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Entries from January 2016

Downtown Eastside plan “is at least a start,” say residents

March 18th, 2014 · 10 Comments

It was heartbreaking, for those who were listening to the council delegations Friday and Saturday, to hear some of the stories of people from the Downtown Eastside who came to argue for more from the city’s plan for the area. They recounted horrific things that had happened to them, as they asked for a red-light […]

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Massive Oakridge redevelopment okayed by Vancouver council saying it’s the city’s green, urban future

March 17th, 2014 · 52 Comments

Hard to keep up with all the major thingies getting approved by council these days. Oakridge was Friday, where it was fascinating to see two very different views come out among councillors among what it all means. For the Visionistas, this is the exciting new future. For the opposition (NPA, Green), this redevelopment is a […]

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Vision conditions set for approving Oakridge

March 14th, 2014 · 49 Comments

In case you couldn’t follow everything Coun. Raymond Louie just said in moving approval of Oakridge, he added these conditions: THAT staff ensure there is space set aside within the kitchen of the community centre for the exclusive use of seniors and that a joint use agreement between the seniors and the Park Board is […]

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Vancouver mayor goes after lawsuit filer, demanding special costs

March 13th, 2014 · 28 Comments

So the mayor has hired one of the province’s best-known (and presumably not cheap) lawyers to file a response to the lawsuit recently initiated by Cedar Party leader Glen Chernen over the HootSuite lease. (See previous blog post for the lawsuit.) Joe Arvay didn’t just set out a defence. This we’re-fighting-back lawsuit is also asking […]

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Canada Line’s unusual financing scheme still generates interest and debate

March 13th, 2014 · 26 Comments

We all think we know the Canada Line inside out and we take it for granted. But it turns out others don’t. This American organization asked me to write about it, which made me realize, as I was doing my research, how preoccupied we had been with other parts of the story during the years […]

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Cities poll: Watts 73 per cent approval in Surrey, where crime the biggest fear; Robertson 52 per cent, affordable housing tops the worry list

March 9th, 2014 · 106 Comments

This poll out today from Insights West, with mayoral approval ratings, city ratings on handling of various issues (Vancouver’s disapproval over growth and development is at 42 per cent), and biggest areas of concern. I’m struck by the low number of undecideds in Vancouver and Surrey. Usually it’s higher than that in polling taken at […]

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Grandview-Woodlands council election turns into tussle among different interests

March 9th, 2014 · 98 Comments

News just in that former GWAC president Jak King, who’s been very vocal about opposition to city plans for the neighbourhood, is stepping down from a run for the neighbourhood council again in a year where it appears (from his email below) that groups not in entire agreement with his opposition have mobilized to run. […]

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Remembering International Women’s Day in Afghanistan, the hope and the reality

March 8th, 2014 · 3 Comments

Ten years ago, I spent a couple of months in Kabul stationed at the Canadian base. In those early days, I had what seems now like unthinkable freedom to roam around town. One of my favourite stories I did there was about International Women’s Day, which included going to the local stadium where a lot […]

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Downtown Eastside plan puts 80 per cent of $1-billion total investment into housing

March 6th, 2014 · 117 Comments

There is a lot of meat to pick over in the city’s Downtown Eastside plan, even though lots and lots of details are still missing. Last week, we got the quick overview: $1-billion to go into the area overall over the next 30 years, diversity of housing, protection of community businesses and services aimed at […]

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Vancouver police chief contract extended five years

March 4th, 2014 · 19 Comments

So I guess this means no run for mayor, for sure 🙂 The Vancouver Police Board is pleased to announce that it has granted a request from Chief Constable Jim Chu to extend his contract until August 2017. Jim Chu became Chief in August 2007 when he signed a five year contract. In 2010, it […]

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