupied unit, etc). When the first person/ family got kicked out of one or both levels of a house because one wasn't an owner, there is no equal treatment under the law.

Add to that that kicking someone out of their housing if there is no other reason than this bylaw would be harmful to someone's security of the person, the law is not fulfilling a greater good that is justified in a free and democratic society (Oaks Test).

Plus applying it would be full of slippery slopes, since the law could never really take into account the full scope of situations. Would having not the direct owner but lets say a son or daughter live in one of the units fulfill the 'owner' quota? I know at least a couple houses during university that were set up in such a manner.

Best solution is still neighborhood standards (if want to go beyond normal city functions then a home owner association or whatever legally it is called, a group that can dictate standards like in a condo but applied over a normal neighborhood, which does exist in Calgary), parking controls (maybe mandatory passes on a street once it passes 10% with secondary suites), and

Owner occupation is definitely unenforceable and problematic from other stand points but I'm not sure if it would fail the Oaks test. A case could be made either way and it would depend a great deal on the Justices who had to decide.

I'd imagine Nenshi's plan would involve some kind of registry with a one home per name policy. The result would of course be a lot of spouses, siblings, cousins, and so on "owning" houses.

[Me&You]

Owner occupation is definitely unenforceable and problematic from other stand points but I'm not sure if it would fail the Oaks test. A case could be made either way and it would depend a great deal on the Justices who had to decide.

I'd imagine Nenshi's plan would involve some kind of registry with a one home per name policy. The result would of course be a lot of spouses, siblings, cousins, and so on "owning" houses.

Exactly. Ridiculous.

For instance, what would I do. I own houses that are well kept rentals (up/down suited). I also own my home that isn't also rented. My brother owns a home. My parents own a home. My closest cousins own homes. My closest friends own homes. What would I do?

A business associate of my father's owns something in the area of 30 homes that he rents out... what would he do?

Ridiculous.

I'm all for more suites and affordable rentals, but this owner-occupation, one-name-per-home thing simply won't happen.

[Wooster]

http://enlightenedsavage.blogspot.com/2010/06/conversation-with-naheed-nenshi.html

In depth interview by Joey Oberhoffner with Naheed Nenshi. Unfortunately, the audio quality is poor, but the conversation is excellent.

[outoftheice]

Just curious if any of the candidates have come out with a stance on expanding the recycling program to include apartment/condo buildings?? From what I can remember, this was supposed to be phased in eventually but I haven't heard much about it from the current city council.

[Bigtime]

I'm not sure about older buildings but doesn't every new condo building have in-house recycling? Here at arriVa we've had bins in our garbage room since day 1 for cardboard and bottles. Of course we pay a private contractor to come and pick it up, not the city.

[hulkrogan]

Even if it is done by private contractors, make it a legal requirement.

Office buildings too. I'm chucking away so many recyclables in a day at work.

[mr.steevo]

I'm not sure about older buildings but doesn't every new condo building have in-house recycling? Here at arriVa we've had bins in our garbage room since day 1 for cardboard and bottles. Of course we pay a private contractor to come and pick it up, not the city.

You also pay for private pickup of your garbage.

s.

[Bigtime]

Barb Higgins for mayor?

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/calgary-blogs/the-howler/2010/06/14/mayor-barb-higgins-400/

[Bigtime]

Barb Higgins says "No" to running for mayor:

"I will tell you that I was approached by three separate groups asking me to run," Higgins told me this morning.

"I was very flattered and I did give it some serious thought. But I've made up my mind now. I won't run."

http://communities.canada.com/calgaryherald/blogs/braidbuzz/archive/2010/06/14/higgins-rules-herself-out-for-mayor.aspx

[srperrycgy]

deleted...

[Wooster]

Story on the first mayoral forum. Hosted by Avenue Mag on the topic of affordable housing.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Debut+Calgary+mayoral+candidate+forum+stirs+secondary+suites+debate/3154050/story.html

Looks like Nenshi is going right after McIver.

[mersar]

Well I think I can safely say that one name I'd heard rumored to be possibly looking at a mayoral bid is a pretty safe to say he won't be now. U of C just announced Jim Dinning has been appointed the new Chancellor as of July 1st.

