“Kids want to belong, but they’ve lost trust [in adults].” -Dr Charlesworth [oof that hits hard]

“We default to what’s familiar, not what’s right.” -Dr Charlesworth

“2002-2008, there were tremendous cuts to youth services…. I think we let those young people down.” -Dr Charlesworth

Dispelling the Youth Crime Myth -No dramatic rise in youth violent crime -Increased visibility of crisis does not equate to increased criminality -Youth crime in Victoria peaked in mid-2000s -Recent year-to-year increases remain well below historical levels

Shifting gears slightly here, I’m at the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee AGM, with special guest speaker Dr Jennifer Charlesworth, BC Rep for Children and Youth. Some jarring facts: 1/x

Onto H3, Hammond's Council Member Motion: Request city staff to find best practises to implement rodent abatement program and bylaw. Addressing concerns he's hearing from North Park residents as a result of nearby building demolitions. Acknowledges that rats are a part of living in #yyj.

Onto H2, Council Member motion with @jeremycaradonnayyj.bsky.social: AVICC resolution re: pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Fossil Fuel Companies. Can't cover it too much because focused on my comments and following the conversation a little more closely than usual.

Back from break. Onto item H1: Council Member Motion advocacy to AVICC and UBCM for the Province to create enabling authorities allowing local govts to regulate carbon pollution from existing buildings. Put forward by @jeremycaradonnayyj.bsky.social and @davethompsonvic.bsky.social

Committee of the Whole for #yyjpoli has begun for the day. I'm personally excited for the motion Coun Caradonna and I are putting forward: an AVICC resolution to pursue a class-action lawsuit against fossil fuel companies. Let's goooo.

Waiting for your friend to text you photos from your hangout a while back is my version of waiting for photos to get developed. Anyway, good morning.

Reminder to all Metro Vancouver residents that access to The Globe and Mail is free online with a library card. This is a trial VPL program until April 2026 - so the more we use it, the better. #vanpoli

the knitters too. this is the top pattern on ravelry right now

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President: “By ending the decriminalization pilot, the Province is failing to treat addiction as a public-health issue, not a criminal one, and is doubling down on policies that have already caused immense harm to First Nations.“ www.ubcic.bc.ca/ubcic_deeply...

Passing through some additional bylaws quickly and unanimously: 2026 Temporary Borrowing, Amendment Bylaw for Delegation Bylaw, 1132+1134 Empress Ave Housing Agreement, 1029 Queens Ave Housing Agreement, and 2002 Richmond/1903, 1909 Birch/1769 Pembroke Street Housing Agreement.

Moving onto item F2. 1905+ 1907 Fort St/1923+1929 Davie St update:" "revised plans dated October 23, 2025 to incorporate various amenities and adjustments to bicycle and vehicle parking. The variances have been updated to reflect the new Town Centre District - 1 Zone (TCD-1)."

Back for the daytime Council meeting. Extensive presentation on Works and Services draft bylaws and regulatory directions. 45 minute presentation here: pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...

We have what looks like a deceptively shorter set of agendas for Council's consideration today. Mayor Alto leads us with a land acknowledgement. "When we make our decisions, we hope we reflect that history and honour it."

one payoff of being a bureaucracy understander is functionally achieving goal of ‘abolish ICE’ without the slogan and its political overhead. republicans know how to do this and have done it often

Just published a new Kairos article, in a different style than the usual: kairos-research.org/illness-trau... It describes my own experience with ME/CFS (a severe chronic illness) and tries to explain the strangely cruel behavior that people often display in response to visible illness.

But when we hide from the painful truth that our enemies are scared humans like we are, we ignore the social structures that actually need intervening in to stop this mess, and thus the demons that have a hold on the hearts of these colonizers laugh all the way to more destructive power

Aaaand I had to step out because of another Council commitment for the next hour. Coverage will be back if they don’t wrap up by the time I get back. If the timing doesn’t work out, reminder that we have an evening council and public hearing tonight. The Capital Iron lands are up for rezoning!

Onto Coun Gardiner's third Council Member Motion "requesting amendments to the Code of Conduct Bylaw to revise the complaint process and expand eligibility criteria for Complainants." [interesting that I'm named over and over in the document, but not in my colleague's direct remarks right now]

Moving onto Coun Gardiner's second Council Member Motion requesting Mayor Alto invite Dr Daniel Vigo to present to Council Committee of the Whole. [eep]

Onto Coun Gardiner's motion requesting Mayor Alto invite economist Warren Lovely, or qualified substitute, to provide a presentation to Council. Coleman checked and apparently that economist who spoke at UBCM didn't charge a speakers fee but everything else was covered by the National Bank.

