Almost a year in Nenshi's job approval at 86%

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Let's call it a "temporary refund adjustment".

Can we adjust my refund up then?

It is an infrastructure investment. And a tax increase.

It's not really fair to focus on the benefit without debating the cost as well.

I don't even disagree with the outcome here, just the nomenclature being used.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Vansmack

This is my biggest beef as well. I sent Mr. Mayor an e-mail about it and received a cookie cutter response saying he would respond in a week. That was on August 28th. It actually kind of pissed me off.

The mayor receives 400-500 emails a day. The goal is to respond to every single one, but the occasional one slips through the cracks. Apologies.

However, feel free to PM me or email directly. joshua.white@calgary.ca transit and transportation fall under my policy portfolio.

[Bigtime]

^^^ This is why our mayor kicks ass, he is surrounded by some great people that love what they do and want the best for the city.

[REDVAN]

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by flamesfan55

I am not a fan of his at all. I think some of the choices he has made are awful.

Like?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ

Sorry...what has he done to get this approval rating? Serious. I don't see any big changes or a difference in the city.

In a week or two keep an eye out for a summary of what's happened in the last year as well as what's ongoing. Specifically a comparison of what Nenshi promised in his extensive platform vs. his actions as Mayor.

He takes his promises seriously and thus far has advanced his plans forward quite far.

Some things like getting the airport tunnel, completely changing the budget process (now zero-based reviews), eliminating the park and ride fee, posting his meetings and expenses, video archives of Council, securing the funding for a new central library and 4 major rec centers, initiating the airport bus and facilitating food trucks happen quickly. But, other major promises like "fixing the planning and development system" and meaningfully cutting red tape across the City are long term, very comprehensive and complex processes that will take years to really see the benefit - but are happening.

[Knut]

I will copy my clarification on the penny-tax over to this thread as it is busier. Even Rutherford was seeing the value in it this morning on the radio.


The point is that the tax is not just City Council deciding to implement the tax. It will be a plebiscite with a set term for specific projects.

For instance, they will propose a 1% increase on sales tax for a 5 year period of time to fund the building of a new arena and to complete the central library. The people will decide in a referendum if that is something that they want.

It is pure democracy and allows the people to select the projects they want to fund with their tax dollars. It will also hold the city accountable as if there is waste, or if the money is going somewhere it should not, the city will vote down any proposed tax next time.

It is actually a pretty smart idea, and I am usually against any tax increase.

As an example..

http://www.okc.gov/news/2007_12/NBA_Election.html

Oklahoma city proposed something similiar before attempting to land the Supersonics from Seattle. The people decided if they would fund the capital improvements required to bring the NBA team to the city.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Hesla

It is actually a pretty smart idea, and I am usually against any tax increase.

A tax is a tax is a tax, calling it anything else doesn't make it smart. If other cities don't need it to fund their programs, why should we? I don't see how hand more of my money to the people at city hall is a smart idea anyway.

Instead they should charge user fees, whoever borrows from the new library should pay like $1 per book, slap a $2 fee on hockey tickets to fund the new arena etc.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Tell him how much we talk about civic matters here, and to sign up.

You got it. If he does, no way he lets you know who he is though.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Bunk

In a week or two keep an eye out for a summary of what's happened in the last year as well as what's ongoing. Specifically a comparison of what Nenshi promised in his extensive platform vs. his actions as Mayor.

He takes his promises seriously and thus far has advanced his plans forward quite far.

Some things like getting the airport tunnel, completely changing the budget process (now zero-based reviews), eliminating the park and ride fee, posting his meetings and expenses, video archives of Council, securing the funding for a new central library and 4 major rec centers, initiating the airport bus and facilitating food trucks happen quickly. But, other major promises like "fixing the planning and development system" and meaningfully cutting red tape across the City are long term, very comprehensive and complex processes that will take years to really see the benefit - but are happening.

yay bunk!

Can you pass word to the Mayor about my plan for installing tolls for people who live in Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks and for higher property taxes for people who live further away from the core?

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Here's to the future Prime Minister of Canada, Naheed Nenshi!

Hear hear! If he ran for Premier or Prime Minister, would he be a liberal or a conservative?

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by bertuzzied

hear hear! If he ran for premier or prime minister, would he be a liberal or a conservative?

ndp

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

ndp

ummm that would be hard to take.

Please stay in civic politics then!

[Jimmy Stang]

I think that Nenshi would be wasted on provincial or federal politics. The civic realm gives him the ability to be progressive in some areas while still being fiscally responsible and transparent. At the provincial or federal level he'd be forced to play the partisan game and take on all of the narrow mindedness that declaring left or right would bring with it.

Ironically, his most controversial issue to date, in the media at least, was a fiscally conservative one by daring to ask police and fire to look for inefficiencies instead of writing a blank cheque. I like his mix and I don't think that he'd be able to exercise it anywhere but civic politics.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Muta

Maybe I value the proposed facilities that this money will be spent on more than you do.

I don't see it as a tax increase; I see it as an investment in infrastructure.

This is a very innovative way to pay for those facilities. They have to be paid for somehow, you know.

You can spin it however you want, it's a tax increase. I"m not saying i'm opposed to it, in fact it sounds like a great idea, but it's still a tax.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

If Mr. Nenshi helps implement a SW ring road, and puts in a SE CTrain line, I'll vote for him forever.

Much better than Al "Do nothing while the city balloons in size and population" Duerr or Dave "Only looking out for Ward 6 and my investments" Bronconnier.

[VladtheImpaler]

Screw off with the "penny tax". If you want to build an opera house, add $1.50 (or whatever is needed) to the cost of the opera tickets. Ditto for the new Saddledome.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Hear hear! If he ran for Premier or Prime Minister, would he be a liberal or a conservative?

He would be right smack in the middle: Liberal red + Conservative Blue = good ol' Nenshi Purple.

[Canuck-Hater]

I dont think much of politicians in general, but Im liking what Nenshi is doing for Calgary right now.

[shermanator]

Out of curiosity, how many people noticed a large difference in their expenses when the GST went from 7% to 6% to 5%?