[wild wild west]

Story on the first mayoral forum. Hosted by Avenue Mag on the topic of affordable housing.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Debut+Calgary+mayoral+candidate+forum+stirs+secondary+suites+debate/3154050/story.html

Looks like Nenshi is going right after McIver.

It's good to see a candidate being willing to take the aldermen to task on their record. I just hope the media, who seem to be awfully pro-McIver, give fair coverage to Naheed. Based on what I've seen so far, he's impressed me most of all the candidates.

[jeffwhit]

I was actually thinking this morning that SSP Calgary should host a mayoral forum in September. We have a great community and I'd like to see the kind of questions we could come up with. If anyone thinks this is a good idea, I'd be interested in pursuing it.

[Wooster]

^ Very good idea. Focused on specific issues? Transit? Urbanism? Community Revitalization?

[fusili]

^ Very good idea. Focused on specific issues? Transit? Urbanism? Community Revitalization?

All of the above. Plus approaches to funding development.

[LFRENCH]

I was actually thinking this morning that SSP Calgary should host a mayoral forum in September. We have a great community and I'd like to see the kind of questions we could come up with. If anyone thinks this is a good idea, I'd be interested in pursuing it.

There is one in the works for late September at the university. It is put on by the urban studies club there so therefore will focus on urbanism and urban issues.

[Wooster]

^ Interesting.

What it could be is non-standard kind of debate whereby candidates would try and answer a broad question like "What does your Calgary look like in 20 years"

Give speakers 5-10 minutes each to lay out their vision fpr the city.

[suburb]

__________________
I support Naheed Nenshi for Mayor of Calgary
http://www.nenshi.ca/
http://twitter.com/nenshi
http://www.facebook.com/NaheedNenshi

Wooster - just saw your sig and thought I'd pipe in on Naheed also ...

Some time ago, someone outside of this forum commented on the limited financial education and astuteness of most who are running for city council and mayor. Think about it ... there is a budget of hundreds of millions and for the most part its use and governance is led by people who don't have education in the area. You wouldn't hire most of these folks to trade stocks for you, yet we vote for the same people to manage our millions. This is one of the areas where Naheed has a massive advantage. His education and experience speaks for itself, but I thought I'd point people here to this line of thinking.

Anyway - he has slowly been revealing his platform on his blog - most recent entry was a statement about the dismissal of the city auditor. Check it out:
http://www.nenshi.ca/new/blog

[Wooster]

Wooster - just saw your sig and thought I'd pipe in on Naheed also ...

Some time ago, someone outside of this forum commented on the limited financial education and astuteness of most who are running for city council and mayor. Think about it ... there is a budget of hundreds of millions and for the most part its use and governance is led by people who don't have education in the area. You wouldn't hire most of these folks to trade stocks for you, yet we vote for the same people to manage our millions. This is one of the areas where Naheed has a massive advantage. His education and experience speaks for itself, but I thought I'd point people here to this line of thinking.

Anyway - he has slowly been revealing his platform on his blog - most recent entry was a statement about the dismissal of the city auditor. Check it out:
http://www.nenshi.ca/new/blog

Indeed. Certainly one of the reasons I support him.

Curious now that the Mayoral field seems more or less set now who people are generally thinking of supporting. It's obviously early, but there's some amount of information out there in terms of platform and obviously some of candidate's political records and resumes to understand what they are about. Perhaps an initial poll guaging support at this stage in the race? could do one monthly to see if support shifts around?

[DizzyEdge]

Can anyone tell me what is required to win the race for mayor? like with 9 candidates, does one only need in theory to win 12% (assuming all who ran were evenly split except one) or does one need 50%+1 and therefore runoffs?

[mersar]

First past the post, so one vote more then the next guy.

[Radley77]

I have really enjoyed Gian-Carlo Carra's run for Ward 9. I'm way more excited about Gian-Carlo, then I was about Joe Ceci. He had an interesting post the other day about Edmonton Trail and providing on-street parking:


Renfrew in the Long and Short Terms

I spent a big chunk of today connecting with people in the northern Ward 9 Community of Renfrew. This morning I met with the President and VP of the Community Association at a delightful little coffee shop in a converted single family home on Edmonton Trail called Garden’s Grace (google map). We discussed the major overhaul of the organization that’s being carried out by their recently elected board, a board consisting of both brand new faces as well as some long time volunteers. I’m finding a recurring theme amongst all the CA’s I’ve met with in Ward 9 is the hunger to establish a vision for their respective communities that will guide both redevelopment, and the priorities of the Community Association. Facilitating communities in getting a big vision in place, establishing a “brand,” weaving a story that each community tells itself and the rest of the City about where it’s come from and where it’s going is a central part of my platform. I fundamentally believe that a Great City results from great communities, and not the other way around, and that story is an essential component of great communities – it needs to become the mission of City Hall to enable and facilitate the development and celebration of the unique stories of every one of Calgary’s Communities’.

