101 replies to this topic

[rjag]

Looks like the Dean Team got wind of this poll....

[VicHockeyFan]

Looks like the Dean Team got wind of this poll....

Yup, and nothing wrong with that I guess.

[martini]

Looks like the Dean Team got wind of this poll....

Yeah that was as subtle as a jackhammer.

[rjag]

Yeah that was as subtle as a jackhammer.

just stating a fact....you know, the thing that resembles the truth!!! The prior poll was not open and was therefore was perhaps more representative of the folks that frequent this site....

[martini]

just stating a fact....you know, the thing that resembles the truth!!! The prior poll was not open and was therefore was perhaps more representative of the folks that frequent this site....

Sorry, my comment was not directed at you for pointing out the massive influx of votes.
I meant it towards how 'obvious' what occurred in the sudden change.

[Nparker]

All I can say is if Victoria voters return the majority of the incumbants to office after the past 3 years, then they deserve every bit of bad government they are guaranteed to get.

[rjag]

All I can say is if Victoria voters return the majority of the incumbants to office after the past 3 years, then they deserve every bit of bad government they are guaranteed to get.

Its a government town after all....I wonder if there are stats that show the % of Victoria residents who are public sector employees from all levels compared to say Saanich.

Sorry, my comment was not directed at you for pointing out the massive influx of votes.
I meant it towards how 'obvious' what occurred in the sudden change.

No probs, funny how what we think and what we type can be so easily misconstrued!!!

[Mike K.]

As of 8:50AM Monday Morning, VV's poll suggests the following candidates have the majority of support:

Mayor
- BROWN

Council (in order of votes [newcomers in bold])
- MADOFF
- ALTO
- LUTON
- YOUNG
- HUNTER
- KIMPTON
- HELPS
- THORNTON-JOE

[Barrett r Blackwood]

Wow imagine that , Kimpton and Helps shoulder to shoulder on city council. I would love to see that. I feel a balance is needed , and there it is. I think you need people with real business experience like Robin on council as well as........

[Hotel Mike]

This demise of the bridge was promoted by most of the incumbent council. Perhaps an almalgamated region would have voted differently one year ago during the bridge referendum.

I have to keep reminding you about this Bingo. The rail crossing was part of the original plan. You and all the others went out to collect signatures to demand a referendum. Congratulations. The rail was lost in the delay. The delay cost the city millions of dollars! And in the end, the citizenry approved a higher borrowing number than would have been the case in the first place.

[martini]

I have to keep reminding you about this Bingo. The rail crossing was part of the original plan. You and all the others went out to collect signatures to demand a referendum. Congratulations. The rail was lost in the delay. The delay cost the city millions of dollars! And in the end, the citizenry approved a higher borrowing number than would have been the case in the first place.

What about what the city hid from us?
What do you have to say about that?
http://johnsonstreetbridge.org/?p=2066

[VicHockeyFan]

I have to keep reminding you about this Bingo. The rail crossing was part of the original plan. You and all the others went out to collect signatures to demand a referendum. Congratulations. The rail was lost in the delay. The delay cost the city millions of dollars! And in the end, the citizenry approved a higher borrowing number than would have been the case in the first place.

HA! Please point out how the delay cost millions. If you haven't noticed, there is no inflation right now, and labour and steel costs are down. The delay might have saved millions.

[Nparker]

As if on cue, I received in the mail today a shiny pamphlet and a letter from the BCGEU informing me of the candidates in the capital region whom they endorse. Needless to say, I now know exactly for whom I will not be voting. NO ONE tells me how to cast my ballot.

[Bob Fugger]

As if on cue, I received in the mail today a shiny pamphlet and a letter from the BCGEU informing me of the candidates in the capital region whom they endorse. Needless to say, I now know exactly for whom I will not be voting. NO ONE tells me how to cast my ballot.

I got an email from COPE for exactly the same thing. Channeling you, I emailed them back and told them thank you for telling me who not to vote for.

Incidentally, I wonder if I ran for office in three years if I would get an automatic endorsement from COPE, given that I have been paying dues to them for several years. Methinks otherwise.

[martini]

As if on cue, I received in the mail today a shiny pamphlet and a letter from the BCGEU informing me of the candidates in the capital region whom they endorse. Needless to say, I now know exactly for whom I will not be voting. NO ONE tells me how to cast my ballot.

