Cambie Report

OneCity Vancouver is in the midst of their mayoral nomination contest, so we spoke to the two candidates: William Azaroff and Amanda Burrows about why they want to lead the city. Learn more: William Azaroff Amanda Burrows

Just one year to go until voters across Metro Vancouver go to the polls to elect their next mayors and city councils. New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone joins Ian to preview the races to watch across the region, and whether Vancouver is facing a referendum or not. Life After Cars event on Nov 8 Vancouver residents will have say on park board’s future Mayor Ken Sim provides updated statement on Park Board referendum legislation Vancouver mayor cites ‘Indigenous title issue’ in fight to abolish park board Image via Wikimedia

Did you miss us? We’re back to talk UBCM, the preponderance of parties that will participate in next year’s election, the war of the Langleys and the wizard in the park. Links UBCM convention shows drift from ‘compassion fatigue’ to concern over crime and disorder | CBC News Codes of conduct and transit: UBCM convention sees municipal priorities pitted against provincial power | CBC News Vancouver city councillor kicked out of ruling party announces mayoral bid | CBC News Vancouver mayor’s former chief of staff starts new political party Vancouver Liberals B.C. Conservatives launch new municipal party before 2025 elections | Vancouver Sun Former federal Conservative minister to steer B.C. municipal party – Castanet.net Register of Elector Organizations Former Vancouver mayor launching court challenge of B.C.’s ‘at-large’ electoral system Former Vancouver mayor to challenge B.C.’s voting system in court | CBC News Fix City Hall War of the Langleys: governance tensions between township and city mayors spills into the open | CBC News Langley township mayor sues political rivals over social media accusations | CBC News This B.C. mayor promised to use $55M in real estate for charity. Now he’s ignored an order to open the books Richmond, B.C., Mayor Malcolm Brodie won’t seek re-election after 25 years in the role | CBC News Terrace-born Donny van Dyk is Vancouver’s new city manager Up to 24 months of full pay for Paul Mochrie, Vancouver’s departed city manager: Documents Vancouver mayor and ABC councillors broke code of conduct, city integrity commissioner rules | CBC News Integrity Commissioner Report COVIC-010: Complaint against Mayor Sim and Councillors Sarah Kirby-Yung, Lisa Dominato, Lenny Zh Concerns over secret meetings ‘politicized,’ Vancouver mayor says Proposal to suspend work of Vancouver’s integrity commissioner quietly fizzles out | CBC News Third-party report recommends more independence for Vancouver’s integrity commissioner | CBC News Release of City of Vancouver Code of Conduct By-law No. 12886 Review and Recommendations B.C. says it will strengthen oversight of municipal governments | Vancouver Sun Vancouver park board commissioner under fire for repeated absences: ‘Do you really want this job?’ Why Vancouver’s decision to host a Harry Potter attraction quickly became controversial | CBC News Bright Nights leaves Vancouver for Surrey, as Stanley Park train remains sidelined Vancouveratta: The X-Files, Vancouver, and a Legendary Backlash | MONTECRISTO

What’s in: Finance reports and new parties. What’s out: Speeding, garburators, disabled housing, Pride, Stanley Park Train and the Mayor’s Gym Links Byelection finance reports Administrative Monetary Penalties Posted Online | Elections BC Vancouver has a new civic party — the Vancouver Liberals Vancouver Liberals 30 km/h speed limits coming to local streets in Vancouver Garburators will officially be banned in Vancouver for a pricey reason Metro loses legal bid in feud over millions of documents in North Shore poo plant trial Housing for residents with disabilities put on hold due to lack of parking Vancouver Pride in peril? Parade will proceed despite losing nearly half its sponsors Stanley Park Train will be off the rails for 2025 | CBC News Ken Sim’s gym closes Vancouveratta – Vancouver’s fractured left cracks again

