2013 Calgary Municipal Election Thread

[4X4]

The idea of having to figure out my top 15 runners in a race is way more work than I'm interested in doing. I have a job to do, and it's sure as hell isn't "looking at 40-50 resumes". I'm fine with looking at 4-5. Not 50.

And someone please kill me to death if I have to look at 50 different signs littering the hell out of my neighbourhood during an election. The 6-7+ I already see between aldermen, school trustees and mayor are quite enough, TYVM.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by SebC

That's true in the short term, but who knows what the interest rates will be before we finish paying off $5B.

So, borrow on a fixed rate. Probability is that rates will not be lower than where they are today.

[JonDuke]

2 candidate forums tonight. Both have live streams

Ward 5 can be watched here http://www.livestreamcalgary.com/live/
Ward 13 can be watched here http://www.civiccamp.org/

***UPDATE***
DCU didn't show up for the Ward 13 forum. Sorokoski vs Frisch.

I am REALLY sorry for anyone that took time to watch the Ward 5 feed.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Slava

So, borrow on a fixed rate. Probability is that rates will not be lower than where they are today.

Can you get a fixed rate, 30-year (for example) loan? What would the premium be for that above the spot rate?

[Clarkey]

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...ps56a6f646.jpg

So many opportunities for witty vandalism:

Hard Poo (ala Richard Pootmans)
Rich Poo
Poo
Ich Poo
Rich Poon
Hard Poon
Poon Tang

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I think James Maxim in 11 jumped the shark last night at the forum. Decided to pitch going ahead borrowing $5 billion to start building the rest of the LRT system now. It's that easy!

Interesting fact about borrowing money - you need money to pay it back. It's a tough sell to get a mortgage without income. He suggests we somehow "create" the financial means to pay it back.

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/813...rt-system-now/

The path to building new LRT is a new long term, predictable, and adequate funding deal with the Province (rather than the current ad-hoc handouts and short term grants) and partnership with the Federal Government. If we knew we could count on a certain amount every year in perpetuity (or the Province gave the City their half of the property tax) then we could potentially take out that mortgage to get shovels in the ground.

Pincott jumped the shark fin soup.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by SebC

Can you get a fixed rate, 30-year (for example) loan? What would the premium be for that above the spot rate?

There are 30 year bond issues (and longer). I'm not really suggesting this is a brilliant idea that Maxim has come up with, but its also not the worst thing ever suggested.

[bizaro86]

Pincott might not have done his research, but that's not necessarily a bad idea. Let's say we take the $52 million per year, and dedicate it for 30 years to paying off a capital project. The Alberta Capital Finance Authority uses the province's (excellent) credit rating to get a better debt deal for municipalities. The current rate for a 30 year loan from them is 3.89%.*

Long story short if we committed that 52 million to debt payments, we could borrow $911 million right now. (assuming we have that much debt room, even if we don't I bet if the mayor made it a public campaign the province would fold).

That would get us a good start, and would probably qualify us for matching funds. Once the north/se line is started, it'll get political momentum, imo.


* http://www.acfa.gov.ab.ca/nav/rates.html

[SebC]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Long story short if we committed that 52 million to debt payments, we could borrow $911 million right now.

So, $5B would be $285M/y. $12.9B (the full Route Ahead plan) would be $736M/y.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Pincott jumped the shark fin soup.

Ha! well played.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Pincott might not have done his research, but that's not necessarily a bad idea. Let's say we take the $52 million per year, and dedicate it for 30 years to paying off a capital project. The Alberta Capital Finance Authority uses the province's (excellent) credit rating to get a better debt deal for municipalities. The current rate for a 30 year loan from them is 3.89%.*

Long story short if we committed that 52 million to debt payments, we could borrow $911 million right now. (assuming we have that much debt room, even if we don't I bet if the mayor made it a public campaign the province would fold).

That would get us a good start, and would probably qualify us for matching funds. Once the north/se line is started, it'll get political momentum, imo.


* http://www.acfa.gov.ab.ca/nav/rates.html

If the Province made MSI at current levels permanent and indexed it to inflation or simply transferred the education property tax (I think it's about $650m/year), we could likely borrow and build (and cover all our capital needs). Something along these lines needs to happen and must be a part of the Charter discussions. We could then leverage federal funds. No amount of tax room or other current City revenue streams could come even close the order of magnitude of funding we need.

[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Joe Magliocca in 2 (Cal Wenzel's pal) also had a doozy - he pitch double decker commuter rail to Airdrie and Cochrane as a good idea to prioritize for transit. He'd tear down the parkade behind Gulf Canada Square and turn that into a rail terminal. He has no idea how much this would cost (a lot).

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...797/story.html

Why on earth would this be a priority for Calgary?

You're kidding right?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

You're kidding right?

Nope, he also pitched a flyover from Crowchild to Rocky Ridge.

[Incogneto]

Can someone tell me about Ward 4? I just moved here a few months ago and really don't know much about Gael McCleod. Seems the biggest challenge is Sean Chu, who finished 2nd last time around.

Is there an civic forum for ward-4 upcoming?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

Is there an civic forum for ward-4 upcoming?

The Civic Camp Ward 4 forum went on Tuesday, Sean Chu declined to attend, the other four did attend.

You can listen to a podcast of the forum here:

http://cjsw.com/2013/09/23/2013-calg...ipal-election/

[Jimmy Stang]

I think that it is pretty cool what Civic Camp is doing. Sometimes the forums are hard to get to, but the live streaming is a great idea. And even better is the ability to listen or watch on demand afterwards. There's no way that I can get my ward forum next week, but I can still see what the candidates have to say.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

The Civic Camp Ward 4 forum went on Tuesday, Sean Chu declined to attend, the other four did attend.

You can listen to a podcast of the forum here:

http://cjsw.com/2013/09/23/2013-calg...ipal-election/

And he refuses to disclose donors. Predictably, a Manning Centre, Cal Wenzel guy.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

The Civic Camp Ward 4 forum went on Tuesday, Sean Chu declined to attend, the other four did attend.

You can listen to a podcast of the forum here:

http://cjsw.com/2013/09/23/2013-calg...ipal-election/

Originally Posted by Bunk

And he refuses to disclose donors. Predictably, a Manning Centre, Cal Wenzel guy.

I think everyone should have to disclose donors, so I give him no slack on that. I think you guys are (maybe unknowingly?) piling on for missing the forum though. Nenshi tweeted the same thing the other night and someone else said he missed it because he had a fundraiser already scheduled for the same night and couldn't miss it.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think everyone should have to disclose donors, so I give him no slack on that. I think you guys are (maybe unknowingly?) piling on for missing the forum though. Nenshi tweeted the same thing the other night and someone else said he missed it because he had a fundraiser already scheduled for the same night and couldn't miss it.

A fundraiser taking priority over a forum is everything that's wrong with politics these days.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by SebC

A fundraiser taking priority over a forum is everything that's wrong with politics these days.

Why? It costs a ridiculous amount of money for a credible campaign. If he can't raise money, a candidate has to foot the bill on his own and how many people want to spend $90-100k to run?

It would be nice to not have that issue, but the reality is if you want to run and try to knock off an incumbent you have to do some fundraising. The implication from some is that Chu was dodging this and if its true he had a fundraiser that doesn't appear to be the case.