It's fascinating the tone that Ken Sim & ABC is sending out re proposed budget. "I'm very proud of this budget" "We're maintaining public safety & community grants!" etc. When the key message could be "These are tough times & this is a tough budget, & it will require tough decisions..." #vanpoli

Vancouver Council discussion around covering policing overages is verrrry telling this morning. Worth watching: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gree...

A small example of how DTES/HxBIA are often overlooked when it comes to simple city infrastructure: This past weekend, @CityofVancouver installed a new concrete island on E Cordova — a well-intentioned pedestrian crosswalk upgrade. But HxBIA was informed only 3 days before install

"How Are the Very Rich Feeling About New York’s Next Mayor?" A Dramatic Reading of The Recent New York Times Dispatch from the Hamptons. Presented by The Gilded Age's Morgan Spector.

excellent comments from three councillors in response to the mayor/police

I've been a critic of Task Force Barrage in DTES since it started, largely due to its lack of coordination and holistic approach to public safety, esp in an over-policed community facing severe poverty. I received an advance update last week on what's next, and here are my thoughts. 🧵 #vanpoli

Quelle suprise. Of particular note: Former VPD officer Montague refusing to cooperate with the investigation. Between this & the slow-rolling of FOI requests on "stranger attacks" during the election is highly suggestive of a culture of unaccountability at the VPD, & probably the model for ABC.

Vancouver’s Integrity Commissioner has found Mayor Ken Sim and ABC councillors broke the code of conduct on multiple occasions for coordinating amendments to controversial motions in separate private online conversations ahead of public council meetings

This this this 100%. "We do complex things all the time when we decide they matter enough to create proper governance structures. The Downtown Eastside crisis isn’t unsolvable. It’s unmanaged. There’s a difference." vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

This story is incredibly disturbing. Specific crime numbers actually coming down, despite an increase in media releases. Failure to comply with serious FOI requests. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Oof this recap of Mayor Sim’s speech is so cringe

A detailed recap of the mayor’s speech today at a bitcoin conference, which his office said he was doing in his personal capacity

This is an exciting update! I’ve seen the impact on the sea floor of losing these creatures, and it’s been brutal. Hoping we can work toward restoring these sun star populations soon! www.cbc.ca/news/science...

A world class event having to cancel despite offering alternative options. All at the expense of a corrupt organization taking over our city. globalnews.ca/news/1131522...

The next few months are going to be ones to watch as we uncover more and more of what the city is on the hook for and how thats going to impact our neighbourhoods, specifically areas closest to the stadium. www.cbc.ca/radio/thecur...

Watching this play out this past week was so disappointing and a slap in the face to so many artists and organizations driving real culture change in Vancouver. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

I can attest to the DTES being a living community of resilience, not a failed experiment. Give this piece a read! vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

Big news here in Vancouver. Sad news about Vancouver City Manager Paul Mochrie. He’s a highly capable, decent & affable guy, a people-person with integrity. I had opportunity 1st-hand to see his character. I’ve also seen 1st-hand how much damage a bad city manager can do. Pay attention, Vancouver.

This is SO COOL.

Really pleased to have helped craft this motion that passed at Council last week. Looking forward to seeing this pilot take off and be a chance to drive positive economic activity in @hxbia.bsky.social! youtu.be/mI_KBVEdaLQ

Mind boggling to me that the point of Task Force Barrage is to disperse people, yet when the community cries out that they're feeling the impacts, the VPD says there is no dispersement and throws their hands up saying mental health/addictions is out of scope. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

What’s happening to Calabash Bistro is devastating. I’ve known Cullin for years now. He's the most compassionate, caring individual who has invested SO much to the DTES. He and his team have built something beautiful—rooted in culture, music, and care for community. globalnews.ca/news/1124691...

It's unfortunate that the result to this problem is to further alienate and displace people from their homes. A better, more coordinated and holistic approach to supportive/social housing is so desperately needed. This action now raises more questions for me... globalnews.ca/news/1123812...

Hey @metrovancouverorg.bsky.social, not sure this is the best way to engage people on a project. I’ve got to squint and risk my life to read a sign with tiny font way up high on a pole facing an intersection… Let’s reconsider this?

AmeriCorps programs that DOGE had tagged for elimination must be reinstated, along with the volunteers they support, in 24 states that sued to save them

I was happy to share some of my thoughts with Jas Johal today. Give it a listen:

Pretty rich that ABC councillors voted this week in support of declaring housing as a human right, and then immediately voted down re-establishing a renters office. 🤔 #vanpoli

The lack of funding for safe drop-in spaces, high rental & operating costs have caused all of these places to close. Those were the places that people were able to use the washroom, access resources, health care, whatever it might be that they need. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Nothing surprises me anymore, including this. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

What a huge loss for the community. Trey’s work and impact in the DTES will live on. ✊

Ugh this is such bs. Americorps is where I got my career start. Of course this administration was going to cut it, because it’s a program that teaches people human decency and care in their communities. abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics...

If this isn’t a decisive referendum on ABC performance, I don’t know what is. I very much look forward to working with Lucy and Sean over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Translink faces a $600 million deficit…

Standing in line at City Hall to vote early in this by-election and the lines are pretty long! #vanpoli

I sat down with Don Shafer to chat about the niche work I do with HxBIA and our unique model to community economic development in the #DTES. Have a listen! open.spotify.com/episode/1JYi...

In accepting the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Conan O’Brien delivered what amounted to a bristling attack on the current administration artfully disguised as a tribute to Twain.

Timeline cleanse 🌞

Sadly, I’m going to be out of the country for both of our upcoming election days. So grateful for early voting opportunities!

Well this is a big deal.

What even is politic anymore?

Proud of my partner for facing this crisis that we shouldn’t have to be facing. Get your kids vaccinated!!!

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to vote in a by-election #vanpoli

Wow. This is…illegal?

This is incredibly disturbing language for a community that did not ask for this level of dramatic change. Change is needed, but not this. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

I first ran for city council because things needed to be done differently at City Hall. Regardless of the issue, I wanted to make sure that voices from all corners of our city are lifted up and included — not silenced and marginalized.🧵

In a world of Ken Sims, be a Patrick Johnstone. Vancouver, we should be ashamed by our current state of Municipal political representation. Our neighbours in New Westminster are doing it right. vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/02/13/n... #VanPoli #LowerMainland #BC

Rose are red, Violets are blue Sorry ABC, Beck's not that into you 💔 Not surprised that Bligh's integrity and refusal to go along with cruel ham-fisted policies earned her the ire of the mayor and team, but I worry what they might do without her conscience at the caucus table

I’ve had the privilege to get to know @rebeccaleebligh.bsky.social over the past year, working closely on community economic development and positive change in the #DTES. I’m optimistic that this news will chart a stronger path for not just her but our city as a whole. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

I spoke with @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social again this morning in response to Mayor Sim’s announcement about additional police (“Task Force Barrage”) in the DTES. >> The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn: Downtown Business Associations on a new Vancouver Police task force www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

This is so spot on! www.nytimes.com/2025/01/05/o...