An emergency motion for a Lapu Lapu Day tragedy memorial event surprises even Filipino BC. The Kitsilano Coalition is happy to see the city concede on the planned supportive housing project. The Vancouver Renters’ Office also isn’t coming back anytime soon. Metro Vancouver and the Langleys debate governance and policing. But with luck, we’ll see a new worker-owned co-op news outlet in the Tri-Cities, Burnaby, and New West 00:55 Strange Developments: Lapu Lapu Day Tragedy Memorial06:35 Kitsilano Coalition’s Victory Against Supportive Housing09:20 Vancouver Park Board Controversy12:44 Vancouver Renter’s Office Debate15:47 Ken Sim’s Defamation Lawsuit17:24 Granville Street Entertainment District Plan27:43 Langley Policing Dispute32:09 Worker-Owned Co-op News Outlet34:42 Vancouveratta – Invasive Wall Lizards Links Community Update l Tuesday, June 3 — Filipino BC B.C. Filipino community group upset with Vancouver city council’s sudden Lapu Lapu Day memorial event decision Have the Doors Closed on New BC Supportive Housing? | The Tyee Dissolution of Vancouver Park Board on pause: City Motion to bring back Vancouver renter office defeated in tie vote – CTVNews Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim launches defamation lawsuit against former chief of staff and local businessman Car-free revival plan for Granville strip approved by Vancouver City Council | Urbanized Photo ready: City votes to install giant $1M Vancouver sign along waterfront | CBC News Metro Vancouver has 41 directors. After a governance review, will that change? | CBC News Under fire for wasteful spending, Metro Vancouver touts award for ‘excellence in financial reporting’ Former Premier Mike Harcourt calls for big changes at Metro Vancouver Policing ‘divorce’ going ahead between City and Township of Langley – BC | Globalnews.ca Save Our Local News Axed local reporters aim to launch first worker-owned co-op news outlet in Western Canada, covering Tri-Cities, Burnaby, New Westminster Vancouveratta The wall lizard invasion of Vancouver Island – Macleans.ca BC Bob | Oopsies | Instagram  

We mourn with everyone who lost friends and loved ones at the recent Lapu Lapu tragedy. In the coming months, we’ll be sure to follow the ongoing political fallout of the failures that led to this event. In the meantime, support the Kapwa Strong fundraiser. Looking back at the byelection, it should probably have been quite clear what was going to happen but few (besides Peter Meiszner) would have predicted Vancouver’s elections to be run so poorly. Plus we have a trove of fundraising data from the 2024 annual reports and the VPD are in the news for all the wrong reasons. Plus we remember the McBarge. Links Filipino BC – Kapwa Strong fundraiser ‘Hard to accept’ festival attack suspect was under mental health care: Vancouver mayor – CTV News City of Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu festival planning called into question compared to other events High interest and 62% cut in staffing lead to major lines in Vancouver byelection | CBC News Chief Election Officer declares candidates elected | City of Vancouver By-election results Anonymous ballot marking — City of Vancouver Open Data Portal Vancouver mayor to reflect on resident satisfaction following party’s byelection defeats | CBC News Vancouver’s byelection a story of big lines, big passion, and ABC coping with a big loss | CBC News ‘We got our butts handed to us:’ ABC Vancouver pledges to learn from byelection defeat – Dan Fumano What can we learn from the 2024 annual reports – Cambie Report VPD whistleblower alleges ‘Task Force Barrage’ arrest quotas – BC | Globalnews.ca Unredacted email from alleged anonymous VPD officer Vancouver Police Department to be over budget by millions: report Former Vancouver Police Board member questions budget approval process for $5M crackdown on DTES crime – CTVNews Vancouveratta – McBarge Iconic Expo 86 ‘McBarge’ capsizes in Fraser River | CBC News Justin McElroy : “i had to say goodbye with one drawing and one song” — Bluesky Abandoned BC Ferry on fire in Mission  

“I’m sorry” – Ken Sim about five times in the last month. Also featuring Annette Reilly of the Vancouver Green’s statement. Links Vancouver byelection: Seven candidates from five parties make their pitch Vancouver sees 2,876 ballots cast on first day of advance voting for byelection Byelection candidates question ABC Vancouver’s debate absence ‘Oops’: Vancouver mayor apologizes for series of recent slip-ups Vancouver municipal council by-election candidate forced to apologize for e-mail outreach to police officers A Police Union Leader’s Controversial Run for Vancouver Council | The Tyee Audio leaked of Vancouver byelection candidate discussing running mate – BC | Globalnews.ca Ken Sim Bitcoin video (Bitcoin) ABC Vancouver’s ‘repudiation of the rule of law’ shows gap in B.C.’s municipal oversight, Ombudsperson says Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim gets booed at Juno Awards | News Candidates for Vancouver Municipal Party Say They Attended Multiple Events with Conspiratorial Far-Right Groups By Accident Policies/platforms ABC Vancouver COPE Vancouver Greens OneCity TEAM Vancouveratta Bure once helped pull off the ultimate Vancouver Canucks April Fools’ prank | Sports

