Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election

[MalcolmTucker]

^ I think you really overestimate:
1) The percentage of people that care about municipal issues
2) The percentage that will bother to vote

Even with the issues, there isn't much of a problem. There isn't much anger. There is no anti Stelmach edge to every news piece on Bronco like there has been on Stelmach since he became PC leader. The issues are diffuse and hard to explain. Watering down plan-it might split off votes to a 'Better Calgary Campaign' backed candidate, where the 10,000 people that will still care about the bridge once it is done would have already voted against Bronco last time.

This all being said, I don't believe Bronconnier is going to run again. He does not need to run to protect his legacy. All the things he accomplished are locked in. There isn't money (capital spending) to accomplish much more during the next term. It is all already programmed.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

This all being said, I don't believe Bronconnier is going to run again. He does not need to run to protect his legacy.

I'm not his biggest fan but the thought of him not running kind of scares me. If he leaves, who will protect Calgary from the likes of McIvor?

[Bigtime]

I think it would be quite funny to watch what happens if McIver runs and wins. I almost think it could be quite similar to what is happening to Obama. All these citizens will think there will be big change and that their taxes will drop a huge amount, McIver comes into office and...oh right it does take this much money to run a city this size. Nothing changes. The media will not fall in love with him like they have with him as opposition, they will scream out "WHERE IS OUR TAX REDUCTIONS?" and Blinky will just stand there in front of the cameras like a deer in a cars headlights.

I will laugh.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

This all being said, I don't believe Bronconnier is going to run again. He does not need to run to protect his legacy. All the things he accomplished are locked in. There isn't money (capital spending) to accomplish much more during the next term. It is all already programmed.

I think he has already announced that he will run again. I remember seeing an article about it a few months ago.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by korzym

It's different this time, many Calgarians have had enough with the current aldermen and mayor. Last election there wasn't a clear opposition, just alnoor but he failed miserably and really didn't have any issue to ride on other than transit.
This time you have McIver who's really the only friend of taxpayers in city hall, and given the liberal reputation city hall has he will fare much better than alnoor. People are actually upset with bronconnier this time around and they have particular issues to cling to, the pedestrian bridge is just the start and will likely be the main over-bearing negative issue that Bronconnier will somehow have to defend. The bridge issue is a mascot for how liberal the guy is.

Out of curiosity, what are the other issues? The only other big one I have heard public outcry over is snow removal. And I hope you realize that to get better service in that area, it will mean increasing taxes. Something McIver is against.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

I think he has already announced that he will run again. I remember seeing an article about it a few months ago.

If he didn't say he was going to, would he be able to get any votes over council which even with him running is jockeying for position?

[freeweed]

Why the heck is snow removal such an issue here? I know for a fact that most Calgarians have lived in other cities, and most other places in Canada have far worse road conditions snow-wise. In non-Vancouver western cities, the snow doesn't even melt for months at a time, and in eastern cities, it can get so bad the army is required just to keep the roads open.

Seriously - it's November 18th and we haven't a flake on the ground. You'd think these whiners all grew up in California or something. I think Calgary has maybe 10 bad snow days a year, in a bad year. Why does everyone want to piss away tax money on a non-issue? Have we even had a snowfall of more than a few inches in the past 5 years?

[You Need A Thneed]

If Bronco runs again in 2010 - he will win in another landslide. To think otherwise is lunacy, IMO.

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I think it would be quite funny to watch what happens if McIver runs and wins. I almost think it could be quite similar to what is happening to Obama. All these citizens will think there will be big change and that their taxes will drop a huge amount, McIver comes into office and...oh right it does take this much money to run a city this size. Nothing changes. The media will not fall in love with him like they have with him as opposition, they will scream out "WHERE IS OUR TAX REDUCTIONS?" and Blinky will just stand there in front of the cameras like a deer in a cars headlights.

I will laugh.

Exactly. One person cannot change the city that dramatically, all the mayor's got is one vote on council.

The pedestrian bridges really didn't have much to do with the mayor (or council) at all anyway.

Council is mostly there to approve the recommendations of the various departments, it's not there to make recommendations to those departments. Council can't possibly know every single detail that goes on in the city, nor should they.

[korzym]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Out of curiosity, what are the other issues? The only other big one I have heard public outcry over is snow removal. And I hope you realize that to get better service in that area, it will mean increasing taxes. Something McIver is against.

Raising taxes where ever they can, that list is lengthy and I don't have time to go back and list them all. Just snow removal? I don't think so. The memorial drive party and other decisions like that have ruined their reputation.


To the guy that says people are not angry this time, and didn't even know bronconnier already announced he would run again - ok then...

[korzym]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I think it would be quite funny to watch what happens if McIver runs and wins. I almost think it could be quite similar to what is happening to Obama. All these citizens will think there will be big change and that their taxes will drop a huge amount, McIver comes into office and...oh right it does take this much money to run a city this size. Nothing changes. The media will not fall in love with him like they have with him as opposition, they will scream out "WHERE IS OUR TAX REDUCTIONS?" and Blinky will just stand there in front of the cameras like a deer in a cars headlights.

I will laugh.

No offense but I purely interpret your post as satire. McIver isn't proposing "change", he's the fiscal responsible guy so this change example is completely out of tune with what he's about, I certainly don't expect anything drastic. He will address priorities and thats important.

[mooky]

The memorial drive party is such a non-issue... it didn't cost that much and it was a test run which may or may not be repeated, and I was there for a little while, I don't think traffic was that bad. Boo-hoo to a few inconvenienced drivers, there are alternate routes, it was a one day event on a Sunday, and as stated before by others: people don't seem to bat an eyelash when any other road is clogged through rush hour, so why does a one day festival on a Sunday get unfairly whipped for slowing down a little bit of traffic.

