Mayoral campaigns ramping up as Calgary general election approaches

Calgary’s current mayor revealed announced her strategy to nab a second term as the city’s mayor on Thursday.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek says she will prioritize safety in her mayoral campaign, and promises to put an end to open drug use if elected in the Oct. 20 election.

During her campaign announcement on Thursday, Gondek shed light on her campaign strategy, vowing to balance “prevention” and “presence” to tackle the safety concerns of Calgarians.

“We will provide options and supports for people who are seeking recover from addition,” said the mayor. “We will make the downtown and Beltline communities safe.”

Gondek says over the last four years, she’s shown her ability to run the city well in times of crisis, and turned Calgary into Canada’s most liveable city.

Jeff Davison proposes fewer bike lanes

Jeff Davison says it’s time to pump the brakes on bike lanes.

The mayoral candidate is proposing a four year freeze on new lanes if elected in October. He says he isn’t taking aim at cyclists but wants to build a city that makes sense for everyone.

“It’s time to make some changes, which means no new bike lanes over the next four years,” Davison says. “And evaluating the program that ensures we maximize space on the roads while keeping in mind public safety with respect to drivers and cyclists.”

Along with the proposed freeze, Davison says he will evaluate existing bike lanes and relocate disruptive lanes off of roads and onto dedicated pathways.

Jeromy Farkas launches petition to ban sale of public parks

A Mayoral hopeful is making his priorities known through the launch of a new petition.

Candidate Jeromy Farkas has launched the ‘stop selling parks’ petition, which seeks a permanent ban on the sale of Calgary parks and natural spaces, which he says is especially important as the city’s population continues to soar.

“As Calgary is being pushed to the limit in terms the lack of amenities and services, we’re going to need more greenspaces…not less,” he says.

Farkas says the current municipal government has not done enough to protect greenspaces, which he says sends a bad message to Calgarians.