We turned the mics over to the candidates for the Vancouver byelection so you can hear directly from them. Featuring Lucy Malone (OneCity), Colleen Hardwick (TEAM), Sean Orr (COPE), Jaime Stein (ABC) and Theodore Abbott (TEAM). Unfortunately, we didn’t receive clips from Ralph Kaisers (ABC) or Annette Reilly (Greens) by our deadline.

With 38 days until the Vancouver by-elections, we delve into the DUI allegations against Mayor Ken Sim, which were reportedly dismissed by police investigations. We discuss Task Force Barrage, a new initiative targeting organized crime and public safety. As well: Rebecca Bligh and is out of ABC, Adam Palmer is out of the VPD – the latter by choice. ABC announces its byelection candidates. And, Surrey withdraws from the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy, community newspapers close and our Vancouveratta. Links Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, police, cleared of ‘baseless’ DUI allegation – BC | Globalnews.ca OPCC says allegations against Vancouver mayor ‘baseless’ but won’t publish report Vancouver mayor, police to roll out plan to tackle crime, public safety concerns After four decades of policing in Vancouver, Chief Adam Palmer retires ABC Vancouver Introduces By-Election Candidates VDLC Endorses Vancouver City Council Byelection Candidates Vancouver Coun. Rebecca Bligh kicked out of ABC caucus | CBC News Leaked document shows new plan by Vancouver city council to alter the Downtown Eastside – The Globe and Mail Vancouver council gets update on efforts to ‘uplift’ Downtown Eastside – BC | Globalnews.ca ABC Vancouver park board politicians violated policy on open meetings, watchdog finds Integrity Commissioner Report PBIC-003: Complaint against Vancouver Park Board Commissioners Bastyovanszky, Christensen, Haer, H City of Surrey to withdraw from Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy Tax dollars subsidized IKEA, The Brick electric vehicles, Metro Vancouver board hears – BC | Globalnews.ca Burnaby Now, New Westminster Record, Tri-City News to close Vancouveratta: The Vancouver Daily World – Wikipedia  

Byelection candidates, supportive housing pause, Metro Van boycott and the Delta Police spark an international incident. Links OneCity candidate – Lucy Maloney: OneCity Vancouver By-election Candidate COPE – COPE Nominates Local Housing Activist and Writer Sean Orr as By-Election Candidate — COPE Vancouver Greens – Annette Reilly – Green Party of Vancouver beats Pamela Dudas – Green Party of Vancouver TEAM – Colleen Hardwick and Theodore Abbott Vancouver mayor rejects new supportive housing projects, promises ‘crackdown’ on gangs – CTVNews Two ABC Vancouver councillors question Ken Sim’s plan to ‘freeze’ new supportive housing B.C. housing minister says Vancouver’s plan for Downtown Eastside could increase crime | CBC News Downtown Eastside at ‘tipping point’ as London Drugs considers leaving Woodward’s building Vancouver mayor to boycott Metro Vancouver meetings over ‘broken’ governance – BC | Globalnews.ca B.C. fires Victoria School Board over ban on police in schools | CBC News End to public access at some Vancouver school fields has neighbourhood group frustrated | CBC News This is the proposed car-free transformation of the Granville Entertainment District Summer boozing allowed at 7 Vancouver beaches on ‘permanent basis’ – CTVNews Shelter is Survival – BC Civil Liberties Association Kelowna blows past provincial housing target 30 metre-long B.C. fence along stretch of U.S. border sparks international investigation | CBC News Border fence erected along stretch of Canada-U.S. border now taken down – BC | Globalnews.ca. Revelstoke city council votes to rescind 1985 policy forbidding nuclear weapons – Salmon Arm News – Castanet.net Here’s why Vancouver has ‘nuclear weapons free zone’ signs ‘It’s not a fight we’ve won’: Vancouver’s iconic nuclear war activists renew calls for peace | CBC News

