Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election

[bob1954]

That's unfortunate about Nenshi. This is the kind of nonsense I'd expect more often in the US.

[mr.steevo]

Hi,

The Glenbow photo archives has an image of a Mosque in Calgary ransacked in 1975.

Image number- NA-2864-27125

I think ignorance has been around these parts for a long, long time.

s.

[Radley77]

Definitely sickening that Nenshi had someone vandalize the team's HQ's. I hope they catch the goons.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Riise

Isn't she doing the same thing you accuse Nenshi of doing? She says she'll maintain spending, but how will this spending occur? What's her plan? CPTED? A task force aimed at inner-city crime or open-air drug dealing?

Higgins has said that the police budget shouldn't be cut. Nenshi has said that he is "not suggesting that the police budget needs to be cut", which is not different than saying that he might cut the police budget. Nenshi has promised a rather large $150 million for the tunnel, plus there is already the proposed budget increase and revenue shortfall that are already baked in. Higgins on the other hand hasn't promised any additional large spending initiatives so is more doable. Higgins has also said she supports current levels of beat cops, and that has already made a large difference in many communities.

The following is an excerpt from an article last year:

"Crime fighters say core recovering

A city team whose function is to clean up crime downtown offered what it says is proof yesterday that social disorder is on the decline in Calgary's core.

Staff Sgt. Nina Vaughan of District 1 said the Centre City Safety Impact Team (CCSIT), which includes representatives from police, fire, EMS, bylaw, Centre City Implementation, transit, corporate security and local businesses, has marked a significant reduction in property and person crimes and social disorder over the last year.

"We target it from a multifaceted approach to identify and target problem areas in the downtown core," said Vaughan. "It's positive to see an overall decline."

Among the police service's key accomplishments this past summer was an undercover drug operation, which laid 70 charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, 93 Criminal Code charges, and saw 33 targets arrested.

The beat officer program saw downtown cops patrolling the streets for nearly 4,000 hours per month and bylaw officials also reported issuing 245 summonses to rafters over the summer under the Operation Webfoot initiative.

Alberta Health Services EMS said it has noticed increased efficiency in ambulance services thanks to its city centre team of paramedics who focus on downtown calls, many dealing with homeless people, and free up other units for outlying communities.

Vaughan said the CCSIT is doing research on Calgary's nightlife to pinpoint problem areas and said a social marketing campaign could be in the works down the road. "


Click to view graph of City of Calgary police success

And another article here about some of the changes that have been made:
http://www.calgarycitynews.com/2009/11/clean-to-core-safe-inner-city-and-more.html

So if extra beat cops and other strategies have already proven to reduce a lot of crime, and also if drug dealing is helping make the ambulance services more efficient, and others like MarkL have said that the number of people using homeless shelters is also down by 20%, why is Nenshi leaving the door open to cuts when this strategy has shown to be successful?

[MalcolmTucker]

Most of the tunnel money comes from unallocated MSI, while the police budget is funded through direct grants from the feds and province, and property taxes. $20 million in interest or thereabouts would have to come out of the tax supported budget over the next likely ten years as the MSI is future revenue and we need to spend now, but that is pretty small on an annualized basis. We don't live in a zero sum game.

The police force's budget has been growing faster than inflation + growth for a while now. To do that forever is by definition unsustainable. Holding the police budget to the same constraints of other departments in average years helps to start with.

Higgins gives a good speech, but she seems to be speaking out of both sides of her mouth on lots of issues. Her mayoral style of choice from the begging has been aspirational leadership and support, but that doesn't mean anything. Everything I see points to her being a 1 out of 15 Mayor, not a first amongst equals.

Does she have at least one signature policy point that she wants to do? A reason why she wants to become Mayor? I know there is over a month left but come on. The only interesting policy she seems to have is allowing residents to live in light industrial zones.

[ksnaden]

Do his comments make sense to anyone?

[MalcolmTucker]

You can have wide roads that have lots of capacity that aren't like the average Calgary suburban roads with communities backs turned to them. In the Calgary context, think Macleod Trail between Anderson and 39th Ave vs most all of the current Country Hills Blvd. I know not the best example (wanted to say University Ave in Toronto or Avenue des Champs-Élysées but seemed a little ridiculous) but makes sense?

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by ksnaden

Do his comments make sense to anyone?

http://www.lacaille.ca/

Go to future projects, and then Sky View. That proposed development is located right along CHB in the NE.

Also, here is the Area Structure Plan. Go to Part II, Country Hills Station Area Plan.
http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/plan...nity_a_asp/northeast_community_a_asp.pdf

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

I know not the best example (wanted to say University Ave in Toronto or Avenue des Champs-Élysées but seemed a little ridiculous) but makes sense?

When I think about these types of corridors my thoughts usually fall onto the Champs-Élysées. After thinking about it, I'm sure there are probably some good examples in Asian cities.

[Wooster]

Probably envisioning what's called a "complete street", which may have a wide Right-of-Way, but will effectively accommodate all modes of transportation effectively.

