Calgary developer’s caught with pants down - Nenshi white knight or not?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Slava

**when faced with no other option.

I'm a Nenshi supporter and will almost surely vote for him again this fall, but realistically that 88% figure wouldn't hold if someone credible was on the ballot against him.

But this is the problem with this city, if any mayor has any level of popularity then nobody credibly will run against that Mayor,they'll wait until the popular mayor decides to move along

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Slava

**when faced with no other option.

I'm a Nenshi supporter and will almost surely vote for him again this fall, but realistically that 88% figure wouldn't hold if someone credible was on the ballot against him.

Like who? I'm trying to think of someone more qualified than Nenshi at this point to run, and frankly I'm drawing a blank. Are you suggesting that Nenshi is not qualified for the position and is not an effective mayor? This is all a facade until someone "better" comes in?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Muta

Sure! Here's some examples, pulled from various websites:

Don't forget the Copenhagen densification project in the 90's, which on the whole was a net improvement for containing urban sprawl.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Muta

Sure! Here's some examples, pulled from various websites:

1) The Benefits of Urban Density (great examples in Oakland and San Francisco): http://www.archdaily.com/180555/vide...sity-benefits/

2) "Tokyo is a very dense city but there is a lot of open space. New enclave developments are scrapping low-rise traditional neighborhoods and building blocks of high rises set in semi-private urban parks. Projects like Midtown Tokyo or Roppongi Hills take advantage of private investment to invest back into social space and infrastructure to connect the enclave to the city. The result is a shift in public-private relationships and spatial relationships in the city. But it doesn't affect the strong social sphere which has been there for some time."

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/as...ing/index.html

3) The Pearl District in Portland: In urban planning circles, Portland has emerged as a model city, at the forefront of creating a vibrant,
quality urban environment, and the Pearl District only bolsters its reputation.

http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/rep...dingbetter.pdf

4) National Resources Defense Council Examples of Benefits:
Honolulu: http://www.nrdc.org/smartGrowth/visions/Honolulu-HI.asp
Memphis: http://www.nrdc.org/smartGrowth/visions/Memphis-TN.asp
Mount Pleasant: http://www.nrdc.org/smartGrowth/visi...leasant-SC.asp
Glenview: http://www.nrdc.org/smartGrowth/visions/Glenview-IL.asp
Tempe: http://www.nrdc.org/smartGrowth/visions/Tempe-AZ.asp

5) Toronto: Urban Density is the Key to Smart Growth http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012...rt_growth.html


Other links you may be interested in:

Smart Growth in Maryland: http://smartgrowth.umd.edu/smartgrowthinmaryland.html

That's just with basic Google searches done. I have to watch my time, I'm at work at the moment but I love talking about this stuff.

Thanks! I'll go through all of these, although not just now since I'm at work also. I happen to think Calgary is pretty freakin' awesome, but could definitely use some more walkable neighbourhoods. I'd love to see that happen in a distinctly Calgary way that also takes the best of what's out there elsewhere in the world.

I also think we can probably build that into our existing neighbourhoods, through increased density and mixed use rezoning. As an example, I walked to a library, a ymca, a Safeway, a sushi restaurant and the CTrain station from my house over the last weekend. Which sounds very urban, but I live in Hawkwood.

[peter12]

The young suburban conservative crowd is the most odd aspect of Calgary's social dynamic. You have a whole crop of 20 and 30 somethings living in the suburbs, and who align politically, and culturally with 50 and 60 somethings.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Like who? I'm trying to think of someone more qualified than Nenshi at this point to run, and frankly I'm drawing a blank. Are you suggesting that Nenshi is not qualified for the position and is not an effective mayor? This is all a facade until someone "better" comes in?

Oh no Slava just said jeahovah, stone him.

Way too sensitive a response here. He just said that if someone were to emerge who would also be a good candidate then Nenshi wouldn't come in with 88%. That's a far cry from implying he doesn't deserve to be mayor or isn't effective.

[Muta]

This link explains what density refers to:

http://www.archdaily.com/180555/vide...sity-benefits/

.... urban development and smart growth is efficient space planning, not 'human stacking'. The ignorant bunch of the pro-suburban crowd generally believe that urban development means high-density apartment complexes and slum living; in reality, density includes not only high-density development, but low-density development.

It includes so much more than 'human stacking' and I wish people would understand that.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I'll take an effective egomaniac who gets things done over a talking head in the back pocket of developers any day of the week.

You want your politicians to be to be emotionless androids who aren't passionate about politics? I sure don't. And 88% of voting Calgary pretty much agrees with me on Nenshi's brand of politics.

fast forward 5 years and beyond and i guess we will have to wait and see then how Calgarians feel about Nenshi's reign and Lord help Calgary if he gets his ways with what he is ultimately seeking for expanded municipal control from the Provincial Government.
Nenshi is just like the little boy who constantly says if you don't do this my way i'll take my ball and go home. The other kids give in because the 1 kid acting like a brat is who has control of the ball.

Egomaniac full of endless tirades with everyone or every group that he doesn't share the same opinions. Do what i want or else. This tantrum of Nenshi's with the CHBA is not his first outburst with who opposes him and next week or next month it will be another Association, another group, Alderman, another, another, another...and it will result in more tantrums.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

fast forward 5 years and beyond and i guess we will have to wait and see then how Calgarians feel about Nenshi's reign and Lord help Calgary if he gets his ways with what he is ultimately seeking for expanded municipal control from the Provincial Government.
Nenshi is just like the little boy who constantly says if you don't do this my way i'll take my ball and go home. The other kids give in because the 1 kid acting like a brat is who has control of the ball.

