8/8/2019 Ward 7 - McKeen

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Edmonton Journal Civic Election Candidate

QuestionnaireScott McKeen, 51. Running for Council lor, Ward 7

E-mail  dscottmckeen@gmail.com

Website scottmckeen.ca

Twitter Scott_McKeen

Facebook link off webpage

What are the three biggest issues in your campaign?

Your number one issue, and why?

My platform is all about communities. Edmonton must shift its focus from expanding ever outward to expanding and investingwithin. Edmonton's huge footprint and low population density is a nightmare to serv ice and maintain. The answer is encourageappropriate infill development to increase the number of families in core communities. By appropriate, I mean high-quality, mediumdensity developments such as brownstones or duplexes. In areas with vacant land, some higher density projects might beappropriate. In communities where schools were closed, the c ity and school board must work together to attract families into thearea with temporary housing incentives, as well as commitments to reopen the school in stages. Stopping sprawl and increasingdensity in areas where we already have the infrastructure — fire halls, transit routes, parks and schools — will reduce our taxburden, as well as our impact on the environment.

Number two issue, and why?

Edmonton's development pattern, sprawl, has helped sterilize our neighbourhoods. Think of the old neighbourhood grocery store.It was closed and replaced with big-box grocery stores to serve regions. They also required a longer drive to get groceries.Unfortunately, city council bought into a similar strategy with recreation centres. The strategy now is to build regional, mega-sizedrecreation centres, costing upwards of $50 million. I see this as a mistake. Existing in-neighbourhoods pools and arenas will closeif this trend continues. My view is to turn the strategy on its head and instead invest in social/recreational facilities in communities.Why not work with the school board and do a small fitness centre addition to the local school. Perhaps the community hall isexpanded, instead. The ideas need to come out of communities, but the goal is to create communities where neighbours interactwith neighbours and don't need to drive 15 minutes to do so. Again, there's no template here. I don't have all the ideas. Butimagine being able to walk to the local school to do a workout, while your kids play in the gym. Afterwards, you drop into the socialroom for a refreshment. City staff and volunteers could .supervise.

Number three issue, and why?

We all want to live in safe, clean neighbourhoods. That's why I'm so keen on investing in mature neighbourhoods and creatingfocal points for neighbours to meet, play and socialize. People who know each other watch out for each other. Eyes on the street,and the neighbours yard, are a key deterrent to crime. But we also need community-based policing. My commitment is to push for an expansion of beat cops and NET in Ward 7. Neighbourhood Empowerment Teams, NET, engage a police officer and soc ial

worker in a specific area. They become committed to it and bring in myriad other resources to tackle problems. Drug houses are amajor issue, because they bring with them prostitution, theft and break-ins. Problem-solving policing, such as NET, targets thecriminal infrastructure and has a high success rate at forcing them out of the community. Unfortunately, the police commissionhasn't increased the NET budget for at least two years. When elected, I'll lobby hard for more Neighbourhood EmpowermentTeams in Ward 7.

Which should be a higher spending priority for council, LRT construction or road construction, and why?

LRT construction Politicians are often guilty of thinking in three- or four-year terms. Investing in LRT now will help Edmontonand its economy in future decades. Edmonton must be a city where the workforce can travel inexpensively from home toemployment. Having said that, the city must balance priorities and keep its road network in shape. Zero budgets in the 1990s ledto the pothole epidemic of recent years. The outer and inner ring roads require investment, too. Yellowhead Trail needs a number of overpasses. The province, however, must be engaged to invest in the Yellowhead, as part of a crucial interprovincial highway.

City council has turned down a motion to hold a non-binding plebiscite on keeping the City Centre Airport as a

general aviation facility. Should the new council reopen the airport issue?

No I'm excited about the potential of redeveloping the airport lands. I vow to hold council to its promise of developing a

leading-edge, sustainable community on the airport lands. Hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars will be invested in comingdecades. The spinoff to communities in Ward 7 will be huge. Jobs will be created. Workers will need housing. The hubbub willattract business investment, meaning new restaurants and shops along 118th. This truly will be a mega-project and shiftEdmonton's focus to the north side. No one wants to see aviation businesses suffer. Or medivac patients put in jeopardy. Theairport will remain fully functional for years, though, allowing time to transition business, flight schools and medivacs to one of the

other four airports in the Edmonton region. .  Do you live in the ward where you're running?

No

How important is social media to your campaign?

8/8/2019 Ward 7 - McKeen

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4 out of 5

What is your favourite blog? Lowetide's Oilers blog

What is the last book you read?

Biocentrism:How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe

What is the last piece of music you listened to?

Beach House, Teen Dream CD

What is your favourite beer? Answer this question to humour Mark Suits, Edmonton Journal beer blogger

Diet Coke. (don't drink)

Favourite place in Edmonton, outside your home?

Well, I did a series of articles a few years back on my favourite places. A number were in Ward 7. So I have to mention El RanchoRestaurant and the Handy Bakery. Both are featured now in videos on my website, scottmckeen.ca

The Alberta Avenue area is fast becoming the most soulful city street, with its new eateries and galleries. I always loved that area.Now that I'm the council candidate for that area, I love it even more. :)

Three fantasy guests you'd like to have dinner with, and why? Can be living, dead or fictional

I was turned onto British philosopher Alan Watts a few years back. Watts popularized Eastern philosophy, including Zen, in the

U.S. with a radio show that ran for two decades, until 1973. I've read a number of his books and found his take on reality — andhis writing style — consciousness raising. So he's in the dinner group. So is LInda Hughes, the former editor and publisher of TheEdmonton Journal. She gave me my job at the newspaper. Linda is the quintessential leader: Smart, caring and inspiring. She'salso very funny and quick. I can listen to her talk all day. To add some levity I'd throw in Martin Short, a huge comic talent and thebest talk-show guest I've ever seen. The dinner would be enlightening, interesting and fun.

What type of car do you drive? Make, model and year

Vespa GTS scooter, 2009

What is the best advice you ever received That life is done with mirrors: What we put out is what we get back. In the past couple of years I've done more volunteer work andservice to the community. I've never been happier. If we are kind and giving to others -- if we can set aside our insatiable ego --we find the true path to joy and peace. I know that sounds hokey, but I'm sticking with it because it works for me.Thanks,

Scott