Remember, not density OR trees. Density AND trees. Better cities are climate action. #UrbanTruth

The new Pine St bike lane connection between the Arbutus Greenway and Seaside looks pretty good. But it was pretty stunning to see that it was first passed by council in 2018, and construction *might* start next year, after 9 years of consultation. (1/3)

Proud to be running as part of the OneCity Builders. With the Progressive Victory Agreement in place, building a strong, aligned team matters more than ever.

One of the last stories I got to write before jumping into the deep end of the political pool (running for Vancouver city council, folks) was this one on community land trusts and the role they can play in preserving affordable housing and bolstering communities. Enjoy. bcbusiness.ca/real-estate/...

Such good news, and a model for other papers: A journalism nonprofit is buying the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and keeping it running, including two print editions a week. There was higher bidder--hedge fund?--but the family that owned the paper went with the nonprofit with a successful track record

"When you look at the cost of residential development and how skinny margins are, especially for workforce housing, there’s no way you can pay that and find success continually. In the long term, this is going to make a huge impact on affordability..." www.bangordailynews.com/2026/04/14/b...

My neighbour makes the world feel very spring-like

We need to allow our urban 'single family' neighbourhoods to evolve. Our vision: Accessible, zero emission, bright, social, bike oriented, #singlestair homes - allowed on individual residential lots - everywhere.

This is just one of the attractive six-storey apartment buildings going up on side streets next to Nanaimo near Broadway. This is what I’d love to see more of in the city snd they are a big part of my OneCity program. Love the little library and bench the builder included

Okay, people, today and tomorrow are the last chances to join OneCity so you can vote for me in the party "primary" -- aka nomination election -- to ensure I'm on the ballot for the October election. Online voting will be May 3-10 francesbulaforcouncil.ca

They're filming The Last Of Us in the abandoned Hudson's Bay downtown!

A young teacher friend is helping organize this petition, which asks the Vancouver school board to provide after-school care for the thousands of young families on waiting lists, wreaking havoc on their work and home lives.

I have been in Vancouver <24h and I can't stop thinking about how much criticism the Canada Line has gotten over the years, when in reality, every new metro line should aspire to achieve Canada Line levels of efficiency. I am not saying it's beyond reproach, but it's a masterclass in pragmatism!

Omg, my current fave grocery chain is opening a new store at the former London Drugs on Kingsway. A new place to get pea tips and gailan! And fresh clams! And mochi!

Thanks to the super-dedicated South False Creek residents who came out last night to talk to (quiz) me and fellow OneCity council candidate @jagglund Jarrett Hagglund last night. And we got this beautiful card at the end

Woah!! NPR Planet Money did a podcast episode from Vancouver reporting on Senakw: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/p...

Could everyone please go to Madame Danh on Fraser at 27th. Unique, creative items on contemporary Vietnamese menu. I have fallen in love with the squid-ink fried rice with scallops and tobiko. It’s not as packed as it should be for the great addition to the scene that they are

At Nettie Wild’s showing of her hypnotic, beautiful film about the salmon videos she projected onto the underside of the Cambie Bridge. A nice shout out from her to city engineering for their enthusiasm for the work, and OneCity William Azaroff for early Vancity money

Just called up a friend of my second cousin's, as one does when campaigning for Vancouver city council, and when she got on the phone, she said, "Yes, I heard you're running" and then laughed and laughed and laughed for a full minute.

Oh no

1993), Larry Kuehn at the BCTF told me about a new comms tool activists were using to connect with each other. “The internet.” I did a story for the Sun. A few editors at the time thought it was too unreal to take seriously. Very satisfying thrilling to see Larry tonight irl.

Oh, this is one of the potential housing initiatives I'd like to support if I get elected to Vancouver city council. Smaller size is key, I think. They have 180 homes on three sites. www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/...

Looking forward to talking about plexes in-studio with @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social early tuesday morning. Weather is looking soggy, but fortunately it's a short ride in to downtown.

Yet again I love Mt. Pleasant.

What is Emmanuel Grégoire, the new Paris mayor, planning for the city over his new term in office? —60,000 new social housing units —15 express bus routes —Completion of city's full bike network —Transformation of ring highway into a boulevard —1000 new pedestrian streets —300 new hectares of parks

A thoughtful, informative article on supportive housing by my pal, Jody Paterson in Victoria. x.com/timescolonis...

A thoughtful, informative piece on supportive housing by my pal Jody Paterson. x.com/timescolonis...

