Discussions

Anyone else wondering where our mayor is and what he is up to? I see how out in the open that Winnipeg's mayor is, and I remember past mayor SDH always in the public eye (not that it was always a good thing!) but come on! Where are you Rick? We voted you in, we'd like to know what it is that you are doing for us in this city!

As long as he's getting things done I don't care if we see him.  
 
Rather have a mayor fixing things than doing pr every other week.

So far I think he is doing a wonderful job and sticking to his word. There are a great deal of projects being done and our taxes did not go up like they did when Shari was in....I appreciate that as we are stretched thin to hold on as it is!  
 
So Rick...Stay in your office and get the job done!

He hasn't been all over the news embarassing himself and our city like his predecessor. What gives?  
 
Edited by JackAzz, 2015-07-31 11:56:18

Out of sight, out of mind. A good strategy.  

A couple of days ago I saw him reply to a request on Twitter that he was out of town, if that helps.

Our last mayor reminded me of Diamond Joe Quimby. Out there for everyone (at least every camera) to see, even if it was only at a phone booth opening.

Have noticed that the Mayor is active on his Twitter account from time to time with events attended and the like. Those postings will be among those from other elected representatives and other news sources that will show in the box that I've recently added to the right-hand column of the News tab on eBrandon. If you ever see a tweet that's relevant to a current discussion that's taking place on eBrandon you can also paste that tweet's address straight into a post on here and it will automatically show it in the discussion thread.  
 
Edited by Adam, 2015-07-31 12:29:24

just a little food for thought,  
If SDH was so wrong in raising the taxes, why did a small increase still happen and why were they not lowered?  
Perhaps, they should have been raised a little at a time by the mayor before SDH.  
Let's not keep pushing SDH under a bus that she had nothing to do with.

 
 
Edited by I_justwanna_say, 2015-07-31 12:46:07

I_justwanna_say said "just a little food for thought,   If SDH was so wrong in raising the taxes, why did a small increase still happen and why were they not lowered?   Perhaps, they should have been raised a little at a time by the mayor before SDH.   Let's not keep pushing SDH under a bus that she had nothing to do with. "

We can't lower the taxes now because the money is already being spent. If we were to lower taxes our firefighters and police officers wouldn't get $100,000 a year and a few of the City managers would also have to take a big cut. Not going to happen. But hopefully we have learned that big salary increases can't continue or Brandon will be the next Detroit.

HaPpY GrAnDmA said "So far I think he is doing a wonderful job and sticking to his word. There are a great deal of projects being done and our taxes did not go up like they did when Shari was in....I appreciate that as we are stretched thin to hold on as it is!     So Rick...Stay in your office and get the job done! "

So sure our taxes haven't gone up. Speaking for myself, our tax assessment went up 20% from last year. The city will have to seriously adjust the mill rate lower for mytaxes to stay put. The assessments are sctually higher than market value as my neighbour hasbeen trying to sell their house without success. Tax assessment for 2016 came in 10% higher than what he has been unable to sell his place for. So when you say that our taxes did not go up, are you sure? Because I'm not so surewe'll be able to say that after Rick's been in office a full year. Happy Grandma. What has Rick Chrest accomplished to warrant your rave reviews of his performance in office these past 9 months or so? So many lovely words, but no examples whatsoever.

Is busy fixing the legacy left by the last mayor. Thank goodness. Maybe getting down to business instead of traipsing around town is a good thing.  
 
 
Edited by Tarry, 2015-07-31 13:45:37

he's also looking after his business, Leons.  
 
His Twitter  
 
https://twitter.com/RickChrest  
One hour ago, he posted on Twitted that he's excited about the upcomming 18th st bridge announcement.  
 
You can follow him on his Facebook as well.  
 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mayor-Rick-Chrest/1494470254159835?fref=ts

SimpleMan said "    HaPpY GrAnDmA said "So far I think he is doing a wonderful job and sticking to his word. There are a great deal of projects being done and our taxes did not go up like they did when Shari was in....I appreciate that as we are stretched thin to hold on as it is!     So Rick...Stay in your office and get the job done! " So sure our taxes haven't gone up. Speaking for myself, our tax assessment went up 20% from last year. The city will have to seriously adjust the mill rate lower for mytaxes to stay put. The assessments are sctually higher than market value as my neighbour hasbeen trying to sell their house without success. Tax assessment for 2016 came in 10% higher than what he has been unable to sell his place for. So when you say that our taxes did not go up, are you sure? Because I'm not so surewe'll be able to say that after Rick's been in office a full year. Happy Grandma. What has Rick Chrest accomplished to warrant your rave reviews of his performance in office these past 9 months or so? So many lovely words, but no examples whatsoever. "

They did not go up period or did I say they did not go up the 37+% that they did with the last Mayor??  
Do not put words into my mouth please and thank you.  
What has he done? Let me see...I see a lot of work being done in the city and I see them addressing the bridge situation as well.  
I would imagine that the mayor would have had something to do with that. As for other the rest, I do not know but I am sure there are plenty of projects in the works.

Better than doing useless bragging in public

HaPpY GrAnDmA said "    SimpleMan said "    HaPpY GrAnDmA said "So far I think he is doing a wonderful job and sticking to his word. There are a great deal of projects being done and our taxes did not go up like they did when Shari was in....I appreciate that as we are stretched thin to hold on as it is!     So Rick...Stay in your office and get the job done! " So sure our taxes haven't gone up. Speaking for myself, our tax assessment went up 20% from last year. The city will have to seriously adjust the mill rate lower for mytaxes to stay put. The assessments are sctually higher than market value as my neighbour hasbeen trying to sell their house without success. Tax assessment for 2016 came in 10% higher than what he has been unable to sell his place for. So when you say that our taxes did not go up, are you sure? Because I'm not so surewe'll be able to say that after Rick's been in office a full year. Happy Grandma. What has Rick Chrest accomplished to warrant your rave reviews of his performance in office these past 9 months or so? So many lovely words, but no examples whatsoever. " They did not go up period or did I say they did not go up the 37+% that they did with the last Mayor??   Do not put words into my mouth please and thank you.   What has he done? Let me see...I see a lot of work being done in the city and I see them addressing the bridge situation as well.   I would imagine that the mayor would have had something to do with that. As for other the rest, I do not know but I am sure there are plenty of projects in the works. "

The bridge (Daly) I think you are referring to is the Provincial Governments doing, Mr. Chrest has nothing to do with that. If you are referring to the City owned 8th bridge that is closed and falling down that would be our Mayor's responsibility.  
 
Edited by GuyR, 2015-07-31 15:36:43

all over the news-it's almost like CTV, CBC, & Shaw all believe it's their job to disseminate what the Mayor's office wants us to know (afterall, if Mr. Bowman believes Rapid Transit is more important than anything else-then it must be so).  
I say thank you to Rick for doing his job without looking for the photo op first.  
Stay the course, Rick, you're doing just fine.

activities on his Twitter account, he has also had his photo in the Brandon Sun at numerous events. I wonder where he gets all the energy from! Maybe follow his Twitter account OP and see for yourself!

because you don't see him in the news everyday doesn't mean he's sitting at home doing nothing. Between being mayor and a business owner, he would be very busy behind the scenes.

HaPpY GrAnDmA said "    SimpleMan said "    HaPpY GrAnDmA said "So far I think he is doing a wonderful job and sticking to his word. There are a great deal of projects being done and our taxes did not go up like they did when Shari was in....I appreciate that as we are stretched thin to hold on as it is!     So Rick...Stay in your office and get the job done! " So sure our taxes haven't gone up. Speaking for myself, our tax assessment went up 20% from last year. The city will have to seriously adjust the mill rate lower for mytaxes to stay put. The assessments are sctually higher than market value as my neighbour hasbeen trying to sell their house without success. Tax assessment for 2016 came in 10% higher than what he has been unable to sell his place for. So when you say that our taxes did not go up, are you sure? Because I'm not so surewe'll be able to say that after Rick's been in office a full year. Happy Grandma. What has Rick Chrest accomplished to warrant your rave reviews of his performance in office these past 9 months or so? So many lovely words, but no examples whatsoever. " They did not go up period or did I say they did not go up the 37+% that they did with the last Mayor??   Do not put words into my mouth please and thank you.   What has he done? Let me see...I see a lot of work being done in the city and I see them addressing the bridge situation as well.   I would imagine that the mayor would have had something to do with that. As for other the rest, I do not know but I am sure there are plenty of projects in the works. "

I apologize as I'm not totally on top of the political scene in Brandon. I was not aware that our taxes had gone up 37% under SDH. Speaking for myself, I did not feel ghe 37% as my property taxes went up maybe 5% when she was yhe mayor so not sure where the 37% comes ftom, sorry! I do know that my property assessment has risen 20% and that scares me. Never did my assessment go up 20% under SDH. Mayors/politicians take credit for what happens under ghe tenure in office and the Daly bridge improvement announcement came under his trnure, so congrats! On the other hand SDH went through two major floods during her tenure in which IMO she performed admirably under considerable stress. She was visible, gave daily updates and she should also receive credit for a job well done during those two floods, wethrr she was directing anything or nothing as The credit Rick's given for the Daly bridge improvements. My pojnt is that it's way too soon too be putting Rick on ghis great big pedestal and claiming that he hasn't tisen taxes like the past mayor. He hasn't been in office a tear yet and assessments have gone up 20%. How can you claim thst ge hasn't risen taxes. Time will tell and the proof will be in the pudding, so to speak. I thought Rick was doing OK until I saw my assessment. My assessment came in under his tenure so like the Daly btidge credit he must eat yhis one too.

think the Mayor has any control over the home assessments.

Assessments are done by the Province. The city has no control over them.  
 
I think the mayor is doing a great job. He has said he is not running his company. He has hired someone for this. He will work to keep the taxes down.  
 

my property tax bill went up FIVE bucks.  
 
Four years under sdh? Over four hundred total!  
 
Nuff said!

Yeah, the assessments are done by the province on an x-year cycle - 4 years I suspect. So no assessments under SDH, or only once at the beginning of her term. My taxes took a huge jump anyway.  
 
The tell will be next tax time when the new assessments are being used. The city can choose to lower the mil rate, essentially keeping the amount of tax we pay the same. Or they can keep the mill rate, and our taxes go up... many of us by a lot (my assessment when up 30%).

The 7 mil she raised in taxes 6.3 mil went to raising salaries of city employees and to make new positions we didn't need.  
 
The government was so worried they sent someone to over see our budget. Think about that, how much do you have to eff up that they send a babysitter.

I_justwanna_say said "just a little food for thought,   If SDH was so wrong in raising the taxes, why did a small increase still happen and why were they not lowered?   Perhaps, they should have been raised a little at a time by the mayor before SDH.   Let's not keep pushing SDH under a bus that she had nothing to do with. "

It's a pretty bad situation when a former mayor has to go to city council about a proposed massive tax increase! Mr. Borotsik knew that the majority of Brandon citizens could not afford the near twenty percent tax increase that year. Then again, city council had NO business even going forward with that big a number, IMO.

I don't think it got much off track. You asked where he is and people replied.  
 
Chrest isn't having photo ops at every turn. raising taxes exorbitantly. opening telephone booths or defending poor choices.  
 
He's not put on a pedestal. Just common sense running the City. Nobody is jumping down your throat. Get the newspaper if you want and check social media from time to time. A google search for a twitter feed is easy. If you have WCG, council meetings are easy to find on Access 12.  
 
Common sense appears to be what the majority of Brandonites wanted after the last experience.

Very good point !  
 
"SDH and amp and #59: taxes  
Posted by I_justwanna_say, 7/31/2015 12:45:33 PM  
just a little food for thought,  
If SDH was so wrong in raising the taxes, why did a small increase still happen and why were they not lowered?  
Perhaps, they should have been raised a little at a time by the mayor before SDH.  
Let's not keep pushing SDH under a bus that she had nothing to do with."

Appreciate if further posts be in the spirit of answering the initial post. I don't think the intent was to go too far into deity on the tax topic specifically but maybe that would be a good fit for another thread. Thx!