Bell: The man who can change redistricting and voting for the City of Calgary

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One person. A lot of people will want to hang the button in the coming days.

One Calgary city councilor is Evan Spencer, who could be the deciding vote on whether the Trudeau-Hondec urban redevelopment goes ahead as planned.

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Spencer represents a predominantly blue ward, blue as conservative, blue as southeast Calgary, down from Auburn Bay, Cranston, Mahogany and Mackenzie Town, a place where Premier Daniel Smith is not much loved by either the premier or the mayor. started his last election campaign.

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Smith, who, like federal Conservative housing critic Scott Aitchison, has opposed redistricting for months, advocated for redistricting.

Smith, who has promised to make sure the likes of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor Jyoti Gondek don't bypass him, is making deals where the city will get $228 million from Trudeau and play ball on a city-wide redevelopment.

“The politics around this is stupid,” says Spencer.

“For someone who mostly represents the blue chamber to tilt the floor on this issue is outrageous.”

Let the councilor, who says the smart money, proceed with the citywide rezoning vote.

“It's not a great place. I have to talk people through the various issues related to federal influence, the unpopularity of the mayor, how the politics of this conversation have evolved.

“I know I'm in trouble.”

Is Spencer feeling the pressure?

“Absolutely,” he replies.

“It was awkward and I'm sure it's going to get even more awkward.”

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Spencer has kept a low profile in City Hall's Big Blue playground and often flies under the radar, like when he voted for the last big tax in the city budget.

Spencer is also often seen among the Gondek-led City Council majority, which has not won recent popularity contests.

Either way, Spencer is on the radar now.

The battle line is on urban-wide rezoning, where all neighborhoods allow for four-plexes, townhouses, townhouses.

Councilors who support the rezoning are said to be the same number of councilors who oppose the scheme, although all politicians say they are open to changing their minds.

Spencer looks like yes, but still on the fence.

If Spencer votes No, then citywide redistricting could be defeated.

Spencer has a big decision to make.

Does the councilor really want to be seen as the Trudeau-Hondec ambassador for Calgary's southeast, which his opponents are sure to do?

After all, Spencer's ward was once represented by Smith's urban staffer, Rick McIver, but at the time he was actually a consultant nicknamed Dr. No because he voted “No” until he gave a good reason to vote “Yes.”

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Spencer, a popular pollster, says she will be in a hot race for re-election next fall and that the conservative urban political party will do everything in her power to defeat her.

For Spencer, grappling with the changes you've seen in urban redevelopment is “not uncommon territory for Calgarians.”

Spencer said people are concerned about parking and safety and the character of their community.

They are “concerned about welcoming certain high-density demographics to the neighborhood.”

Say what?!

People who “may disturb the safety of the neighborhood or the feelings of the neighborhood.”

Spencer said she will bring her concerns, as well as those of the community, to the City Council's April 22 public hearing on the citywide rezoning, a marathon gabfest where hundreds of people are expected to voice their opinions on the issue.

“If the administration has smart ways to address concerns, I'm probably all for it,” Spencer says.

Otherwise, the advisor did not rule out voting.

There's a question Spencer wants City Hall to answer.

“Have they considered the unexpected ways that this could happen in really scary ways in these neighborhoods?”

Mayor Gondek says there were “many mistakes” in the housing issue.

Unfortunately, despite the request made through the mayor, no deep thinker in the field of urban housing contacted this writer and told the history of the city.

While we're at it, City Hall is hiring a Chief Housing Officer with “well-developed political and organizational sensitivities” and “strategic thinking” for housing plans up to $213,000 per week, working 35 hours per week. year.

If you can get it, good job.

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