Halifax Municipal Elections

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think so too and it is worrisome.

BLM is an actual organization with a manifesto with stated aims like moving society away from traditional family structures and dismantling capitalism.

Not to derail anything here, but I feel like this needs to be pointed out... That manifesto isn't real:
https://www.snopes.com/news/2020/09/...festo-fascist/

The supposed manifesto has nothing to do with the BLM organization. If you want to learn a bit more about what they actually stand for, whether you agree or not, see: https://blacklivesmatter.com and https://blacklivesmatter.ca/ and https://blacklivesmatter.ca/demands/. I think it's just important to stop spreading misinformation.

Furthermore, yes, there's an actual BLM organization, but supporting 'black lives matter' is not the same as supporting 'Black Lives Matter'. Kind of like how we have to differentiate between 'big C/big L and little c/little l' conservative/liberal.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by pchipman

Though the most immediate and recognizable show of support is likely via such signage, and I consider that important even though the specifics of the movement may include issues that do not necessarily align with the goals of local government. It's a tricky issue.

At the end of the day, governance (hopefully) relies on people making what they think are reasonable decisions and I am not sure there is any inherent hard line between what is acceptable or unacceptable.

With the BLM stuff I think of the trade-off as far as achieving concrete goals vs. encouraging polarization. A bus that says "black lives matter" doesn't do very much but invites the use of bus signs as vehicles for political slogans. While some people may agree with BLM (the organization or just the sentiment or phrase), they should ask themselves if they'd be happy if some other group were in charge and using the buses for some similar purpose. In the US, the use of municipal infrastructure to promote BLM has sometimes provoked responses from people who wanted to name a road Make America Great Again or put up All Lives Matter signs. If we accept that this is all just a "judgement call" and the bus signs are up for grabs by whomever then the question of whether or not to put up a MAGA sign comes down to the sensibilities of city councillors or their constituents.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

Not to derail anything here, but I feel like this needs to be pointed out... That manifesto isn't real

The stuff I posted is based on what I've read on the BLM Toronto and BLM Vancouver websites (and what I've historically followed as their actual demands when they shut down Pride parades in a few Canadian cities), not circulating social media content. I will admit I don't check them all the time and it looks like they've been updated (thankfully; I did actually save the content a while back and reposted it but I won't bother to dredge it up). The BLM "Canada" link you provided lists a bunch of Toronto-specific demands plus examples like:

- Canada must immediately open the Canada-USA border.
- Migrant workers in Canada must also be given permanent status and open work permits.

My concern is that HRM councillors may never have read this stuff, they may not endorse it, and a lot of it doesn't have to do with Halifax (i.e. it is Toronto activists making websites and labelling their stuff with "Canada") or is unclear. So it may be better for them to stick to local initiatives rather than endorse a specific organization's name.

I think the very fact that you made the leap from my post about BLM to the idea that I might be under the spell of right wing propaganda shows how politicized this really is.

Furthermore, yes, there's an actual BLM organization, but supporting 'black lives matter' is not the same as supporting 'Black Lives Matter'. Kind of like how we have to differentiate between 'big C/big L and little c/little l' conservative/liberal.

Yet I wonder if this would be considered acceptable for "all lives matter", another deniable truth yet politically sensitive phrase. If HRM councillors suggested putting "all lives matter" on buses I would say that it's a bad idea.

Either way I do tend to think that this stuff will probably settle down in the future, as it had before the covid lockdown.

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think the very fact that you made the leap from my post about BLM to the idea that I might be under the spell of right wing propaganda shows how politicized this really is.

It wasn't a leap, you explicitly used the word 'manifesto'. The only BLM 'manifesto' of note is the fake one. It wasn't a leap, it was a 1+1=2, even if that wasn't your intention. For what it's worth, it wasn't something I was even aware of until I went looking for this supposed 'BLM manifesto' that you referenced, so there were no preconceived political motivations...

Yet I wonder if this would be considered acceptable for "all lives matter", another deniable truth yet politically sensitive phrase. If HRM councillors suggested putting "all lives matter" on buses I would say that it's a bad idea.

The term 'All lives matter' is only controversial because it was politicized by various right-wing and anti-BLM movements who missed the point of what 'black lives matter' actually means.

[pchipman]

Originally Posted by someone123

Either way I do tend to think that this stuff will probably settle down in the future, as it had before the covid lockdown.