My guess it won't be repeated unless some more grand plans for it can draw a bigger crowd and give it a more thought-out purpose, it seemed sort of slapped together and hodge-podge. That said, the lanes of traffic really were needed as their were enough people on the side of the memorial to push any bikers/bladers onto the road simply for pedestrian safety.

As for taxes, sure they've gone up, but compare them to the rest of Canada, and also take into account the massive (um.... sprawling) growth this city has seen when you make such off the cuff comments.

[Wooster]

I think that the kind of people that are really opposed to the the bridge and something as inane as the memorial drive lane reduction never have and probably never will vote for Bronconnier. In the end, people will focus on whether he's been a good mayor in terms of getting important projects done. Like or hate him, Bronconnier has gotten a lot built in Calgary during his term.

All McIver says is no. 'no' doesn't get things done, it just scores some cheap political points from time to time.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by korzym

No offense but I purely interpret your post as satire. McIver isn't proposing "change", he's the fiscal responsible guy so this change example is completely out of tune with what he's about, I certainly don't expect anything drastic. He will address priorities and thats important.

Satire? No satire in my post, all these fanatical McIver supporters are probably expecting him to slash their taxes and save them all this money. You don't think they will be shocked when that doesn't happen?

[gantenbein]

All McIver says is no. 'no' doesn't get things done, it just scores some cheap political points from time to time.

And even that he only does when there's a camera or microphone around. He has grandstanded on issues that he had no problem voting in favour of previously.

I would also like to know where putting 'Support our Troops' stickers on emergency services vehicles and organising an anti-coalition rally in front of city hall (federal politics, if I'm not mistaken) fit in with his duties as an alderman.

Taxpayer's best friend my ass. He's only the best friend of hacks at the Sun and Herald, who indulge him in his own PR.

[korzym]

Originally Posted by Wooster

I think that the kind of people that are really opposed to the the bridge and something as inane as the memorial drive lane reduction never have and probably never will vote for Bronconnier. In the end, people will focus on whether he's been a good mayor in terms of getting important projects done. Like or hate him, Bronconnier has gotten a lot built in Calgary during his term.

All McIver says is no. 'no' doesn't get things done, it just scores some cheap political points from time to time.

You can downplay the idiotic decisions made by city hall all you want, and deny that people are angry about this but it won't change the fact. It's a subjective matter person to person, and you read the articles and most people are upset over these issues. The comments, the polls that show 85% are against these things are proof. Don't get too excited over the poll we had here, for one you have people from all over the world perusing this forum that will not vote. The point is whether you have valid points or not the majority aren't happy over the mentioned issues

[gantenbein]

Which poll are you referring to?

If it's one of those CTV online polls, do you really think the results are any more representative than a poll on here would be? CTV viewers are a special demographic.

And I won't even mention comments on fora -- most of those people are trolls from Free Dominion or working out of the CPC war room.

[korzym]

Originally Posted by mooky

The memorial drive party is such a non-issue... it didn't cost that much and it was a test run which may or may not be repeated, and I was there for a little while, I don't think traffic was that bad. Boo-hoo to a few inconvenienced drivers, there are alternate routes, it was a one day event on a Sunday, and as stated before by others: people don't seem to bat an eyelash when any other road is clogged through rush hour, so why does a one day festival on a Sunday get unfairly whipped for slowing down a little bit of traffic.

My guess it won't be repeated unless some more grand plans for it can draw a bigger crowd and give it a more thought-out purpose, it seemed sort of slapped together and hodge-podge. That said, the lanes of traffic really were needed as their were enough people on the side of the memorial to push any bikers/bladers onto the road simply for pedestrian safety.

Your opinion, but most people didn't like this. Go to news articles and see the amount of comments against it and the amount of people that agreed with those comments.

It never is wise to make decisions that will annoy your electoral base.

Originally Posted by mooky

As for taxes, sure they've gone up, but compare them to the rest of Canada, and also take into account the massive (um.... sprawling) growth this city has seen when you make such off the cuff comments.

Your taking things out of context. People here understand raising taxes isn't good, the rest of Canada wouldn't go to work if it could depend on Alberta. Socialists vs. conservatives, is it really a surprise to you? The fact we have lower taxes compared to other cities proves we can survive with less gov

[gantenbein]

Your opinion, but most people didn't like this. Go to news articles and see the amount of comments against it and the amount of people that agreed with those comments.

This hardly needs repeating, but do you really think this is a scientific way to guage public opinion?

[korzym]

Originally Posted by gantenbein

Which poll are you referring to?

If it's one of those CTV online polls, do you really think the results are any more representative than a poll on here would be? CTV viewers are a special demographic.

And I won't even mention comments on fora -- most of those people are trolls from Free Dominion or working out of the CPC war room.

Why would a poll here thats in a forum frequented more by people from around the world, and with an audience thats prone to approve of urbanism, be more valid than a mundane news website followed mostly by locals of a wide demographic?

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by korzym

Your opinion, but most people didn't like this. Go to news articles and see the amount of comments against it and the amount of people that agreed with those comments.

It never is wise to make decisions that will annoy your electoral base.



Your taking things out of context. People here understand raising taxes isn't good, the rest of Canada wouldn't go to work if it could depend on Alberta. Socialists vs. conservatives, is it really a surprise to you? The fact we have lower taxes compared to other cities proves we can survive with less gov

I do think the bridge is unpopular - the media has also contributed to making sure of it. It's a matter of whether Calgarians care enough about the issue to make it a dealbreaker. Somehow, I doubt it. People have more important things on their mind with regard to the services they recieve and infrastructure that is built by the city.