We are so lucky to live here.

This 👇 To defend international law does not mean supporting the horrific Iranian regime, and to defend international law is not merely principled but an act of self-interest for Canada. I wrote about just that earlier this year: justiceinconflict.org/2026/01/12/f...

A compelling case of advocacy affecting policy, Lersundi Kalea is Bilbao’s first pedestrianized “school street”. Rather than a top-down initiative, it was a product of years of activism by families from nearby Colegio Público Cervantes concerned about safety, pollution, and quality of public space.🧵

Got my dose of Canadian winter. Au revoir Ottawa.

The weather here is a bit different than Vancouver.

These photos are a great example of how unsustainable asset management is with single family zoning of this scale. There is no way to reasonably expect current rates of property taxes to fund the massive scale of infrastructure debt looming in communities everywhere. You can't refute the real data.

At tonight's Finance meeting, on the agenda: ⬆️ Increase Utility rate to maximize revenue 🐶 End the "dog park loophole" ⚠️ Note: $14M lost revenue to provincial port tax caps since 2004. How Port Moody funds services: 💰 55.6% Property taxes 💧 30.6% Fees & charges Read the report: buff.ly/361yIjD

Latest library book: Think Again.

Tomorrow, the City Initiatives and Priorities Committee will be hearing presentations from Metro Vancouver staff on two studies: Housing and Transportation Cost Burden and Affordable Housing Gap Analysis. The meeting starts at 4 pm (& will be recorded if you miss it). Agenda is here: buff.ly/d2GgQFT

Government income supports for seniors must be improved: adjusted for inflation food & rent costs have risen significantly more than inflation. Senior economist Iglika Ivanova calls for non-market housing to be expanded as one way to address seniors' poverty.

Verified Tumbler Ridge fundraiser organized by Parent Advisory Council

My heart is with the people of Tumbler Ridge.

New Brunswick dumps X "government agencies around the world have launched probes into X, and its parent company xAI, for the way its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok was used to generate and share sexualized images of people without their consent." www.bloomberg.com/news/article... #cdnpoli #yyj

It’s a multi-espresso kind of day ☕️

The latest edition of my newsletter is out. In it, I share my thoughts on the Public and Social Media Communications Guidelines Task Force, the Anthem application (specifically, unit size) and the differences between TOA & OCP. Reminder: the OCP public hearing is tonight. buff.ly/Jn8qA09

Notice of Public Hearing – February 3, 2026, 7pm. Council is holding a Public Hearing to consider Bylaw No. 3522, relating to the Official Community Plan. Details at https://portmoody.ca/publichearing

Remember this one? “Humans aren’t very efficient movers—until you put us on a bicycle, when we become some of the most energy-efficient land travelers in the animal kingdom.” Proven science via Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social #CityMakingMath

Joshua, a 17-year-old from Saanich is missing and police are asking for the public's help with their search efforts.

Today, we remember the more than six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, and the millions of others murdered by the Nazi regime. As survivors grow fewer, our responsibility to remember and our resolve to act grows stronger. (1/3)

What do casinos, traffic cameras and congestion tolls all have in common? They are revenue ideas that #portmoody can't implement on its own. The new blog breaks down your suggestions for increasing revenues, explaining the limits of municipal power and what we CAN do. Read it here: buff.ly/aPunH7z

I agree we need to support agricultural communities for our own food security. Resorted munis get a portion of the hotel tax already, but are we creating extra classes of munis …what about port communities etc. maybe we need an overhaul how muni generate revenue.

Parliament must ban Canadian firms from doing business with ICE Morning File by me

It’s community banner painting day! These banners are designed and painted by community members every 2 yrs. #portmoody #cityofthearts

BULLER & ST GEORGE DOG PARK Since this dog park opened, we've had several complaints (emails and Facebook posts). Yesterday, I walked by to take photos, and I reached out to a representative of the property owner to tell them about the issues. Today, I received a response...⤵️

In BC, the authority to deploy traffic cameras is under provincial jurisdiction. Municipalities, except Vancouver, have to ask. But clearly these cameras make roads and intersections safer. List of existing traffic cameras in BC: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...