At the same time, we need to quickly address really simple fixes that will make significant improvements with very little expense. This evening I met with a group of Renfrew residents and business owners who came together at Open Range Steakhouse (including the owner of Garden’s Grace who’d served me my Americano 12 hours before, and had baked the muffin I ate hours before that). The issue that had brought these concerned citizens together for a late meeting was the simple proposition of allowing off-peak on-street parking along Edmonton Trail. As an Urban Designer, when I drive (invariably speedily) along Edmonton Trail, or when I cheat on my Inglewood breakfast joints of Eat, Eat, The Village Cantina, and the Blackfoot Truck Stop, to stand on line at the Diner Deluxe, I’ve increasingly appreciated what a great main street the area’s developing into. I’ve also thought that the simple act of allowing on-street parking would have a transformative effect on that development. So I was only too happy to meet with citizens who were coming together to figure out how to make this simple but significant change happen.

The reality is that on-street parking is essential to the vibrancy of main street retail. It makes streets more business friendly as well as more pedestrian friendly and it would transform Edmonton Trail from a speedway with businesses bravely clinging to it, into the main street seam where the neighbourhoods of Renfrew and East Crescent Heights come together. It’s really a no-brainer – put another way, think of what 9th Avenue in Inglewood might look like without its on-street parking. But let’s think even bigger than that.

What if we were able to combine quick, no-brainer fixes with big picture visioning? It might result in transformative plans like the one my former firm T-Six Urbanists helped develop for the Town of Taos New Mexico. Check the sequence below and realize that when municipal government, local communities, and developers work together, there’s no reason we can’t accomplish the same kinds of results for Edmonton Trail, and all of our City’s neighbourhood corridors.


Reference: http://carra4ward9.ca/blog/2010/06/renfrew-in-the-long-and-short-terms/

[Wooster]

Yeah, Carra's campaign is great. He seems really in tune with communities and would serve his constituents well. I hope he gets elected.

[phughes]

I was actually thinking this morning that SSP Calgary should host a mayoral forum in September. We have a great community and I'd like to see the kind of questions we could come up with. If anyone thinks this is a good idea, I'd be interested in pursuing it.
That is a gr8 idea. This forum is populated with some very smart/savvy/informed individuals. I'd attend.

[phughes]

I've known and worked a bit with Gian since I started my role as Chair of the Calgary Food Policy Council. He is incredibly well informed on the human scale issues/challenges facing communities and has real time experience in the trenches as president of Inglewood Community Association & via his urban design business.

[jeffwhit]

^So, Gian-Carlo, Chris Harper, and my twitter friend, Paul Hughes have actually registered and posted, and we all know Nenshi lurks here, I'm currious which other Ald/Mayor candidates will come out of the woodwork and post. Am I missing anyone? I'm glad to see there's some interest in this idea.

[fusili]

^So, Gian-Carlo, Chris Harper, and my twitter friend, Paul Hughes have actually registered and posted, and we all know Nenshi lurks here, I'm currious which other Ald/Mayor candidates will come out of the woodwork and post. Am I missing anyone? I'm glad to see there's some interest in this idea.

Me, my name is Barack Obama, and I want to be the next mayor of Calgary.

[bob1954]

Guys, Obama's gonna be busy for a while. Trying to get a vehicle called the USA out of a very deep ditch! Did I mention, it's a ditch full of potholes if you get my drift. He got a hell of a mess left to him by the prior administrations (3-4), and it's getting worse! This BP mess and now Gen. McCrystal stepping down......

[fusili]

Actually, there are only two people who will get my vote, and only if they run: MacGyver and Chuck Norris. Not McIver, MacGyver.

[defaultuser]

and his slogan would be...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/2458302572_a0d1f1d662.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/defaultuser/2458302572)

[bob1954]

Bruce Lee could easily... if he was still alive!

