Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election

[Spring2008]

Damn looks like Mciver`s gonna take it after all. Too bad because seems like Nenshi could do wonders for Calgary in terms of pushing urban design, sustainability, creativity etc. even more while Calgary continues in it`s transitional state of becoming a big city.

I think Nenshi could really help Calgary gain international exposure through innovation and creativity and become even more a magnet for young professionals.

[Wooster]

^ With 44% undecided there and still a month left, a lot can and will happen. McIver does not have it in the bag at all.

[Spring2008]

I really hope so. Haven`t really looked at any of the other candidates too much, but having looked a lot through Nenshi`s website i couldn`t see any Calgary forumers not liking him.

Nenshi as mayor would be a Calgary SSP dream come true lol.

[YYCguys]

While McIver's fiscal policies are prudent, I worry that he will go too far in his restraint so that needed (as opposed to "nice to have") infrastructure will suffer.

[Spring2008]

I wonder if blinky is really that bad, or at least open to ideas such as Plan-it.

Anyways if Nenshi isn`t voted in as Mayor, he would at least be on Council still if he wins his ward right?

[mersar]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

I wonder if blinky is really that bad, or at least open to ideas such as Plan-it.

Anyways if Nenshi isn`t voted in as Mayor, he would at least be on Council still if he wins his ward right?

No. You can't run for both and Nenshi is only running for Mayor.

[suburb]

Originally Posted by Radley77

McIver is clearly favoured by men (47 per cent to 22 per cent), though women's loyalties are more evenly divided, 38 per cent backing McIver, compared to 35 per cent for Higgins.

This is somewhat of an uneducated comment. Since McIver has 43% of decided votors and Higgins only has 28% of decided voters, for the women's loyalties to be even, it would require the same ratio, IE 43::28. For it to be 38::35, it means it is way skewed to Higgins.

That's actually an example of the problem even at city council and with most of the candidates running for mayor. They can't tell the different between ... and a hole in the ground. You need educated people who can bring in best practices and are not political flip-flops.

[fusili]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

I wonder if blinky is really that bad, or at least open to ideas such as Plan-it.

Anyways if Nenshi isn`t voted in as Mayor, he would at least be on Council still if he wins his ward right?

I think the fundamental problem with Plan-It is that it is easily construed as a "liberal" project that amounts to "social engineering" (facepalm for both of those terms). While I totally agree with the direction of Plan-It and the communities it wants to build, I think the problem is much better addressed through taxation reform and reform to development levies. Simply put, if development levies actually reflected the cost of new infrastructure (and much of the upgrades to existing infrastructure) needed for new development and taxes were based on how much it costs to service your home, the problem will be much better addressed. No fiscal conservative could claim that that is social engineering.

[Ferreth]

The one thing (OK, one of many) I'm disappointed about in this election is the lack of interesting fringe candidates for Mayor. I'm not talking about the total nut-bars that you sometimes see, but the ones with more "out-there" ideas. Paul Hughes the chicken guy was one of the only people that qualified in my books. I was about to suggest Oshanek, but he just said he's not going to run anymore either. Too bad. A little color doesn't hurt, and occasionally, one of these fringe candidates throws out an issue that gets a discussion going on something other than the usual issues.

[srperrycgy]

There is a communist candidate, but we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see if she will be competing against the capitalist running dogs.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

The one thing (OK, one of many) I'm disappointed about in this election is the lack of interesting fringe candidates for Mayor. I'm not talking about the total nut-bars that you sometimes see, but the ones with more "out-there" ideas. Paul Hughes the chicken guy was one of the only people that qualified in my books. I was about to suggest Oshanek, but he just said he's not going to run anymore either. Too bad. A little color doesn't hurt, and occasionally, one of these fringe candidates throws out an issue that gets a discussion going on something other than the usual issues.

I liked this video from Jon Lord. Colorfully presented as a kitchentable discussion and fringy issue, but entirely relevant to discussion of civic politics:
• Video Link

Maybe it's something that Nenshi maybe could champion? I'd like to see him expand his focus to a wider demographics than his current younger base.

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by fusili

I think the problem is much better addressed through taxation reform and reform to development levies. Simply put, if development levies actually reflected the cost of new infrastructure (and much of the upgrades to existing infrastructure) needed for new development and taxes were based on how much it costs to service your home, the problem will be much better addressed. No fiscal conservative could claim that that is social engineering.

Very true a guy at work was recently talking to me about how many of our tax policies are dated from decades back and new approaches need to be looked at.

Our current system obviously doesn`t work. Just doesn`t seem fair that people living in established areas that could accomadate a lot more people have to subsidize new developments in areas further and further into the fringes of the city.

[mersar]

Make that 3 candidates down so far. Lawrence Oshanek has decided to drop out as well (he's the civil rights social activist candidate), though he hasn't said yet who he is going to endorse (only that he's down to 2 choices)

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Very true a guy at work was recently talking to me about how many of our tax policies are dated from decades back and new approaches need to be looked at.

Our current system obviously doesn`t work. Just doesn`t seem fair that people living in established areas that could accomadate a lot more people have to subsidize new developments in areas further and further into the fringes of the city.

It works the other way too - why should a person buying a new house paying tens of thousands in development charges for the direct infrastructure that supports them pay general taxes to build parks in the inner city, grumble grumble grumble.

These arguments are the tax policy equivalent of the new immigrant that wants to stop immigration to protect the benefits of the new land for themselves. It is pretty impossible to figure out what the marginal infrastructure cost of a new house is. While some would include large civic infrastructure like eventual LRT and expressways, that is patently unjust. Where was the special assessment on Sunalta to pay for their portion of the West LRT for example. If you support one, it is logically hard not to support the other.

[Riise]

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

It works the other way too - why should a person buying a new house paying tens of thousands in development charges for the direct infrastructure that supports them pay general taxes to build parks in the inner city, grumble grumble grumble.

I believe there is a general acceptance that once a neighbourhood joins the City and pays its dues (i.e. the full cost of producing the product that is being consumed) it starts to operate as one. This can be seen in the inverse of your example, general tax revenues being used to pay for a suburban park years after the completion of the suburb.

Originally Posted by Sir.Humphrey.Appleby

Where was the special assessment on Sunalta to pay for their portion of the West LRT for example. If you support one, it is logically hard not to support the other.

Maybe Special Assessment Districts need to be a part of the new taxation policy.

[Wentworth]

What is the law regarding candidates erecting signs on public property? Dick Pootmans has erected a number of large billboard signs around Ward 6, including in the park near my house. These are huge signs (10'x4' approx.) McIver also has one on 85th Street. Neither guy will be getting my vote.

[Radley77]

A new poll out by Leger about civic issues:

1) Traffic, infrastructure and roads: 19%
2) Jobs and the economy: 15%
3) Crime policing and safety: 12%
followed by... civic taxes and fees, snow clearing, and transit
10) Airport tunnel
Last) Fire service 2%

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Hate+t...+issue+Calgary+voters/3548313/story.html

And another poll indicating that a slim majority (52%) of Calgarians would not want to pay more for snow clearing versus those that would support a tax increase to pay for more snow clearing (43%):

Those 45 and older were less likely to agree to a bigger tax bill in exchange for better snow removal.

"They're potentially seniors on fixed incomes, so they don't want to be paying any more for their taxes than they have to," said Ian Large, Alberta vice-president of Leger Marketing.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Most+want+more+snow+plowing+city/3548329/story.html

There were also some poll numbers out recently about what qualities they look for in a candidate:
41% - Honesty
19% - Business acumen
19% - Social Awareness
6% - Political Experience
3% - Personality

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainme...choose+candidate+Poll/3545990/story.html

[Wentworth]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Very true a guy at work was recently talking to me about how many of our tax policies are dated from decades back and new approaches need to be looked at.

Our current system obviously doesn`t work. Just doesn`t seem fair that people living in established areas that could accomadate a lot more people have to subsidize new developments in areas further and further into the fringes of the city.

The fairness comes into the equation when citizens in established areas obstruct any proposals to increase density in their communities. That leaves build-out as the only option. You can't obstruct density and at the same time demand that new subdivisions pay higher development costs; that isn't fair. Obviously, the success of Plan-It will also depend on it being able to succesfully beat down NIMBYism.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Wentworth

What is the law regarding candidates erecting signs on public property? Dick Pootmans has erected a number of large billboard signs around Ward 6, including in the park near my house. These are huge signs (10'x4' approx.) McIver also has one on 85th Street. Neither guy will be getting my vote.

Your allowed to put up signs on public property as long as it is city property, and not school board property. You have to use wooden stakes to attach it into the ground, and not violate the law by being too close to the road or in a median.

If you decide not too vote for people that put up signs on public property, I am pretty sure you will have no one to vote for.

[srperrycgy]

Kent Hehr is out of the Mayor's race.