Excellent thread. Talking about the concerning trend of vulnerable road users facing more danger and discomfort isn’t alarmism, it’s about calling for the policies we know will save lives.

It was great of to sit down with Jake Sawatzky to talk shared #NewWest priorities for 2026, including supportive housing, the mental health & poison drug crises, infrastructure needs and train whistle cessation. I was also able to hand him a letter in support of the Summer Wage Subsidy program.

To be clear, he suggested that basketball courts attract the wrong "demographic" to our parks, and that pickleball would attract people *who look more like him*. And asked us to consider *who we want to attract* to our parks and public spaces. That wasn't a dogwhistle, that was a foghorn.

This is a really interesting read. And by interesting, I mean infuriating.

Many of the coolest people in #NewWest are proximal to this photo.

#Helsinki achieved zero road deaths in a year—without autonomous vehicles on its streets. They did it through road diets, car-free zones, and 30 km/h speed limits. Not by flooding the streets with robotaxis. (Waymo isn't allowed in #Finland.) To really save lives... 🧵

Nice to have a newspaper in #NewWest again! Our Capital budget for the next 5 years is ambitious - and I am still holding out hope that senior government infrastructure investments are going to help get us past this time of economic uncertainty. www.freshetnews.ca/new-westmins...

My thoughts about the success story the City of Victoria bike lanes have been #yyj #bikelanes open.substack.com/pub/bern99/p...

Current state of Canada’s elbows:

So the Major General just said “whelp, looks like you won” and went home!? A lot of soldiers got shot & equip got blowed up. Where was the long domestic terrorism trial? The linking it to Ghadaffi? The Bush Sr. speech about moral clarity in the face of an attack on America? Who got bombed?

Want a little hope for 2026? Amid the chaos/disruption of AI and government failure on climate, science is still delivering the goods. I have friends living & thriving post-HIV, and the next generation of women may never know cervical cancer. RFKjr is a flash in a pan, science is here to stay.

The worst part of this story, after the death itself, is that no investigation determining the causes will be released. A child died yet no-one has any power to determine what can be changed to prevent the next child being killed. Because cars. www.nsnews.com/local-news/n...

I was on the Early Edition this morning to talk about the year in housing, along with Michael Geller! Link to the full interview below. I'm always trying to articulate what matters most to me when it comes to housing: values, and people. Here's what I said about those today:

An (embarrassing) mastery of the passive voice, here.

Looking back at 2025, here is the first in my Top 10 (in no particular order) #NewWest accomplishments for 2025.

This is a really good Housing Crises 101. Hits (IMO) all the points that have led to our current housing crises, and is clear about where the solutions are. jacobin.com/2025/12/cana...

He @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social enjoy the podcast, but Brad West’s comments at the beginning are not me! www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...

Here’s where you can pick up the first Freshet newspaper in New West: Zesty Lemon Clothing Yum Donuts New West City Hall Queensborough CC təməsew̓txʷ CC Moody Park Arena New West Public Library Tourism New West Goodway’s Specialty Foods Groove Cat Books and Records Greens and Beans Deli #newwest

Songs you didn't know were Christmas Songs: Airbag by Radiohead. It describes as new star in the sky announcing the arrival of the savior of the universe. The Jingle Bells are a little on-nose. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNY_...

Last #NewWest Council meeting of the year was a big one. As always, my report tries to simple it down a bit. Share and enjoy. www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2025/12/coun...

Another budget discussion at #NewWest Council last night. Our Capital budget has 492 line items. After 3 years of complaining our infrastructure is lacking, NWP members voted *against* the capital budget with zero ideas of what they would change? (except vaguely "get someone else to pay for it").

Hey @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social thanks for asking the Minister about the Federal government commitments to Public Transit. The funding support is going the wrong direction: (extracts from the Dec 11 Mayor's Council meeting)

Everyone: doing anything fun this weekend? Me (looking at a 745 page Council report package):

Ugh. Trading off (or couldn't hold) a generational talent. Maybe I become a Habs fan now? At least make my father proud in his waning years...

The spirit was strong tonight at the annual Union Gospel Mission Christmas Dinner - dozens of volunteers served a bountiful turkey dinner to hundreds of wonderful #NewWest locals.

