Accusations of Drinking and Partying at City Hall

[MrMastodonFarm]

Apologies to our moderator here but since I called out RedMileDJ I can't just disappear myself.

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

Yes. I hope that finger trap falls in the river..

You're a great Calgarian. This is a disgusting and childish attitude.

I'm here with a reply. Answer my question, since you're such a defender of the bridge: are we in competition with other cities, over bridge design, and did it have to cost that much?

The answer: no and no.

No, and yes apparently. The 2nd point touched on below.

The function of a bridge, and the need for a bridge, is to transport people from place to place across a large space. In this case, a river.

The city could have found local talent. It's an inexcusable expense,

The city did find local talent, for the St. Patrick's Island bridge, the totally cost? 25 million. The City of Calgary got a bargain on the Peace Bridge.

and if you use the the "in memory of the vets" excuse, then you fell for some brilliant marketing and spin by politicians

To me that's the only iffy thing about the whole bridge process. If you actually followed the process instead of doing drive bys in the thread over the years you'd have seen most people were disgusted and annoyed at name. It was a cheap ploy. But again, that's the only thing.

The money was set aside by the cities Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, which identifies the need and timing of big infrastructure projects, I can't imagine how you (or anyone) can say it wasn't needed. And again, you spoke about local.. well look at the other one, that cost the same and was locally done, it's embarrassing compared to Calatrava bridge. So stop with this local talent nonsense. It's such small thinking.

pylon touched on this but the Peace Bridge almost immediately became an icon of the city. The city got a bargain on this project, it will be a draw for the city for years and decades to come.

A bargain.

[Bunk]

St Patrick's bridge design isn't local - it's RFR of Paris. It's not the Peace Bridge, but it's not too bad. Simple and elegant.

Peace Bridge is very well used, is a magnet for people and a icon - it shows up in everything. Worth every penny.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Bunk

St Patrick's bridge design isn't local - it's RFR of Paris. It's not the Peace Bridge, but it's not too bad. Simple and elegant. .

They should have went local! my child could have.. rabble rabble rabble.

[4X4]

Sorta feels like Rick Bell has hacked a couple of accounts here.

[Bunk]

Also what makes Calatrava a strong designer is that he's also a structural engineer. This was a challenging design - a pierless bridge over a 130m span and a no ability to suspend because of the limitation of the nearby helipad. The double helix, which happens to be beautiful gives it the necessary rigidity. He literally might be the only designer on the planet that could have pulled it off that well. He's a master and we're lucky to have such a masterful work.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Also what makes Calatrava a strong designer is that he's also a structural engineer. This was a challenging design - a pierless bridge over a 130m span and a no ability to suspend because of the limitation of the nearby helipad. The double helix, which happens to be beautiful gives it the necessary rigidity. He literally might be the only designer on the planet that could have pulled it off that well. He's a master and we're lucky to have such a masterful work.

A point that is often looked over. It's an impressive feat of engineering above all.

[jayswin]

Please, MRC, let the discussion stay for a bit, pretty please? Love this stuff.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

If your $15 million estimate for a traditional bridge is accurate an additional $10 million is only 66% more. That is practically nothing.

The exact numbers may be a little off, because the discussion I had with the person was a couple years ago. But at the end of the day, it was a difference of 10-12 million for a conventional design, and what we ended up with. The source I got it from would be as reliable as you could get in the whole situation, but I am sure Bunk would be able to elaborate better on the cost difference.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bunk

St Patrick's bridge design isn't local - it's RFR of Paris. It's not the Peace Bridge, but it's not too bad. Simple and elegant.

In some ways I prefer the St Patricks Bridge over the Peace Bridge. While not a landmark by any means, I like the fact that its wide deck allows allows for easy flow of movement (Peace can feel a little closed-in), and it has some benches and stopping points, to better take in the view. The quality of construction/materials seems to be better too (I still cringe at those ugly welds, and cheap track lighting, on the Peace), although I'm sure it was a lot easier to build.

It's not a postcard magnet like the Peace bridge, but a solid addition to the area for sure.

Both are great. I'd gladly take 5 more of them!

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Please, MRC, let the discussion stay for a bit, pretty please? Love this stuff.

It's getting tedious though. As soon as anything related to city council comes up for discussion, it inevitably winds up at the Peace Bridge and city spending on arts.

This really should still be about how some city employees could find it acceptable to just pull out a bottle of scotch from their filing cabinets and have a drink at work. I don't see how that is remotely acceptable in a professional workplace and like others have said if that went down in their workplace, they would be immediately fired. This isn't Madmen. Who's liable if a councillor gets themselves or somebody else tipsy and proceed to get into an accident? The city getting sued = taxpayers footing the bill.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Wormius

This really should still be about how some city employees could find it acceptable to just pull out a bottle of scotch from their filing cabinets and have a drink at work. I don't see how that is remotely acceptable in a professional workplace and like others have said if that went down in their workplace, they would be immediately fired.

This sounds like something you'd hear from the Women's Christian Temperance Union in the 20's.

An adult having a drink or two at lunch or in the office isn't a big deal, and there are plenty of "professional workplaces", including my own, where the attitude towards having a drink isn't nearly so puritanical.

Originally Posted by Wormius

This isn't Madmen. Who's liable if a councillor gets themselves or somebody else tipsy and proceed to get into an accident? The city getting sued = taxpayers footing the bill.

Has this ever happened in the history of the world? I honestly don't know. It has never happened in Calgary, I'm sure of that.

[Wormius]

I don't care if anybody drinks or how much they drink, just don't do it on city property.

[CliffFletcher]

It's funny that a city desperately trying to establish a reputation as "world class" is acting so parochial on this matter. Drinking wine or a beer with a meal does not mean you're trying to get enebriated. Believe it or not, a lot of people in "world class" cities drink the stuff for the taste. It seems some councillors have fallen under the sway of American-style puritanicalism and litigation chill.

[woob]

I'm mostly annoyed at how much of a time sink this has become. And as other have stated, it really shows how dysfunctional this group can be at times.

[Erick Estrada]

Damn. Over the years I've learned that there's few things closer to MMF's heart than Android phones and the Peace Bridge. Nobody can ever accuse him of not fiercely defending things that are dear to him.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Damn. Over the years I've learned that there's few things closer to MMF's heart than Android phones and the Peace Bridge. Nobody can ever accuse him of not fiercely defending things that are dear to him.

And X-Men First Class.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[Ozy_Flame]

I wouldn't. That just results in slanderous accusations, which takes it down a whole new level.

Everyone should just man up and drop it, and move on. Wasting time waiting for apologies is just as childish and time-wasting.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

And X-Men First Class.

Ha ha ha. I missed that. Don't hold it against me that I feel the Winter Soldier is a superior movie.

[corporatejay]

I say let them drink booze.