Mark Holmgren's Blog
I have read quite a bit lately about how unfair our income tax system is to those who earn incomes in the top 20% of the population. Those postings and articles tend to be written by people with incomes in or close to the top 20% bracket (though my view of those authors is admittedly … Continue reading Are the Wealthy Over-Taxed or Do They Pay Too Much?
A few weeks ago, I received my first ever jury duty notification. It really is a summons and it speaks with authority, with warnings of serious consequences if you fail to respond or show up on the designated day and time at Court Room 317. Instructions and explanations were pretty good, but it was all … Continue reading Summoned to Jury Duty
I was at the gathering where Premier Notley and Minister Sabir announced legislation that would improve benefits to recipients of AISH. I support these improvements (read more). My math indicates a 6% increase to the AISH benefit. Some critics say it should have been higher, given the length of time since the last increase. Some … Continue reading THERE’S MORE TO DO TO IMPROVE AISH, ISN’T THERE?
Today I attended the announcement by the Alberta Government that it would be raising the AISH benefit by near $100 per month and indexing it to the cost of living from here on out. Premiere Notley spoke. Minister Sabir spoke. A gentleman on AISH spoke. Michael Phair, Co-Chair of End Poverty Edmonton spoke. You can … Continue reading A BIG fail of our Media
Cross posted - also available at http://www.edmontoncdc.org Please consider following that blog if you want to keep up to date on my work at the Edmonton Community Development Company. -------- Strong Towns is an American movement that a colleague turned me on to the other day, and it is not only a provocative movement, it … Continue reading Automobile-Centric Development and Parking Requirements
Such a simple question, four small words that get at the core of our community change work. It's not a question confined to a step in a visioning or planning process. It's place is within us, no matter where we are going or if we are standing still. It's not just a question about purpose … Continue reading Why are we here?
Yes, perhaps an odd title for a posting, but bear with me. I was on my way back home from meeting downtown with Alberta Government colleagues who also work in the poverty reduction arena and I heard this call-in show about winter tires and more to the point about whether or not winter tires should … Continue reading Mandatory Winter Tires and Poverty
