MichaelKlassen.com

Gregor's Twitternomics

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:03:32 -0800

130 characters @ 2am – the Mayor describes his successful day

If you needed a contrasting story on the 2010 Games it's this. On Monday a group of Metro Vancouver mayors make a funding announcement that they're going to spend $1.5 million wining and dining business execs as an economic development strategy. Today, the Vancouver Police Department announce their new secret sonic crowd control device for any anticipated Olympics disturbances.

So, while in one ear Vancouver is whispering sweet nothings while serving prestige Jackson-Triggs wines and wild salmon, the other ear is experiencing permanent hearing loss.

Those of you who employ Twitter in a dialogue about your life and work know that the 140 character limitation can be tricky for getting a point across. Gregor Robertson, Vancouver's farmboy mayor, is not exactly known for his wordsmithing skills. But one has to give him props for turning a one-page press release into a Tweet:

launched 2010 business program for metro region. targeted push to land great companies+jobs as economic legacy. 9 muni's on board.

No wonder this was posted at 2am. Gregor must have been working on it for hours. He would ace the exams for this course.

A special shout out to The Vancouverite, who has been having fun with Gregor's Tweets in recent weeks. As T.V. points out, as Metro Vancouver plans to party it up with the suits, one of the largest employers in the region (and my former place of work), Electronic Arts, is dumping 17% of its workforce – about 1500 employees – the majority at their Burnaby studio.

As we explained on Friday, Metro Vancouver Commerce was the brainchild of the last Vancouver council. The City of Richmond announced their intentions to court businesses through MVC back in August, so the only "news" from yesterday's announcement was that MVC will spend over a million bucks on Olympic parties (half of which is provided by the Feds). Here's how Richmond describes the MVC strategy:

The MVC 2010 Program will provide a world-class all-inclusive VIP hosting experience to top business executives and investor prospects from abroad. The City of Richmond is an active member of the MVC, and as such is able to offer the associated benefits of this program to the local business community looking to attract foreign investment and export opportunities.

The Vancouver Economic Development Commission (VEDC), partners in promoting the MVC plan, seem to value social events as the key to building economic ties. We were told the city council-funded advisory body hosted a social gathering at Bonita's Restaurant in Gastown six weeks ago. Gregor, who was there until past 1am, apparently closed the place. He describes the bash, held for Pixar Studios (who are not laying off at this time) once again in his Twitter post:

had welcome party for pixar team. their move here is a stellar boost for our creative industry and biz community

Will Metro Vancouver's "party strategy" assure its economic future? Organizers were a little vague on the expected outcomes of the MVC initiative:

The mayors could not say which firms are on the guest list... Organizers say the invitees are being carefully screened to ensure they're seriously considering investing in the region and not just taking advantage of an Olympic junket.
"We've got to make sure they have a direct connection to a B.C. business, a B.C. trade organization or a direct link to investment that's now taking place in B.C.,'' said Robertson... Vancouver's mayor said there's no set goal for the amount of investment the program is expected to generate. The hope, based on a similar program tied to the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, is that more than half the invited companies follow through with investment, though the results could take years, Robertson said.

A student of Vancouver's history with big business might point out that while large US or international firms occasionally set up offices here, most will not stay without strong ties to the region. Look at what happened with Ebay, for example.

Vancouver's Mayor says that the Games are a powerful opportunity to "brand" itself for international investors. While we here at CityCaucus.com salute any attempt to collaborate across city boundaries, MVC's initiative seems like a hastily arranged affair.

As the VEDC's soon-to-be-released economic strategy suggests, sustainable investment and affordable housing are the key ingredients to assure the success of Metro Vancouver business. Once the parties end, let's hope the region refocuses on things that will help foster and support indigenous business, and jobs that will stay here.

Civic affairs panel on CKNW

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:44:39 -0800

This week should provide another round of heated discussion on the CKNW Civic Affairs Panel. Tune in every Tuesday from 9 am to 10 am (PST) to hear our very own Daniel Fontaine, along with blogger Frances Bula and development consultant Jim Green.

You can expect that the Raj Hundal resignation, tax breaks for Legions, the Comptroller General's report on TransLink will be on the table for discussion. Tune in online at www.cknw.com, or if you're traveling by car in Metro Vancouver, the show is located at 980 AM.

Tune in every Monday at 7:40 am to hear Erin Chutter on CBC's Early Edition in Vancouver with host Rick Cluff. You can listen online or point your radio dial to 690 AM.

George Smitherman to run for Toronto mayor

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:00:32 -0800

Considered a powerful member of Ontario's Provincial government, George Smitherman declared his candidacy for Toronto mayor today

The race to see who will replace David Miller as Toronto's next mayor is heating up. This afternoon MPP George Smitherman, the powerful Minister of Energy & Infrastructure, as well as being Deputy Premier in Dalton McGuinty's government and an openly gay public figure, has announced he's running for mayor.

