"Don" Andre (Soprano) Chabot protects his turf

In a previous post, I sarcastically compared City Halls actions on the ward re-drawing issue akin to the old Mafia Commissions. If this theory holds true, than I guess the new "Boss of Bosses" is Don Andre Chabot.

In an amazing ( well I guess not really) turn of events, Alderman (Don) Andre Chabot has succeeded in putting aside the Returning Officers recommendations with respect to the redrawing of Calgary's ward maps and "protected his home turf". In one of the funniest statements I have heard all year, Don Chabot responded that losing his ward boundaries "would make it difficult to get re-elected." Do you know what else makes it hard to get re-elected? Perhaps being a mediocre representative and political opportunist?

After being a frequent loser in past Aldermanic campaigns, Chabot realizes that he just does not really have a lot of support. I think he is counting on the Incumbent/Name Recognition factor to carry him through in 2010. Be careful what you wish for Andre, as hopefully people will remember you for your gerrymandering ways. Hopefully you saved the riding for a better candidate next election.

I am just curious how he gained enough support for this? Perhaps Chabot knows where the skeletons are....

Does Calgary's "Mafia Commision" ( aka Aldermanic Committee) really run things here?

In the old Mafia folklore, when the heads of the rival families needed to come to an agreement on an issue, they would all get together in private to come to a peaceful solution to their problem. Often, they would work together to split their empires up amongst themselves to avoid any future hostilities.

This Mafia Commission arrangement sure looks a lot like the one being used by our City of Calgary Aldermen these days!

In an attempt to save his own aldermanic seat ( or "Territory?" ) Ald. Andre ( Save my Job) Chabot refuses to accept the boundary map recommendations of the City Returning officer. I have written about Andre's reasoning here, which I think is pretty clear. Having rejected the democratic procedure, City Council voted with Chabot yesterday to take the matter to Aldermanic Committee, which essentially means that they will decide among themselves,(behind closed doors) just like the Old Mafia Commission!

While I understand that Chabot's crew may want to protect their "Turf" and not lose their "Territory" to a "rival" Alderman in 2010, the optics of this arrangement are just terrible. Behind closed doors, they will likely make Council "an offer they cannot refuse".

If City Council does not come clean on this issue and allow an independent body to implement the changes to ward boundaries, I hope the lot of them get what they deserve... unemployment in 2010 (aka..."Swimming with the fishes"!)