Quick Media hit today

Naheed discussing transit in the Calgary Herald Green Guide.

Ten year plan on homelessness released

The Calgary Committee to End Homelessness has released its 10-year Plan. While we might quibble with a few points (why not a stronger stance in favour of legalizing secondary suites across the city, for example?), this is strong, solid work. Moving dollars away from the shelter program and into Housing First is smart, proven policy. Given Chair Steve Snyder's appointment to the Alberta Homeless Secretariat, we can bet he has the ear of the province in these pre-election days. We may see some real leadership on this file yet.

Big week

In the next two days, we will finally have the release of the 10-year Plan from the Calgary Committee to End Homelessness. As well, City Council has a strategic planning meeting in which they have the opportunity to make a hugely symbolic move: to defer suburban edge growth in favour of focusing on density. Both moves have the potential to change the fabric of the city, and we'll be watching closely.

We're still here...

Thinking, advocating, responding, presenting, just not so much posting.

What do you think that BCC should focus on in 2008? What should be the priorities of the city and of the City? Respond in comments here, or via info@bettercalgary.ca.

And, to whet your appetite, or cure insomnia, here is Naheed speaking with Shelagh Rogers on CBC's Sounds Like Canada. Click on "The Cost of Commuting", just above the cute story of the traveling puppet (who despite an uncanny resemblance is not Chima).

http://origin.www.cbc.ca/soundslikecanada/features4.html

And ... they made a mistake

Naheed said on QR this morning that it's rare that Council makes a decision that is so unambiguously wrong. But, they've gone and done it, so where should we focus now? BRT to MRC? The spur line to the airport? Or...?

Time for a better transit plan

Naheed's op-ed in today's Herald talks about the need to think much more about transit. It will be interesting to see what Council decides to do.

More on transit

The lead editorial in yesterday's Herald both took issue with our stance that the transit decision was too hasty and agreed with us on the details. While we think our concern is about more than details, it was an interesting attempt to square the circle.

We'll post more details on transit -- and a couple of very interesting ideas on how to move forward -- over the next few days, but would love your thoughts on this. As it now stands, it's starting to look like the best thing Council could do is cancel the useless NW extension to Tuscany and start thinking about an airport spur line or really interesting dedicated busways (e.g. on 14th St SW) with that money.