Druh Farrell and Memorial Drive

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Sorry, I should have said the "anti-everything that doesn't further their political careers" crew.

Everyones out to further thier political careers. You don't think Druh had that in mind when she planned for this event

[Bigtime]

Would you knowingly propose something that the car loving Calgary crowd would decry to further your political career? I know I wouldn't.

I like the chances she has taken, would I want to see her as mayor? No I would not, but members of council that are forward thinking like her are exactly what this city needs at this point in its history.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Would you knowingly propose something that the car loving Calgary crowd would decry to further your political career? I know I wouldn't.

Druh doesn't seem to care or she would have picked another road to close down. She's dug in her heels refusing to work with other council members, or listen to opinions of Calgarians.

I like the chances she has taken, would I want to see her as mayor? No I would not, but members of council that are forward thinking like her are exactly what this city needs at this point in its history.

I like her idea also - just not the location.

She's too stubborn to be a Mayor.

[Bigtime]

One could argue that she has listened to Calgarian's, there are people out there that do support this closure. Do their voices not count for anything?

I agree that this may not be the right street, but we might as well start somewhere that still allows us to keep traffic lanes open before deciding to move it where an entire road ends up closed.

If anything I like debates like this because it presents the opportunity for citizens to get engaged with how our city is evolving. I just hope that most of them go beyond gathering their information from more than our local media, and instead choose to get actively involved themselves.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

One could argue that she has listened to Calgarian's, there are people out there that do support this closure. Do their voices not count for anything?

I agree that this may not be the right street, but we might as well start somewhere that still allows us to keep traffic lanes open before deciding to move it where an entire road ends up closed.

If anything I like debates like this because it presents the opportunity for citizens to get engaged with how our city is evolving. I just hope that most of them go beyond gathering their information from more than our local media, and instead choose to get actively involved themselves.

When the majority of Calgarians are against the closure of Memorial i'd say she's not listening. It's not just her own district that she should be listening too.

[Bigtime]

I don't live in her district, but that didn't stop me from writing a letter of support and sending it in to city hall. I know for a fact I am not alone in this.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I don't live in her district, but that didn't stop me from writing a letter of support and sending it in to city hall. I know for a fact I am not alone in this.

Council should be working together as unit instead of all this in fighting. Something this council doesn't seem to want to do. All this negitive publicity is going to hurt her efforts.

[Bigtime]

I'll agree with that statement. So how does council go forward without all this infighting and political posturing? Or is it too late for this group now?

Look at the issue of delaying the Plan-It hearings that also came to the table yesterday and were rejected (Diane C.U. and McIver again). Is it really that hard for certain alderman to read 200 pages in 40 days and 40 nights? Bronco went so far as to say that his young daughter can handle that, so why can't they?

Love or hate Bronco, but when I see the way that Diane and Ric flounder and flub their way through issues before council I am quite glad we have Bronco in the drivers seat instead.

Edit: But don't get me started on my alderman; Mar, he has not impressed me at all in his debut.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I'll agree with that statement. So how does council go forward without all this infighting and political posturing? Or is it too late for this group now?

Druh doesn't seem to want to work with members on this issue. Maybe she should go.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Dion

Druh doesn't seem to want to work with members on this issue. Maybe she should go.

How so? The motion was rejected by vote, so clearly she works with enough members to get the job done.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

How so? The motion was rejected by vote, so clearly she works with enough members to get the job done.

You're forgetting that it wasn't unanimous on the part of council. There are still members against it's location. Doesn't sound like a council working together to find a solution. She got her precious votes and now she can do as she pleases.

Funny part was that she mentioned that we'll see how this event goes and take it from there. Doesn't sound a like a person who confident this event will work out okay.

[Bigtime]

Well it is politics, how often are you going to have a unanimous vote in favour or against something?

I would take her saying we'll see how this event goes as an indication that based on this one closure council will be better able to determine if they want to do this again, or look at other options.

Ultimately this event will only be as succesful as the citizens of Calgary make it. The ball is in our court.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Well it is politics, how often are you going to have a unanimous vote in favour or against something?

And that's what we seem to get with this council.

I would take her saying we'll see how this event goes as an indication that based on this one closure council will be better able to determine if they want to do this again, or look at other options.

For being so gung ho about this event, Druh doesn't strike me as being very confident that this will go well. The negitive publicty is not going to help her event also.

Ultimately this event will only be as succesful as the citizens of Calgary make it. The ball is in our court.

How can it be sucessful when Calgarians have no clue or plan of what she,s going to do? I haven't seen any plans have you? Then you add in all the negitive comments from Calgarians.... I wish her luck.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Dion

How can it be sucessful when Calgarians have no clue or plan of what she,s going to do? I haven't seen any plans have you? Then you add in all the negitive comments from Calgarians.... I wish her luck.

There are a lot of Calgarians working on this new festival, check it out:

So here’s the latest on the Memorial Drive River Fest. There was a meeting Wednesday April 29 at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association (HSCA) with members of the Board of the HSCA present, the ward alderman Druh Farrell, two representatives of Calgary Parks and Recreation (also very enthusiastic about the event) and me, representing civiccamp Calgary, bringing greetings from civiccamp and an expression of support for the event. The BRZ was not represented but did send regrets and expression of support also. I spoke with the BRZ head honcho and the feeling is most merchants would welcome thousands of visitors to Kensington on a Sunday afternoon in August!

There was a whole lot of enthusiasm for this initiative! The date has pretty much been set for Sunday, August 16. The section of Memorial to be shut down, and for how many hours, is still not determined. What we do know is that for most of that day the two south lanes of the parkway will be given over to people.

There were lots of ideas about what could happen on that day. We start small this year but the consensus vision from the meeting is that over the next few years we build the event towards a River Festival stretching throughout the city with the participation of all the communities that touch the river. Imagine a Festival day kicked off by a bike race and a marathon. Maybe a kids bike decoration and parade. Blacktop yoga. A sunrise ecumenical church service. A raft flotilla culminating at the festival site.

Your chance to get involved:

Hi All,
The next community hosted meeting on the Riverfront Parkway Festival
planning will be held tomorrow (May 12th) at 7 pm at the
Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association located at 1320 5 Avenue NW.
All are welcome!

You don't give Calgarians that want a vibrant city enough credit. They have been working on this before it was even finalized that the closure was going to happen.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

There are a lot of Calgarians working on this new festival, check it out:

I never saw that. Thanks for pointing it out.

You don't give Calgarians that want a vibrant city enough credit. They have been working on this before it was even finalized that the closure was going to happen.

I don't? We have lots of well planned events that go around this city that i think are great.

[Bigtime]

Ok, well you weren't giving the people working on this one already enough credit.

[octothorp]

Yeah, the long-term vision for this is pretty cool; the idea that every community in the city that borders the river is participating, and you could just bike or raft along the river and there'd be stuff to see and do everywhere you went. A free portaging service around the weir would also be a great addition to such a festival.

[Shazam]

I can't wait for the festival on Deerfoot. Perhaps they can have it by the new Peigan Trail exit.

[Ozy_Flame]

I think the closing a fabulous idea. We can get a chance for street vendors to strut their stuff off the beaten path, in a location that most Calgarians are familiar with. Besides, we close an artery like that for one day, but all the marathons and construction that take place all summer don't even raise an eyebrow for anyone? Puh-lease!

This will help local businesses, Calgarians and probably local tourism as well.

I think this is going to turn out much better than expected.

[Bigtime]

Shazam, you should write that in to the Sun. They would love it!