Have you ever watched Calgary city council?

Nenshi is usually the one having to reel in the sulky babies, not the other way round.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Like who? I'm trying to think of someone more qualified than Nenshi at this point to run, and frankly I'm drawing a blank. Are you suggesting that Nenshi is not qualified for the position and is not an effective mayor? This is all a facade until someone "better" comes in?

Wow. This place is ridiculous. I voted for him last time, and even said that I would almost surely would this fall as well, but even that isn't a high enough standard to make a fairly reasonable remark.

I have no idea who would make a good candidate. Its just fairly obvious that if there was a credible alternative that Nenshi would probably come in a lot lower than 88%.

[Muta]

Stay Golden - you'd prefer someone like Bronco, who was cozy with certain developers and organzations and played favourites? You may hate Nenshi, but atleast he's not bought and paid for like some of our previous politicians.

Is this type of change annoying you? I hope not; if you thought previous mayors were bad, just think what type of backscratching would be going on with McIver as mayor..... *shudder*.

[Tinordi]

If you don't support Nenshi because he's an egomaniac but supported Ralph Klein you are a hypocrite and not worthy of having your opinions considered.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But this is the problem with this city, if any mayor has any level of popularity then nobody credibly will run against that Mayor,they'll wait until the popular mayor decides to move along

This isn't a Calgary specific thing, its more of a local politics thing and how most people don't really care about municipal politics. For instance Montreal has had only 5 different mayors since 1954, and Toronto has had only one more mayor (6) than Calgary since 1980. At the local level you have to be either really incompetent or really unpopular to not be mayor for a while. I mean I don't know anyone who likes Diane Colley-Urquhart yet here she is, 5 terms in.

[Bunk]

So the Mayor will be meeting with Charron Ungar tomorrow. The Mayor just did a scrum about the discussion in Council and his perspective. I'm sure articles will be coming out soon - I'll see if we can get a hold of the audio/video of the whole thing - provides a great overview of the whole issue.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Slava

Wow. This place is ridiculous. I voted for him last time, and even said that I would almost surely would this fall as well, but even that isn't a high enough standard to make a fairly reasonable remark.

I have no idea who would make a good candidate. Its just fairly obvious that if there was a credible alternative that Nenshi would probably come in a lot lower than 88%.

That's a chicken and egg problem. A credible alternative could lower Nenshi from 88%, but would have no chance of actually winning. Thus, nobody who is credible will run. When Nenshi campaigns against a group of single issue wingnuts, which is likely, of course he'll win by a landslide.

I actually can't think of anyone who could win who might want the job. The only person that comes to mind is Jim Prentice, but he wanted the $$ at CIBC more than he wanted a federal cabinet seat, so I doubt mayor of Calgary is calling his name...

edited to add: usual disclaimer that I voted and campaigned informally for Nenshi

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Slava

Wow. This place is ridiculous. I voted for him last time, and even said that I would almost surely would this fall as well, but even that isn't a high enough standard to make a fairly reasonable remark.

I have no idea who would make a good candidate. Its just fairly obvious that if there was a credible alternative that Nenshi would probably come in a lot lower than 88%.

That's fair to say, and maybe my comment seemed more emotionally charged than I meant it. But a guy with his experience and passion for politics was exactly what Calgary needed at the time, and there really is no indication that he's slowing down, or that people are waning on him.

I guess I'm thinking of people like Ric McIver and Barb Higgins who would questionably do a better job than Nenshi, and who I believe to be less open to challenging big lobbies like the CHRA. I, and I assume many other Calgarians, are happy to see a politician challenge interest groups towards a particular bias (for once).

He's still the breath of fresh air he was three years ago to many people. Including myself.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Muta

Stay Golden - you'd prefer someone like Bronco, who was cozy with certain developers and organzations and played favourites? You may hate Nenshi, but atleast he's not bought and paid for like some of our previous politicians.

Is this type of change annoying you? I hope not; if you thought previous mayors were bad, just think what type of backscratching would be going on with McIver as mayor..... *shudder*.

I never liked Bronco either. So essentially you are saying McIver is a member of the old boys club. Like i said fast forward 10 years and you will see Nenshi's version of his newly created boys club. Wait till you see what Nenshi does with taxes too.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I'll take an effective egomaniac who gets things done over a talking head in the back pocket of developers any day of the week.

You want your politicians to be to be emotionless androids who aren't passionate about politics? I sure don't. And 88% of voting Calgary pretty much agrees with me on Nenshi's brand of politics.

I would say that 10% actually have a idea of what is going on and agree with you on his politics and the other 78% think it is cool and progressive to have a "brown" guy as their mayor.

That doesn't mean he is doing a good or bad job but my experience is that for the most part people don't have much of a clue as to whether a mayor or councillors are doing a good job and the hype around Nenshi has more to do with his popularity than any actions/policies he has had.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean I don't know anyone who likes Diane Colley-Urquhart yet here she is, 5 terms in.

You want the easy answer as to why? She attends every community meeting in the ward and those people are involved. They tell others and within civic politics that wins easily, along with incumbency and just making some comments in the media now and again.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Wait till you see what Nenshi does with taxes too.

Go on.