[GT] Calgary Municipal Election 2021

[MegaErtz]

Nenshi was elected in 2010 on a promise to legalize secondary suites and end the handout to developers, and despite what one of his former staffers posted a few weeks ago on here, he was only partly successful on each, and it took him seven years to get half of what he wanted, largely because of the influence developers had throughout each of his first two terms. His third term was largely a failure, and I think even he'd admit that, mostly because he couldn't break the hold the developers had. This is a whole new ballgame with nine solid progressive votes on it.

[MoneyGuy]

I predict there will be large tax increases over the next several years in municipalities all over Alberta and Canada. It’s not a great time to be entering local government.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I predict there will be large tax increases over the next several years in municipalities all over Alberta and Canada. It’s not a great time to be entering local government.

I think if they can lay out the argument for increases logically and easily understood, people *should* be able to get with the program. Maybe even show a per-household cost for services and stuff. When people see the whole cost of say, snow clearing, I don’t think they don’t really look at that divided over all the households in the city.

[MoneyGuy]

I do training in municipal government and have recommended doing that. Few munis do it.

[timun]

Then you get people feeling like they're being nickel and dimed. Witness for example waste and recycling fees.

Frankly the biggest problem is an entitled electorate who want something for nothing.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

Nenshi was elected in 2010 on a promise to legalize secondary suites and end the handout to developers, and despite what one of his former staffers posted a few weeks ago on here, he was only partly successful on each, and it took him seven years to get half of what he wanted, largely because of the influence developers had throughout each of his first two terms. His third term was largely a failure, and I think even he'd admit that, mostly because he couldn't break the hold the developers had. This is a whole new ballgame with nine solid progressive votes on it.

I don’t remember him being an issue politician. Maybe time blurs things. In the end he ran this city well. The fact a few progressive issues didn’t get fully implemented is a shrug for me. What matters most is how he helped run council.

Farkas for the same period would see our savings depleted and Calgary Next built.

I small issues aside Nenshi was a great centrist Mayor. The city has a strong balance sheet and is progressive enough.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Farkas for the same period would see our savings depleted and Calgary Next built.

Farkas has been against funding for the new event centre. Calgary Next was such a ####show that I don't remember much about it but I'd be surprised if Farkas would have been a proponent of funding that project.

[CroFlames]

I'm disappointed in the voter turnout. But then again, I always am.

How do you, as an adult human, not bother to cast a vote for those in charge? I can understand from time to time you are out-of-town on voting day and didn't really get around to early voting, but come on. I've only missed like 2 elections in the last 10 years.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm disappointed in the voter turnout. But then again, I always am.

How do you, as an adult human, not bother to cast a vote for those in charge? I can understand from time to time you are out-of-town on voting day and didn't really get around to early voting, but come on. I've only missed like 2 elections in the last 10 years.

It's mind boggling to me the amount of people obsessed over federal issues who are uninformed or unconcerned about municipal issues, which have a much bigger impact on their life. Like, if you're only going to be fully informed and cast your vote in one election, the municipal one is the obvious choice.

Maybe the "team" vibe in federal and provincial politics is what helps engagement, people want to be part of "something" larger than they are and seek to identify with that thing instead of just casting an informed vote, which is significantly more difficult in the party-less landscape of municipal politics.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It's mind boggling to me the amount of people obsessed over federal issues who are uninformed or unconcerned about municipal issues, which have a much bigger impact on their life. Like, if you're only going to be fully informed and cast your vote in one election, the municipal one is the obvious choice.

Maybe the "team" vibe in federal and provincial politics is what helps engagement, people want to be part of "something" larger than they are and seek to identify with that thing instead of just casting an informed vote, which is significantly more difficult in the party-less landscape of municipal politics.

It's easy to stay informed in federal politics, it's in the news everyday. It takes more effort to get informed for local politics, and people are lazy

[Ozy_Flame]

Personally I think these people are more passionate about federal politics because it's the big, bad villain they feel they have less control over that makes a good scapegoat, no matter what side of the political spectrum you're on. It's easier to get vocal and activated when you think you're being hard done-by, especially by people far away from you.

Municipal politics? So boring!

[Weitz]

Its easier to get fed up over a government that makes rules for you and have really no representation of your area.

A lot harder to get upset at people locally as they live here and have vested interest.

Now some also say that municipal politics affects you the most, but it doesn't come close in costing someone the most. So the money drives more at provincial and federal.

[Torture]

Did anybody go to the protest yesterday?

Decent turnout and Gondek, Carra and Walcott all showed up.
This may be controversial but I thought some of the speakers missed the point a bit, it kind of turned a bit into a defund the police/black lives matter rally instead of a support victims of sexual assault / condemn Sean Chu rally at times..
I get those are related but that message seemed to miss the mark IMO.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Torture

This may be controversial but I thought some of the speakers missed the point a bit, it kind of turned a bit into a defund the police/black lives matter rally instead of a support victims of sexual assault / condemn Sean Chu rally at times..

I didn't attend, but checked out the various reactions to it. This is the general feeling I got from it, too...that a decent contingent of folks were upset that they felt the message of that specific protest was 'hijacked' in favor of some "broader issues."

Beyond that, it went pretty well, I hear.

[CPK80]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I think if they can lay out the argument for increases logically and easily understood, people *should* be able to get with the program. Maybe even show a per-household cost for services and stuff. When people see the whole cost of say, snow clearing, I don’t think they don’t really look at that divided over all the households in the city.

The City already provides this;
https://www.calgary.ca/ca/city-manag...breakdown.html

From there you could get some more detailed information on the service: Streets for example.
https://www.calgary.ca/ca/city-manag...e-streets.html

Then you could get a much more in-depth breakdown;
https://www.calgary.ca/content/dam/w...ns/streets.pdf

[Pizza]

If anyone wants to watch the Mayor and the Councillors being sworn in live:

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1ynKOZQOqkExR

[MoneyGuy]

Is the mayor going to relent and swear Chu in after all. She said she wouldn’t.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Is the mayor going to relent and swear Chu in after all. She said she wouldn’t.

She actually didn't and he was sworn in by the chief justice or some other.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I think if they can lay out the argument for increases logically and easily understood, people *should* be able to get with the program. Maybe even show a per-household cost for services and stuff. When people see the whole cost of say, snow clearing, I don’t think they don’t really look at that divided over all the households in the city.

People have preconceived notions about what is a waste of money, where the budget can be cut etc. based on their personal uses of city services. For example if they drive everywhere they might see transit as a target for cuts. If they are home bodies or are outdoors people maybe they see arts funding as wasteful (theatre, symphony), if they throw everything in the garbage maybe they see recycling fees as excessive. I'll bet if you ask 10 people you would get 10 different answers as to what could be cut and where spending is wasteful. I like to consider myself pretty reasonable but admit I'm probably the same, my ideas would not be the same as others either.

[Pizza]

lol

That awkward silence as nobody clapped for Chu as he walked up to the podium