Coun. Sonya Sharp says, for all the whining, this week is ‘not the death of a Green Line but the death of a stub’
The whining. The bellyaching from bruised egos. The hurt feelings.
It is just so bleeping irritating.
“Enough of the whining, start leading,” says Sharp.
“Their whining got in the way of logical thinking and that’s what really happened.”
Sharp doesn’t expect some on council to have an encounter with reality anytime soon.
“I think some of them are so hell-bent on proving their own point.
“Guess what? This isn’t their point to prove. Their ideology outweighed their representation.
“Each and every one of them should start thinking about their fate as a politician at this point. Unhitch your wagon you know is going nowhere.”
You see, the Alberta government puts its foot down and decides not to bankroll a small stub of a Green Line LRT in Calgary, choosing to come up with another Green Line route which actually goes to where many of the riders live.
Most of the city hall politicians choose to wind down the Green Line.
Half of council are willing to hear out what the province will roll out for a Green Line in December, a move promoted by Dan McLean, a councillor always willing to step on a few toes when needed.
But half the city politicians, including Gondek, have their noses so far out of joint you’d think they been in a street brawl.
Gondek is not alone.
Her council allies are hostile to the provincial government who won’t pony up dough for the city’s Green Line plan to spend $6-billion-plus to go 10 kilometres.
We are witnessing a collective political temper tantrum.
Listen to Jasmine Mian, a councillor who often appears to be upset and insists council should not try to save a Green Line.
“This is something the government of Alberta wants to take over and wants to do. And if they want to deliver transit for Calgarians they can deliver transit to Calgarians in whatever way possible that they feel is going to win an election which is what they’re making their decisions on.
“All of this is insanity. I’m not signing on Calgarians for more abuse from this government.”
Abuse? Oh my.
Mian speaks as there is a little chinwagging at council on whether Green Line is a protected name no one else could use. Of course, there are other places in the world who have Green Lines.
Can just hear the wheels turning in the brains of some councillors.
If we can’t have our Green Line the province can build a line but they have to choose a different colour.
Yeah right.
Then there is Gondek.
“When you call out a partner who happens to be a government for reckless behaviour that’s not playing politics that’s actually speaking the truth. In this case it’s speaking truth to power.”
One thing is certain. Gondek doesn’t know how to play politics.
Gondek makes a big mistake. The province is not paying hundreds of millions of dollars to the city so they can wind down the Green Line and they aren’t taking the Green Line off the city’s hands.
The province will be offering another Green Line design and the city will then have to take it or leave it, and if they leave it they will have killed a Green Line.
Sharp is shocked Gondek and her council pals won’t work with the province on a Green Line plan when the UCP government and the feds both have money in the pot.
“The majority of this council has brought us to rock bottom but they keep lowering the rock,” says Sharp.
“My mind gets blown because some of these folks campaigned on some sort of Green Line or transit. It’s very petty.
“When you can’t admit defeat and move on, you’ve really got to get some life experience.”
Sharp adds, for all the whining, this week is “not the death of a Green Line but the death of a stub.”
The province is now working with their experts on a new Green Line. In a few months, city council will have a decision to make.
“Whether they choose to proceed or not, the ball will be in their court,” says Devin Dreeshen, Premier Danielle Smith’s point man on the Green Line.
Meanwhile, Gondek and her crew stand, their noses still out of joint, pissed off beyond all recognition.
The ball is in their court and they don’t even have rackets in their hands.