Skip to content

Original Content

This article is a re-write of Michael's original content. To view original content, please visit the following:

May 8Th City Hall News

May 8th City Hall News

Posted by Michael Janz on May 8, 2024

EVENTS

  • Monday May 13th – Summer streets opening party!
  • Wednesday May 15th – Minding the Gap: Police Accountability in Alberta
  • Saturday May 25th – Harbinger showcase and live podcast recording
  • Youth Council Recruitment!

NEWS

  • We Won! Protecting the public interest – public funds for public buildings
  • Ending Pay to play and bill 20: Halt big corporate money taking over City hall!
  • Naming Rights: What’s in a name? Stop the corporate rebrand of public facilities
  • The High Cost of Free Street Parking

alt text

EVENT: MONDAY MAY 13th – Summer Streets Opening Ceremony and Celebration! (Saskatchewan Drive and 106st Lookout)

A guided ride presented by Paths for People, Councillor Michael Janz and Peace Avenue Bike Club

Join us to celebrate the return of the Summer Streets program for the 2024 year! We’re looking forward to celebrating their return, and demonstrating to the City how crucial these routes are on a year-round basis.

We’re hosting a free guided ride across all 3 routes, complete with ice cream and a ribbon cutting! This ride is designed to be suitable for all ages and abilities, and will take approximately 60–75 minutes across 13 km.

Please RSVP for this free event so we can get a sense of numbers.
https://pathsforpeople.org/events/summer-streets-celebration/

EVENT: Minding the Gap – Strengthening Collaboration towards Police Accountability and Legitimacy for Victims

Join JHC and community partners on May 15th for a screening of the documentary Safer For All, followed by a collaborative discussion and community networking session on police accountability!

alt text

EVENT: Harbinger Media Network Live Podcast and Showcase

We need strong independent media now more than ever!

You are invited to a special Edmonton Edition of the Harbinger Media Network Showcase. Harbinger host Andre Goulet is visiting from Toronto and a special live show and podcast will be pulled together with special guests including:

  • Abdul Malik
  • Emma Jackson
  • Jeremy Appel

Book signing of Kenneyism.

CITY OF EDMONTON YOUTH COUNCIL RECRUITMENT

Recruitment for the City of Edmonton Youth Council (CEYC) for the 2024–26 term is now underway. The campaign is open until June 9, 2024.

Empowering young people to make a difference benefits everyone. CEYC was created to educate and empower youth to provide meaningful input to City Council and take action on local issues.

Ideal candidates are youth aged 13–23 who:

  • Are motivated and passionate about volunteering and community development
  • Have leadership and diverse life experience
  • Play an active role in making a positive difference locally
  • Are curious, willing to learn, team-oriented, and provide constructive feedback

More information: edmonton.ca/Boards

NEWS

WE WON! Protecting the public interest – public funds for public buildings

One of the most important principles of politics for me is to protect the public interest—making sure public money maximizes public benefit. As Peter Lougheed said, “We must think like owners.” I never want to see a dollar spent to subsidize industry for something they would do anyway.

For decades the commercial real-estate industry has made enormous profits. Since the construction of the downtown arena and new A-Class office towers, plus the pandemic and work-from-home shift, downtown markets have softened—similar to cities worldwide.

Office conversions can be good, but who should pay?
Naturally, owners and their lobbyists asked the City for a subsidy—upwards of $70 million—to convert offices to condos. Socialize the risk, privatize the profits.

Thankfully, after a year of discussion, Council said NO. Just weeks later, an office building began renovation without public subsidy. They proceeded because it made financial sense; a handout wasn’t necessary.

This should remind us that any request for public dollars must be rigorously examined, and lobbyists seeking subsidies should be viewed skeptically.

There is a boom-and-bust cycle in many industries; risk is part of business. Government’s role is responsible stewardship while remaining flexible for innovation (e.g., enabling big-box stores to become housing: youtu.be/HtuOKLI9ef8). Spending without an equity stake or financial return is not responsible.

Ending Pay-to-Play and Bill 20: Halt big corporate money taking over City Hall!

Bill 20 (municipal political parties, removing councillors, reintroducing corporate cash) has been widely panned as authoritarian and an attack on free speech.

I created a letter tool: michaeljanz.ca/peoplenotparties – please send the Premier a message.

My biggest concern is the re-introduction of big corporate money into municipal elections. Ten numbered companies could bankroll 12 council campaigns. Where is transparency and accountability? Who is asking for this?

I was proud to accept zero developer donations in my campaign. We need more public oversight, less corporate capture. Politicians should serve the democratic interests of the people, not deep-pocketed companies seeking influence.

TAKE ACTION: Send a message via michaeljanz.ca/peoplenotparties

Learn More:

Naming Rights: What’s in a name? Stop the corporate rebrand of public facilities

The sin is not only selling your soul, but setting the price too low.

Next week a proposal will seek to sell naming rights to another city amenity. My objection: it dilutes the message of who actually paid for the facility. I’ll ask whether the sale price exceeds 1% of construction costs; if not, I won’t support it.

These are our public amenities, paid for with our taxes, owned and operated for the public good—not because of a corporate donation.

Do you remember who paid for Lindsay Park Recreation Centre or the Talisman Centre in Calgary? Probably not, but you may assume a corporation did. Rogers Place wasn’t built by Rogers; Rexall Centre wasn’t paid for by Rexall; Terwillegar Recreation Centre was built and paid for by Edmonton taxpayers.

This is part of a broader, corrosive trend where corporate interests undermine democracy. When this arose earlier, I told CityNews:

“When we sell off naming rights to corporations… it kind of cheapens not just the asset, but it kind of cheapens ourselves as a community… It’s a slippery slope that I’m really not OK with.”
— CityNews, Sept 13 2022

I strongly recommend reading “Winner Take All” by Anand Giridharadas, which explains how the rich avoid taxes yet shape the world through philanthropy, undermining democracy.

Interviews:

“Which rich person or company has done more for the elderly in the United States than Social Security?”
“…more for health care for the poor than Medicaid?”
“…more for women than the right to vote?”
“…more for African Americans than the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act?”

Take Action: If you agree, email [email protected] and share your thoughts.