You’ll never alleviate the what-a-mole problem, but you’d think the observations from that book would prompt parties to accompany this with longer term plans to assess complex problems then execute them quickly should they get elected.

*24

But brief election cycles, pressure from interest groups, and other pressures (e.g., 25-hour news cycle) often result in poorly researched, patchwork solutions aimed at immediate symptom whac-a-mole.

As with all policy choices, there will be winners and losers. I’m not convinced that the public will be winners under this model.

If this indeed the case the comms around it is downplaying that fact. Yes, they’re talking about alternative sources about financing, like it’s free money. Yada, yada, pensions and other institutional investors are going to throw money at this out of the goodness of their hearts, yada, yada.

Does that mean jurisdictional scan bros are the new policy wonks?

The online discourse: "James Gunn's Superman is woke. Also his suit isn't tight enough. I should be able to see the Corenswet dripping down his abs."

Not saying mayors shouldn't have the power to propose, just saying that it's an area where people should be a little more vigilant, but definitely also take your point re: staff proposed by-laws and consent agendas. I'm now thinking maybe it's not an SM issue but a consent agenda issue.

These are great points, and I fully agree that there's a misalignment between power conferred and public expectation in a weak mayor system. I think there are some good ideas in the SM model, and I do expect use to evolve and councils to adapt accordingly over time to ensure accountability.

That's fair. Always a risk with consent agendas for sure. Probably good practice for councillors to pull consent items with significant impact (if they can gauge it). But I do think it's worth a discussion to ask why the mayor had to put the bylaw forward instead of staff to justify use of power.

The propose a bylaw power is one that I think flies under the radar. Agenda package size and the use of consent agenda items for bylaws in particular mean mayors can slip some pretty big stuff through council without question, so councillors should be conditioned to pull those bylaws for discussion.

I have mixed feelings on a lot of the strong mayor powers. Hire and fire didn't bother me as much as most until it was extended to small communities. A mayor can level a good portion of the workforce.

I suspect there are consequences to using the powers for a consensus focused mayor. Probably a quick way to lose allies and consensus on your agenda and possibly results in a snowball effect of opposition and further use of the power. i.e. A forced win today means consensus losses tomorrow.

Maybe the MOST IMPORTANT truth for better transportation in cities:

The “War on Cars” narrative fuelled by populist politicians, click bait media and such, IS A LIE.

Cars have almost all the space, budget etc, and ANY effort to add even a bit more CHOICE is attacked this way. #TheTruthAboutTraffic

It sounds like both sides are well aware that their negotiations equate to building a house of cards next to a giant sleeping toddler. Doesn't matter how careful and meticulous you are in construction, the toddler's going to wake up at some point and wreck some of not all of it.