Municipal Politics

[Kosy123]

"“Really, the whole city is screaming, ‘We don’t want this in our mature neighbourhoods,'” she said."

The change doesn’t convince Wanda Banas.

While Edmonton has various plans in the works hoping to encourage more people to ride their bikes and take transit, Banas worries her freedom to drive a car could be curtailed. She sees council’s plans to expand the bike lane network, despite the city’s cold winters, as a signal their priorities don’t align with hers.

“That’s why there’s the mistrust, because you’re doing something that’s illogical because it’s part of some plan that you’re following.”

Her experience with a redevelopment next door also fuels her mistrust. Plans to replace houses with an apartment complex will block sunlight on her property and make it difficult to see around the corner when she’s leaving her driveway.

“I’m going to be sitting in the dark,” she said. “I don’t get sunlight, ever, in the afternoon or evening. Never again … what about my plants? What about my trees? Will they survive?”

“That’s my quality of life, and this was supposed to be my retirement place to live. So I can’t age in place, not anymore, not with any comfort. I have to decide if I have to go somewhere and start over.”

Yeah these people can get bent

 

[northlands]

It would be nice if they could interview someone who isn't retired for once in one of these articles but I understand they have outrage to farm.

 

[bodsbods9090]

More like Wanda Bananas, AMIRITE?

 

[David A]

It would be nice if they could interview someone who isn't retired for once in one of these articles but I understand they have outrage to farm.

I suspect these days the Journal's best circulation is in seniors and retirement homes, but they could try make more of an effort to try remain relevant.

 

[Kosy123]

I wish I was an Edmonton Journal contributor because I would write the most pro-urbanist takes to get that angry click/comment traffic.

“Why you should use scooters instead of cars”
“Downtown isn’t what the right makes it out to be”
“Denny’s is overrated”

 

[TAS]

Well done by Sohi to keep the provincial funding shortfalls (yellowhead trail maintenance, property taxes etc etc) highlighted with recent provincial surplus.

'Compensation should be made': Mayor Sohi demands dollars for city infrastructure amid UCP surplus boast

“The Government of Alberta is running these surpluses on the backs of municipalities,” Sohi said in an interview Friday.

edmontonjournal.com

 

[Kosy123]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/leduc-city-council-rescinds-previous-motion-supporting-homeless-shelter-1.7256227

Rural and suburban Alberta foisting its problems onto Edmonton again? A tale as old as time.

 

[David A]

Whether it is Edmonton or Leduc, the provinces responsibilities should not be foisted onto municipal governments that can't afford to handle them while the province has multi billion dollar surpluses.

 

[Kosy123]

Exactly! I genuinely wouldn't mind as much if we had this responsibility IF we were given the appropriate amount of funding to handle it. But we don't

 

[Greenspace]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1813006266442391726

 

[TAS]

Edmonton Coun. Jennifer Rice seeks court orders to toss misconduct investigation and stop sanction hearing

Edmonton councillor Jennifer Rice asks a judge to stop council's sanctions for breaking code of conduct over harassment & discrimination.

edmontonjournal.com

Sounds like 4 of the complaints of harassment and 1 of discrimination have been substantiated by integrity commissioner - report coming Aug. 21.

However, Edmonton Coun. Jennifer Rice is asking for court orders to stop city council from sanctioning her for breaking council’s code of conduct and to throw out an investigative report alleging she harassed and discriminated against one of her former employees.

 

[TAS]

Politics makes strange bedfellows.

Janz and taxpayers federation uniting against provincial money to benefit OEG.

But what's potential benefit to taxpayers? I'd likw to know exactly what we're talking about.

Opinion: Tax dollars for Calgary arena was wrong; Funding the Oilers won't make it right

Two wrongs don't make a right when it comes to provincial funding of the Calgary arena and matching money for the Edmonton Oilers.

edmontonjournal.com

 

[MacLac]

Janz needs to shut his pie hole......is he the only person on the planet who has not heard the saying, "do not look a gift horse in the mouth?" What's wrong with him? Hopefully Smitty doesn't read the Journal.....

 

[kcantor]

.^^


^
I’m not sure how giving $300 million in provincial tax dollars to a private enterprise is a gift horse for tax payers.

 

[TAS]

Not saying right or wrong but on the surface, Edmonton could seem like a weird place that makes some puzzling choices. Or just very principled. Some examples.

How many cities have a chance to elect a premier representing your city and decide to vote them out? Case in point - voting out Don Getty in 1989 when Conservatives were going to win regardless. As an aside, Edmonton won't likely be home to future premier for a long while.

Minister of Natural Resources and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan - endorsed by oil industry and one of the most powerful politicans in country from our city and she could only ever win by the skin of her teeth. If it wasn't for Oliver community, where she won big, she would have never been elected.

A major company wants to build a tower and tourist attraction in your city and the people reject its location. Company not feeling the love so Husky takes their tower to another city - Calgary.

Province looking to even up the score by investing in a project/amenity (I'm still not sure what), and it faces opposition from council member (and maybe more). Calgary council, which includes leftist politicians like Janz, votes unamiously for their arena deal which comes with provincial money.

Again, all these situations are unique with different circumstances, but on the surface someone might wonder what the hell?