I suppose it depends on what 'settle down' means. I suspect things will largely return to normal for white people as the normal comforting distractions resume in life after COVID, but almost certainly not for the black community. The clear display of racism in institutions of power that we've seen recently (at least in the US) are not so easily ignored by those directly afflicted by such hatred.

[atbw]

I have always viewed the signage and bus displays as statements that the lives of Black people in the city matter, a concession that they have been treated poorly in the past, and the city will do better in the future.

I see examples of this in how we are reevaluating the duties assigned to our police force (which I believe is better than most, but does not mean it cannot be improved.)

As for it settling down, I don’t see racial tensions settling down any time soon in Nova Scotia or Canada as a whole. The violence against Mi’kmaq fishers, police killings of Indigenous people in New Brunswick, and the people who took their own lives or who were killed by police during wellness checks has kept these issues top of mind for many. I am glad Halifax Council recognizes these issues and recognizes the hurt people from these groups are feeling. I hope they continue to work to see how we can better serve and protect our fellow citizens.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by someone123

The stuff I posted is based on what I've read on the BLM Toronto and BLM Vancouver websites (and what I've historically followed as their actual demands when they shut down Pride parades in a few Canadian cities), not circulating social media content. I will admit I don't check them all the time and it looks like they've been updated (thankfully; I did actually save the content a while back and reposted it but I won't bother to dredge it up). The BLM "Canada" link you provided lists a bunch of Toronto-specific demands plus examples like:

- Canada must immediately open the Canada-USA border.
- Migrant workers in Canada must also be given permanent status and open work permits.

My concern is that HRM councillors may never have read this stuff, they may not endorse it, and a lot of it doesn't have to do with Halifax (i.e. it is Toronto activists making websites and labelling their stuff with "Canada") or is unclear. So it may be better for them to stick to local initiatives rather than endorse a specific organization's name.

I think the very fact that you made the leap from my post about BLM to the idea that I might be under the spell of right wing propaganda shows how politicized this really is.



Yet I wonder if this would be considered acceptable for "all lives matter", another deniable truth yet politically sensitive phrase. If HRM councillors suggested putting "all lives matter" on buses I would say that it's a bad idea.

Either way I do tend to think that this stuff will probably settle down in the future, as it had before the covid lockdown.

At least you weren't accused of trolling, so there's that.

The reality is that those who are involved with various branches of the movement (as in any good revolutionary movement, branches largely independent from each other pop up like weeds) tend to recycle existing statements and positions with their own specific twists added. The link posted did not actually prove anything that is or is not true, only pointed out the history of what was found. I note with interest that the Wiki page was recently sanitized and again, cannot be used as proof of anything given its very nature. The most clever thing about the organization is that it is wedded to the same name as the overall movement itself, leading supporters of the latter to inadvertently provide funding and other support to the former. One can support the sentiment (as do I) while condemning the people behind the organization itself.

There is a very fine line between expressing support for various do-good causes and using public funds for political purposes, and HRM has crossed that more than a few times. The example of using bus placards to post slogans is a good one. When does a slogan become a political statement? It is not easy to tell for sure and is likely in the eye of the beholder, but why do it at all? Vote on it at Council, designate the funding for signage or whatever, but let the voters see. A lot of this seems to be reactionary in-the-heat-of-the-moment signalling done by unknown individuals behind the scenes which isn't the way to do it.

As for politicians posting here and elsewhere, they surely know going in that not everyone will agree with everything they do. The councillor for the south end used Reddit as his personal pulpit for a long time and the students in his area worshipped him for that until he began getting offside even with some of them, and so he recently has quieted down there too. I again take issue with the poster claiming I have made "personal attacks" on politicians. I do not do that with anyone, ever. I disagree with their reasoning and positions on issues. It is easy to be critical of someone with whom you disagree, but that should be based on some set of principles and track record, not because you dislike their skin color or the wardrobe they choose. The latter would be a personal attack, not the former, a point that many here seem to miss. Disagreement with a position based on a track record is not "trolling" or cause to be canceled. That is a basic principle of what our society is based upon. Sadly, cancel culture is evident and seemingly growing of late, with evidence of it seen here and elsewhere online.

[someone123]

I guess from my perspective I wonder why the municipality itself would get involved in the political messaging. The city has areas available for protests like the Grand Parade and it doesn't bother me people assemble there as private citizens to protest or promote issues of the day. The city has also taken on its own local historical issues like the Cornwallis renaming or Viola Desmond commemoration or Black History Month observance. To me, imported political slogans take away from more articulate discussion of the nuts and bolts of local issues. An example would be the local housing market which I am sure has a big impact on people of all racial backgrounds.

