Mayor’s Uber comments ‘extravagant hyperbole’
Calgary’s new integrity commissioner concluded that Mayor Naheed Nenshi was “enthusiastically indulging in some extravagant hyperbole” when he claimed the city hired criminals during a covert operation against ride-share company Uber.
In his written report to council Monday, former judge Allen Sulatycky called for Nenshi to apologize “specifically to city administration and all Calgarians for the noted effects of his unfortunate, enthusiastic and hyperbolic statements.”
However, the integrity commissioner found the mayor did not act with any malevolent intent and did not suggest any sanctions against Nenshi, who, after privately discussing the report on Monday with council colleagues, delivered another public apology.
The issue started this spring when a video recording emerged showing Nenshi making controversial comments about Uber that were livestreamed by a Lyft driver in Boston.
During the ride, Nenshi described Uber’s CEO as a “dick” and suggested the city directed people — some of whom may be criminals — to test the company’s background screening process.
“The picture painted by the mayor’s words is one of a city carrying out covert operations in which sex offenders and violent criminals were engaged on behalf of the city,” states Sulatycky’s 10-page double-spaced report.
“Many people would find the idea frightening, scandalous and disturbing.”
In April, council directed the integrity commissioner to examine Nenshi’s remarks.
Sulatycky’s report states that while Nenshi apologized for his words shortly after the incident came to light, “his statements caused more than confusion.”
“Many Calgarians became uneasy about the conduct of city employees,” he wrote.
“Many city employees felt that they were unfairly put under suspicion.
“An apology for using confusing words or causing confusion does not address the other reactions experienced by many people.
“In the circumstances the mayor’s apology was too limited. A more fulsome apology as enthusiastically delivered as the Boston statements, directed to members of the city administration and to those Calgarians who were led to believe that city employees did not have proper regard to public safety, would have been appropriate.”
When councillors emerged from a closed-door discussion during Monday’s council meeting, Nenshi apologized to city staff and Calgarians for his comments.
“I’ve thought a lot about this incident since it first happened and here’s the bottom line: I made a mistake,” he said. “I’ve learned an important lesson. Whether or not I thought that conversation was private, I shouldn’t have said what I did. Calgarians and our colleagues at the city deserve better than that.”
Nenshi added that while he apologized on April 23, he wanted to apologize again.
“Specifically, I want to apologize for making comments that may have led citizens to become uneasy or suspicious of the conduct of city employees,” he said.
In the aftermath of the livestreamed video in April, councillors Ward Sutherland and Diane Colley-Urquhart asked Sulatycky to investigate the mayor’s conduct and statements.
Sutherland said he was pleased with Sulatycky’s conclusion into the matter.
“(The report) was well written and it outlined what were the truths and not the truths,” Sutherland said.
“A more extended apology was appropriate because there was inaccuracies.”
Following the apology, Nenshi told reporters he accepted the report.
“I think that it’s very clear I screwed up and when you screw up you should take your lumps,” he said.
“The good news is that the integrity commissioner did highlight that there was really no lasting harm here, but nonetheless one should learn from this and I think I’ve learned a lesson from it.”
Sulatycky told reporters Nenshi’s comments led Calgarians to believe city administration was embarking on “frolics that put citizens at some risk.”
“The only conclusion was that the mayor was just trying to make himself, or the city, sound good,” he said.