darwink
Senior Member
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Calgary Municipal Politics
- Thread starter Always_Biking
- Start date
Sparks fly between candidates after first official mayoral debate
http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgar...ates-after-first-official-mayoral-debate.html
Interesting article. Sounds like it may be drifting towards a two man race.
http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgar...ates-after-first-official-mayoral-debate.html
Interesting article. Sounds like it may be drifting towards a two man race.
Cowtown
Senior Member
Wow, 3 votes for Smith and 5 undecided. This could be a very interesting election.
Oddball
Senior Member
I guess make it 6 undecided with me now included. While I prefer not to vote for Nenshi, I'm leaning in his direction because of his stance on big matters like the arena, Olympics and Amazon. I'll have to do some more research before I make my final decision. I'll do best to spell out my reasoning when I do. It never hurts to stimulate a little debate.
Alex_YYC
Senior Member
Undecided for me too. I like some of the things that Nenshi does, but I'm not a big fan of his arrogance and I'd like to see a council that some more cohesive, I think it's time for some change. On the flipside I don't really get any thing from Bill Smith except that he's probably the people who want change will vote for.
I don't mind Chabot, some of his ideas are actually pretty good, and he's got to experience, but he reminds me of Putin lol.
I don't mind Chabot, some of his ideas are actually pretty good, and he's got to experience, but he reminds me of Putin lol.
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Zoom
Active Member
Bill Smith. He's the only chance of unseating Nenshi.
Just build it
Active Member
I'm going with Nenshi. It's true he can be irritating and maybe he's partly to blame for the divisive Council but he's the best of the three. I'm not sure what Smith and Chabot ore actually bringing to the table.
darwink
Senior Member
Nenshi I think deserves another term, especially during a time when international engagement matters. Now, 2 more terms? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Zodd
New Member
Who expended a lot of energy on the bike lanes? It was a $10 million pilot (which I will remind everyone, came in under budget). There's no need it needed to be a huge fight except for people like Chu who figured they could make political hay out of it. We have a heavily, suburban conservative council who WANT to waste time on secondary suites every week, instead of simply legalizing it city-wide and handing the issue off to administration. You elect more people like Farkas and Smith and congratulations, you have more people who get paid to sit around and get nothing done.
As for my personal vote: Nenshi, easily. None of these other nobs have a vision for the city, and campaign on really base issues like tax increases. There's no way to get around tax increases (other than loading up on debt) as long as you want multibillion-dollar stretches of freeway (or transit), but let's blame the urban projects that use a fraction of the budget. The mayor's so-called "belligerence" (really? here's a band-aid for your hurt feelings) is a non-issue.
As for my personal vote: Nenshi, easily. None of these other nobs have a vision for the city, and campaign on really base issues like tax increases. There's no way to get around tax increases (other than loading up on debt) as long as you want multibillion-dollar stretches of freeway (or transit), but let's blame the urban projects that use a fraction of the budget. The mayor's so-called "belligerence" (really? here's a band-aid for your hurt feelings) is a non-issue.
ferreth
New Member
Nenshi all the way for my vote. Chabot has not impressed historically as Alderman for my riding.
Bill Smith wants to lower taxes and cut spending - fine - what are you going to cut? Specific policy (paraphrased by me below) on his web site:
- Streamline regulations shorten time for development applications
> I agree with this point and consider it a disappointment that Nenshi was not able to deliver on this in two terms.
- Safety - "seen crime dramatically increase" His great budgeting skills can fix this!
> Standard fear mongering trotted out time and time again by conservatives
- "The Green Line requires a rethink"
> Hello, the current plan IS the rethink! His "working with industry suppliers" isn't going to magically make 4.5 billion dollars cover the whole project from north to south. He implies that so much money should at least "reach the new hospital or the suburbs"
- New arena "can be constructed with minimal direct cost to Calgary"
> Depending on how you want to interpret that, you could say he is on the same page as Nenshi on that one. Surprised the media hasn't picked up on that point.
- '26 Olympic bid: He'd like to see it happen but only if costs less than $2.4 billion
> I'm against any Olympics, not willing to spend $2.4 billion either, or a lot less!
- Public consultation "major deterioration in public consultation process"
> Disagree with this one. Overall there are more ways now to have your say than ever before, thanks to the internet. I expect that council business will occasionally have to be conducted behind closed doors, but I grant it's difficult to gauge if it is justified.
So overall, not impressed with Mr BS at all; he is living up to his initials.
From what I have seen directly in the last two terms of Nenshi, he gets my vote because my community (Mayland Heights) has seen some modest improvements in the pedestrian, cycling and even driving realm. There are better cycling options for me than previously going back and forth to work The city is better at informing me about projects I am interested in and giving me feedback opportunities, although the website is still not so great for searching and finding information. SE BRT will improve my cycling ride as well once finished, and provide much better downtown access for Forest Lawn and surrounding area. I'm happy with the plan that has been put forth for the Green Line - I consider it better to build a smaller amount "right the first time". I see more trees have been planted in the last 8 years than probably the previous 20, although less weed control bugs me. On the negative front, I'd rather have a more basic green bin/blue bin program that doesn't cost so much per month. I could wish for a council that works together better, but Nenshi gets only part of the blame there. I prefer less government, Nenshi prefers more.
So overall, Nenshi doesn't get my vote as best Mayor of all the planet, but he still gets my vote come election day.