[Wooster]

So has anyone put their money where their mouth is and donate to candidates of their choice, or volunteer?

[jeffwhit]

I have, but I've also skipped volunteer functions since I'm out of the country until August 18th.

[charper]

Any thoughts on the $60M shortfall coming up this fall for the City?

Not sure how a financially well managed City of Calgary ends up being this off target with still 6 months to go until budget meetings... :hell:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/shortfall+city+looking+savings/3194670/story.html

[Wooster]

I think it's not just about financial management, it is also about a property tax system that makes no sense as the primary revenue source for a city. It's regressive, and also non-inflationary.

[MalcolmTucker]

I think it's not just about financial management, it is also about a property tax system that makes no sense as the primary revenue source for a city. It's regressive, and also non-inflationary.
That is easy to fix - you peg the tax base amount (the amount collected) used to calculate the mill rate to local CPI. Add an escalator that takes into account sheer property growth (measure the value in the current years market value assessment vs last and weed out the extra value change for properties that have had been renovated and or built) and boom, you're done.

With those two things only new initiatives (ie: whole new program areas) should ever require an increase in taxes. Should be able to deliver a paper 'tax cut' most years.

As for diverse funding base, sales taxes haven't worked out very well south of the border for cities, I would ask the province to allocate the tax points from personal income tax within city boundaries to fully fund MSI. In future years, when the amount flows up or down the city would just have to deal with it, and the province wouldn't be counting on that revenue for other things since it was set aside already.

[sim]

So has anyone put their money where their mouth is and donate to candidates of their choice, or volunteer?


I am volunteering, yes.

[Bigtime]

Mrs. Bigtime is volunteering with her candidate of choice.

[fusili]

Mrs. Bigtime is volunteering with her candidate of choice.

Awesome: BIGTIME FOR MAYOR!!!!

[Wooster]

Mrs. Bigtime is volunteering with her candidate of choice.

Does she have cowboy ethics?

[Bigtime]

Does she have cowboy ethics?

Thankfully no!

I guess you could say she is "ramp friendly" ;)

[DizzyEdge]

Considering the crap Druh gets in the media, I'm surprised there doesn't seem to be a lineup to run against her. I have a suspicion she may be back afterall. (This isn't necessarily a bad thing)

[Bassic Lab]

Considering the crap Druh gets in the media, I'm surprised there doesn't seem to be a lineup to run against her. I have a suspicion she may be back afterall. (This isn't necessarily a bad thing)

Managing to get elected in Ward 7 and gaining the support of the Sun's editorial board are two entirely unrelated things.

[DizzyEdge]

Managing to get elected in Ward 7 and gaining the support of the Sun's editorial board are two entirely unrelated things.

Well and I think a good point was made on some blog I was reading last night about another ward: The city population's opinion of any alderman is completely irrelevant, it's the ward population's opinion that counts. Seems obvious, but worth stating.

[fusili]

Well and I think a good point was made on some blog I was reading last night about another ward: The city population's opinion of any alderman is completely irrelevant, it's the ward population's opinion that counts. Seems obvious, but worth stating.

Exactly. And the only opinions that really count are people that vote. So just cater to the elderly, the chronically unemployed and the obsessive compulsives and you just won an election.

[fusili]

Well and I think a good point was made on some blog I was reading last night about another ward: The city population's opinion of any alderman is completely irrelevant, it's the ward population's opinion that counts. Seems obvious, but worth stating.

This also illustrates what I think is a an important aspect of city politics- we don't have councillors at large (voted on a city-wide basis), which I think are necessary. Just throwing it out there.

[charper]

This also illustrates what I think is a an important aspect of city politics- we don't have councillors at large (voted on a city-wide basis), which I think are necessary. Just throwing it out there.

There are a few cities which have a mix of Ward Alderman (Councillors) and Councillors at Large. I think it's an interesting way to keep things balanced especially when dealing with issues where what's best for the City conflicts with what's best for a ward.

Though, from an election perspective it might make running for office all the more inaccessible for quality candidates. Mayoral campaigns are expensive because they have to target a larger audience than an Aldermanic. Running for Alderman at Large would likely require similar resources to a Mayoral Campaign.

Just some of my thoughts!