[Calgarian]

Here's an idea of how to reduce the police budget. Get them to shut off their engines when they aren't in the damn car! my girlfriend did a race for the Corporate Challenge on Saturday and the police officer who was directing traffic on 50th ave had his car running the entire time it was parked on the street, that's 2 hours! I can understand in the winter, when they don't want to get cold when they get back in the car, but I've seen police cars idling outside countless Tim Hortons and Starbucks this summer.

[ST1]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I believe he is Ismaili.

Sort of the Mormon version of Muslims. Traditional Muslims don't believe they are actual Muslims, it's compicated.

[Deepstar]

That's too bad to hear about Nenshi's office.

Just out of curiosity, how do you think Nenshi's skin color, religion etc.. will affect his vote numbers?
I was wondering this even before this incident happened. On one hand he might scare away some voters, but then again, he might pick up the visible minority vote? Thoughts?

[suburb]

Originally Posted by ST1

Sort of the Mormon version of Muslims. Traditional Muslims don't believe they are actual Muslims, it's compicated.

I was going to leave this alone but I think the above is misleading (though I agree it is complicated). Islam, as with Christianity, has different sub-traditions. Most of the traditions recognize there are other traditions, but just as in Christianity, there will be certain sub-traditions that denounce even the others within the Christian family. The part that I don't agree with in the quote is "traditional Muslims don't believe they are actual Muslims". This is incorrect. Certain extremist elements within the Muslim family may believe this, but those are not traditional Muslims - if anything, those are the radical Muslims (eg the ones behind 9/11 and the like).

While the election shouldn't be about this, if you do want to learn more about the Ismaili community, a speech by Stephen Harber in 2008 will give you a synopsis in less than 8 minutes. I actually do very much recommend a watch of this video:

PM meets with His Highness the Aga Khan (click on the image at the link to launch video)
http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media_gallery.asp?media_category_id=20&media_id=2784

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Deepstar

That's too bad to hear about Nenshi's office.

Just out of curiosity, how do you think Nenshi's skin color, religion etc.. will affect his vote numbers?
I was wondering this even before this incident happened. On one hand he might scare away some voters, but then again, he might pick up the visible minority vote? Thoughts?

I hope no-one votes for Nenshi based on his ethnicity or religion. I hope everyone that votes does so based on policy, capability and character, regardless of candidate. Gender, ethnicity or religion should have nothing to do with politics. I of course am not accusing you of doing so, as you were just asking if others would, but I really hope none of these things influence someones vote. To me, voting for someone because they are a certain gender, ethnicity or have a certain religious view is just as bad as voting against someone for the same reason. It is still discrimination.

[Deepstar]

I don't think it's just extreme Muslims (terrorists ect..) that think that way. We have a guy at our office who's a Sunni Muslim, and he has claimed on several occasions that the Amadiyah Muslims and the Ismailis aren't true Muslims. I've heard this before from other Muslims as well.

Originally Posted by suburb

I was going to leave this alone but I think the above is misleading (though I agree it is complicated). Islam, as with Christianity, has different sub-traditions. Most of the traditions recognize there are other traditions, but just as in Christianity, there will be certain sub-traditions that denounce even the others within the Christian family. The part that I don't agree with in the quote is "traditional Muslims don't believe they are actual Muslims". This is incorrect. Certain extremist elements within the Muslim family may believe this, but those are not traditional Muslims - if anything, those are the radical Muslims (eg the ones behind 9/11 and the like).

While the election shouldn't be about this, if you do want to learn more about the Ismaili community, a speech by Stephen Harber in 2008 will give you a synopsis in less than 8 minutes. I actually do very much recommend a watch of this video:

PM meets with His Highness the Aga Khan (click on the image at the link to launch video)
http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media_gallery.asp?media_category_id=20&media_id=2784

[gantenbein]

I noticed my Nenshi sign missing from the front lawn, and eventually found it up in the neighbour's tree! (still low enough to retrieve, thankfully) At the time, I didn't make any connection and just chalked it up to the usual drunken punkishness.

Anyway, I'd also hope that no one votes for or against someone based on race, gender etc., but I think we have to be realistic. I've heard more than a few people express support for Higgins just from the viewpoint that it's time we had a woman mayor. Unfortunately, I don't doubt that a darker skin colour and a name that rings 'foreign' will not appeal to a number of voters. Just have to hope that informed voters outnumber the bigots.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by gantenbein

I've heard more than a few people express support for Higgins just from the viewpoint that it's time we had a woman mayor.

Although those people probably don't realize this, but that sentiment is extremely sexist.

[jeffwhit]

Originally Posted by gantenbein

I noticed my Nenshi sign missing from the front lawn, and eventually found it up in the neighbour's tree! (still low enough to retrieve, thankfully) At the time, I didn't make any connection and just chalked it up to the usual drunken punkishness.

Once after a couple beers I through my body, rather spectacularly, through a large Rob Anders sign.

[gantenbein]

Originally Posted by jeffwhit

Once after a couple beers I through my body, rather spectacularly, through a large Rob Anders sign.

That's not drunken punkishness, but rather a noble act and just about the most sane reaction to the provocation of a Rob Anders sign I can imagine.