"I've taken myself out of the realm of speculation and moved into the realm of certainty. I want to take that track record of getting things done to my city," said Smitherman to the Toronto Star.

The speculation had gone on for weeks, prompting calls for Smitherman to make up his mind. Considered an outspoken and sometimes boisterous public figure, Smitherman's departure from McGuinty's cabinet comes at an awkward time with the recent loss of David Caplan as Minister of Health.

Says the Globe and Mail, "In a cabinet made up mostly of mild-mannered personalities, Mr. Smitherman's departure will leave a big void."

Smitherman paints himself as "a candidate of the broad centre," Smitherman pledged to "build a campaign with people from all parties." It has also been speculated that former Ontario Conservative Party leader John Tory is also looking at the job of Mayor of Toronto, but to date he has not confirmed this.

Vancouver's government dishes up populist politics, not "vision"

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:35:54 -0800

Louisiana Governor Huey Long wrote the book on populist politics – is Vision reading it?

As we take stock of the past year of Vancouver civic politics, we're seeing a pattern emerge. Limited by their inarticulate yet telegenic leader, Vision Vancouver are proving to be less a profile in political courage than they are in political expediency. No Vancouver government in recent memory have had as many policy reversals in such a short period as our current government. With sizable majorities on council, park board and school board the question is, why?

I think we all understand the meaning of "vision." To have vision means that one can see the future unfolding, challenge the norms, stand up to naysayers, and exercise leadership. You'd be hard pressed to find any example of this behaviour within Vancouver's governing caucus.

Having political vision doesn't mean collapsing like a house of cards when the public complains, which we see demonstrated repeatedly by Gregor and the Vision team. The electorate are fickle as we know, but your job when elected is not to be continually reacting to the public mood. Your job is to often make tough decisions within your mandate. But when the going gets tough, you'll usually find Vision Vancouver hiding under a blanket.

This month Vision are cranking up communications to their base of supporters on how successful their first year in office has been. Thanks to all their hyperbole around the HEAT shelters, the greenest city launch, and the Burrard Bridge lane reallocation, you'd think they've found a cure for the common cold while ending all wars in their first 12 months.

Vision Vancouver are just the latest practicioners of populist politics. Rule #1 is to classify your opponent as elitist, which is why they like to portray the NPA as pointy-headed and bourgeois west siders, out of touch with the political centre. In reality, the NPA had blended quite well over time with Vancouver's many diverse parts. Hardly elitist, two of the last three mayors the NPA elected rose from very humble beginnings – one was the son of a school clerk, and the other was the son of an Eastside auto parts seller.

Even Vision's only controversial decision that held, to reallocate a lane on the Burrard Bridge, nearly folded under the weight of indecision within their ranks, and fears about how the public would react. Lucky for them the geniuses in Vancouver's traffic engineering department mapped out a way to make the lane closure have the least impact. It helped that the sun shone more brightly this summer than it has for the last four years, making cycling a more agreeable transportation option than usual this summer.

Here's a list of recent policy reversals by Vision caused by a backlash from the public:

This week began with Vision caving in on their own plan to make the city more "fun". What council did was incite the wrath of restaurateurs, winemakers and diners who want better than plonk with our meals. On course for a collision, Vision grabbed their booze bylaw off the order paper.
In the face of public criticism over their Olympic gag law, Vision once again changed their stripes. Gregor was out promising to give the bylaw a re-think, leaving Geoff Meggs, who had drawn fire on the policy for weeks, looking like a hypocrite.
Councillor Tim Stevenson quickly dropped plans to attend an event in the USA on the taxpayers' dime last month as soon as questions began to be asked about his travel plans. Stevenson's overnight decision, he claims, happened after he figured out that the City was having money issues.
Coun. Kerry Jang was hung out to dry by the Mayor when he said that Vision's promise of hiring a mental health advocate was all but dead. When the papers filled with stories about a broken promise, Gregor hedged and suggested that, again, he'd give the decision a re-think.
Perhaps the biggest loss of face for council was the mess around the HEAT shelters. The Granville & Howe Street shelters were touted as a great success, and their critics as NIMBYs. But as the pressure built, Vision retreated.

It's not just when the media pick up on the story that Vision caves in on its commitments. The party's promise on electoral reform was a bargaining chip used to gain support with COPE, but as Vision becomes increasingly confident of its own political strength, the less it feels obliged to honour the promise of a 2011 wards referendum. Political analyst Kennedy Stewart and the Georgia Straight's Charlie Smith won't soon let them forget it.

And Council are not the only ones who get weak in the knees when the public complains. Park Board had grand plans for ripping up a contract with a private operator of a wedding services facility at Queen E Park's Celebration Pavilion, and turning it over to their generous supporters in CUPE. Again, when that private operator caught the attention of the media, Vision killed the proposed change.

