Vancouver's 'zero means zero' budget will mean slashing 400 jobs “These aren’t surgical cuts. These are chainsaw cuts. We haven’t gotten the details of where these cuts are going to really land and what it’s going to mean for services that Vancouverites rely on" vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...

Today at City Council

By sea, land, and air we wish you a happy Halloween! @ptfry.bsky.social @lucymaloney.bsky.social

Worst is not that Montague hasn't lived or paid taxes in our city his entire term, or that he lives over 400km away, or even his horrible decisions when he does show up. Worse, as other Canadians suffer & boycott, BM was on leave from his taxpayer-funded job to leisure in the US for a month.

Can confirm from an internal email earlier this month, All Souls Night was canceled "after careful assessment, and considering current budget constraints" On behalf of councillors who rejected ABC's priorities, sorry we couldn't stop damage Sim's #zeromeanszero cuts are inflicting on our city

With no comment from ABC Councillors: Motion to extend votes to youth FAILS at ABC's hand. Despite ample evidence, a real imperative for youth engagement, and a clear path to enact. While they are at it ABC vote down safety for trick or treaters and SRA protections against predatory speculation.

You might have heard about the mayor’s new “zero means zero” austerity budget and the defeat yesterday of his scheme to sell off public land to build for profit housing to raise revenue for “council priorities”. Part of his imperative to run the city like a business I explain…

Unfortunately, what could have been a painless, benign improvement to code of conduct w/ sanctions even in the case of a conflicted council majority (would not have applied to recent transgressions) was rejected by ABC in favour of watered down tokenism. Future councils can still skate around rules.

Inside joke at #vanpoli Zero means zero

Reckless. Feckless. After squandering his first 3 years on bitcoin, unelecting Park Board, and record tax increases. Sim's promised zero budget means big cuts (likely ~$100m) First up, Equity. More to come. “a desperate act in the last year of his term,”

Since neither the Integrity Commissioner nor Council can mete punishment or sanction for ABC’s transgressions (underscoring futility of huge taxpayer-funded legal bill), the Province are promising to step in and my colleagues and I resolve to strengthen Code vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...

Nate Lewis at Vancity Lookout did a great round-up and confirmed ABC’s insinuation that my complaint will cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, is actually for the mayor et al legal fees to refute and block their investigation and indictment www.vancitylookout.com/p/abc-party-...

I break down the breakdown of integrity at City Hall, why there was an investigation, and what it means that the Integrity Commissioner has ruled Ken Sim and ABC have broken the Code of Conduct #vancouver #vanpoli

"One stranger attack is too many. Obviously, we want to ensure public safety is paramount for everyone who visits, lives and works in Vancouver, but we don’t need unnecessary fear-mongering to drive political agendas, and ultimately scare people away from our city." www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Transparency: If *as the mayor's office is suggesting* the departure of previous and hiring of new city manager was "made by a vote of Council following all established procedures" --then release any agendas, minutes and votes to debunk "baseless suggestions" vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...

Zavarise livetweeting Vancouver mayor's cringe comments at his bitcoin bit this weekend, but this one belies the fundamental problem with Sim's administration: a disregard for rules and legal principles of local government, which he dismisses as bureaucracy that must get out of his way

Sim says bitcoin mining is great for environment.

Obviously, the mayor spends a lot of time hustling crypto: as reported extensively, he’s using his literal and figurative office to promote digital lucre over a multitude of videos and conferences in the last year - how much are taxpayers spending on mayor's hobby? www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Left my digital radio on streaming last night, and thought Lisa Christiansen had taken over the Early Edition from @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social when I woke up to back-to-back Ozzy/Sabbath 🦇 I was, like: Sweet, Leave it off snooze youtu.be/4DZBaW1nSNE?...

Vancouver was well served by City Manager Paul Mochrie, a skilled, thoughtful professional. I wish him the absolute best. I've no insight or agreement on Sim and Mochrie conversation that "mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change" - but it's a big loss for CofV. #vanpoli

My motion at council today. Time to pull the plug on garburators. It's not just the cost borne by taxpayers for clogged sewers or wastewater treatment of otherwise divert-able organics; in multi unit buildings in-sink disposals can result expensive blockages & floods. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Today, Vancouver finally set to approve bylaw for 30km/h speed limits on local residential streets. Six years since this resolution passed at Council/UBCM; passed again unanimously in 2024; building on work of local/global #VisionZero, active transportation advocates... Slow, safe, stoked. 😀

Not knocking VPD But we need clarity in chain of command. We need to know that authorizations from the police office are not coming out from the back room of the mayor's office, but they're coming through the appropriate channels, and there's appropriate accountability www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

The legislated oversight board for the Vancouver Police only found out about the DTES street sweep operation Task Force Barrage and its $5m price tag after Sim and ABC caucus announced it in a public media event. Legal? This seems inconsistent w/ 27 & 28 of the Police Act. Heckuva scoop here.

Yesterday, ABC's resolution to suspend Integrity Commissioner & investigations was declared out of order under section 8.7(f) of our Procedure Bylaw, nearly a year after it was introduced. I suggested it was "frivolous" --specifics of suspension period subject to independent review weren't met. 1/3🧵

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Day of Music : free concerts at the 100 year old Orpheum Theatre and adjacent annex today. A delight to introduce the Maestro Otto Tausk and the VSO this morning for rehearsal at the jewel of Vancouver’s Civic Thestres

What if we prioritized public toilets & drop-in spaces over costly decampments, sweeps & street flushing? My May 21 resolution asks Council to rethink our approach to street disorder, with drop-ins and public toilets. #VanPoli 🧵 1/6 🔗 council.vancouver.ca/20250521/doc...

