Calgary Civic Election Poll #3: The race heats up

[alltherage]

I'm definitely between Higgins and Nenshi.

I really beleive the new Mayor needs to be from outside city hall, and while Higgins is easy to trust because of her celebrity and her career, she isn't as transparent or concise as Nenshi has been.

Reading Higgins' platform I was happy with a lot of it, but then reading Nenshi's, it really catered to the Gen Y in me: Telling me what he intends to do, why he intends to do it, and how he will do it.

I would love to see Higgins take the debate challenge.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Whoever voted for Higgins on here, can you just give a reason why? I can see why someone votes Nenshi, or why someone votes McIver (even if I don't agree with it)....but Higgins? I'm honestly just not seeing what there is to base your vote on. It just does not compute.

When Higgins announced her candidacy, I said if she had a reasonable platform I would vote for her. I imagine that many people throughout felt the same way, and that is where her support comes from. It is almost certainly a trust/name recognition thing.

Once she released her platform and started campaigning I realized she wasn't going to care about the things I wanted and she was either

a) Just trying to say the right things so people wouldn't eliminate her as a choice.
b) Not really in charge of what her platform was, in that she has people that gave her some options and she chose the ones she liked.
-OR-
c) Really stupid.

An educated voter would probably never consider her as an option, but as we know, not everyone is educated or has the time to be.

I asked my mom last night who she was going to vote for and she said probably Barb Higgins. When I asked her why she said she hadn't heard enough about any candidate to make a real choice, so the only thing she has to go on is name recognition and trust.

For me: I ordered my Nenshi sign and Car magnet last night. Order yours at http://www.nenshi.ca/new/get-involved/sign

[kermitology]

From her display so far in the race, Higgins is clearly nothing more than a talking head. When she's making prepared statements she sounds like the newscaster, but when she's challenged to actually comment on something she stumbles around giving the clear impression that she's just a puppet.

Look no further than comments about EMS as a civic issue, the SW ring road and talking to the natives (both are provincial) and knowing nothing about the state of Enmax.

I really want to talk to Bob Hawkesworth and ask him what the cost of not building the airport tunnel is. He always talks about the cost of the tunnel, but never mentions what it'll cost to NOT build it.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Rathji

When Higgins announced her candidacy, I said if she had a reasonable platform I would vote for her. I imagine that many people throughout felt the same way, and that is where her support comes from. It is almost certainly a trust/name recognition thing.

Once she released her platform and started campaigning I realized she wasn't going to care about the things I wanted and she was either

a) Just trying to say the right things so people wouldn't eliminate her as a choice.
b) Not really in charge of what her platform was, in that she has people that gave her some options and she chose the ones she liked.
-OR-
c) Really stupid.

An educated voter would probably never consider her as an option, but as we know, not everyone is educated or has the time to be.

I asked my mom last night who she was going to vote for and she said probably Barb Higgins. When I asked her why she said she hadn't heard enough about any candidate to make a real choice, so the only thing she has to go on is name recognition and trust.

For me: I ordered my Nenshi sign and Car magnet last night. Order yours at http://www.nenshi.ca/new/get-involved/sign

The way she got bashed around here when she first announced her candidacy had me hoping that she'd come along and kick some ass. Unfortunately she hasn't.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by kermitology

From her display so far in the race, Higgins is clearly nothing more than a talking head. When she's making prepared statements she sounds like the newscaster, but when she's challenged to actually comment on something she stumbles around giving the clear impression that she's just a puppet.

This. I couldn't have put it better.

Originally Posted by 4X4

The way she got bashed around here when she first announced her candidacy had me hoping that she'd come along and kick some ass. Unfortunately she hasn't.

At the start, I really wanted her to have a good platform, because just on name recognition alone, she might get in, but if she seemed like she was smart and wanted what (I think) is good for the city then it would be a win/win.

Like you said, she hasn't done anything to prove she is worthy of it yet, and from her actions so far I don't think she will before the end of the race either.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Dude, shouldn't you be enjoying your honeymoon?

Ha ha. Yeah. Today it's raining and my wife was sleeping all morning! So I had time to kill, I swear!

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Ha ha. Yeah. Today it's raining and my wife was sleeping all morning! So I had time to kill, I swear!

You know the addiction is strong when...

I visited CP in the middle of the carribbean ocean on the Jewel of the seas on an 11 night cruise. It was at the end of last season.

[worth]

For anyone considering voting Higgins, I would recommend you watch her in person during a forum/debate. She has no clue.

[shermanator]

In one of these mayoral forums I would really like someone to ask Higgins why she is unaware that EMS are dealt with at a provincial level. That should hopefully sway a few votes.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by shermanator

In one of these mayoral forums I would really like someone to ask Higgins why she is unaware that EMS are dealt with at a provincial level. That should hopefully sway a few votes.

There is no need to try to trip her up though. She was asked about the ring road and her opinion in Oakridge (in other words it was a lock that you would be asked about that as a candidate!) and she couldn't give an answer.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by shermanator

In one of these mayoral forums I would really like someone to ask Higgins why she is unaware that EMS are dealt with at a provincial level. That should hopefully sway a few votes.

I am pretty sure that platform point has been removed from her website, or I couldn't find it last night when talking with my mom.

[OldDutch]

Well I just read about Nenshi, and I like most of what he says. However, my road block is the secondary suites issue. He supports this, and I absolutely do not.

