Getting citizens to ‘Ask me Anything’
I did my first ever Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) last night. It was an interesting experience – I enjoy answering questions directly from citizens, and the Edmonton Reddit community didn’t disappoint. The group asked a lot of questions, some policy oriented and some were pretty funny. With a packed schedule, I could only stick around for about an hour and half, but I could have easily stayed for a couple more hours. If I’m successful on October 21, I’ll look into doing more of these every so often. I think it would keep me on my toes.
Here are some highlights from last night:
Animexcom asked…
Hey Don – Your opponents recently highlighted high cost of your platform and your inexperience – what would you say to us voters about the cost of your platform and your ability to be a competent Mayor of Edmonton?
My response: Honestly, I’m not really sure where this ‘high cost’ idea comes from. It’s been important to me that any concrete new spending I proposed in this election was balanced by a formalized savings program, something I call “Council’s 2%”, which will ask administration to focus on finding at least 2% of their budget through technological innovation and efficiencies. I have no interest in unnecessarily going into the pockets of Edmontonians to pay for new programs. A major value for me as mayor will be looking to whether we can find savings within our operations first. By being creative and implementing some relatively simple technological solutions, our city has been able to find these savings relatively easily.
Regarding experience, I have the most relevant pre-requisite which is being a City Councillor. What’s more, I was an active Councillor leading multiple intiatives from the City of Learners to Environment to Youth and Next Gen Engagement, while also taking leadership on committees at the City and in the region.
Perhaps more important than my employment experience is that within one degree I am in touch with the experience of many Edmontonians, from my kids getting ready for school, to my aging parents, my in-laws immigrant experience, and my friends who are buying their first homes, starting their families and building their careers or their businesses.
Cassians asked…
What do you think about the bike lanes that were so eloquently placed in the neighbourhoods in the south of the city? Do you think they were overkill or could have been better researched?
My response: Our aim should be more transportation choices in Edmonton, not less, and peaceful coexistence among all transportation system users. I do think the city erred in putting bike lanes in where they did, and would focus instead for the coming years on high-use areas like Downtown/Oliver and Garneau/Strathcona, and main routes in and out of these areas, where demand is highest.
JungatHeart asked…
Hey I saw in The Sun that you’re looking at user fees to lower property taxes? With what fees? How do you ACTUALLY do that?
My response: I did talk bout user fees at the Sun Editorial Board meeting – and my example was our utility fees, specifically our drainage fees which are complex but equitable. As chair of Council’s Utility Committee I worked to make our rates fair, and to reduce cross-subsidization of high-impact users by low-impact users. Again, this is all about fairness. Thanks to Utility Fiscal Policy reform work I led, now in Edmonton the costs of the drainage and waste system are paid by users only. In other Canadian cities the cost of city utilities is subsidized in property taxes, so business often pays to subsidize the residential users of these services. That’s fair for roads, where employers benefit from their staff being able to get to work safely, and move goods through our city, but less so for drainage. So I gave an example of how user fees can be fairer than property tax. I wasn’t specifically calling for any user fees, just pointing to an example of how we’ve made them fair – [an] example, by the way, that other Canadian cities are looking at.
RutigerMetsin asked…
Hey Don,
I got a couple quick questions for you. Answer as many or as few as you like.
-
What is your view of the City’s role in the arts community/what do you have planned to build Edmonton’s arts community?
-
What would you like seen done with the Rossdale Power Plant?
-
Would you ever consider making Whyte Ave an only local business area?
-
Would you ever consider the idea of making Whyte Ave a pedestrian street for a night?
-
Do you vision any more expansion for the River Valley trail system?
-
How are you planning on making Edmonton a more winter friendly city?
-
What’s your favourite local band?
-
What’s your top 5 favourite albums?
My response:
- Arts: strong support – see doniveson.ca/arts
- Rossdale p-plant: preserve until we figure out what to do – doniveson.ca/rossdale
- Whyte Ave protectionism: doubt this would be feasible or stand up to legal challenge, but limits on the size of store footprints in the zoning does help protect against big boxes.
- Whyte Ave pedestrian street: this happens a few times in the summer, usually on weekends. Doing it into an evening is an interesting suggestion to take to the Old Strathcona Biz Assoc. Perhaps a Fringe street party?
- River Valley trail expansion: Yes, this will happen – in accordance with the River Valley Alliance ‘Ribbon of Green’ plan, which I support.
- Favorite Local Band: Colleen Brown – even been in a video with her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnfSpHtXtE0
- 5 favorite albums:
- Beastie Boys: Ill Communication
- Rolling Stones: Get Your Ya Yas Out
- Dexter Gordon: Our Man in Paris
- Rudimental: Home
- The Dark Knight Soundtrack
Check out the whole AMA on the Edmonton subreddit.