A formidable list of flip-flops for a party with just one year in government. It's unlikely to get any better in years two and three.

Perhaps the most famous practitioner of populist politics was the legendary Huey Long, governor of Louisiana, immortalized in Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men. While Gregor Robertson has none of the rollicking style of a politician from the Deep South, like Long, Robertson and Vision have quickly reshaped the leadership within the city's bureaucracy to stamp out any dissent. They also killed staff morale in the process.

Full of promises, and always aiming to please, Vision Vancouver take their cues from a salesman like Huey Long. As long as you don't expect leadership from them, Gregor Robertson and the Vision team will always dish up what the public loves. Standing up to controversy simply is not in their DNA.

VEDC plan advocates review of Vancouver's tax system

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:30:21 -0800

Panel should consider higher tax rates for Vancouver's more valuable properties, and re-think DCLs: report

CityCaucus.com has read a draft strategy document written by the Vancouver Economic Development Commission (VEDC) which recommends that the City should aggressively pursue a regional economic strategy over its outdated go-it-alone approach to boosting the city's business climate. It also advocates for setting up an expert panel to review the city's tax system, even suggesting that owners of higher value properties pay higher tax rates to compensate for poorer parts of the city.

Preceding the report's release comes news that this Monday morning mayors from Metro Vancouver's three largest cities, plus six other jurisdictions, are banding together in a first step for a cooperative economic strategy for the region during the 2010 Games. The so-called Metro Vancouver Commerce (MVC) initiative, started in 2007, was the brainchild of Sam Sullivan's team during the last city council. It was felt that it would take too long to get all cities in the region on-board, so it was better to start the party without the hold-outs and invite only the largest players – Vancouver, Surrey and Richmond. MVC partner communities now include those three cities, plus the 2 North Vancouvers, the cities of Port Moody, New Westminster, Coquitlam and the District of Maple Ridge.

MVC's release states:

Metro Vancouver Commerce (MVC) is the leading group of economic and business development professionals in the region. Its purpose is to implement collaborative economic planning and development on a regional basis – recognizing that many economic development activities can be done more effectively, and more efficiently, on a regional basis.

The VEDC's report starts off as a compendium of facts and figures, as well as an analysis of Vancouver's strengths and weaknesses as an urban economy. Much of the research has been underway over the past several months, as listed on this page describing workshops with up and coming business leaders. As we mentioned earlier, Vision Vancouver when in opposition voted together against further funding for the VEDC. Of course, now that they are in government, they're playing a different tune.

Then Coun. Peter Ladner pushed for expanded support of the VEDC, and council adopted a set of "guiding principles" for economic growth back in the summer of 2006. The VEDC's full report has been a long time coming, in other words. It's not clear whether Gregor Robertson's dream of being the greenest city has factored in the tardiness, but the references to GCAT's work have a feeling of being tacked onto the report as an afterthought.

Here's a summary of some of the VEDC's long awaited proposals:

The VEDC wishes to task themselves with advocating for a region-wide economic strategy, and maintaining a key role with the aforementioned MVC;
The VEDC will work to reduce regulatory burden upon businesses, regularly reporting back on their progress;
The VEDC will work through industry associations to link financial, research, government and other resources;
A so-called high profile green industry project will be developed on the False Creek Flats in partnership with educational institutions as a symbol of Vancouver's commitment to being the greenest somethingorother;
The VEDC will use the 2010 Games to promote Metro Vancouver Commerce (see above);
The City will make itself more attractive for international talent by increasing the availability of family housing and child care availability, and providing more entertainment options for young professionals;
The VEDC recommends that it expands its own policy-related research in partnership with stakeholders;
The VEDC will work with City staff to build better engagement with senior levels of government to align the goals of both;
The VEDC will step up its own communications about economic development in partnership with other stakeholders, to educate the public about economic challenges and opportunities;
Finally, the VEDC requests a significant increase in its own budget, currently set by the City at $2M annually. The VEDC argues that other smaller jurisdictions spend more on economic development, and that the Province and business groups could match the City's contribution.

Most of what is put forward by the VEDC sounds doable, and would not stir much controversy. We've already commented on the green component in our Vancouver Sun Op/Ed, which we consider well-meaning but vague. Item six, which proposes the City get more directly involved in the creation of affordable housing and child care will no doubt raise the most eyebrows.

The VEDC is seeking approval from Council to study the topic of property taxation and development cost levies in the search for a more "progressive" approach. The report points out that much of the new housing being built in the city is far too small to raise a family, suggesting that at least 2 bedrooms and 1100 square feet is a baseline for family living. The VEDC proposes that the City significantly increases its density to help drive down housing prices.