Sorry, but I live in Sunnyside. IMO, This proposal will turn the best community in Calgary into an over crowded shanty town. 2x/3x the noise, over crowded street parking, views from a park turn into views of a building, and more "less than desirable" tenants. Meanwhile, the distant suburbs continue to live life on their giant lots, with none of these hassles. Sunnyside is a gem, and I firmly believe this will destroy it.

Sorry Nenshi, I may have to vote for Ric. Although he stands for next to nothing I want, he does have my side on the most important issue to me. Kind of sad, but it is what it is.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Well I just read about Nenshi, and I like most of what he says. However, my road block is the secondary suites issue. He supports this, and I absolutely do not.

Sorry, but I live in Sunnyside. IMO, This proposal will turn the best community in Calgary into an over crowded shanty town. 2x/3x the noise, over crowded street parking, views from a park turn into views of a building, and more "less than desirable" tenants. Meanwhile, the distant suburbs continue to live life on their giant lots, with none of these hassles. Sunnyside is a gem, and I firmly believe this will destroy it.

Sorry Nenshi, I may have to vote for Ric. Although he stands for next to nothing I want, he does have my side on the most important issue to me. Kind of sad, but it is what it is.

How are you sure that secondary suites will do that to your neighbourhood? I live in Inglewood (which I think kicks Sunnyside's ass) and it's not particularly a concern of mine.

Not everyone in Sunnyside is going to apply to have a secondary suite.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Sorry Nenshi, I may have to vote for Ric. Although he stands for next to nothing I want, he does have my side on the most important issue to me. Kind of sad, but it is what it is.

You know, there is other candidates you can waste your vote on, such as the homeless guy, the conspiracy theorist who looks Colonel Sanders, or the Communist. The choices are aplenty.

[Dirty Mr. Clean]

Also Nenshi states that parking has to be on the property not on the street.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

This proposal will turn the best community in Calgary into an over crowded shanty town. 2x/3x the noise, over crowded street parking, views from a park turn into views of a building, and more "less than desirable" tenants. Meanwhile, the distant suburbs continue to live life on their giant lots, with none of these hassles. Sunnyside is a gem, and I firmly believe this will destroy it.

Do you honestly think that this will add a substantial amount of new tenants? Are there hundreds of people in your community that are just sitting there with empty basements waiting for it to be legal for them to add a secondary suite? Or is it more likely that people who have had illegal suites rented for the last 15-20 years will just keep them rented, but legally and the people who have their rec rooms, bedrooms and storage in their basement will keep those basements the way they are?

There might be minor increase in suites as people use space that is useless to them, and an increase in existing suites that are rented out if it becomes totally legal, but the reality is that every person on your block won't suddenly want to gut their basement and renovate because it is legal.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Well I just read about Nenshi, and I like most of what he says. However, my road block is the secondary suites issue. He supports this, and I absolutely do not.

Sorry, but I live in Sunnyside. IMO, This proposal will turn the best community in Calgary into an over crowded shanty town. 2x/3x the noise, over crowded street parking, views from a park turn into views of a building, and more "less than desirable" tenants. Meanwhile, the distant suburbs continue to live life on their giant lots, with none of these hassles. Sunnyside is a gem, and I firmly believe this will destroy it.

Sorry Nenshi, I may have to vote for Ric. Although he stands for next to nothing I want, he does have my side on the most important issue to me. Kind of sad, but it is what it is.

You would rather support paying more taxes in order for more low density development then? Not to mention, how exactly does the secondary suite issue leads to developers building high rises?

You chose to live in Sunnyside, and these qualities come part in parcel with living in the inner city, no matter what neighborhood.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Well I just read about Nenshi, and I like most of what he says. However, my road block is the secondary suites issue. He supports this, and I absolutely do not.

Sorry, but I live in Sunnyside. IMO, This proposal will turn the best community in Calgary into an over crowded shanty town. 2x/3x the noise, over crowded street parking, views from a park turn into views of a building, and more "less than desirable" tenants. Meanwhile, the distant suburbs continue to live life on their giant lots, with none of these hassles. Sunnyside is a gem, and I firmly believe this will destroy it.

Sorry Nenshi, I may have to vote for Ric. Although he stands for next to nothing I want, he does have my side on the most important issue to me. Kind of sad, but it is what it is.

In sunnyside, there are already about as many secondary suites as there probably ever will be, they are all just illegal currently. I almost signed a lease in an illegal suite a number of years ago.

In fact, part of what what makes Sunnyside such a great place is the people who live in these suites. Many young people, and adds much needed critical mass of local residents to support those small businesses on Kensington.

All other major cities in North America allow secondary suites, and none of those fears ever come to fruition.

[Bill Bumface]

I'm always highly amused by those living adjacent to downtown and worried about condos going up or renters infiltrating their precious neighbourhood. Hilarious.

[4X4]

Yeah, sorry OldDutch. You're just wrong. Sunnyside is already zoned R2 for the most part, and there are probably about as many suites there as there ever will be. Some of them are legal, some of them are illegal, but regardless, the only changes in density around there are going to be more infills and more multi family.

The secondary suite issue is more for the surrounding neighbourhoods. Places taht are R1 or DC with R1 guidelines that could easily have a secondary suite in the basement, but will never qualify because of zoning.