If some people think "black lives matter" is purely a politically neutral statement of support for black people then I guess I'll agree to disagree with them. Though variable standards in sensitivity toward naming, exquisitely politically sensitive in some cases but not others, are a bit suspicious.

[Dmajackson]

The Halifax Regional Municipality’s returning officer has officially closed the books on the 2020 municipal and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) elections.

At the conclusion of this process the returning officer is now able to report the candidates with the most total votes:

Mayor: Mike Savage (102,735 votes)

District 1: Cathy Deagle-Gammon (3062 votes)

District 2: David Hendsbee (4379 votes)

District 3: Becky Kent (4309 votes)

District 4: Trish Purdy (1634 votes)

District 5: Sam Austin (7769 votes)

District 6: Tony Mancini (5637 votes)

District 7: Waye Mason (3728 votes)

District 8: Lindell Smith (5779 votes)

District 9: Shawn Cleary (3880 votes)

District 10: Kathryn Morse (1924 votes)

District 11: Patty Cuttell (1662 votes)

District 12: Iona Stoddard (3074 votes)

District 13: Pam Lovelace (3444 votes)

District 14: Lisa Blackburn (4898 votes)

District 15: Paul Russell (2901 votes)

District 16: Tim Outhit (acclaimed)

It's easy to tell which three ridings had the large slate of candidates running this election. Considering all of the ridings are roughly the same size it appears Councillor Austin had the most definitive support by a large margin (2'000 votes) outside of Councillor Outhit's acclamation.

[Dmajackson]

In preparation for the 2024 Municipal Elections Halifax is doing a District Boundary Review. Phase 1 is under way and will determine the size of the next council. Phase 2 will determine the individual districts and redrawing boundaries where necessary.

2022 District Boundary Review

The second to last page has the interesting numbers. First number is current population as of March 2022, second is current number of electors, and third is projected number of electors in 2024.

01-Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley 23,685 18,772 19,740
02-Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore 27,185 22,297 23,315
03-Dartmouth South-Eastern Passage 31,384 24,475 26,238
04-Cole Harbour-Westphal-Lake Loon Cherry Brook 25,963 20,909 21,911
05-Dartmouth Centre 29,587 25,167 26,195
06-Harbourview-Burnside-East Dartmouth 26,403 21,651 22,667
07-Halifax South Downtown 26,997 23,432 25,287
08-Halifax Peninsula North 29,002 23,942 26,123
09-Halifax West Armdale 29,651 24,121 25,444
10-Halifax Bedford Basin-West 27,048 22,462 23,420
11-Spryfield-Sambro Loop-Prospect Road 27,605 22,243 23,243
12-Timberlea-Beechville-Clayton Park Wedgewood 30,562 24,239 25,844
13-Hammonds Plains – St. Margarets 28,532 21,689 23,128
14-Middle/Upper Sackville – Beaver Bank - Lucasville 25,242 19,499 20,534
15-Lower Sackville 22,480 18,323 19,159
16-Bedford-Wentworth 31,763 25,276 26,700
Total 443,089 358,497 378,948
Average 27,693 22,406 23,648

This shows the growth areas of Halifax very well. North End Halifax, Bedford, and Eastern Passage are in the oversized districts. Meanwhile Lower Sackville has run out of greenfield development areas so while some densification is happening it is no longer keeping up with the regional growth rate.

[Keith P.]

Resurrecting this thread in advance of the fall 2024 municipal elections.

One observation I made this week I find interesting. Mason's launch of his campaign for Mayor seems to have gone over like a lead balloon. Even on Reddit where the young NDPers tend to hang out but also elsewhere online, the negative reactions to his announcement I have seen have outweighed those of support by what I would consider a large margin. It sounds like many people just want to be done with him.

In related news, I follow Sam Austin's FB account where he regularly posts long-winded explanations and rationalizations of his various positions and initiatives on Council. Until recently these too have been met largely with supportive if sparse responses. Given that I often disagree with his initiatives on things like curb bump-outs, traffic calming, bike lanes and so on I often just skip over his stuff until this week. He posted a reply to his latest E-news post where he decried how he had to delete a number of what he considered negative posts and remove people from following him. I had not read his missive prior to that so had to go back and take a look.