Two byelections at the same time folks. With Vancouver’s longest-serving councillor, Adriane Carr, stepping down and Christine Boyle’s election to the BC Legislature, Vancouver needs two new councillors. We look at the race and everything else that’s happened recently. Links Vancouver Coun. Adriane Carr resigns, setting up 2-seat byelection | CBC News Vancouver council confirms details of 2-seat byelection on April 5 | CBC News Team promises 2 candidates Hardwick confirms her interest Vote Socialist takes a pass But Sean Orr seeks COPE nomination Bob Kronbauer: The NPA is gone and nobody gives a crap VANCOUVER POLITICAL PARTIES UNITED IN DEMANDING ELECTIONS BC DISCIPLINE FOR KEN SIM PARTY’S CAMPAIGN FINANCE IRREGULARITIES Opposition parties demand Elections BC complete investigation before Vancouver by-election You may have to pay to spray as Vancouver considering water metering for all homes, buildings Vancouver city council votes to look into residential water metering – BC | Globalnews.ca Vancouver property tax to increase by 3.9% in 2025 Vancouver City Council approves 2025 operating and capital budget with 3.9% property tax increase No, Vancouver is not that unsafe, actually – Ian’s article on crime Burnaby unveils ‘housing library’ for pre-reviewed multiplex home designs Standardized designs arrive to help build more homes faster BC Court of Appeal social housing judgement Eby says there ‘will be affordable social housing’ in Kits neighbourhood, despite pushback – BC | Globalnews.ca Kingsgate Mall: Developer wins multi-million-dollar rent battle with Vancouver School Board – BC | Globalnews.ca BC Supreme Court Beedie vs VSB judgement Palestinian Symbols Banned at Vancouver Public Library Vancouver Public Library staff banned from wearing watermelon pins to show support for Palestine Vancouver mayor defends bitcoin motion, says it’s better than gold | CBC News New West to become first B.C. city restricting the delivery of graphic abortion images ‘There is nothing historic about Peachland,’ argues councillor in debate over welcome signs Hidekazu Tojo – Wikipedia California roll – Wikipedia

Two-years of Ken Sim, Crab Park residents evicted, some upcoming byelections, Burnaby affordable housing requirements axed, New West mayor chastised and Surrey gets its first weed store. Links Q&A: Ken Sim reflects on two-year anniversary as Vancouver mayor Chip Wilson Day Vancouver’s CRAB Park residents left with few options as eviction looms | CBC News 13 local politicians were elected to the B.C. Legislature. Not all are giving up their municipal roles | CBC News Christine Boyle announces resignation from Vancouver city council Burnaby eliminates affordable rental requirement in low-income neighbourhood New West mayor’s all-expenses paid trip to Dubai breached ethics rules: Commissioner Green light: Surrey council approves 12 new pot stores across the city Metro Vancouver approves 25.3% increase to regional tax bill in 2025 Metro Vancouver sells land set aside for Bowen Island Campground Paradox Hotel Vancouver – Wikipedia

Council controversies: Brian Montague’s integrity commissioner review, Vancouver’s rollback on climate action policies, and the city’s purchase of an almost completed market rental building. Delayed suicide prevention barriers on Granville Bridge, TransLink’s funding crisis, and the debate over Vancouver’s view cones. Cities try to meet the deadline to pass multiplex bylaws, except West Vancouver. City council and the park board battle over bike lanes in the West End. And we dig into a heavily redacted FOI on when Ken Sim decided to move to abolish the Park Board. Links 01:57 Integrity Commissioner Review 05:05 Climate Action Report and Natural Gas Debate 09:47 Granville Bridge Suicide Barriers Delayed (see also re debris) Vancouver to get new dedicated bus lanes on these key routes 13:43 TransLink Funding Crisis and Potential Cuts 21:08 View Cones Debate 26:43 City Purchases Market Rental Building 30:36 Ken Sim’s Quick Fix for Kits Pool 33:37 Bike Lane Battle: Park Board vs. Council 36:06 FOI Requests and Park Board Abolishment FOI fight 43:01 Provincial Housing Compliance and West Vancouver’s Defiance 45:55 Surrey’s Push for a City Charter 48:33 NIMBYs Oppose New Fire Station 50:56 Vancouver’s New Sign and Historical Homages 53:45 Farewell to AM 730 Traffic Radio Outro audio credit: TikTok @unCOUVER

