Calgary Municipal Politics Thread

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Bronco really liked his limo rides apparently. And videos.

(How the hell does it cost $1617/$2438 to fly to Edmonton?!?!)

It's called embezzlement.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Mayor Nenshi posted his office expenses - part of his Accountability campaign platform.

http://blog.calgarymayor.ca/2011/06/...-may-2011.html

Today at Council - the big item is the Cycling Strategy.

$2100 for Nosegay?

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Shazam

It's called embezzlement.

Someone better forward this to the Calgary Sun! They seem to be such upstanding journalists that would point out such grevious accusations to the City, and would definitely want to print something that shines Nenshi in a positive light, right? ....right?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Someone better forward this to the Calgary Sun! They seem to be such upstanding journalists that would point out such grevious accusations to the City, and would definitely want to print something that shines Nenshi in a positive light, right? ....right?

Rest easy before you twist your panties into a knot.

Everybody knew Bronco was a crook.

[Bigtime]

It happened, as of yesterday I had to officially regret voting for Nenshi because of what he got to do:


Mayor Nenshi Riding Shotgun by Wee in YYC, on Flickr


Goose aka Mayor Nenshi by Wee in YYC, on Flickr

So damn jealous!

[Rhettzky]

Why the hell does it look like he is tweeting during take-off? Hahaha.

[Bigtime]

Probably because he is! Or taking a video of it!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Probably because he is! Or taking a video of it!

Must have missed the announcement that "all electronic devices must be turned off."

[Bunk]

Seskus: Mayor aims for election finance 'fairness'


By Tony Seskus, Calgary Herald

The Wild West - that's what they called us.

Not for our cowboy heritage, however. That's what Alberta was branded for the campaign finance rules that used to govern our civic politicians.

There was a time when a sitting alderman could raise all of the campaign funds possible and, upon leaving office, ride off into the sunset with any surplus.

The provincial government put an end to the Wild West by passing a private member's bill a couple of years ago.

The rule changes included an annual cap on donations of $5,000 per donor and a requirement that campaign surpluses be used only for future elections or be donated to a registered charity.

But gaps in the legislation created all sorts of confusion ahead of the 2010 civic election.

As per Better Idea #6 the Mayor is asking for changes to municipal campaign finance and disclosure rules from the Province (or allowing the municipalities to choose their own rules).

Tweaks to try to improve the bill created some of their own problems, and now civic officials are seeking further repairs.

You'll hear more about it this week when members of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association meet in Calgary for their annual convention.

But if there was ever a time to push for tighter campaign finance rules - with a provincial review of the legislation apparently coming - it looks like this is it...

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Se...#ixzz1Z55wkzCU


Also - the Mayor's Blog on this topic.

Politics should be about the best ideas, not the most money

http://blog.calgarymayor.ca/2011/09/...ideas-not.html

[Rhettzky]

How about this for a brilliant political move?

Alderman Carra fueds with community association.

Ward 9 Ald. Gian-Carlo Carra has severed ties with the volunteer board of the Ramsay Community Association, accusing them of disrespect, and calling for a new set of directors and mandate if he is to work with them again.

In a stinging letter written on official city letterhead and being hand delivered to 1,000 residences in Ramsay, the first-term alderman said he will no longer treat the Ramsay Community Association as representative of local residents until changes are made.

I'm not saying that Ramsay residents don't totally deserve this but talk about shooting yourself in the foot here.

[Bigtime]

I dunno, right now the Carra v. Ramsay CA is a "he said-she said" thing. Will we ever get the truth out of it? I doubt it. However it is indeed a bloody bold move that Carra has made, and I don't think any alderman would do something like this on a whim. It had to have been building, perhaps even when he was involved in the Inglewood CA.

[Bigtime]

Jason Markusoff at the Herald has a bunch of stuff on this conflict:

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2011/...he-ramsay-c-a/

If Ramsay residents see the full article that the CA wouldn't let him put up (they said it was too long) I think that could swing them around to Carra's side. I would rather have a longer letter from my alderman that speaks to the issues in our community and what they are trying to do about it, instead of a little fluff piece that barely covers anything and is really only there to make sure you remember who your alderman is.

Apparently unlike other CA newsletters Ramsay was trying to get him to pay to put his letter in. Carra claims other CA's don't do this? Anyone know the truth?

[Rhettzky]

I just think it's crazy to tell that to 2,000 of your constituents. Not only because he is stirring up a massive hornets nest in Ramsay but also the optics of the situation to the 23 other communities he represents. Seems backwards to me in the way that you'd expect the community association to make public complaints about their councillor, not the other way around.

EDIT: Wow, just read that article for the newsletter from Carra, pretty interesting stuff.

[Bigtime]

Perhaps we are seeing the evolution of the municipal politician in Calgary?

I met Carra on a Jane's Walk he led through Inglewood last year (prior to the election but he had declared at the time). He seemed to be a very straight shooter, told you his beliefs, and you could tell he wouldn't back down from a little controversy to get the job done.

Let's be honest, could he be wrong about a CA not working in the best interests of the community at large? I doubt it would be the first such time in Calgary's history that it has happened.

Plus he has ample experience working in a CA with all the time he spent on the Inglewood one, even running it as president for quite some time.

With all that experience I just can't see him doing this without good cause. Why stir up the hornets nest if you really didn't believe in what you were doing?

[Knalus]

I know of Carra's involvement with the Renfrew CA, and his involvement with the Winston heights/Mountview CA, and it seems he is very, very supportive of these two CA's. He went so far as to get into a fight with the city's transportation department over Edmonton Trail on-street parking, cause that's what the CA wanted.

I am very impressed with Carra. I think he's one of the few politicians I've ever met that I can say that about. I am very glad he's my alderman.

[Kerplunk]

It's hard to judge, given that there isn't any reference to actual instances where the CA said "no" that started the conflict in the first place. There are a lot of odd/dumb things that pass through a CA for consideration, some of which probably need to be rejected. I wonder if a pet project of his was given a rough ride.

It is odd that he has cut off ties to the CA in this manner; kind of makes his sound like a child that isn't getting his way. And the size of that article for the newsletter is ridiculous, and it is way too long winded. If your going to piggyback off of a CA, keep it short, otherwise send out your own newsletter.

[Bill Bumface]

Can anyone fill me in on the Edmonton Trail on-street parking? Why hasn't this happened yet when briefly there were signs saying it was coming soon?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Can anyone fill me in on the Edmonton Trail on-street parking? Why hasn't this happened yet when briefly there were signs saying it was coming soon?

I think it only happens on weekends right now.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I think it only happens on weekends right now.

I was there 2 Saturdays ago at about 10pm and had to park in the residential area which I'm sure pissed off residents (and me) and also sucks for business owners.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I was there 2 Saturdays ago at about 10pm and had to park in the residential area which I'm sure pissed off residents (and me) and also sucks for business owners.

The on-street parking trial was on during the summer, and was considered a success. I was hoping that after the end of the trial period you would still be allowed to park there, but I guess not. I know that the alderman and Renfrew community association is pushing to make it permanent.