Quote:
Originally Posted by chris08876
Would Chicago be better off with less Aldermans?
Seems like they have to much power to dictate things. Essentially like 50 mayors.
Wouldn't the city be better off with less Aldermans or possibly merging certain wards, and cutting the bureaucracy (developments for example or even budget allocations).
Maybe streamlining the process of city decisions that governs the whole city, as opposed to giving too much power to individual ward Aldermans?
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Interesting.
Toronto and Chicago are very similar sized cities.
Toronto had 44 wards (and councillors); and was poised to shift to 47 during the last election.......
When the Provincial government changed the rules (mid-election) quite controversially reducing Council to 25 wards.
While the change has made for somewhat shorter Council Meetings (they typically finish in 2 days now)....
I would say it remains controversial, in as much as people are a bit more removed from their Councillors who went from having 4 staff on average to closer to 8 with the cut in ward size.
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Worth noting at this juncture is that Toronto City council as with all councils in Ontario is non-partisan (officially). Some are also affiliated with political parties at the provincial or federal level; though they don't run under those banners.
In practice, councillors tend to form ideological alliances; though there is no caucusing per se; or organized platforms aside from those of Mayoral candidates.