This story has gotten old, fast
Here we go again. You can shake your head along with the rest of us.
Patience is wearing thin. Everybody is sick of the water pipe story.
A month ago we heard about five hot spots on the city’s biggest water pipe needing emergency repair.
We already had a headline-grabbing rupture of the biggest water pipe of all. That was June 5.
Then the hot spots in mid-June and a state of local emergency and then a relaxing of indoor water restrictions and now talk of wire snaps on the pipe which may or may not be a big deal.
We will be told on Thursday if Calgarians are in deep doo-doo with maybe more hot spots on the pipe or outdoor water restrictions could be loosened up if things look good after the city jacks up the water flow through the pipe.
You might be able to use your sprinkler for an hour a week or use a hose with a spray nozzle.
This story has gotten old, fast.
By that time Gondek had already apologized on behalf of city hall for the lousy communication with Calgarians and promised to do a lot better.
On Monday, the mayor is talking about communication with citizens. Again.
The mayor says she’s met with people at community events.
Gondek tells us they were “grateful” she plainly explained what happened.
But then … says Gondek … with the mighty heat wave there was concern.
She heard emotion in people’s voices. Frustration. Why was it taking so long to lift restrictions? When could you use a hose to water your garden or your lawn?
When could irrigation companies get back to regular service?
Gondek admits there has not been enough clear information or thorough enough information.
For loyal readers of this column this should come as no shocker.
Calgary city hall is nicknamed the Big Blue Playpen when they act as if the circus has come to town and they are the clowns.
City hall is also nicknamed the Cowtown Kremlin when something happens and they do not give us the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
They treat Calgarians as idiots who aren’t paying attention to city hall anyway, so it’s easy to get around the locals.
They might beak off every so often but they won’t push back against stupid moves or bad decisions.
This happens often and it happens often at the hands of those who preach about building community and listening to the people when they do the exact opposite.
So when they once again treat Calgarians like mushrooms, keeping them in the dark and feeding them crap it comes as no surprise.
Sonya Sharp is the councillor for Bowness, in the early days a community hard hit by the ruptured pipe and boiling its water.
We’re on Main Street Bowness this day.
“The summer is getting hotter and hotter.”
In more ways than one.
Do the city big shots even realize how badly this whole water pipe gong show looks on the city?
Do they realize people are pissed off?
“I think at this point they do realize it because members of council are being updated more than ever,” says Sharp.
“People are frustrated this ever happened. How did we even get here? We have money. We need to be spending money on critical infrastructure so these things don’t happen again.”
True dat.
And people were led to believe this water pipe story would be put to bed by now.
“Everyone was happy until they were not happy because they were sold a story that was misleading. Calgarians are not allowed to live their life normally and they are angry,” says Sharp.
The councillor says if there are more water pipe problems Thursday there may need to be a special meeting of council “to determine if we’re even on the right track and what is the solution for this pipe.”
Things are so bad a city council committee, headed up by Sharp, is recommending Tuesday the entire city council deep-six the plan of city brass for an independent look-see into the whole water pipe gong show.
They want city higher-ups to get their act together and come up with something resembling reality by the end of the month.
City hall is in the doghouse on this one.
“There’s going to be a fallout. We will hear about this all the way to the next election,” says Sharp.