Coun Caradonna's advocacy motion requesting the Mayor urge the Province to enshrine BC's Coastal Marine strategy into law passes unanimously.

I totally forgot to mention we broke for lunch... so we're back! Still on the agenda item around Council Procedures Bylaw Update. Very line-by-line approach right now.

Oh oh oh, this one is fun. A Councillors "may ONLY give notice of motion... by noon AT LEAST 13 DAYS before that meeting." This just adds one week to our current practice to provide better time for consideration, as well as staff awareness and input.

Onto Mayor Alto's Council Procedures Bylaw Update. Just cleaning up house to allow for flexibility for technical issues, for example, and rules clarifying procedures for speakers addressing Council, and permitting pre-recorded audio and video submissions for public hearings.

Onto staff report on membership fees. "A report outlining the organization-wide memberships the City holds and any additional payments made to the organizations." Mayor suggests that any proposals arising from this be submitted as a Council Member Motion afterward. It's just a report for receipt.

Onto the Heritage Designation Application for 1026 Empress Avenue. Pulled off consent by Coun Gardiner. Staff presentation ensues.

COTW for 2026 has begun. Mayor starts off by explaining that our new seating arrangement was established with a 8-sided die and two staff witnesses! I'm now sandwiched between Coun Dell and Coun Caradonna. Lots to get through today. Let's go.

Hi new followers! We’re about to embark on my weekly live coverage of City of Victoria Council meetings (every Thursday). It gets long and long winded. Just a friendly heads up that you’re about to see a lotta Robert’s rules of order. Sometimes there is stuff of substance!

Hi. shit remains bleak and I have a bill to pay this week so I can live indoors, and I need to ask for help. Please if you can pitch in, I greatly appreciate it e-transfer: [email protected]

My partner: Disney has a golden opportunity to do some BS “release from the vault” with their animated Robin Hood to double capitalize on our millennial nostalgia and millennial feelings of raging against this Hollywood machine. Me: sometimes I fear your mind.

I’ll be at the #yyj meet up tonight to feel what I haven’t felt in many years about the NDP: hope!

Soooo anyone else super not hype on 2026? Or have I been watching too much geopolitical military analysis the last few weeks?

Hoping journos following me see this and might know where to go?

The Madhu Centre has started a letter campaign for Baraa and other Palestinian students who are stuck in Gaza, awaiting a study permit that may never be issued. Baraa deserves an education. It’s a universal right. Act now: actionnetwork.org/.../canada-m.... Spread this far, spread this wide.

"Today, Canada has drifted into a paralyzing asset-inflation trap: rising home prices have become at once the financial cornerstone for millions of people and the key factor eroding affordability and distorting investment across the entire economy." Mostly hitting asset-rich income-strapped seniors

*screams in nostalgia for Occupy*

Friendly reminder to clear the leaves and debris from stormwater drains if you're out and about today. Cleared 5 this morning while out with the dog, and it's like being a kid again, playing with sticks and puddles! While helping with stormwater management! Urban play is good for everyone!

Commie Bop was exactly what my weary heart needed at the end of a long Council day. It’s magical to find yourself singing along to an a capella song about “times like these” with a room of intergenerational activists. Don’t get me started on the soft lighting that just rounded the whole thing out.💞

Hey #Vancouver - feeling the giving spirit? The DEWC needs more gifts for the 200 holiday hampers. They made it easy - you can order online and ship directly to them. Bring a little joy to someone @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social (maybe share?) www.listful.com/dewc/list/de...

Daytime Council meeting. It's pretty straightforward with a slew of previous Committee of the Whole meeting ratifications. Moving through consent agenda, then going into item by item pieces.

We wrap up COTW and will return soon to start the daytime Council meeting.

Onto item J2, Hammond's motion that requests the Mayor correspond with, and request to speak to, the BC Leg's Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and PMBs regarding proposed The Professional Reliance Act Bill (M216). Dell recuses from conflict of interest.

Onto new business. J1 Council Member Motion from Gardiner about hanging flower baskets. "A CMM directing staff to working with Destination Greater Victoria to support Victoria's hanging flower basket program through the collection of financial contributions."

Back from lunch, visiting item H2. "A verbal report providing the results of the feasibility assessment of adding or expanding a public swim dock within the Gorge Waterway and seeking Council direction prior to submitting a WAVE Prize grant application."

Onto item G1 around the property more locally known as the heritage Ukrainian Church that was arsoned a few years back. The report recommends the application go back to staff for developing a 11-unit multi-family rental building. 1909 Cook St and 1110/1112 Caledonia Avenue.