Okay, a big long transcribed interview with me here by Vancity Lookout. I await your commentary. And before you all pile on, I've already asked them to fix my name spelling in the hed. www.vancitylookout.com/p/francis-bula

I like to think that I was an early adopter of the current Vancouver housing model, in that I was only able to buy in the medieval era (1989) jointly with my mother, a Depression-era survivor who was an amazing saver. It was so stressful, prices were going up every week then

My current fave social account: eastvan_blvd_gardens in Insta. So restful. Makes me feel like acting on my own often-dreamed-of photo project: the back lanes of east Van. Tomato plants in plastic buckets, secret auto-repair shops, the works

Wish she were here to cheer me on. Gone 14 years today

I’ve had quite the day so please excuse me for not responding immediately to all the truly wonderful and supportive messages I’ve had. Aiming to do that tomorrow

Please let me know if I'm using too many exclamation marks, people. Obviously, I'm on a bit of an adrenaline rush these days and I fear it may affect my punctuation style unduly.

K, people, if you really want me on council, it's not going to happen magically. I need - people to sign up as members before April 10 and vote for me early May - people to help me make calls and door knock - ha ha, money. Last election, ABC raised $2 m www.francesbulaforcouncil.ca?utm_source=i...

Dear my delightful tweeps, some news! So after 30 years of City Hall and urban-issues stories that you all know, I'm doing something completely different — I’ve decided to run for a City Council nomination with @onecityvan.bsky.social and hopefully run on their slate this October.

K, I look forward to speaking with you all about my interesting new future in the coming days, but it's time for me to go and prep for tomorrow's NYT spelling bee coming online at midnight. Wish me luck! I'm almost at a new badge

Here’s my story on a juicy text, allegedly from a very prominent Vancouver developer, that reveals the financial strain on some of the biggest projects in the city. Kudos to @twseal.bsky.social for breaking it! www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Big news in development world. The Squamish Nation and OP Trust (Ontario pension) now the only partners in the Senakw development, after OP Trust takes on the 30 per cent Westbank Corp (Ian Gillespie) share for Phases 1/2, Squamish 100 per cent developer for Phases 3/4

Sounds like there are a few councillors in the region planning mayoral bids as they sense their current mayors are vulnerable. Linda Annis in Surrey set to challenge Brenda Locke, Daniel Fontaine in New West with Patrick Johnstone, Kash Heed in Richmond against Malcolm Brodie

The city has agreed with opponents to the controversial supportive housing project to allow the approved rezoning of 2022 to be quashed www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...

In B.C., promise of temporary modular housing was short-lived solution to #homelessness crisis. Turns out the units are expensive to disassemble, store, ship, upgrade to code, and re-assemble, by @fabulavancouver.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com

So ~$3.8m per lot. Assuming 1.8m regular market price, this is ~2x land value to consolidate for a couple towers (probably 6 fsr? 6x current allowed density). Have just been thinking about the pros/cons of consolidation vs single lot densification…

Big Pundit Brain Thought Of The Day: Sean Orr is Vancouver’s first politician to win an election with Instagram as their main media/advertising tool. He had a constant stream of personable, punchy videos, many of which got shared hundreds of times, helping create a highly motivated core to vote.

With 18/27 polls reporting, Orr/COPE and Maloney/OneCity galloping way ahead of the pack. Reilly/Green a distant third and Hardwick/TEAM behind her.

I heard from three sources earlier this evening that Mayor Ken Sim basically conceded the two open seats were lost to ABC in communications with party insiders.

Staff at Marpole-Oakridge told some seniors trying to skip the regular line that seniors can’t get priority access because “half the line is seniors”. They only let seniors with obvious mobility issues to skip the regular line.

If you’re a senior, pregnant, have a disability, you can get priority access for voting. If you don’t see the sign for it, ask a staffer. #vanpoli

There appear to be long line-ups at many of today’s polling places. To help your fellow citizens, can you post about the state of the line where you are and, in particular, let people know if your centre line-up seems to be under 30 min

Looking for any Canadians who own rec or other U.S. property nearby. Obviously wondering impact of current state of things, but also would like to talk about the attraction of rec property south of the border, any challenges there have been over the years. Text or call at BC area code 812.6205

For anyone who can't make advance voting today and unable to vote April 5, you can ask for a mail-in ballot UP TO NOON TODAY. Then you can pick it up at city hall any time 8:30 to 5 Wednesday or Thursday and up to noon Friday. Can be dropped at elxn office 305 West 8th any time