Bill Smith wants to lower taxes and cut spending - fine - what are you going to cut? Specific policy (paraphrased by me below) on his web site:
- Streamline regulations shorten time for development applications
> I agree with this point and consider it a disappointment that Nenshi was not able to deliver on this in two terms.
- Safety - "seen crime dramatically increase" His great budgeting skills can fix this!
> Standard fear mongering trotted out time and time again by conservatives
- "The Green Line requires a rethink"
> Hello, the current plan IS the rethink! His "working with industry suppliers" isn't going to magically make 4.5 billion dollars cover the whole project from north to south. He implies that so much money should at least "reach the new hospital or the suburbs"
- New arena "can be constructed with minimal direct cost to Calgary"
> Depending on how you want to interpret that, you could say he is on the same page as Nenshi on that one. Surprised the media hasn't picked up on that point.
- '26 Olympic bid: He'd like to see it happen but only if costs less than $2.4 billion
> I'm against any Olympics, not willing to spend $2.4 billion either, or a lot less!
- Public consultation "major deterioration in public consultation process"
> Disagree with this one. Overall there are more ways now to have your say than ever before, thanks to the internet. I expect that council business will occasionally have to be conducted behind closed doors, but I grant it's difficult to gauge if it is justified.
So overall, not impressed with Mr BS at all; he is living up to his initials.
From what I have seen directly in the last two terms of Nenshi, he gets my vote because my community (Mayland Heights) has seen some modest improvements in the pedestrian, cycling and even driving realm. There are better cycling options for me than previously going back and forth to work The city is better at informing me about projects I am interested in and giving me feedback opportunities, although the website is still not so great for searching and finding information. SE BRT will improve my cycling ride as well once finished, and provide much better downtown access for Forest Lawn and surrounding area. I'm happy with the plan that has been put forth for the Green Line - I consider it better to build a smaller amount "right the first time". I see more trees have been planted in the last 8 years than probably the previous 20, although less weed control bugs me. On the negative front, I'd rather have a more basic green bin/blue bin program that doesn't cost so much per month. I could wish for a council that works together better, but Nenshi gets only part of the blame there. I prefer less government, Nenshi prefers more.
So overall, Nenshi doesn't get my vote as best Mayor of all the planet, but he still gets my vote come election day.
ferreth
New Member
COC Mayoral candidate debate from Monday Oct 2nd:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-chamber-mayoral-town-hall-1.4317283
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-chamber-mayoral-town-hall-1.4317283
I watch this and was surprised that Chabot seemed to be most pro "Flames at any cost" candidate, in fact that was the only time he really showed any passion in the debate. Nenshi and Bill Smith pretty much towed their respective (similar) lines on a stadium deal. Nenshi seemed irritated and a bit distracted at times, although he did have a strong line about working to make a great city for everyone regardless of race-sex-religion. Bill Smith was pushing the less spending, less taxes, pro business line that has gotten many a conservative elected in times past. I'd give the debate win to Nenshi, but only on my opinion that he was slightly less mediocre than Bill Smith. Chabot fell flat - can see why he is not picking up any votes.
One additional tidbit: Bill Smith's opinion bit on CBC's website - not much to add.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-chamber-mayoral-town-hall-1.4317283
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-chamber-mayoral-town-hall-1.4317283
I watch this and was surprised that Chabot seemed to be most pro "Flames at any cost" candidate, in fact that was the only time he really showed any passion in the debate. Nenshi and Bill Smith pretty much towed their respective (similar) lines on a stadium deal. Nenshi seemed irritated and a bit distracted at times, although he did have a strong line about working to make a great city for everyone regardless of race-sex-religion. Bill Smith was pushing the less spending, less taxes, pro business line that has gotten many a conservative elected in times past. I'd give the debate win to Nenshi, but only on my opinion that he was slightly less mediocre than Bill Smith. Chabot fell flat - can see why he is not picking up any votes.
One additional tidbit: Bill Smith's opinion bit on CBC's website - not much to add.
Silence&Motion
Senior Member
Bill Smith and the other candidates anointed by the conservative establishment (Farkas, Davis, etc.) are banking on a vision of this city characterized by small-mindedness and a deep insecurity; a vision of the city that is deathly afraid to stand up to its own sport franchise (or any big business for that matter), that is suspicious of any change, no matter how small like a bike lane, a BRT, or a mid-rise condo, and that feels threatened and belittled by public art. Their Calgary is a city inhabited by people who only live here out of necessity, not choice, and who cloister themselves in their suburban McMansions to avoid exposure to civic life.
I think they have Calgary totally wrong and, as a result, they're going to lose this election. They're going to lose despite all of the financial and organizational advantages they've been given by the conservative establishment.
I think they have Calgary totally wrong and, as a result, they're going to lose this election. They're going to lose despite all of the financial and organizational advantages they've been given by the conservative establishment.
BKha
Active Member
^Agreed. Calgary's kind of at a level now where people want the city to improve. Nenshi's biggest problem is his own personality IMO, I know that he has turned off some people..even people who like what he's done.
If he loses and Smith wins, I hope the next election features a guy like Nenshi, but with better bedside manner.
If he loses and Smith wins, I hope the next election features a guy like Nenshi, but with better bedside manner.
Oddball
Senior Member
As much as it pains me, I've flipped my vote from undicided to Nenshi, hearing that Bill Smith wants to tear up the Green Line plans was a leap too far.
simster3
New Member
I thought that would sway a lot of people out of his camp or from the fence.