Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election - Page 50

bob1954 · #**981** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 5:13 AM**

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 · #**982** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 5:49 AM**

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

defaultuser · #**983** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 6:12 AM**

and his slogan would be...

bob1954 · #**984** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 7:10 AM**

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

Wooster · #**985** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 8:53 PM**

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

jeffwhit · #**986** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 8:56 PM**

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

charper · #**987** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 8:59 PM**

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...

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

Wooster · #**988** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 9:03 PM**

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 · #**989** Posted **Jun 24, 2010, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · #**990** Posted **Jun 25, 2010, 12:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

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

I am volunteering, yes.

Bigtime · #**991** Posted **Jun 25, 2010, 1:15 AM**

Mrs. Bigtime is volunteering with her candidate of choice.

fusili · #**992** Posted **Jun 25, 2010, 1:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Mrs. Bigtime is volunteering with her candidate of choice.

Awesome: BIGTIME FOR MAYOR!!!!

Wooster · #**993** Posted **Jun 25, 2010, 1:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Mrs. Bigtime is volunteering with her candidate of choice.

Does she have cowboy ethics?

Bigtime · #**994** Posted **Jun 25, 2010, 2:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooster

Does she have cowboy ethics?

Thankfully no!

I guess you could say she is "ramp friendly"

DizzyEdge · #**995** Posted **Jul 16, 2010, 7:17 AM**

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 · #**996** Posted **Jul 16, 2010, 3:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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)

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

DizzyEdge · #**997** Posted **Jul 16, 2010, 5:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassic Lab

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 · #**998** Posted **Jul 16, 2010, 6:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

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 · #**999** Posted **Jul 16, 2010, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

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 · #**1000** Posted **Jul 16, 2010, 8:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

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!