I’m really happy to say that #portmoody council voted last night to get off X. Governments should not be participating in a platform that makes and distributes CSAM and NCII. thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...

This is part of the way that Canada loses its sovereignty — Canadian business elites will cheer it on

My recent letter to the editor, on my favourite topics: tricitiesdispatch.com/casino-cash-...

BC has a real opening to fix how our votes translate into power. A Citizens’ Assembly is on the table. What happens next depends on public pressure. Join our webinar to learn how proportional representation can move from recommendation to reality.

A brief December update:

ICYMI - POMO Museum executive director Bryn Weiner was on Global News chatting about local heritage and the role of the museum in our community. Watch it here:

“a useful network of safe bike & roll routes that includes the major streets where stores & other destinations are…. becomes a practical way to get around, no different than driving, taking the bus, or walking down the sidewalk. …[this] is core infrastructure.” www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comm...

A year-end thank you to my newsletter readers & happy holidays to all ❄️ I'm grateful to everyone who has read these updates, & I will continue to provide monthly updates. Next one in early Jan. buff.ly/4L5bEnw

Stable housing is Healthcare (and community safety, development and so on) Toronto hospital starts $1M fund to help patients with rent share.google/vwhiwf4TYcya...

“In 2021, extreme weather cost B.C.’s economy $17 billion,… Why are B.C. families and taxpayers paying the climate bill instead of the companies most responsible for driving the damages?” Great opinion piece: vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

STORY 👇👇👇👇👇 thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...

The orange menace decided that today is the day for tree climbing.

This is fantastic news!

Storms are once again placing significant strain on BC communities and compounding the long-term impacts of past flood events. As local govs respond, we're calling for sustained funding and support to recover & invest in long-term flood risk mitigation. www.ubcm.ca/about-ubcm/l...

Widespread power outages are affecting schools too. Check the SD43 website (or your local school district) for the latest info. www.sd43.bc.ca/Pages/defaul...

BC Hydro: ~120,000 customers without power after rainstorm knocked down trees and debris onto electrical infrastructure. Hardest hit areas: • Surrey: 18,400 without power • Vancouver: 11,200 • Port Coquitlam: 12,500 • Burnaby: 11,700 • Maple Ridge: 11,200 • North Vancouver: 10,000

Here’s where you can pick up the first Freshet newspaper in Port Moody and the villages, starting Dec. 18: Port Moody Recreation Complex Port Moody City Hall Port Moody Public Library PoMoArts Save On Food Waves Starbucks Anmore Village Hall Belcarra Village Hall #Portmoody #anmore #belcarra

This is a good analogy.

In the years since the 2021 flood, Abbotsford and neighbouring municipalities identified an array of new infrastructure necessary to prevent a repeat scenario. Mr. Siemens said funding requests for those projects were largely ignored by higher levels of government.”

1/ 🚨 Flooding update for the Fraser Valley + Interior Several major routes that were closed are now open, including the Coquihalla, Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon, Highway 7 west of Hope, Highway 99, and Highway 1 at Bridal Falls (single lane).

Fossil Fuels Fall Below 1% of Canadian Employment While Global Clean Energy Jobs Surge www.theenergymix.com/fossil-fuels...

Flood Warning for Fraser Valley East. Rivers have exceeded riverbanks or will exceed them soon in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and east to Manning Park. Stay clear of riverbanks. Updates: EmergencyInfoBC.gov.bc.ca

These subtropical air masses that reach the PNW keep getting warmer and wetter as the climate warms as a whole. Yakima, WA has reached 70 degrees today, the only other 70+ in Dec was 72 on 12/1/2021. The atmospheric water vapor content is near record highs for Dec, increasing rainfall amounts.

At recent Council budget decisions, there’s been discussion on a capital project (heat pump) that would help us meet our climate goals. I wrote more on Facebook (sorry - it was much too long for here). www.facebook.com/share/14MrxT...