The latest threat to neighbourhood character: Young children. Also: Paying people to speak at public hearings, selling off school board land, staffing the mayor’s office, banning Hookah shops, developing Coquitlam and Burnaby. Links Vancouver graffiti for climate change action (inspiration for the song Heat Dome) Dan Fumano: How a Vancouver neighbourhood fought, and defeated, a daycare Dan Fumano: Vancouver parents desperate for daycare slam city hall rejection Dan Fumano: Vancouver councillors promise action after daycare’s rejection Rental housing tower approval rescinded after developer paid supporters in public hearing Vancouver School Board tells judge it is considering selling a prime piece of land – The Globe and Mail New staff at the Mayor’s Office A look at who’s who in Ken Sim’s office Vancouver bylaw official tries to close hookah shops – Retail & Manufacturing Era of building single-family home neighbourhoods is over: Coquitlam mayor Coquitlam should build ‘conventional’ townhomes: councillor Why Burnaby Decided to Develop Its Own Housing | The Tyee This Pride anthem was written in Vancouver — inspired by a local landmark | CBC News

We can’t have nice things: We can’t have a spa, we can’t have the polar bears, we can’t have a mural, we can’t have the RCMP in Surrey, we can’t have temporary modular housing and we can’t have water. But we can have a beer at Khatsalano. Links Vancouver mayor shotguns beer at outdoor festival | CBC.ca Councillor doesn’t regret shotgunning drink with Vancouver mayor, does regret it was vodka cream soda | CBC News Decision on Surrey Police Service ensures public safety in Surrey, the province | BC Gov News 5 things to know as B.C. orders Surrey to continue transition to municipal police force Surrey police decision draws mixed reaction | CityNews Vancouver Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke to ‘explore options’ as B.C. shuts down bid to stay with RCMP Missing middle housing motion set for Vancouver city council vote – Real Estate Could the Missing Middle Solve the Housing Crisis? | The Walrus Dan Fumano: Modular housing was meant to be temporary. ABC wants to make sure it stays that way After 15 Years, Little Mountain’s Housing Promise Still Looks Empty | The Tyee Some Vancouver residents unhappy about park board leaving Vancouver ponds dry | CBC News Vancouver hands out more than $71000 in water restriction fines as drought intensifies Relief in the works to help with Stanley Park’s weekend traffic jams | Vancouver Sun Vancouver orders removal of ‘iconic’ rat mural at Commercial Drive brewery – BC | Globalnews.ca Dan Fumano: Politicians ‘must be open to critique’: Vancouver staff respond to council’s effort to stifle criticism Nearly 11000 abusive tweets targeted Vancouver and Surrey election candidates Vancouveratta The Stanley Park Zoo, A Vancouver Institution Until 1996 – Scout Magazine A spa in Stanley Park’s polar bear enclosure? Park board chair would ‘love to see’ idea move forward | CBC News Justin McElroy video on the spa idea We also can’t ever have perfect audio quality – apologies for the bit of echo in here, we reduced as much as we could.

Surrey policing drama, disqualifications, ethics issues, car-free pilots and mean girls. Links Olivia Chow requests to take office July 12, says first order of business is housing Surrey mayor threatens to call for inquiry into policing transition after Farnworth’s ultimatum Surrey mayor levels allegations of bullying and misogyny as policing debate shows no sign of ending | CBC News Surrey mayor declined meetings with Surrey Police while reinstating RCMP – The Globe and Mail Rob Shaw: RCMP union tells province to respect Surrey council’s wish to retain its Mounties force – Economy, Law & Politics | Business in Vancouver Locke campaigning hard for case for retaining Surrey RCMP – Surrey Now-Leader Surrey finds councillor in conflict of interest | CityNews Vancouver Surrey Ethics Commissioner Investigation Report: Complaint M0323 Progress Vancouver Deregistered, Candidates Disqualified | Elections BC Mark Marissen statement Electoral Area A candidates fail to file election finance statements | Georgia Straight Vancouver’s News & Entertainment Weekly ABC Vancouver councillor blocks citizen on Twitter, triggers integrity commissioner review Mihai Cirstea tweets re Yew St What does this puzzling new Vancouver road marking mean? Follow up tweets Brynn Davidson tweet Vancouver permit board conditionally approves controversial Chinatown condo project | CBC News Estimated $360,000 cost to repair Stanley Park miniature train | Urbanized Documents reveal funding issues, safety concerns for shuttered Stanley Park train – BC | Globalnews.ca ‘Deeply unserious city’: Vancouver park slide removed due to noise complaints New West school trustee faces calls to resign for using a fake Twitter account to troll New Westminster parents, school board call on trustee to resign for Twitter trolling | CBC News North Vancouver RCMP explain why demonstrators aren’t being removed from Highway 1 overpasses | CTV News West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager investigated for workplace bullying – North Shore News ‘We’re not going to allow it in our city’: Port Coquitlam bans open drug use in public | Globalnews.ca Township of Langley exploring ways to save Twilight Drive-In – BC | Globalnews.ca Slices of the city: A brief history of Vancouver told through pizza

