Global reveals developer’s plan to control CGY city council

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Which councillors are you referring to?

The corrupt ones.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

So whats the next course of action for these corrupt alderman? are they going to resign?

I don't think they've done anything illegal.
The optics are pretty bad, the ethics are questionable, but I don't think there is anything illegal about what they have done.

All that can be done it to try and find out who may have been amenable to suggestion and check their voting history in relevant issues.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I don't think they've done anything illegal.
The optics are pretty bad, the ethics are questionable, but I don't think there is anything illegal about what they have done.

All that can be done it to try and find out who may have been amenable to suggestion and check their voting history in relevant issues.

Doesn't mean they aren't corrupt.

In my opinion when you're a politician and make decisions that aren't best for the people and city you're representing, you are corrupt.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

What happened to the ask Nenshi anything thread? I specifically asked why they are going to cut of 85 st sw from Lower Springbank Road which is used by thousands of people. Clearly they are doing this to maximize the property values for a developer. Sounds about 100% correct now, this is pure corruption if an elected member provided something for a business in return for money.

Seriously?

That will make the intersection at 17th Ave and 69th street much busier. Odd.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Doesn't mean they aren't corrupt.

In my opinion when you're a politician and make decisions that aren't best for the people and city you're representing, you are corrupt.

While this sort of influence purchase perhaps should be illegal (and good luck getting the ones who benefit from it to change the process), it currently is not illegal and nothing can or should be done about it.

At least nothing beyond using your stunning powers of persuasion to get voters to replace them in the next election.

[Tinordi]

This is a hilarious twitter exchange. Love the totally appropriate dig at the Sun:

http://twitter.theinfo.org/326808186...13495016423425

[CaptainYooh]

City of Calgary over the past twenty years has become increasingly bureaucratic and unpredictable when it comes to rules and regulations related to land development. These rules are governed by land use by-law. When someone buys property for development, they expect to build it out in accordance with the existing rules. Right? Wrong. City can change these rules on a whim, if an alderman or a bureaucrat feels compelled to do so for any reason whatsoever.

From a community point of view - the unpredictability is even worse. Just look at the recent Shawnee Slopes fiasco. I've been at the public hearing, where the entire community, hundreds of people spoke against turning the 50-yr old golf course into a housing project making a couple of land speculators $20M richer. No matter. Nenshi, Farrell, Carra, Lowe gave all kind of rhetoric about intensification of Calgary suburbs and blatantly ignored the wishes of all of the people living there.

Another example: Druh Farrell was elected by roughly 1500 people (votes) in the last elections. She is literally defining the policies of how this city is growing the way she likes it (she likes Paris and Vancouver and thinks Calgary can be similar). I don't know what anyone feels about her views, as a politician (I disagree with most of them), but she is a reality for both the developers and communities.

Most politicians are corrupt in some way, shape or form. This is a reality of all politics. They get elected based on promises given to electorate and the strength of their public imagery, which is done professionally by their consultants. Donations from interest groups (lobby) keep them going. What else is new? That one group was honest enough to admit it openly? Big f...g deal...

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by SebC

Am I just not finding it, or has the Calgary Sun ignored this story completely?

Why would the Sun print this story? Look at their ad space - nothing but home builders. No reporters working at the Sun - only ad salesmen.

[Tinordi]

Once you buy a piece of land you have no right to develop on it until you get all of the approvals. Until then you're a speculator, and one of the risks of speculation is that the municipal planning and land use policy will remain the same and allow you to develop that land. Thankfully municipal governance trumps the rights of developers to return a profit on a piece of land. Because you know, democracy matters more than the interests of a specific land speculators.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Not only did she not get reelected in the 2007 election, she placed dead last.

I think you're just north of me. In the 2007 election, she was campaigning in my ward, even though she wasn't actually running there anymore. We got re-aligned from Ward 3 to Ward 5 in that election.

Found this link. About sums her up perfectly! http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...3-2ad5c92cd843

[Bunk]

Global hasn't released the whole video yet. However, more tidbits:

http://globalnews.ca/news/504916/may...contributions/

Mayor calls for investigation of civic election campaign contributions

By Doug Vaessen and Lisa Geddes Global News

Wenzel points to the high cost of running a civic election campaign and encourages the attendees to donate to candidates he supports. He also discusses other ways his preferred candidates can be supported.

“One of the things you look at when getting rid of an incumbent such as Druh Farrell or Pincott- the candidates Kevin Taylor, James Maxim, are suggesting they need somewhere in the area of $150,000 to $200,000 in their campaign funds.

“Now that could be a little bit less because Chris has promised every United truck he owns to be made available and he is going to print signs on their computers, so maybe he can get by with $125,000 – that is how much money these guys think they need.”

...

Nenshi says what he sees on the recording appears to be a violation of laws on campaign contributions.

“What you see here is not just exploitation of loopholes but things that seem to contravene even the weak laws we have now,” says the mayor.

“For example, in the video we have an admission that in the 2010 election there were donations in kind far, far above the $5,000 donation limit.”

[Manhattanboy]

Whoa have I taken it on the chin in this thread for suggesting we move to a party or slate style system. Another problem I do have is with the ward system. At least do away with the "hey Druh if I vote against that development in your ward you will support this park in mine?"....

[kermitology]

Pretty easy to tell who's pockets they're lining given the reactions:

http://globalnews.ca/news/505375/exc...ty-councillor/

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Global hasn't released the whole video yet. However, more tidbits:

http://globalnews.ca/news/504916/may...contributions/

Mayor calls for investigation of civic election campaign contributions

By Doug Vaessen and Lisa Geddes Global News

...

I watched the whole video now.

According to Cal, Druh Farrell thought there was an over contribution way back in 2010. Why hasn't she already come forward?

[Tyler]

Finally an article in the Sun. Of course, terrible photo of Nenshi.. LOL

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/04/23...video-surfaces

Way to jump on this right away Renato.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Why would the Sun print this story? Look at their ad space - nothing but home builders. No reporters working at the Sun - only ad salesmen.

Maybe to want to cling to some pretense of journalistic integrity?

They could've spun it as "this is nothing out of the ordinary - the other side is secretive and manipulative too - and these homebuilders are being persecuted by having their dirty laundry aired in public". That's what I expected, not dead silence.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by polak

I don't understand how this is causing a stir?

I mean I didn't watch the vid or read the article but industry leaders getting together and deciding who they want to support hardly sounds shocking to me? If one candidate supported your specific street better then all of the other candidates and you and the rest of your neighbours got together and decided you were going to support that candidate, would that be wrong?

Nothing like informing yourself before forming an opinion.

You forgot the green text, right?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Finally an article in the Sun. Of course, terrible photo of Nenshi.. LOL

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/04/23...video-surfaces

Way to jump on this right away Renato.

With comments you'd expect from Sun readers. And then I read the article DCU linked about shaming people who commit sexual assualt...

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/04/22...#disqus_thread

And...its mostly victim blaming. Ladies and gentleman, your Calgary Sun readers.

[SebC]

Full video is out... I haven't watched it yet. (I can multitask text and video, I can't multitask two videos and there's a Flames game on!)

http://globalnews.ca/news/505627/exc...of-developers/

[Anduril]

Mar’s response: “Firstly, I make decisions based on what’s best for the citizens of Calgary, the people of my ward, and the city of Calgary itself. Now, whether that makes me wishy washy or makes me grey or purple, does not matter to me.”

.

Spoken like a true purple guy.