Cal Wenzel suing Mayor Nenshi for $6M

[Resolute 14]

Not sure going tit-for-tat like that was the best idea though.

[Muta]

I'd much rather be affiliated with the dark side than with the Godfather! What an awesome thing to say!

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not sure going tit-for-tat like that was the best idea though.

No kidding. If he's going to claim that it's ridiculous to assume he was literally calling Wenzel a mobster then he shouldn't make similar claims.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by troutman

That reads more like an Affidavit then a Statement of Defence. Full of evidence.

Yeah, that is kind of a bizarre statement of defence. I would have thought it could be done in about 5 pages, not 40. A lot of the stuff in there is technically improper.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

No kidding. If he's going to claim that it's ridiculous to assume he was literally calling Wenzel a mobster then he shouldn't make similar claims.

IANAL, but I think the intent there is to show that a reasonable person would not interpret Wenzel's comment about Nenshi representing "the dark side" as being racist in nature, but rather it was an allusion to a popular film series. Likewise, when Nenshi called Wenzel "the Godfather", he knew his comment would be interpreted as a reference to the film, not that Wenzel was literally the head of an organized crime family.

[shermanator]

Not sure where the best place to put this is, but apparently Councillor Joe Magliocca is lobbying City Council to give Shane Homes an anniversary plaque for their philanthropy over the years. Seems like an unusual request by a councillor who Wenzel backed in years past?

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...as-sued-nenshi

Looks like it was turned down. And Nenshi's response after the meeting:

“Every council member needs to remember they work for citizens, that they ought not to be lobbying for individual organizations, whether it’s in terms of applications before council or whether it’s for lobbying them for this sort of recognition,” the mayor said.

And, of course, Sean Chu agrees:

Sean Chu ‏@seanchucalgary5h5 hours ago
“@CBCScott: Magliocca calls on City to recognize Shane Homes for its philanthropy... $48 m over a number of years. #yyccc” I'm with Joe.

[Ozy_Flame]

So why does Shane Homes deserve this and not a bevy of other companies / organizations? Is there a magic number for this sort of thing? Or are we playing partisan politics?

Probably the latter.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

So why does Shane Homes deserve this and not a bevy of other companies / organizations? Is there a magic number for this sort of thing? Or are we playing partisan politics?

Probably the latter.

The point being lobbying Council during Council out of the blue is not the way to go about recognizing a singular company for philanthropy. Nominate them for a Calgary Award of something.

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, that was a pretty blatant publicity stunt. Mostly, I was left wondering how much it cost to get Magliocca to do that.

[La Flames Fan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah, that was a pretty blatant publicity stunt. Mostly, I was left wondering how much it cost to get Magliocca to do that.

$4,000 is about it. Just a pittance!

(And his real first name is Biago)

http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks...0Magliocca.pdf

[1stLand]

As a citizen of Calgary, I have no problem giving Shane Homes a plaque to recognize it charitable endeavors.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

As a citizen of Calgary, I have no problem giving Shane Homes a plaque to recognize it charitable endeavors.

This post brought to you by Shane Homes™.

Shane Homes™, our passion is building fine homes.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The point being lobbying Council during Council out of the blue is not the way to go about recognizing a singular company for philanthropy. Nominate them for a Calgary Award of something.

To me this looks like a further salvo in the disfunction that is this council. I agree the request and the likely motivation for it are both off side. At the same time, Nenshi has lobbed his own share of bombs, he's generally much more subtle -- but not always.

This signals that the councillor involved thought there were enough votes to push it through, or enough to make it worthwhile and create discussion even if behind closed doors, but being bold (crazy?) enough to do it publicly. It was for sure going to grab headlines. I see it as an effort to lead a revolt against Nenshi himself. More will come.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

As a citizen of Calgary, I have no problem giving Shane Homes a plaque to recognize it charitable endeavors.

If we're giving out plaques to everyone in the city that has donated $48MM over a "number of years" we'll need someone else to donate $48MM to pay for all the plaques.

As a poster on Calgarypuck, I have a problem with 1stLand's over the top anti-Nenshi shtick.

[Hack&Lube]

I've heard from hearsay that the $48 million is based on homes Shane Homes donated for charity or home lotteries as part of their marketing budgets over the years and based on the price they valued the homes at themselves when the costs and materials for them were likely far less than the stated value of the homes.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The $48 million is based on homes Shane Homes donated for charity or home lotteries as part of their marketing budgets over the years and based on the price they valued the homes at themselves when the costs and materials for them were likely far less than the stated value of the homes.

In the case of charity lotteries don't the organizations actually purchase the homes? I know in the FAQ's for the Foothills Home Lottery it says that "Calgary Health Trust then pays for the expenses associated to running the lotteries, which includes the purchase of grand prize showhomes and other prizes, marketing, call centre support, insurance, and licenses."

[calf]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

In the case of charity lotteries don't the organizations actually purchase the homes? I know in the FAQ's for the Foothills Home Lottery it says that "Calgary Health Trust then pays for the expenses associated to running the lotteries, which includes the purchase of grand prize showhomes and other prizes, marketing, call centre support, insurance, and licenses."

When I was an auditor, one of my clients was a charity with a large home lotto, and they definitely paid for their prizes, and relatively close to retail too.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

In the case of charity lotteries don't the organizations actually purchase the homes? I know in the FAQ's for the Foothills Home Lottery it says that "Calgary Health Trust then pays for the expenses associated to running the lotteries, which includes the purchase of grand prize showhomes and other prizes, marketing, call centre support, insurance, and licenses."

You may be right, this is just what I heard from someone who had worked in one of these lotteries in the past. Post edited.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Not sure where the best place to put this is, but apparently Councillor Joe Magliocca is lobbying City Council to give Shane Homes an anniversary plaque for their philanthropy over the years. Seems like an unusual request by a councillor who Wenzel backed in years past?

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...as-sued-nenshi

Looks like it was turned down. And Nenshi's response after the meeting:

And, of course, Sean Chu agrees:

Sean Chu ‏@seanchucalgary5h5 hours ago
“@CBCScott: Magliocca calls on City to recognize Shane Homes for its philanthropy... $48 m over a number of years. #yyccc” I'm with Joe.

I like Nenshi and totally support him, but really for someone who doesn't support Nenshi that is a hilarious thing to try to do. Here Nenshi is being sued by them and the story is in the news again because of the jury trial, and they want to give them a plaque. Pretty damn funny IMO!

[1stLand]

nm