CALGARY- With less than two weeks to go until the municipal election, a non-profit is protesting developer influence at city hall.
The Arusha Centre for Sustainability and Social Justice paraded out a wheelbarrow full of ‘Developer Dollars’ to demonstrate what taxpayers have to pay for unsustainable development in Calgary’s outskirts.
The group is also trying to raise awareness about an exclusive Global News video of Shane Homes founder Cal Wenzel, urging other builders to support certain candidates in hopes of influencing city policy.
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“You see the video and see the tone taken the arrogance on display there, that’s not the kind of city we want to live in and it’s not a development model that Calgarians want or need,” says Gerald Wheatley from the Arusha Centre. “Calgarians need to be aware that there are people trying to buy city hall all the time, and they might not be buying it for your benefit, they might be buying it for their benefit.”
Meantime, the Manning Foundation has released a new report on managing the costs of growth, saying that Mayor Nenshi’s call to charge $4,800 for every new home is valid, as long as inner-city developments also pay.
The report also calls for a change in property taxes, saying more should be charged in communities that need extra services like roads, transit and recreational areas.
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