14 thoughts on “Getting citizens to ‘Ask me Anything’”
Comments are closed.
Thank you for taking advantage of commonplace social media for the sake of transparency! Please keep it up.
What is your position on following the Calgary example and stopping fluoridation of Edmonton’s water?
Hi Don,
How important do you see Edmontonians in need of at least 3 more LRT lines?
Thank you.
Hello Don,
What are your plans with regards to further developing and sustaining the City of Edmonton’s relationship with Aboriginal people? With the City of Edmonton having the 2nd largest urban Aboriginal population in Canada, what will you do (as Mayor) to raise the bar for Aboriginal relations?
Hi Don
If you become mayor, how would you manage the city’s economy and budget in the face of an economic disaster (e.g. Recession, Terrible stock market crash, etc. )? How would you deal with rising costs of transit and living space, and managing programs that City of Edmonton provides without putting a strain on the wallets of Edmontonians?
Rudimental. Legit, Don. I wish I was still an Edmontonian to support a candidate who is aware of events/music/communication methods that have evolved since the 1980s. Best of luck on Monday!
i was wondering why you did not answer any winter questions that were asked on AMA.
what are your plans for snow removal, pot holes and making this a more winter friendly city?
Hi Don:
I haven’t seen or heard this question asked anywhere of any candidate.
A concern I have is in regards to the rich agricultural farmland in NE Edmonton being gobbled up by wealthy developers. This is some of the best farmland in the country. What would you do to reverse this trend ?
Don, senator Hugh Segal is proposing a guaranteed income initiative to combat poverty. This was once tried in a Canadian city for a short while shortly after the war, I believe. It had quite an effect reducing the demand for health care by working low income families. The experiment did not continue long enough to provide conclusive proof of results. Of course the public was not really supportive and need was high. Be brave, look into it please.
what do you think is the most important thing to change in our city and why?
Hi Don:
This is just a quck note to say a huge “Thank You” for your decision to run for Mayor of Edmonton. We stand in admiration, and deep appreciation, of anyone who makes the personal sacrifice to represent citizens in this very important role.
We particularly want to say a very special “Thank You “for the dignity and professional manner in which you have carried yourself throughout this very long campaign. In the debates and media interviews, you have continually and consistently maintained your genuine professionalism. Your refusal to delve into personal issues or attacks have been an example for all. The many young people who have so willingly worked on your campaign no doubt will long remember the dignity and composure you have exhibited throughout. You have set the bar very, very high.
We have been privileged to have you as our representative in Council for the past few years and eagerly look forward to sharing that unique privilege with all the citizens of the City of Edmonton.
Wishing you and your Team all the very best on Monday!
Sincerely,
Verna & Jack Milligan
Don,
Hi! Linda Sloan during her term on Council was suppose to be the co-coordinator for a senior’s project as delegated by Mayor Mandel.
I believe 2-years have past without the public especially seniors getting any update information on this new project.
Is there any way to get seniors to become more participatory in any of these larger projects? I hate to see this project killed just because Councillor Linda Sloan will not be coming back to work on this project for the benefit of seniors in Edmonton.
Please advise.
Thanks!
P.S. Good Luck tomorrow when the people get a chance to exercise their franchise vote.
Joe Wasylyk
I am thankful to hear that you are not favouring user fees over taxes as I think they are often unfair. Everyone pays taxes for the swimming pools and other city facilities, then have to pay to enter them. The poor can get a free pass, the rich can afford it, but the middle class often can’t afford to go even though they pay for it with their taxes.
We live in the far west end and appreciate the fact that the bike lanes did extend as far as they did. Our family wishes we could undertake bike commutes more often but living in central areas in Edmonton is often not an affordable or workable alternative for many working families.
If there is to be an initiative which begins solely with the city centre, why not look at the introduction of “sign-out” bikes used in cities like Paris, where no one needs to own a bike any longer to “commute, not pollute?
Bike stations or dispensers would provide more families with affordable and eco-friendly means of commuting. At the same time, they would increase access to a greater range of shelter/housing and employment options for the underprivileged (who would also be more able to take advantage of the free library access initiative). Citizens wishing to help those who are less fortunate could purchase and donate bike credits as they might purchase bus transfers.
At the end of the day, we would all have a better shot at enhanced health and wellness as a city overall, while accessing more of the city’s key areas and services than we can now. A trial project could begin in central Edmonton, and perhaps Whyte Avenue and the University area. And then one day, perhaps it could extend a little further outward, to areas like our own.
Thank you.