Have to admit, seeing faceless Facebook politicos posting character attacks against me while using the great photo Mario Bartel took of me for a story about me winning *Citizen of the Year* puts things in perspective. Proudly serving the #NewWest community in one capacity or another for 20 years!

My Compass Card Wrapped for 2025 no fancy graphics: 168 taps/transfers Top 5 stations: New West (46) Columbia (22) Metrotown (15) Sapperton (12) Stadium (10) Favourite bus stop (tie) 53497 Bay 3 @ 22nd St. 50913 B-line @ Commercial

“Bikelash is not something to resist or be afraid of, but rather to be embraced. …a sign your City is doing something right”. Amen. #LifeAfterCars @thewaroncars.bsky.social

What an embarrassing stunt by the NWP members of #NewWest Council today. These are not serious people. Afraid to tell the community what they would cut (except a couple of small items that have no real impact on our taxes) but talking out of both sides of their mouths while demanding tax cuts.

Practiced three times, already comfortable pronouncing it. Welcoming stal̕əw̓asəm to my #NewWest vocabulary! (pronunciation example included in link) www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/bridge-name/

This aligns with my argument that no-one hates (other) cars more than everyone in a car.

Carney is looking more like Stephen Harper every day of this government.

It was great to meet with and talk about small business networks with Aaron from the Better Way Alliance this week. Thank you Tasha for your great work bringing leaders from around the region together to coordinate advocacy during BC Buy Local Week! www.communityfirstnw.ca/local_busine...

Yesterday, the PBO said Canada can only afford to build 3.7% of the non-market housing that we need to address our going gap. Today Canada announced we bought $3.6 Billion worth of bombs. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Looks like no help from the Feds on Housing: "That modest contribution... would lead to the construction of just 26,000 new units over the next five years, 13,000 of which would be affordable homes for low-income households — or about 3.7 per cent of the housing gap" www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

This explains something that has always mystified me about drivers who rail against bike lanes and transit. Why WOULDN'T you want people to have options not to drive? It would make your own driving better! But they don't just want good traffic, they want to reinforce the NORM of driving

No dunk on our western suburb, but #NewWest is ramping up its support for arts, culture, & festivals in the City at a time when grant funding is harder to get. This starts with a 50% increase in our Community Grants program that supports many of the events that make #NewWest fun...

“Level set” count = 1

Hey #NewWest. See all these people pissed off about Vancouver's slash & burn budget? We're not doing that. We work to keep taxes in check but respect our residents when they tell us that public services matter and & worth the investment. pub-newwestcity.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...

Public Transit has a marketing problem in Canada. Not to customers (who love it) but to senior governments (who are apparently not even aware it exists). May I propose: "Transit. It's like a pipeline, but for people!"

Three points about E-scooters (& siblings): 🛴🛴🛴 E-mobility devices are here and are not going away; E-mobility devices can improve urban mobility, affordability, & livability; E-mobility devices are a novel safety challenge in our traditional transportation realm. What do we do about this? 🧵

👀

So we are just going to keep giving the ostriches grifters media coverage?

Hey #NewWest housing folks- there is an open house this evening 5:30 - 8:30 at Century House to talk about proposed OCP changes to facilitate infill density. Link for info here: www.newwestcity.ca/calendar-of-...

Excited #NeWest is making this announcement. I've enjoyed getting to know Donnie & am already inspired by her leadership style, infectious enthusiasm about local gov't making peoples lives better & her track record in recreation, local gov't & housing. Welcome! www.newwestcity.ca/city_hall/me...

Meeting Anna Zivarts at last week's @movementyvr.bsky.social event led to great conversations about equity in transportation planning. We won't achieve Vision Zero in #NewWest without centering human design & considering the increasing number of people for whom driving is not an option.

A new, 605-seat elementary school is coming to #NewWestminster 👏📚🏫 This is an investment in #NewWest future. This school will not only provide students with the space and tools they need to thrive, but it will also strengthen the community for generations to come. news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...

Vancouver becoming yet less Awesome.

It was a great morning as we gathered at Fraser Middle School to hear the Premier announcing the investment in a new elementary school with 605 seats in downtown #NewWest! Let’s get building! And the backing band was great too!

I know we’re all enjoying Mamdani-mania, but seeing straphanger, bicycle user, affordable housing champion, renter, better-policy wonk and mom @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social pull well ahead in the Seattle Mayor race has been inspiring! It was a fun campaign to watch from north of the line.