Oh, it’s not just VANOC ramping up the public-relations machine. Groups in the Downtown Eastside, knowing that all those international reporters are going to come looking for something to do in their spare time, are getting ready for the “here’s the dark heart of the glittering city” stories. Here’s my story on same in the […]

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This just out from the printing presses at city hall. The criticisms must be getting to them. Proposed 2010 budget protects homeless, environment, arts programs Property tax increase limited to 2% Staff will present the 2010 proposed operating budget to council today, which Mayor Robertson says invests in Council’s priorities despite difficult budget circumstances, and […]

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I’m continuing to hear complaints and suspicions grow about Vancouver’s draconian budget-cutting process, which started out with people feeling like “okay, it’s a recession, we need to bit the bullet” and is morphing into “why is it only Vancouver that seems to be going through a budget cataclysm while other municipalities are managing to pass […]

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Just back from the announcement about the new emergency shelter opening in the Downtown Eastside, an unusual one in that the building and cost of renos were donated by mainly by businesses, with the provincial government providing the money to run the shelter. AND all the permits and work got done in a miraculous seven […]

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The little bird from city hall (aka news release)  just told me that Mayor Gregor Robertson and Housing Minister Rich Coleman will be opening a new shelter for women in the Downtown Eastside this morning. This is the first of what you can expect to be several announcements along with line, as the city negotiates […]

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Great story here just up from Daphne Bramham at the Sun on the problem of illegal donations in Summerland. This isn’t the only council afflicted with this problem, but it sounds like this council has the biggest one.

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Here’s the Vancouver Sun’s recap of last night’s difficult park and library board meetings (though unfortunately doesn’t specify the third park board commissioner who voted against the cuts). Also a little confusing, as Loretta Woodcock says there are sponsors willing to fund the petting zoo and conservatory, but Ian Robertson makes it sound as though […]

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This just in from the communications staff at the library, who apparently don’t sleep. LIBRARY BOARD SETS 2010 BUDGET PRIORITIES (Vancouver, British Columbia) – Vancouver Public Library Board of Trustees this evening proposed to reduce operating hours at some Library branches, reduce staffing, collections and administrative budgets and to further discuss with City Council a […]

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As people are currently lined up tonight at park board and library board meetings, desperately trying to save parts of the system on the chopping block, I also got a note from the wife of a city hall employee about the sense of anxiety prevailing there. Please see it pasted below. All of which makes […]

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There’s no more exciting moment for some people in this town than when Vancouver hits the New York Times. Here’s the latest, a huuuuge article on Woodward’s.

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