Ken Sim clears Hastings Street and has thoughts on housing. Brenda Locke stands by her interpretation of a meeting. Links Vancouver police, city staff begin removing encampment on East Hastings Street | CBC News City of Vancouver document calls for using police to speed up clearing DTES street camps Back on Vancouver’s Hastings Street with no tent, no mattress and nowhere to go Vancouver readies ‘quick response teams’ in case tents return to East Hastings  Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim brings in outside experts to review city budget City of Vancouver to pre-zone Cambie Corridor properties to speed up 1600 new townhomes Team behind Army & Navy project asks city to approve new development – The Globe and Mail Plan to build single-family home on nine-foot-wide Vancouver lot rejected by city Justin McElroy on Twitter: “Ken Sim floats the idea..” Vancouver to allow drinking in public plazas year-round Statement from the Mayor: Metro Vancouver Mayor’s Committee Unanimously Supports Retaining Surrey RCMP Surrey RCMP comments from mayor misleading: councillors | CityNews Vancouver Surrey mayor stands by statements as rivals accuse her of issuing ‘false press release’ Can You Attend a Vancouver School Board Meeting In Person? | The Tyee Editorial: Bring back my favourite cancelled show Illegally-installed plaques commemorating a Vancouver bus route a mystery, says city

Vancouver passes a budget that “sucks” and kills the Living Wage. Progress Vancouver admits to breaking election financing laws. And the City is clearing tents and considering a new hotel. Meanwhile, Burnaby is running an “alternative approval process” for a green waste facility, Surrey cops allege conflicts of interest and Harrison Hot Springs appeals to the Inspector of Municipalities to fix its council. Mission school board has banned an extremist group from future presentation and Coquitlam council applauds pro-LGBTQ+ students. And how you can be in the City of Vancouver’s Book of Freedoms. Links Vancouver passes new budget with 10.7% property tax increase | CBC News Text of ABC budget amendment Why can one Metro Vancouver municipality keep property taxes much lower than others? City of Vancouver backs away from living wage pledge after council vote in closed meeting | CBC News Statement on City of Vancouver’s decision to withdraw as Living Wage Employer Working for a Living Wage Report Defeated Vancouver mayoral hopeful Marissen accepted an illegal loan for Progress Vancouver campaign – Economy, Law & Politics Progress Vancouver financing report Vancouver’s efforts to remove DTES tent city residents “a violation of human rights”: advocate 32-storey hotel with 578 rooms and rooftop destination restaurant proposed for downtown Vancouver (RENDERINGS) Have your say: Burnaby residents can vote on removal of parkland for green waste facility Burnaby asks voters to decide on removing 21 acres of parkland Alternative approval process for local government – Province of British Columbia City opens feedback opportunity for park dedication removal | City of Burnaby (forms here)  Surrey Police Union requests ethics probe into councillor | CityNews Vancouver Surrey Council Code of Conduct Bylaw, 2020, No. 20020 Chaos at council: Harrison Hot Springs politicians beg for help | Fraser Valley Current BC school district bans anti-LGBTQ group from presenting at board meetings – Campbell River Mirror ‘You had us at hello,’ Coquitlam mayor tells Best students for Pride flag, event – Tri-City News Freedom of the City | City of Vancouver Freedom of the City honorees prior to 2010 | City of Vancouver   Photo credit: flickr/Taylor McBride