BC’s Police Act demands accountability of local governments in BC to maintain public confidence in law enforcement - but three months into DTES street sweeps promoted by the mayor, and no-one is accepting responsibility for initiating the operation or expense. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

When staff recommended City's budget sunset funding school meal programs for Vancouver kids it was under assumption that senior governments would fill the gap. That didn't happen, so today, Cllr Bligh & I ask council to reinstate funding. Hungry Kids Can't Learn b/g vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...

On today’s Council agenda: I’ll introduce my motion (co-submitted w/ Cllr Fry) to restore school food funding recently cut. No child should go hungry at school. This is about protecting health, supporting learning, and standing up for equity. Let’s fix this. #VanPoli Link below 👇🏻

Vancouver: Last night's violent and tragic event at the LapuLapu festival is incomprehensible. We embrace the community in care, and with support and resources to those affected. 24 hour crisis centre has been set up at Douglas Park Community Cntr, 801 w 22nd. ❤️pagpapala pinoy

Unlike other Metro cities, Vancouver lacks a budget for stray cat control. VOKRA, the volunteer org doing this work, is struggling. My Wed motion calls for city support for animal services. council.vancouver.ca/20250416/doc... Meet Leonard, now 20-yr-old stray kitten we adopted via VOKRA. 😻

Mould, water damage, indoor air quality. Serious issues with real health consequences to tenants. Wednesday, I'm asking council to support long-overdue updates to our Standards of Maintenace by-law, inspired in part by this very sick building I visited. vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...

Congratulations @seanorr.bsky.social and @lucymaloney.bsky.social A clear repudiation of Sim and ABC in yesterday's by-election. I look forward to having some progressive company on council. Incredibly proud of my friend @annettereilly.bsky.social for stepping up w/ a positive campaign

Budget reallocations revealed cuts to Social Policy grants affecting services for youth, elders, migrants, & those facing employment barriers. W/ $5M new funding for VPD Project Barrage, I urged funding for proactive interventions too. No ABC would second my amendment. #vanpoli

International Women’s Day celebration w/ Vancouver District Labour Council and two of my favourite future council colleagues: @lucymaloney.bsky.social and @annettereilly.bsky.social By-election is April 5 to elect two new Vancouver City Councillors

Mo Amir @vancolour.bsky.social posted on Ken Sim “opt out” election signs - against rules and bound to upset a lot of people. When I’m out campaigning w/ Green candidate @annettereilly.bsky.social common refrain I hear is regret voting for ABC in ‘22 (still under campaign finance investigation)

Meanwhile, in the natural world... Eagle descends on frozen pond to make easy prey of hapless lone Canada Goose, cobra chicken fights back. Spoiler alert: after twenty minute battle, eagle forced to retreat, defeated. FAFO 🇨🇦 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

@cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social great morning tune, but it's WAR not Edwin Starr asking why can't be friends? Bonus their goofy good time video www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH0Q...

Grace under pressure. Today's disrespect in the Oval Office, was to President Zalensky forced to endure media circus. I watched the full 50 minutes(!!) its obvious that this ugliness wasn't perpetuated by senile orange grandpa, it was "JD" and the MAGA media Slava Ukraini youtu.be/7pxbGjvcdyY?...

The Mayor's move to punch down on the city's most vulnerable is both cruel and misguided, by blocking this sort of necessary supportive housing anywhere in Vancouver, he is only concentrating and compounding the misery and disorder in the DTES, as I explain in video globalnews.ca/video/110521...

A Curious Observation: Of the 95 speakers mostly in opposition to Mayor's No-Net-New Supportive Housing motion (one of most significant housing motions this term) --not ONE single speaker from the usual roster of pro housing 'YIMBYs' or anti development 'NIMBYs'.. Not a one. 🤔

Municipal legal experts are weighing in on Integrity Commissioner's findings about backroom decision making calling it "brazen" and suggesting ABC's disregard for the rules could put the City at risk of litigation and/or court or ministerial intervention. vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...

In the last 3 days, huge revelations about Ken Sim’s ABC Party have emerged: secret agendas, backroom dealings, and efforts to control elected officials, all undermining the legal and ethical obligation for open and transparent local government. MEGA🧵 vancouversun.com/news/abc-van...

Directed how to vote by backroom political staff and party operatives, ABC-elected are found to be in breach of fundamental legal local government regulations. I will have LOTS to say on this as Integrity Commissioner report is published tomorrow. #VANPOLI vancouversun.com/news/abc-van...

Always good to get down with @jasjohal.bsky.social. Talking about mayor's plan to pause supportive housing for people experiencing homeless. Morality aside, Sim's approach displays a profound ignorance of the legal context around decamping encampments. Have a listen open.spotify.com/episode/2z0u...

Ken Sim's anti-supportive housing motion dropped today. Last month, Sim told the "Save Our Streets" group he’d propose freezing new supportive housing in Vancouver. Residents we’ve spoken to are concerned about the ABC party undermining non-profits and punishing the vulnerable. analysis 🧵 1/10

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

Running the City like a business. While other North American cities are typically leveraging their land for affordable and non-market housing, (w/ Sim) we seem to be moving in the opposite direction, by playing the market to make money. 🧵 vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...