I haven't got one from my union...yet.

This is one thing that angers me. It makes a mockery of our democratic system.

So we are simply to have blind loyalty?!
So it doesn't matter how incompetent or what experience a candidate has?

So the NDP machine runs Victoria at any cost?

Ugh!

[Jacques Cadé]

Open Victoria has posted the 2008 campaign finance statements of all the incumbents: http://openvictoria....ances-revealed/

[Mike K.]

According to OV, three unions donated $18,000 to Dean Fortin's 2008 campaign.

So folks are not just being told who to vote for by their unions, the unions are putting serious money behind their favoured candidates.

[Baro]

I'm a life-long NDP voter and the type who thinks they're not socialist enough. I'm a car-hating transit and bike loving enviro-nazi. Yet I think this is the worst city-hall we've had in my lifetime. Not just mayor and council, but the entire city hall, from planning to engineering to the mayor.

I'd never vote for Dean or his "dean team". He is a dim and dishonest opportunist who's simply latched onto the most popular party in town. He either cares nothing of the vague "left" ideology he's supposedly attached him self to, or is hopelessly useless at perusing this ideology (I can't honestly tell at this point, probably a combo of both).

I don't care what ideology or political party he's hitched his wagon to, he's dishonest and slimy yet frustratingly dim. He's done absolutely nothing for the city except bleed money and massively expand city staff who continue to prove they don't know what they are doing. Other than spend a fortune of tax money on factually incorrect propaganda to support his bridge replacement obsession I can't think of anything he's really done. I guess there's that lovely new sidewalk he made?

What has he actually done to address homelessness? Actually done, not spent money planning on how to talk about a plan. I follow city politics fairly closely and other than lip service what has he done?

What has he done about housing affordability? Killed a few rental projects. During last election I specifically asked him if he supported In-fill apartments in James Bay parking lots, he gave a big supportive answer and then after elected the city killed a project I was working on as a 4 story apartment next to 4 story apartments was too tall. Planning continues to reject even the most modest proposals and the mayor does nothing. Where is the bold housing plan? Where is the bold re-zoning? The developer incentives? All I see is more red tape, more support for nimbyism and the home-owning elite.

What has he done about the local economy? Obviously we can't hold the mayor responsible for the national or global economy, but what has he done to even try to bring or at least keep jobs in victoria? All I get from him is a slight disdain for the entire private sector, as if supporting it in any way would sully his lefty image. Business downtown is in bad shape, small business owned by struggling locals and he's done nothing for them or downtown.

What has he done for the environment? Has he worked with the region and BC transit to improve our transit system and lessen our reliance on cars? Has he improved bike infrastructure where its best needed? Has he embraced the concepts of "eco-density" and realised that the densest communities have the smallest ecological footprint? Nope, just more anti-development anti-everything actions while paying lip service when needed to density. He supports it as a concept but never in practise. Density is good, but never where a project is proposed of course.

What has he done for the city's finances? He wants to go into record debt on a infrastructure project that has been proven to not be needed while ignoring the needed infrastructure work. At the same time rambling on about a light rail system he knows we can't ever afford but throws millions at it for study? We have rec centres needing replacement, a crumbling water system, fire-stations ready to fall down in a small earthquake, and he's wanting to blow all our debt on a bridge based on misinformation and ego??

And don't even get me started on "his" councillors...

This isn't about ideology or even specific policies, it's about respect and professionalism. The "dean team" has none. I don't know much about Brown, but he seems open and honest. Even if we might not be ideological bosom buddies I believe we'll have a far more honest and transparent government.

I hope more people look beyond their tribal political party loyalties and really investigate the candidates before voting blindly or with their reptile brain.

[Barrett r Blackwood]

WOW Baro , well said , I could not agree more , when I read this its like I am the one saying it.

[Bingo]

The rail crossing was part of the original plan. You and all the others went out to collect signatures to demand a referendum. Congratulations. The rail was lost in the delay.

Well Mike, if the city had gone to a referendum right from the get-go the whole thing might have been settled a lot sooner. In case you haven't noticed, voters are are tired of the behind closed doors decisions with how their taxes are spent. The success in forcing the bridge and HST referendums are examples of democracy in action.