June 9 Edmonton Headlines
I knew I shouldn't have trusted you to watch my stereo.
It’s a nice little Thursday in Edmonton, with just enough stories to entice and engage, but not so many to be a frighteningly long list. So, let’s do this.
Canada Post is scaling back mail delivery. I hope you got all those books from Amazon already.
Contractors, the construction crews that work on roads, are among those scratching their heads at the Mayor’s idea to halt major road work in Edmonton for three or so years. This spin-off story to the Mayor’s proposal has me thinking about three years of only minor road work and pothole repairs. What if Edmonton comes out of the three-year moratorium to find a lot of big crews are booked on other projects? That could increase the cost the City pays in labour – you know, supply and demand and all that.
Edmonton rents are the fifth highest in the country, according to an annual survey of two-bedroom apartment rates.
If parents of Edmonton’s Catholic students say their schools need casino money badly, that’s a problem tied into Alberta education funding. The parents may be in a fight with the Edmonton Catholic School District (and their faith?) over the use of gambling money to support their kids’ education.
Speaking of Catholic Schools…all the fun of closing schools shouldn’t be left to the public board…
All this talk of downtown arenas, we sometimes forget there’s a major project proposed for east Jasper.
There are 18 kilmometres of new bike lanes and routes going in this summer. It’s still going to be a scary ride for some cyclists though.
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The Alberta New Democrats want the RCMP to look into allegations of healthcare line jumping.
The New Mexico “Amigos” were in Alberta looking at potential energy partnerships. Maybe they can teach our government a thing or two about saving royalties “…meant for the future generation.”
A massive forest fire continues to burn north of Fort McMurray. It’s one of the largest in Alberta’s history.
The headline of this story (Dancing pits Fort Sask., Alta. pastor vs. saloon led me to believe it was going to be a very “Footloose” kind of story. At least it’s got half-naked people.
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Once Lowe’s opens in Edmonton you can finally start building me a new deck.
Not more snow! Headlines
Just take the bus until the snow melts.
It’s cold and we’re expecting a little more snow. Now THIS is winter in Edmonton.
Don’t forget to check the Long John Index. Yes, we should be wearing a pair today. And yes, there are plows out there.
The snowstorm didn’t stop the Deep Freeze festival (makes sense, with a name like that). Winter Light will continue in Edmonton, with other outdoor events like the Silver Skate at Hawrelak Park and Ice on Whyte.
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The Edmonton Journal has taken a look at school attendance. More specifically, attendance of schools by students who live in the school’s neighbourhoods. The local aspect may play a role in keeping schools open. There’s a map here that indicates which schools have higher numbers of students who could walk to school.
An Edmonton police officer is on desk duty after allegations of an assault on a prisoner in police cells.
Last week we were talking about a couple of local businesses that were closing in West Edmonton Mall. Today we’ve got the Gap closing in City Centre Mall.
You can start tossing your Christmas trees today. Interestingly, we just took down our fake tree.
Outside of Edmonton… (more…)
electioneering with the edmontonian: kicking in doors
I figured, if I was going to write something about campaign
Janz, Janz, he's our man.
door-knocking, I should do some campaign door-knocking.
I convinced Ward F trustee candidate Michael Janz (a product of fine, public schools no matter what his opponent says) that I would be a worthwhile addition to his street team this past weekend.
Campaigning on Thanksgiving weekend? I guess there’s always time for turkey once the votes are counted.
If you’ve never been door-knocking with a candidate, let me tell you how it went down.
October 13 Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton.
As the election heads into the final days we’re starting to see some candidates go after their opponents, as ideas and platforms fall flat, and anything to get a name out there (in a good, and sometimes bad, way) comes out in the final, desperate days.
If we thought that Envision Edmonton throwing money, and support, around this election (don’t forget the ads) was going to to be the most out of the ordinary campaign tactics, we were wrong.
(You know, I haven’t been watching TV, so I’ve missed the commercials, and I could almost believe Envision Edmonton had gone away…)
Somebody created a fake blog to try and stir up the airport debate. I bet the Seattle Times will have something to say about that.
And over in the Ward F school board trustee race, it appears issues are being pushed aside by candidate Bev Sawyer, as the campaign becomes old. vs new. Old vs. New ideas. Old (Sawyer) vs. New in age (in younger candidate Michael Janz). Read Daveberta’s take on the Ward F schmozzle, and overall Edmonton Public School Board battle.
Maybe in a race, like Ward F, where there is no incumbent it just feels like the stakes are that much higher. Because, if there is an incumbent, the sitting candidate tends to win.
In other election goings-on…the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is right to call for immediate release of campaign contributions. In this electronic age it’s simple. And it would go a long, long way toward transparency from the candidates.
Let’s see…taxes…democracy…what’s on page 2 of the classic right-of-centre candidate’s election handbook? Ah, yes. More police.
The Our Power group is hoping people vote against those who sold off part of EPCOR behind closed doors, or those that don’t challenge that deal. That decision came up at the Ward 10 debate, last night.
