Global reveals developer’s plan to control CGY city council

[Bigtime]

She just retweeted an RCMP thing about combating copper theft. Now it's just silly.

[surferguy]

Perhaps should we jihad her on twitter and ask about the news clip last night?

[Regulator75]

[Senator Clay Davis]

I've had DCU as my alderperson for as long as I can remember. Clearly she's a major beneficiary of the fact most people don't pay attention or even know about local politics. What a hack.

[crazy_eoj]

There's a lot of Shane Homes bashing in this thread, but I thought it should be brought up that they certainly are not all bad.

They've donated literally millions of dollars to local causes. Regardless of politics they have made some positive community contributions and that shouldn't be totally forgotten.

http://shanehomes.com/shane/About/CommunityInvolvement

[mykalberta]

If anyone didnt think this already went on and also goes on at a Provincial and Federal level then you havent paid alot of attention to politics.

Technically other than public perception there is nothing wrong with this video. Some influential citizens dont like the current government and are finding ways of defeating it.

The real problem here is its brought to light what so many people already knew or though, that the developers dont work for the betterment of the City, they work for the betterment of themselves (they should, they are a private business).

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
-Bill Clinton

Or, put another way by Chris Rock

NSFW!

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The real problem here is its brought to light what so many people already knew or though, that the developers dont work for the betterment of the City, they work for the betterment of themselves (they should, they are a private business).

That's painting with a broad brush. Not all homebuilders are the same, not all developers are the same. I'd say that that majority of people in this industry I've had dealings with are genuine in their desire to improve the city.

[rohara66]

Where can I find specific information on what Nenshi and/or the City is proposing to change with how new developments happen?

All I read anywhere is "no more sprawl" and "make the suburbs pay"... blah blah blah. Somehow I think stopping any further development is a terrible idea.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by smoothpops

FFWD retweeted their article from 2007 which i think is a good compliment to the video;


http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/ne...aign-financin/

Whats really dirty in that article is the sick amount of money given by Unions. 110K from the Firefighters union given to 1 alderwoman - wow.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Whats really dirty in that article is the sick amount of money given by Unions. 110K from the Firefighters union given to 1 alderwoman - wow.

A lot has changed since that article was written; caps on donations, reporting of donors, no longer able to "keep" monies, etc.

[polak]

I don't understand how this is causing a stir?

I mean I didn't watch the vid or read the article but industry leaders getting together and deciding who they want to support hardly sounds shocking to me? If one candidate supported your specific street better then all of the other candidates and you and the rest of your neighbours got together and decided you were going to support that candidate, would that be wrong?

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Whats really dirty in that article is the sick amount of money given by Unions. 110K from the Firefighters union given to 1 alderwoman - wow.

And she was a horrible Alderman. She was turfed after one term and then failed again in the subsequent election.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by polak

I don't understand how this is causing a stir?

I mean I didn't watch the vid or read the article but industry leaders getting together and deciding who they want to support hardly sounds shocking to me? If one candidate supported your specific street better then all of the other candidates and you and the rest of your neighbours got together and decided you were going to support that candidate, would that be wrong?

I think a lot of stems from Mr. Wenzel's choice of words....

For example; "control" versus "support"

Truly those elected can't be "controlled"; councillors are free to vote however they desire. I think that is what he was getting at with his criticism of Pootmans. He campaigned on one thing, and then once elected turned out to be something different.

Also people seem to be think (or at least want us to believe) money contributed to Manning Centre is somehow going to candidates. I've yet to see any evidence of that.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Didn't Nenshi himself, just weeks ago, say the developers were the largest partner the city works with? The developers are citizens and employ 1000's more citizens; if they feel they are under represented on council why shouldn't they speak out and seek out candidates who will listen and be more willing to work with them.

This happens all the time on the provincial front; ie: teachers, doctors, unions, farmers, etc..

Feeling under-represented? For decades they have controlled the local government's agenda and aligned it with their own. If anything, they are probably still over-represented in Chambers. They are just griping because they no-longer have a choke-hold on Council and their influence is not definite.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Also people seem to be think (or at least want us to believe) money contributed to Manning Centre is somehow going to candidates. I've yet to see any evidence of that.

It's not going to candidates. It's going there to influence Manning and other members of the foundation and related think-tanks which have political influence.

What's happening is that they aren't contributing $1.1M because they believe in the Manning Centre's causes but rather because they want that political influence on their side.

[Jimmy Stang]

I could do without Preston Manning being involved in civic politics.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

There's a lot of Shane Homes bashing in this thread, but I thought it should be brought up that they certainly are not all bad.

They've donated literally millions of dollars to local causes. Regardless of politics they have made some positive community contributions and that shouldn't be totally forgotten.

http://shanehomes.com/shane/About/CommunityInvolvement

I own a Sh$t...I mean Shane Home and seeing them being bashed makes me feel all warm and tingly inside.

[Regulator75]

https://twitter.com/klaszus/status/326508310104784897

Nice find by this guy.

Alderman Diane ‏@BigRedyyc 10 Apr
@ShaneHomeLiving Thanks Shane Homes for helping to build such a great city.

ShaneHomesLiving ‏@ShaneHomeLiving 10 Apr
Calgary - what a great place to live! RT @bigredyyc: RT @BigRedyyc: Good Morning to our awesome City

[SebC]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Where can I find specific information on what Nenshi and/or the City is proposing to change with how new developments happen?

All I read anywhere is "no more sprawl" and "make the suburbs pay"... blah blah blah. Somehow I think stopping any further development is a terrible idea.

Nobody (well, nobody important) is talking about a development freeze.

FFWD tends to have the best info on this stuff.

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/ne...re-costs-6004/

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/ne...g-sprawl-6361/

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/ne...w-builds-7480/ (this is the one that describes the current deal)

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/ne...l-cliff-10111/

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/ne...g-power-10667/