It turns out that it involved a half-baked plan by him and his HRM staff allies to create what is called a "local street bikeway" in central Dartmouth using Pine St and Slayter St to connect to Albro Lake Rd. It of course involves not only more curb bump-outs and bollards but also restricting turns on/off of Slayter and making part of it one-way. The reaction in the group was fascinating, with widespread opposition to the bump-outs both existing and proposed, understandable criticism of the idea of using the steeply uphill Pine St as a bike route, and strong pushback from residents on the changes proposed to restrict turns on/off Slayter and making it one-way for a few blocks. For the first time residents are sounding off and saying "Enough!", even those who have previously supported him or at least not been against him until now. Equally interesting were longtime residents calling out the lack of traffic statistics and a virtually non-existent accident rate as justification for his rationale of safety and a need to slow down the largely non-existent traffic on these streets. Combine that with the crazy idea that a steep hill is useful as a bikeway and people were questioning how this ever got this far other than for pushing an ideology rather than responding to any actual need. The criticisms were heavy and the usual cycling activist posts of support were few. A turning point may have been reached. Not surprisingly, Austin's responses to such criticisms came across as dismissive and thin-skinned as I did not see any excessively negative or argumentative posts, though he may have deleted those by the time I got there. But most people were simply against the idea, not abusive.

Combine this with additional opposition to his positions that turned areas of his district into homeless shelter havens and it sounds like many residents have had enough of him and he may well be in trouble should he re-offer. Hopefully the same holds true for other incumbents trying to get re-elected. There seems to be an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with municipal politicians emerging finally and voters may actually be paying attention at long last.

[kzt79]

Agree, very much a net negative reaction to "Stately Waye" Mason in all the usual socials.

[fatscat]

Originally Posted by kzt79

Agree, very much a net negative reaction to "Stately Waye" Mason in all the usual socials.

This tells me that he has a good chance of winning. Whatever the socials say, the opposite is most likely (esp. for elections)

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by fatscat

This tells me that he has a good chance of winning. Whatever the socials say, the opposite is most likely (esp. for elections)

There is almost a 100% certainty that Andy Filmore is going to resign his Fed seat and Run for Mayor. Its the best paid political job East of Ottawa and the man does know parts of the City's apparatus. He is far more polished than any of the other declared so far. I would not be surprised to see Savage publicly support his fellow Liberal.

[kzt79]

Originally Posted by fatscat

This tells me that he has a good chance of winning. Whatever the socials say, the opposite is most likely (esp. for elections)

I agree. I just hope the indicator is wrong this time LOL.

Surely MPs or at least Cabinet Ministers (federal) get paid more than the mayor?

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by fatscat

This tells me that he has a good chance of winning. Whatever the socials say, the opposite is most likely (esp. for elections)

The responses I've seen to Mason's candidacy range from "not that anti-pizza NIMBY" to people who actually seemed to have warmed to him after he became one of the council champions of the HAF reforms.

But whether they like him or not everyone (on Reddit, for whatever that's worth) seems to see him as preferable to Lovelace 100x over.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

The responses I've seen to Mason's candidacy range from "not that anti-pizza NIMBY" to people who actually seemed to have warmed to him after he became one of the council champions of the HAF reforms.

But whether they like him or not everyone (on Reddit, for whatever that's worth) seems to see him as preferable to Lovelace 100x over.

I know nothing about Lovelace other than her pledge to temporarily pause further bike lane installations to focus HRM resources on higher priority projects which is difficult to argue with. I suspect the Reddit commentariat knows nothing much either which would not be a surprise given the hive-mind behavior the clueless majority there often exhibits. Mason owned that place for many years which is why seeing negative posts about him there recently stood out.

[LikesBikes]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I know nothing about Lovelace other than her pledge to temporarily pause further bike lane installations to focus HRM resources on higher priority projects which is difficult to argue with. I suspect the Reddit commentariat knows nothing much either which would not be a surprise given the hive-mind behavior the clueless majority there often exhibits. Mason owned that place for many years which is why seeing negative posts about him there recently stood out.

Just because you disagree with other people's opinions you have to name call? Real mature...

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

Just because you disagree with other people's opinions you have to name call? Real mature...

I have not called anyone any names in that post. Referring to a social media site collectively is hardly an insult to an individual. I would suggest that you either stop making baseless accusations or leave here.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I have not called anyone any names in that post. Referring to a social media site collectively is hardly an insult to an individual. I would suggest that you either stop making baseless accusations or leave here.

I agree with Keith. I saw no name calling in that post. He was making (a presumed humorous) comment on the collective Reddit posters. It was harmless. I would really like to see what Keith thinks about the cesspool of Facebook posters.