Ongoing YYCCC (Chu + Farkas) Transgressions Threat

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Councilors like Farkas appeal to the people who think a councilors main role should be to help individuals fix their problems, and really annoy people who want to see someone who is working towards a vision and a plan to make the city better as a whole.

Councilors like Farrell do the opposite.
It may seem like they aren't listening because they pass you off to a staff member, or direct you to the right city department, but in reality, they are doing their job by sending you to the people who's job it is to fix your problems, while they focus on the larger picture.

The answer of course is that 'balance' between the two is what makes a representative democracy work. You can care about the community you live in, but you also have a duty to care about your immediate family.

Put simply - IMHO - Druh got away from that balance in recent years. Solving big picture issues like climate change and social inequity took precedence over the mundane day to day issues like rising crime and traffic.

If your elected representative for civic government doesn't respond to say, rising crime - who else should a citizen be turning to?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

The answer of course is that 'balance' between the two is what makes a representative democracy work. You can care about the community you live in, but you also have a duty to care about your immediate family.

Put simply - IMHO - Druh got away from that balance in recent years. Solving big picture issues like climate change and social inequity took precedence over the mundane day to day issues like rising crime and traffic.

If your elected representative for civic government doesn't respond to say, rising crime - who else should a citizen be turning to?

If only there was a city department who's sole job it was to take care of this sort of thing:

https://www.calgarypolicecommission.ca/contact-us/

This is exactly what I mean, do you honestly think any councilor is unaware if/when crime is rising in their ward?
Do you think it's a good use of their time to have a meeting with someone so they can say "Hey did you know crime is rising in my ward?"

Should she be out on the street with a billy club, or should she be working with other officials on larger initiatives to solve the problem?

Balance means listening to a lot of feedback, not listening to individuals.

That's why they have staff, so they can get feedback from more people and take that into account in their decisions.

They don't have the time, don't need to, nor should they be speaking with every individual citizen in their ward.

They should be speaking with leaders of community associations, business organizations, and the like, groups that exist to take in feedback and bring it to the right people/leaders.

Councilors are not worker bees, they are senior leaders, and they should prioritize as such.

[RoadGame]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

That's why they have staff

So when constituents don't get traction with the relevant city department or an issue doesn't fit neatly into a city silo and they reach out to their elected representative's office only to discover the staff are ineffectual and occasionally arrogant, do you give the councillor a pass on that as well?

I'll be sure to route such enquiries exclusively through my local community and (unelected) business association leaders instead in future.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

The efficacy of government departments, Commissions, and Ombudsmen aside - a call from a City Councillor's office to "Administration" is like a jolt from a defibrillator to that department. It goes to the top of the stack (or least closer to the top...)

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by RoadGame

So when constituents don't get traction with the relevant city department or an issue doesn't fit neatly into a city silo and they reach out to their elected representative's office only to discover the staff are ineffectual and occasionally arrogant, do you give the councillor a pass on that as well?

I'll be sure to route such enquiries exclusively through my local community and (unelected) business association leaders instead in future.

Well, yeah, if they or their staff, are rude, I think they should be taken to task.
I also think it's important to distinguish between being rude, being arrogant, and just pointing out that maybe there are better avenues to pursue for trying to fix a problem.


And yeah, if you have an issue you think deserves more attention, I would certainly encourage you to follow up in all avenues, including getting involved in your local community association.

I think it's perfectly fine for anyone to contact their local councilor to try to get help dealing with a problem, but like anything, you may not always get what you want/need. That doesn't mean the person you're looking to for help isn't doing their job, it just may mean the are unable to help, or aren't the right person.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Was some speculation at the time that one of her trusted aides would run with her endorsement as a successor.

Isn't that basically what happened (with McRae being Druh's former campaign manager)? Or was McRae a mercenary/they had a falling out?

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by SebC

Isn't that basically what happened (with McRae being Druh's former campaign manager)? Or was McRae a mercenary/they had a falling out?

I believe Stephen Carter's (former Redford chief of staff and notable podcast co-host of the Strategists Podcast - listen if you havent) wife is making a run in Dru's ward. I believe she was close with her.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Farkas' strategy (if you can even call it that) is very much just "scorched earth". Say no to everything, deny any investments, focus on tax cuts and tell the people how socialist City Hall is. Slash and burn the establishment, and avoid presenting any ideas to grow one of the best 1M+ cities in the world.

If people like that, vote for him. I'm sure the Save Calgary crew will pump his tires as the savior of City Hall.

Some people here should know - there is a very real chance Farkas is not part of council altogether in eight months. He's going all in on the mayorship, and that's a very risky move for such a polarizing figure who doesn't have city-wide appeal.

Edmonton has a guy like that. He’s running for mayor.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Edmonton has a guy like that. He’s running for mayor.

Yes. Mike Nickel. And he's a complete and utter moron, and most people know it. He's toast.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Cappy

I believe Stephen Carter's (former Redford chief of staff and notable podcast co-host of the Strategists Podcast - listen if you havent) wife is making a run in Dru's ward. I believe she was close with her.

That is Heather McRae, and yes she is running in Ward 7. There have been literature drops already.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Yes. Mike Nickel. And he's a complete and utter moron, and most people know it. He's toast.

quoted for truth.
I don't know anyone that likes or respects the guy.

[calf]

Originally Posted by Cappy

I believe Stephen Carter's (former Redford chief of staff and notable podcast co-host of the Strategists Podcast - listen if you havent) wife is making a run in Dru's ward. I believe she was close with her.

I believe Stephen Carter is also Jyoti Gondek's campaign manager. I'm betting Nenshi isn't running for re-election.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by calf

I believe Stephen Carter is also Jyoti Gondek's campaign manager. I'm betting Nenshi isn't running for re-election.

That is correct.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

quoted for truth.
I don't know anyone that likes or respects the guy.

Just the worst kind of contrarian, full of misinformation and austerity-driven hackery. And if you challenge him on his lies, he just blocks you. I think he's blocked half of Edmonton. I got blocked for asking him why he's saying the Prairie Sky Gondola was being publicly funded, when it's not. Other people ask if he's got sources on his claims and he just . . . blocks. He also just votes in Council against everything.

He is the "no" guy on Council and just does it to be jerk. He has no game plan.

Glad he's running for Mayor; more qualified people will wax the floor with him especially in light of filling Don Iveson's shoes who I think did a great job and has a good reputation around town.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

That is Heather McRae, and yes she is running in Ward 7. There have been literature drops already.

Yeah, i saw she was running a while back and thought it was odd given Dru hadn't pulled out.

[Bigtime]

Stephen Carter: The Littlefinger of Alberta politics?

Discuss.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Stephen Carter: The Littlefinger of Alberta politics?

Discuss.

I'm not sure he would like the comparison, given how that turns out for Littlefinger...

[Roughneck]

Carter doesn't seem interested in getting power directly for himself like Littlefinger, but prefers to be the power behind the power, so to speak.



I'd say he's more like Varys.

[MegaErtz]

Mayor Nenshi has been putting off announcing that he won't run for as long as possible so as not to be considered a lame duck. The filing deadline is not until September 20, but it is obvious to anyone who follows politics that he hasn't had any intention of running again ever since the last election.

Carra is in a similar boat, and I expect him to announce his retirement in the next few weeks. His wife ran his original campaign in 2010 and would make a great candidate, but I doubt she has any intention of running as she does far better with less headaches in her private sector job.

[Swift]

Has there been any indication on what Farrell will be doing in the future? A run at a higher level, or a retirement from politics altogether?