We may get a plebiscite. If some candidates get in, and the question of the downtown arena finally comes around.
Really?!
And there’s more! (more…)
Ghost Mayors …on taxes, spending…and fighting
A historical satire by actors who did very little research, from the EdmontonPolitics.com team.
You can’t keep a good mayor down. And if you’ve got a handful of former Edmonton mayors they are going to have opinions on just what we should be doing with our taxes, city spending, and schools. Even if they have no idea how things work in 2010.
The debate could get heated. It might even spark a new run for the mayor’s office.
In this forum:
Mayor Joseph Clarke – Fightin’ Joe. Mayor, councillor, constant candidate, brawler.
Mayor David Duggan – Pro-business and pro-radio. Also Alberta Conservative leader.
Mayor Matthew (Mat) “Warden” McCauley – Edmonton’s first mayor
Find out who’s going to run for mayor, again, after the jump. (more…)
OCtober 5 Edmonton Headlines
Good Tuesday morning, Edmonton.
If you don't stop to play in leaves on the way to work, at least once, you are missing out.
My alternative headline for this morning’s Headlines was “1001 Headlines,” in reference to our 1000th post.
But I thought my typo, with the capital C, set me up for an OC joke and I left it in.
Now…if only I knew something about the OC to make a joke about. All I know is that the show had Peter Gallagher and a kick-ass theme.
Should have gone with 1001.
Hey, you don’t have to wait until October 18, you can vote now!
It looks like Envision Edmonton is nowhere near done. They launched a petition a year late, it failed. They’ve launched an election advertising campaign. Now they’re taking the City of Edmonton to court over the petition to keep the City Centre Airport open. Correct me if I’m wrong, but just because you demand a vote doesn’t mean you get it. Do you think they’ll drag their dead horse to court and smack it around in front of the judge?
Over at the Sun, Andrew Hanon says we will get a plebiscite on the airport.
The Mayor, Stephen Mandel, thinks tax hikes will be more reasonable in coming years. The thing I find most interesting in that story is that the Sun doesn’t go to Dave Dorward for a reaction, but Daryl Bonar. Normally news outlets try to balance stories with the most obvious opponent or critic.
Maybe it’s because Dorward was busy talking about teaching taxi drivers where the best parks are, and when the High Level Bridge was built. He could have also been busy thinking about re-doing all of our LRT plans. What the what?
When you think about, however, it starts to make sense. Dorward wants better taxi drivers because his Edmonton doesn’t have more LRT, so people without cars will need more cabs. He’s crafty.
Ward 7 candidate Brendan Van Alstine is putting his transit money where his mouth is, vowing to donate half of his car allowance to “Donate-a-Ride.” On the topic of transit…I’m hoping this talk of late-night bus service, and better connections between downtown and Whyte Avenue, come to fruition after the election.
And Ward 4 folks don’t like their crumbling roads and sidewalks, and made that known at the candidate’s forum.
There’s some interesting stuff happening outside of the election too… (more…)
A rollicking weekend
You’re in for one of those, Edmonton. And the weather is even
I guess we know which one of us will be watching movies for free.
supposed to be nice. So let’s all remember to take advantage of that.
The Edmonton International Film Festival is underway tonight. There’s an opening night movie and gala, then it’s a week+ of movies, movies, and more movies.
The Old Strathcona Foundation is hosting A Taste of Old Strathcona, tonight at the Arts Barns. It will be food and a silent auction, all the with flair of Edmonton’s funnest neighbourhood.
Speaking of the Old Strathcona neighbourhood…Edmonton Chante is back for another year of the city’s best French music. The shows are free. Free I tells 
ya!
Speaking of music…Falklands is, of course, playing New City. It’s the first show of their national tour. We think they’re great.
The ARTery continues its fundraising Happy Hour Fridays. This month’s charity is Room to Read. Plus, there are rumours of a new nacho treat.
Danny Michel is playing the Arden Theatre. He’s also great. And he’s following up his show tonight with a songwriter’s session with U22.
Chopin 2010 begins this weekend. It’s months of music and events to celebrate the 200th birthday of Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin. (You probably recognize some of his work.)
Speaking of classical music (more…)
Engage
One upside to all of these election shenanigans is that our “Citizen Info” category (down at the bottom of our homepage) is getting quite the workout.
It’s probably going to remain that way for the next month or so. Oh well, you’re just going to have to come back here more often than usual to keep up-to-date.
Tonight there are two big options for some citizen engagement.
You can head to the Ward 7 candidate’s forum or a sector review workshop with the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB).
Ward 7 is one to watch too. That’s where Tony Caterina (#TonCat) is running for re-election. He’s up against Brendan Van Alstine, who’s been campaigning since last year, and Scott McKeen, the Edmonton Journal City Hall columnist.
The forum is at St. Bernadette Elementary School (11917 40 Street), and runs 7-9pm.
