City Politics?
My city, Winnipeg, is in the midst of civic elections. We will be electing a Mayor and City Councillors. Elections happen once every four years.
I remember voting in the last election. I remember because I struggled with who to vote for as Mayor. I don't remember who I voted for to represent my Ward in Council. I don't remember if I voted in previous elections.
I don't remember because it is of little consequence to me. The City actually runs itself and about 85% of the city's budget is already committed to contractual obligations. There is actually very little discretionary money that the Mayor and City Councillors can use to advance their personal agenda. The job of the Mayor and Councillors are really to provide oversight and to be chief cheerleaders of our city.
Things happen in all city's that are beyond the control of anyone. In Winnipeg, the thing that happens is snow. When it snows, the snow needs to be cleared regardless of who the Mayor is. It is a safety issue and also the city can not function unless people are able to safely get to and from work. There are some years when the snow is minimal. During those years, the Mayor and Councillors look like geniuses. They have a surplus to apply toward deficits, carry forward to next year's budget, or expand services. Then, we have years where it snows a lot and in a short period of time. The snow needs to cleared so that our roads and sidewalks are passable. That costs a lot of money. It can be a 24 hour operation. When there is such a big dump of snow, the major arteries will be cleared first and side streets will be less of a priority. This protocol will happen regardless of who is Mayor and Council. In cases of prolonged dumping of snow, there have been occasions where residential streets have not been cleared for three days. This is frustrating for people living in residential streets. That is when they often look up the contact information for their Councilor. They use the Councilor as a vehicle to share their frustration. They feel better that they are doing something. The Councilor will say that they will pass the information along and to be patient. This will occur regardless of who is the City Councilor. So, what we are really looking for in our City Councilors is someone who can be positive and reassuring in those calls.
Our current Mayor was on NBC for an extended period of time this year during prime time. What an amazing opportunity to showcase his skills as Cheerleader in Chief for our city. He did this well, but, ironically, it was the citizens of the city that got him that exposure. Our Jets made the Conference Final. That was exciting but was more exciting were our White Out Parties. That is what captured international attention. Anyone could have displayed their cheerleading skills and do well.
In my Ward, I am faced with the decision of how to vote for between two incumbents. This occurs because of re-alignment. It is an easy choice.
One of the Councilors was against the Bruce Oake Recovery Center. He said he was representing his constituents who were against the Recovery Center as they felt it would affect their property values. That Not in My Backyard sentiment is so circa 1970. It is so regressive and just feels so yucky. Who would be such a coward and not support an addiction recovery center. Addiction is a huge problem in our society and affects people from all demographics. The positive energy and results from treatment is something that affects all of us from ripple affects. It is estimated that 1 out of 10 people suffer from addiction. Each of those people significantly affect 4 other lives, be it their spouses, children, friends, colleagues, or relatives. So really, 5 out of 10 (or 1 out of 2) people are significantly impacts by addiction. Recovery benefits all of us. We owe an enormous amount of support and gratitude to the Oake family for trying to make a positive legacy from their highly personal loss. They deserve all the grace that we can share. For someone in a leadership position to be against this is almost incomprehensible to me.
I definitely do not want that person at the end of the phone when I am calling to complain that my lane has not had its snow cleared. That person took their one chance to be a positive cheerleader for progress and chose to not pick up the pom poms. I will chose to vote for his opponent.
I remember voting in the last election. I remember because I struggled with who to vote for as Mayor. I don't remember who I voted for to represent my Ward in Council. I don't remember if I voted in previous elections.
I don't remember because it is of little consequence to me. The City actually runs itself and about 85% of the city's budget is already committed to contractual obligations. There is actually very little discretionary money that the Mayor and City Councillors can use to advance their personal agenda. The job of the Mayor and Councillors are really to provide oversight and to be chief cheerleaders of our city.
Things happen in all city's that are beyond the control of anyone. In Winnipeg, the thing that happens is snow. When it snows, the snow needs to be cleared regardless of who the Mayor is. It is a safety issue and also the city can not function unless people are able to safely get to and from work. There are some years when the snow is minimal. During those years, the Mayor and Councillors look like geniuses. They have a surplus to apply toward deficits, carry forward to next year's budget, or expand services. Then, we have years where it snows a lot and in a short period of time. The snow needs to cleared so that our roads and sidewalks are passable. That costs a lot of money. It can be a 24 hour operation. When there is such a big dump of snow, the major arteries will be cleared first and side streets will be less of a priority. This protocol will happen regardless of who is Mayor and Council. In cases of prolonged dumping of snow, there have been occasions where residential streets have not been cleared for three days. This is frustrating for people living in residential streets. That is when they often look up the contact information for their Councilor. They use the Councilor as a vehicle to share their frustration. They feel better that they are doing something. The Councilor will say that they will pass the information along and to be patient. This will occur regardless of who is the City Councilor. So, what we are really looking for in our City Councilors is someone who can be positive and reassuring in those calls.
Our current Mayor was on NBC for an extended period of time this year during prime time. What an amazing opportunity to showcase his skills as Cheerleader in Chief for our city. He did this well, but, ironically, it was the citizens of the city that got him that exposure. Our Jets made the Conference Final. That was exciting but was more exciting were our White Out Parties. That is what captured international attention. Anyone could have displayed their cheerleading skills and do well.
In my Ward, I am faced with the decision of how to vote for between two incumbents. This occurs because of re-alignment. It is an easy choice.
One of the Councilors was against the Bruce Oake Recovery Center. He said he was representing his constituents who were against the Recovery Center as they felt it would affect their property values. That Not in My Backyard sentiment is so circa 1970. It is so regressive and just feels so yucky. Who would be such a coward and not support an addiction recovery center. Addiction is a huge problem in our society and affects people from all demographics. The positive energy and results from treatment is something that affects all of us from ripple affects. It is estimated that 1 out of 10 people suffer from addiction. Each of those people significantly affect 4 other lives, be it their spouses, children, friends, colleagues, or relatives. So really, 5 out of 10 (or 1 out of 2) people are significantly impacts by addiction. Recovery benefits all of us. We owe an enormous amount of support and gratitude to the Oake family for trying to make a positive legacy from their highly personal loss. They deserve all the grace that we can share. For someone in a leadership position to be against this is almost incomprehensible to me.
I definitely do not want that person at the end of the phone when I am calling to complain that my lane has not had its snow cleared. That person took their one chance to be a positive cheerleader for progress and chose to not pick up the pom poms. I will chose to vote for his opponent.
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