Elections BC has released the financial reports from the 2022 municipal elections and we can see how efficient each party’s spending was. Meanwhile, the staff report from the Climate Emergency Action Plan is pretty bleak and ABC opted to slash the climate justice charter from its further implementation. This prompted a question of whether ABC is predetermining outcomes of council votes (probably), which is better than in New West where they just have too many votes. Back in Vancouver, successful votes mean social housing near the Italian Cultural Centre and the end of the single use cup fee. It also means the end of the Stanley Park bike lane – at least until another round of consultations is completed on installing a permanent lane. Until then, feel free to join Critical Mass once again on the last Friday of every month. The cops and nurses plan turns out to be just cops. Langley SkyTrain is on track. And Surrey homeowners will pay more but not 55% more. And in schools, Vancouver removes a racists’ name, Coquitlam students want pride events and Chilliwack residents want to ban books. In our Vancouveratta, Cultus Lake sure is nice. Links Adding missing middle housing and simplifying regulations in low density neighbourhoods | Shape Your City Vancouver 2022 General Local Elections Disclosure Statements Available ABC Vancouver spent $2M to elect Ken Sim and running mates Local political parties in B.C. nearly double their spending in 2022’s election compared to 2018 | CBC News ‘A positive vibe’: 100 days in, Vancouver’s mayor talks about the goals of SimCity | CBC News Kareem Allam resigns as Mayor’s chief of staff Climate Emergency Action Plan staff presentation Climate equity working group ‘disappointed’ after Vancouver city council rejects climate justice charter | CBC News Fry suggests ABC caucused before meeting In New Westminster, heightened emotions about many more motions Vancouver approves social housing near Italian Cultural Centre Vancouver city council gets rid of single use cup fee Stanley Park temporary bike lane to be removed, debate over permanent lane to continue for another year | CBC News “Mad as hell”: Critical Mass Vancouver returns following Stanley Park bike lane decision Follow @CriticalMassVan Re-funding the police? No plan for Vancouver to hire 100 mental health nurses to pair with cops | CTV News Surrey-Langley SkyTrain line on track to open in late 2028, project director tells Surrey council Surrey tax increase proposed to fund RCMP | CityNews Vancouver Justin McElroy on Twitter: “The Vancouver School Board has unanimously approved changing the name of Lord Roberts Elementary. It follows a multi-year campaign by the parent advisory council, who said the name was inappropriate given Roberts’ use of concentration camps during the Boer War.” / Twitter Coquitlam students make emotional plea for Pride event to show they’re ‘not alone’ New-look Chilliwack school board spars over library books and parental rights Cultus Lake, British Columbia – Wikipedia CULTUS LAKE PARK BOARD CULTUS LAKE PARK BOARD INFORMATION

Motions are passing unanimously at council but marginally more controversially at Park Board. The planning department is a mess, as is policing south of the Fraser. And sculptures! Links Boyle nonprofit housing motion passes Vancouver City Council approves exploring expediting social housing up to 12 storeys  Text of the Klassen amendment  Hardwick abstained from speaking CAC motion passes  Vancouver Park Board approves immediate removal of Stanley Park Drive bike lane  Thousands of Vancouver housing units in limbo in tug-of-war between developers, city planners – The Globe and Mail City of Vancouver must reconsider controversial Chinatown development application, court rules  Court ruling  In defense of the “gentrification building”  Surrey council votes to scrap police transition, B.C. public safety minister responds Surrey policing: ‘Power politics’ at play in final decision, says criminologist Langley, the township, is interested in breaking up with Langley, the city, on RCMP costs | CBC News New Langley Township council looks to throw out predecessors’ plans Port Moody mayor fined $200 by Elections BC over campaign’s phone-call promotions West Vancouver mayor issued citation by Law Society of B.C. over handling of will | CBC News Kamloops mayor recuses himself from entire council meeting in ‘surprising’ move | CBC News Security company says Kamloops mayor directed presence to his auto dealership Colin Basran investigated Housing on the way to support people living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside | BC Gov News Vancouver elementary school renamed wek̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm in Musqueam name gifting ceremony | CBC News Move the East Van cross? 217.5 Arc x 13 | Vancouver Biennale