HRM Municipal Election 2012 - Page 10

fenwick16 · #**181** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 3:20 AM**

There was a story in the allnovascotia.com that discussed Mike Savage's tax plan (allnovascotia.com, Sunday Oct 21st, 2012, "Mayor Savage Talks Tax Reform", by Amy Pugsley Fraser). Mike Savage wants to decrease the commercial tax burden in downtown Halifax to encourage growth and make it the showcase of the municipality. Also he would like to decrease the difference in tax rate between the downtown and other parts of the municipality. He also feels that the government needs to start investing in the downtown and that includes streetscaping and infrastructure.

It sounds like a sensible goal. Hopefully he can get enough support from the other Councillors.

In a separate allnovascotia.com story, it was mentioned that there will likely be a recount in District 3 (Dartmouth South-Eastern Passage) where Jackie Barkhouse unofficially won by 6 votes over Bill Karsten. The preliminary vote total was 3,352 to 3,346.

pblaauw · #**182** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 3:51 AM**

When does the new council get sworn in?

fenwick16 · #**183** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 3:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pblaauw

When does the new council get sworn in?

According to this story, they will be sworn in on November 6th, 2012 - http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1...-drawing-board

Empire · #**184** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 4:02 AM**

Congrats Waye. Even though I disagree with most of your opinions I wish you luck. Halifax is on the verge of becoming a the great city it once was and hopefully the new/old council will recognize this. Improved transit, high density corridors, heritage preservation, and a can-do attitude can bring Halifax into he 21st century.

The construction industry in Halifax is a major economic driver. Hopefully areas like Young St. - Kempt. Rd. and Dartmouth downtown to the MacKay bridge will be seen as high growth areas. Downtown Halifax needs to be the centerpiece for development. What are people looking for when considering moving to Halifax? What are people looking for when considering moving away from Halifax? We need to fill in the blanks going forward.....stadium, LRT, improved transit overall, a positive business climate, and striking new architecture will keep the buzz going. Let's shake the negative climate in Halifax once and for all.

someone123 · #**185** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 4:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

He also feels that the government needs to start investing in the downtown and that includes streetscaping and infrastructure.

We'll have to wait and see what happens, but I could see the new council being substantially better for the downtown than the old council. A few of the councillor swaps seem positive and, hopefully, the reduction from 23 to 16 seats will allow councillors to debate and focus on issues more effectively. Policies aside, simply cutting down on the grandstanding and cat herding would be a big improvement.

I don't really know much about Mike Savage but his policy proposals for the downtown Halifax are more focused and articulate than what I remember from Peter Kelly's campaigns. To me Kelly always felt like a suburban mayor. I hope that Mike Savage will be more ambitious.

Dmajackson · #**186** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 4:46 AM**

Congrats Waye!

I was rooting for five people and three of them were elected so I'm content with the results.

I didn't have a mayoral favourite but since Fred Connors didn't win I am satisfied.

Other than McCluskey and Barkhouse the new council looks decent so lets hope for some major changes in the next four years.

As for my wishlist for what Savage and his council should focus on until 2016;

1) Improved overall transit. Establish BRT corridors and new terminals.
2) Concrete solution to the "Bedford Transit" problem. Funding approved and under construction by the next election. LRT/Dayliners/fast ferry suggested.
3) Stadium - not necessarily built but site chosen and design finalized.
4) Cogswell Interchange - Final redevelopment plan chosen and phasing initiated. Must have new transit terminal.
5) Suburban Sprawl - Limit growth areas to "infills" between existing communities. Focus new development in other areas to Highway 101 & 102 corridors.
6) Urban Development - Simply put more density allowed in urban core. Focus on Young /Quinpool/Bridge Terminal areas for taller buildings.
7) Industrial Expansion - Limit new business parks. Raise taxes and have a ceiling on expansion lands per year. Protect heavy industrial in Burnside but allow mixed use appropriately around it (ie Burnside Drive and Wrights Cove areas).
8) Complete overhaul of Traffic Department. Make them accountable for their actions! Rewrite their codes to prioritize active transportation and public transit.
9) Increase active transportation budget significantly.
10) Streetscaping projects on Agricola, Spring Garden, Gottingen, Barrington, Portland, and Quinpool.

RyeJay · #**187** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 5:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

There was a story in the allnovascotia.com that discussed Mike Savage's tax plan (allnovascotia.com, Sunday Oct 21st, 2012, "Mayor Savage Talks Tax Reform", by Amy Pugsley Fraser). Mike Savage wants to decrease the commercial tax burden in downtown Halifax to encourage growth and make it the showcase of the municipality. Also he would like to decrease the difference in tax rate between the downtown and other parts of the municipality. He also feels that the government needs to start investing in the downtown and that includes streetscaping and infrastructure.

It sounds like a sensible goal. Hopefully he can get enough support from the other Councillors.

Yup!

The prospects for the downtown are exciting!

It'll be intriguing to see how this 'decrease in difference' of tax rates throughout the city plays out. Will this mean increasing taxes in suburban areas? (I hope so).

If we're going to lessen taxes in the downtown we'll likely have to compensate for the lost revenues, especially since we want to make big investments in public transit. Increasing taxes is never super popular, but with more people in the suburbs wanting to relieve themselves of the cost burdens of car ownership and maintenance, increasing taxes to bring forward more convenient public transit should be an easier sell politically.