But…
As mentioned earlier, you can watch from the comfort of your home because the City of Edmonton is livestreaming all of their forums.
The “sector review workshop” is about school closures. Hey, I’m not going to let the EPSB sugarcoat this. And they are:
Come to a “hands-on” workshop where you will review the input to date along with the facts and data and propose options on how to move forward in ways that address these issues. You can work through the details in a group or on your own, and EPSB representatives will be on hand to answer questions.
Was that written by Vaguey McVaguerson?
Anyway…get out to one of their workshops in the next few weeks if you want to talk about how to keep neighbourhood schools open, and maximize use of resources.
Tonight’s workshop runs 4-9pm and you can drop in at anytime. It’s at Queen Elizabeth School, in the cafeteria (9425 132 Avenue).
It kind of stinks the school board would plop the workshops in the middle of the freakin’ election, but that just means you’ll have to double-up. And elect some public school trustees who don’t just see a giant “Close it” button in front of them.
June 29 Edmonton Headlines
Out for a walk yesterday afternoon I came across a nice, colourful, patch of the river valley.
Aren’t these mornings just fantastic?
I mean, it’s sunny, not too hot, just great weather. And a great way to start the day.
One bit of interesting news today on the Oilers/arena front, first from Sportsnet last night, has the Katz Group’s sports and entertainment holdings in talks to take over Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. Let’s hope this is just an expansion of the Katz sports empire and not a place they could threaten to move the team.
from the Edmonton Journal:
City speeds to find Indy promoter
Garlic mustard weed on the loose (This little plant could really F things up.)
Duckett comments out line, say lab techs, paramedics (We’re supposed to hear about the healthcare budget today.)
Forgotten aboriginal children will be honoured
Marauding young men can put quietest neighbourhood on edge
Alberta Liberals still mulling how to work with NDP (Mull! But seriously, it sounds like we might here something in the next month or so.)
Alberta nearly out of space for its wild (One group bought a little spot.)
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta rejects claims it’s soft on workplace safety
from Metro Edmonton:
Lilith artists have ‘something to say’
from The Canadian Press:
Third man charged in murder of foreign worker
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Alberta sees increase in high school grads
Liebovici wants a tree planting day (Do you want in on that action?)
EPS appeals for publics help in old murder case (It’s a cold case from 2006.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Alberta police watchdog under investigation (Who will watch who watches the watchmen?)
from CTV Edmonton:
In Edmonton education, the Catholic School Board postpones budget and students are saying goodbye to schools being closed by the Edmonton Public School Board.
Edmonton’s police chief released from hospital
from Global Edmonton:
Anthony Henday construction is on schedule
from CityTV Edmonton:
It’s a Gold Medal/Military Extravaganza
Accused WCB Hostake-Taker on his own (He’ll be defending himself. Because that always works out well.) In other crime news, there’s going to be a psychological assessment of the man guilty of beating Edmonton bus driver Tom Bregg.
Now, while that Calgary Herald story about Alberta being soft on workplace safety was too important for a joke, I do want to joke that it appears the Herald is soft on reducing red eyes in pictures. Even my simple little Microsoft Office Picture Manager lets me eliminate those devil eyes. It’s fun too, because it gives you a little eye icon to place over the red.
An alternate solution for Edmonton school closures
Re: Edmonton schools face possible closure
From: A Better Edmonton
The City of Edmonton keeps growing and growing. Unlike many cities, there are no meaningful geographical limits to this expansion. Edmonton isn’t bordered by the ocean or mountains, just miles and miles of limitless, wide open spaces. This terrain makes growth easy. Just decide were you want to build something and build it! The only problem with this growth model is that it’s unsustainable.
While the population of Edmonton is increasing, it’s not increasing at such as rate as to justify the physical growth of the city. It’s much cheaper, easier and faster to build new than it is to work with what you’ve already got.
This creates a lot of expensive problems for the city. When there are new subdivisions built, there are certain things the city must provide. Things like utilities, paved roads, traffic lights, police, fire stations, public transit and schools. These things all cost money.
What happens to the old things that are no longer needed? Nothing, really. The city apparently just ignores them and hopes a solution will present itself. Instead of fixing old schools, they build new and allow old ones to fall into disrepair until they’re no longer good for much of anything. Law enforcement and fire/rescue are spread thinner and thinner so they can patrol and serve new neighbourhoods. New bus routes are added at the expense of existing routes. This type of municipal thinking and spending is harmful, lazy and expensive.
Since there’s no physical barrier that stops developers from building further and further away from the existing core, council should impose an artificial limit to the size to which the city can grow.
Does a developer want to build 60 new houses? The city should instruct said developer to find an existing piece of land in the city and redevelop it. There is already infrastructure at this location, there are already buses that service the area and police and fire departments are already in place. Oh, and there are already schools that can serve the new development. Even if the school is so decrepit that it could no longer serve as a place of learning, it would still be more cost effective to tear it down and start over than it would be to build a new structure in a new neighbourhood with new infrastructure.
