Suzanne Anton
The city-owned property at Fraser and Broadway is one of the most spectacular in the City’s portfolio. There’s a breathtaking view to the north, and the 99 B-line stops right in front of the building every couple of minutes. Excellent public transportation, a major intersection, and a large piece of land: Not a bad spot for a signature building.
The property has been designated for social housing for some time. The proposal, which came to public hearing at Council, was for an 11-storey building with eight floors (103 units) of social housing; three floors (24 units) of modest market housing; retail on Broadway and a new space for the Broadway Youth Resource Centre.
Neighbours were concerned with the height and the number of social housing units. When it came to the vote, the Vision councillors cut off the three rental floors, then added the qualifier: ‘If you can re-make
the building to add rental, go ahead, but only within the eight-storey envelope.’
This was a false hope. BC Housing has no more money to redesign the building and the housing provider, Vancouver Native Housing Society, won’t be able to do it on their own. Read more...
Originally published by:
Vancouver Sun
Friday Juy 23, 2010
Page A13, Issues & Ideas
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson caused offence and dismay recently when he called a group of citizens "F---ing NPA hacks." Citizens had been waiting for more than eight hours to make a respectful and well-thought-out presentation to council about an issue that would have significant consequences for their community.
In that moment, Robertson made a mockery of the public process upon which council depends and created an image of himself that will be difficult to dispel.
His excuse of "frustration" is weak. His followup excuse, "EcoDensity made me do it" is even weaker.
After more than 18 months in office, personal responsibility is probably the better approach. But what is this "public process" everyone talks about? It is a term repeated often at council. Members of every political organization claim to be the one true party most committed to hearing from the public. Vision Vancouver ran -- and was elected -- promising "public process" and "accountability." No wonder so many Vancouverites are feeling let down.
Read more...
Originally published by:
Vancouver Sun
Photograph courtesy: Glenn Baglo, PNG
Miro Cernetig has written an adoring portrait of Gregor Robertson, the mayor with the handsome face and nimble feet. But Cernetig forgot to mention a few others who love that chiselled jaw. For example:
- Chickens. They love the mayor. Their chicken brothers, sisters and cousins can all retire to Vancouver. And if they wear out their welcome in somebody's back yard, they can always move to the mayor's $20,000 shelter for homeless chickens. Plus, of course, he'll hire "people" to feed and care for them. And the "Freedoms of Chickens" manifesto (yep, this is no joke) ensures the cluckers won't actually have to do any work. They won't even have to lay eggs if they jolly well don't want to.
Originally published by:
Vancouver Sun
Miro Cernetig has written an adoring portrait of Gregor Robertson, the mayor with the handsome face and nimble feet. But Cernetig forgot to mention a few others who love that chiselled jaw. For example:
- Chickens. They love the mayor. Their chicken brothers, sisters and cousins can all retire to Vancouver. And if they wear out their welcome in somebody's back yard, they can always move to the mayor's $20,000 shelter for homeless chickens. Plus, of course, he'll hire "people" to feed and care for them. And the "Freedoms of Chickens" manifesto (yep, this is no joke) ensures the cluckers won't actually have to do any work. They won't even have to lay eggs if they jolly well don't want to.
- Developers of privately owned West End rental units in new and unexpected highrise towers. By some twisted logic, His Worship has decreed that these units are a "public good," which means city taxpayers have to help pay for them. West End residents aren't so sure: they think improvements to their library or community centre would better qualify as a real "public benefit."
- Union members (police, fire, nurses and teachers) who'll be getting preferential treatment when it comes to renting the new Olympic Village units. His argument? We need "first responders" close to the city centre for when and if the Big Quake strikes. Some taxpayers seem to think that they don't need to subsidize well-paid union members, but, hey, what do they know?
- Headhunters. The mayor has let so many of our most talented city staff slip out the door that he's keeping headhunting and recruitment firms busy trying to refill those spots. Seems city staffers aren't happy with the extent to which he's politicized the public service, so they're outta there.
- Housing advocates who don't 'get' the math, and seem to think no price is too high for social housing. They love the mayor too. They conveniently ignore the fact that $100 million spent on 126 social housing units in the Olympic Village would buy as many as 500 units elsewhere in the city. Or, that same $100 million could rebuild the aging Britannia Centre, with a 50-metre pool and a recreation and arts centre, all of which are desperately needed in northeast Vancouver.
- Dogs, and other people who like to be outdoors. Mayor Gregor (a. k.a. Gregor the Green) used to be "their" guy, but they're reportedly losing faith rapidly. Why? Because for some reason, His Worship refuses to consider creating additional green space in Northeast False Creek, even though the area will have many thousands more new residents than first planned.
- Those who think democracy just gets in the way of quick decisions. The mayor's pattern of cutting off or restricting debate makes for a weak council and a municipal government that simply runs over the wishes of the citizens. Late reports and decisions made without public input are signs of an arrogance that begins at the top, in the mayor's office. But for those who believe in the my-way-or-the-highway style of government, that's just fine.