Keith P. · #**188** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 1:57 PM**

One thing I didn't see on the Savage list was the much-needed bylaw limiting the number of appearances of Waye Mason on CBC. Hopefully that is just an oversight.

MonctonRad · #**189** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 3:03 PM**

You have to stay in the public eye if you plan on being a future mayor!

sdm · #**190** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 4:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

There was a story in the allnovascotia.com that discussed Mike Savage's tax plan (allnovascotia.com, Sunday Oct 21st, 2012, "Mayor Savage Talks Tax Reform", by Amy Pugsley Fraser). Mike Savage wants to decrease the commercial tax burden in downtown Halifax to encourage growth and make it the showcase of the municipality. Also he would like to decrease the difference in tax rate between the downtown and other parts of the municipality. He also feels that the government needs to start investing in the downtown and that includes streetscaping and infrastructure.

It sounds like a sensible goal. Hopefully he can get enough support from the other Councillors.

In a separate allnovascotia.com story, it was mentioned that there will likely be a recount in District 3 (Dartmouth South-Eastern Passage) where Jackie Barkhouse unofficially won by 6 votes over Bill Karsten. The preliminary vote total was 3,352 to 3,346.

The problem isn't Commercial taxes for most business downtown. In fact most taxes being paid by commercial tenants in the suburbs is now more then the downtown. Lowering them won't change this.

What needs to change is better public transit, infastructure i.e. roadways in and out of the core, parking, and density nearby the core for residential.

someone123 · #**191** Posted **Oct 22, 2012, 5:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdm

What needs to change is better public transit, infastructure i.e. roadways in and out of the core, parking, and density nearby the core for residential.

Unfortunately there seems to be no larger plan or vision when it comes to transportation. Over the last ten years it's all been ad hoc projects that have mostly been voted down by council or have stalled for some reason (e.g. CN legal action, not that they'd necessarily get anywhere otherwise, but it's a good excuse).

Often councillors will say they want "better transit" when they vote down something like Bayers Road but the reality is that there is no plausible transit plan on the table that can make a big difference. Futhermore it's extremely unlikely that any major transportation problems can be fixed without some kind of roadwork somewhere, even if we're only talking about transit. Buses use the road network too. If council keeps voting down anything that involves disruption for even a small number of residents then there will be no solutions, aside from maybe more office parks in Sackville so people can live and work in the suburbs.

Another problem here appears to be staff. The last commuter rail report looked like it was created in about 1980. It didn't even mention integrating different transit services or transit-oriented development. Light rail meanwhile is considered beyond the pale for some reason, even though in cities like Kitchener-Waterloo they are already moving forward with LRT plans. Maybe HRM needs some outside consultants who are aware of the newer transit technologies available. The city definitely needs a transportation plan that weighs different modes against each other rather than considering individual projects on an ad hoc basis.

hoser111 · #**192** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 2:57 PM**

From News 95.7...

HRM's Returning Officer says a review of voting results in District 3 finds Bill Karsten, not Jackie Barkhouse, is the winner. Saturday's numbers had Barkhouse winning by 6 votes. Today's review shows Karsten winning by 68 votes

halifaxboyns · #**193** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoser111

From News 95.7...

HRM's Returning Officer says a review of voting results in District 3 finds Bill Karsten, not Jackie Barkhouse, is the winner. Saturday's numbers had Barkhouse winning by 6 votes. Today's review shows Karsten winning by 68 votes

Thank god...

Dmajackson · #**194** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 4:45 PM**

With that change I am now pleased with the results (opposed to content). The removal of McCluckey would make me happy (replacement of her with Sam would make be very happy).

robotropolis · #**195** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 7:43 PM**

I'm in District 8 and just wanted to say that Doug MacDonald had a very strong campaign, especially in North North. Signs everywhere and a lot of shoe leather on the pavement. I voted Jwatts but am not surprised by the amount of support he garnered.

My husband was pointing out that voter turnout in Jwatts' former area is really high compared to Halifax in general so it probably went in her favor.

halifaxboyns · #**196** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 10:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by robotropolis

I'm in District 8 and just wanted to say that Doug MacDonald had a very strong campaign, especially in North North. Signs everywhere and a lot of shoe leather on the pavement. I voted Jwatts but am not surprised by the amount of support he garnered.

My husband was pointing out that voter turnout in Jwatts' former area is really high compared to Halifax in general so it probably went in her favor.

Glad to hear my uncle did such a good job. I figured he would've made it to 3rd, but second for a first timer is very impressive. Same with Sam's run at McClusky - that's definitely nothing to sneeze at.

worldlyhaligonian · #**197** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 10:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by robotropolis

I'm in District 8 and just wanted to say that Doug MacDonald had a very strong campaign, especially in North North. Signs everywhere and a lot of shoe leather on the pavement. I voted Jwatts but am not surprised by the amount of support he garnered.

My husband was pointing out that voter turnout in Jwatts' former area is really high compared to Halifax in general so it probably went in her favor.

Give me a break. She hasn't voted in favour of ANY development... clear bias. The district shouldn't even be the way that it is, my childhood neighborhood is in no way "north end". Talk about the NIMBY vote. I didn't like Sloane, but she was the lesser of two evils.

I'm in favour of active transportation, but really??? She brings it up for things in the council meetings where it isn't even relevant.

I'm hoping that Savage keeps all the councillors in check, Kelly was a joke in that regard.

Let's see some height in this city... then maybe biking would be a more legitimate transportation prospect.

Waye Mason · #**198** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 11:13 PM**

Quote: