Bell: Gondek hits record low, blames Smith, politics played out over water crisis

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She couldn’t stop herself.

She just had to keep talking.

She just had to make a cheap attack.

She just had to shift the blame.

She could not leave politics alone, even in times of urban emergency.

She has been forced to point the finger of blame at herself, but it is clear she is not blaming herself or city hall.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek, the most unpopular leader in the city’s history, appeared on Global TV and was asked directly by an interviewer about her concerns that the water crisis could happen again if the pipes were changed.

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What else could be causing problems below the city?

Gondek was enthusiastic.

It wouldn’t have been an easy time, with the mayor portraying himself as the city’s savior and people not questioning anything.

Ask questions when you know you might be able to shut off the water.

The mayor has already spoken a little bit.

The pipe that caused so much grief was made almost 50 years ago.

It was for maintenance.

“It’s hard to say what happened because nothing was identified, and I don’t want to speculate,” Gondek said during the maintenance work a few months ago.

Huh?

So Gondek tells the interviewer that he may have concerns about people.

She also said the city is very aware of the age of the pipes and the materials used in some of the pipes, and is very good at determining when inspections need to be done.

But she didn’t stop there.

Oh no, the city wasn’t going to take responsibility in this one.

Gondek continued:

“But I have to say…” Gondek says.

She has to say it.

Come on, let’s go.

The city doesn’t have enough money. It’s not the city’s fault.

This is also the responsibility of Premier Daniel Smith and the federal government in Ottawa.

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“Without strong collaboration between the federal and state governments, the city will continue to have to shoulder the full cost of maintenance work.”

City Hall? Calgary City Hall?

At City Hall, people like this writer have been talking for years about the hundreds of millions, even billions, of dollars sitting in downtown piggy banks.

The surplus was never returned to taxpayers.

What’s this? Last year’s surplus of $237.7 million.

What is this?

For years, city hall has sought to make money by scamming Calgarians with taxes on electricity bills, while resisting every attempt or proposal to be more fair to ratepayers.

Yes, all of the money that has been saved up in the city’s rainy day fund for years.Google the article.

Then I Google stories about money that are often handed out when there isn’t a cloud in the sky.

Then there was the water bill money that every Calgary resident paid.

That’s cash the city itself says it will use to maintain the water system, according to the city’s website.

Calgary City Hall.

How many stories have been written about City Councils handing out millions, even hundreds of millions, of dollars without a second thought?

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How many grandiose plans and personal projects were funded?

Gondek continues, the script for his harrowing tale firmly in hand.

“We leave it up to Congress to decide, but it’s a very difficult decision…”

Yes, I know what’s going to happen. Yes, I know.

“It’s a very difficult decision to increase property taxes to ensure that maintenance work can be done.”

Is Gondek finished? Of course not.

The interviewer asked Gondek whether he was blaming the government of Premier Daniel Smith and the Federal Government.

In other words, the mayor was looking to get involved in politics at the wrong time.

“I don’t blame them in this situation.”

Perhaps the Mayor should look up the definition of “calling out” in the dictionary.

“But,” Gondek says.

here we go again.

“I’m going to point out that they haven’t paid enough attention to our infrastructure needs over the years.”

Really?

Then, not yet done, Gondek brought up the City Hall report again, saying the state was ransacking City Hall, where the cupboards were always empty.

She is seeking an additional $311 million per year.

No wonder Smith was reported as not funny. Not funny at all. Politics at a time like this?

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The Prime Minister issued a statement.

Smith and her government have written $224 million in cheques to Calgary Water Systems and others, and they plan to write even bigger cheques next year.

Gondek has never asked for money to repair water infrastructure, and Calgary residents pay for such costs through their water bills.

Smith urges the mayor and city council to “immediately review and evaluate all water infrastructure.”

After all, the premier said, “comprehensive rezoning will increase population density.”

Smith walks through the door that Gondek foolishly opened.

rbell@postmedia.com

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