Brian Pincott Talks 3

#Briantalks 3

In general, how do Calgarians respond to policy changes? For example, how do you think they are responding to the minimum wage change?

·         “Part of the human condition is that we don’t like change. But I see this over and over again. We put a policy change in place, whether it’s bike lanes or parking or land use, anything really. You would think the world was going to end. But once people get used to it, it’s not a big deal anymore.”

If there was 3 things Calgarians could do to make your job easier, they would be?

1.       “Talk to your neighbors,

2.       Think about your neighbors,

3.       And talk to your councillor. Not enough people participate in community. And this is one of the things I find makes my job hard and frustrating. People don’t get involved until they realize something may affect them. And it could be 2 years after we’ve done public engagement on the issue and they haven’t gotten involved. We come up with a plan, we start to go and do it and a whole bunch of people go, Wait a second, that’s effecting me. You have to go back and start over again. If more people talked to their Councillor they would know what’s going on, and if they participate, and they talk to their neighbors and they thought about their neighbors, ALL of those things put together would make my life and everyone else’s easier.”

Is it important to connect with people?

·         “It depends. There’s what we call retail politics. Which is saying Hi, shaking hands, spending 30 seconds with everybody. Which is really important. But in the real world those real one on one connections aren’t that important, but; there is the community side of politics and to me that is about community, community building and communities supporting people, and supporting people building community. And here you actually do need to have to get to know people one on one, it takes more time, it takes more work, it’s slower and it’s sometimes not fun. But I think it’s more meaningful.”

You’ve been very active and present in Lincoln Park, is that normal for a City Councillor?

·         “Probably not. We had the “We Vote” day on October 17. Someone asked me why is poverty not an issue? I was really honest when I said, because you don’t vote. 18 – 25 year olds don’t vote so you don’t see politicians talking about youth issues, AT ALL. Because they don’t vote. They don’t talk about poverty issues because people living in poverty, don’t vote. There’s absolutely no benefit to a politician to spend any time in an area like Lincoln Park. Politician’s COUNT VOTES, where can I get the votes to WIN the next election?”

So what makes Lincoln Park different?

·         “Because I actually see people in Lincoln Park struggling through all of their shit, to actually make their community better. That’s what I see in Lincoln Park. A bunch of people struggling through all of their shit, and there’s some people who live in Lincoln Park who have EVERYTHING going against them. And through all of that they’re working to make ALL of their lives better, their community better and stronger.

Please follow #Briantalks on my twitter feed ajcan36 for more blog questions and answers.