Any study commissioned by council should consider that DCLs, which are used to fund neighbourhood infrastructure, but instead perhaps property taxes should pay for this infrastructure instead. DCLs require new buyers, who are by-in-large younger and who have less means.

Property taxes, the report states, are seen as regressive in a city with highly diverse economic classes like Vancouver. Any study commissioned by council, they say, should consider whether residential property tax could be made more progressive by charging higher taxes on properties with a higher value.

The VEDC suggest that while child care is seen as the responsibility of senior levels of government, cities should try to expand their own commitment to improve the city's economic future.

A timely side note of this recommendation is the viability of "entertainment" in Vancouver. The paper describes the deep dissatisfaction with Vancouver's approach to liquor establishments and restaurants. As we saw earlier this week, Vision Vancouver came within an inch of making this situation worse with their ill-considered restaurant booze bylaw.

No doubt when this report hits the streets it will get tongues wagging. It's definitely a different direction for the city, and we can thank councils past and present for pushing for these recommendations.

Dysfunctional Park Board gets another blow

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:08:40 -0800

A bridge over troubled waters – Hundal compromises Vision again. Photo: Jeff Hodson/Metro

Longtime political observer and now blogger Alex Tsakumis broke the story that Vancouver Park Board chair Raj Hundal is stepping down from his position on the PNE Board. Vision Vancouver sent out a hastily-prepared press release that raises more questions than answers. Hundal, the story goes, was visiting Playland with family when one of his cousins decided to punch out an actor in the Fright Night exhibit.

Vision supporters and Frances Bula are shrugging it off. Raj Hundal stirred controversy for the feckless Park Board this past summer when he publicly squared off with the Mayor's hand-picked City Manager over the matter of General Manager Susan Mundick's successor. Why the actions of Hundal's cousin would force Hundal to step down from the PNE Board is a question still needing to be answered.

As Vision's caucus chair, Mayor Gregor Robertson must step in and fix this train wreck. Hundal is becoming a distraction, and Vision can ill-afford yet another embarrassment from its controversy-prone park commissioners. To date, Gregor hasn't shown that he has the backbone for disciplining one of his own. It's possible that this saga will drag on until the next election.

Forum to look at past year of Vancouver politics

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:05:09 -0800

Vancouver politicos better sharpen their pencils for November 14th

Many familiar faces from Vancouver politics have banded together to hold a rather big coffee klatch on how the city is doing under the current Vision Vancouver administration. Organizer Michael Geller, along with communications consultant and columnist Bob Ransford, and SFU City Program coordinator and former city councillor Gord Price bill it as "a series of three panels that will focus on the agenda and accomplishments of Vancouver City Council."

We suspect it will be heavy on the agenda topic as the accomplishments would make for pretty thin gruel (nyuk!). More now from the group's release:

Expert panelists will share their observations on what’s been happening at city hall, particularly in the areas of housing, city planning and development, city finances, local economic development and civic political leadership. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage the panelists in a question and answer session following each panel’s presentation.

CityCaucus.com has been asked to join a media pundits panel. Presenters will include Gordon Price, Bob Ransford, ThinkCity's James Fletcher, Peter Ladner, and John Tylee of the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. Housing initiatives, planning and development, as well as the city's proposed Green Capital initiative and budgetary issues will be discussed. The morning will wrap up with commentary from some of the city's most thoughtful, and yes sometimes outspoken pundits including Frances Bula, Monte Paulson and Alex Tsakumis.

“While some of us have had past ties to the Vancouver Civic NPA, this is not an NPA event. We hope it will bring together partisans from all parts of the political spectrum and people who haven’t been actively involved in partisan politics,” Geller explained.

Editor's note: All have had past ties to the NPA, but we take Michael's point. This is not about the moribund civic party per se.

“We are simply a group of concerned citizens who believe the last election resulted in a significant change in Vancouver’s civic political landscape and on the one-year anniversary of that change, it is worthwhile having a substantive and informed discussion on what has happened and what should happen” he explained.

Doors open next Saturday morning (November 14th) at 8:00 am at the Wosk Centre for Dialog. Admission to the event is by donation—to help offset the logistical costs.

Vancouver's restaurant booze bylaw gets bad reviews

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:58:18 -0800

This is a special cross-post editorial to CityCaucus.com

On Friday night my wife and I had a very rare evening to ourselves. Our immediate impulse was to visit one of the many fine, and affordable eateries not far from our Eastside digs over on Main street. It would be nice, we thought, to not spend much more than $100 on a nice meal with some wine, and Main Street now gives you plenty of choice.

For those who've not had the pleasure of strolling Main Street lately, it's really shaping up to be the most vibrant part of Vancouver. What a thrill it is to be walking this street on a warm summer evening, anywhere between Kingsway and 28th Avenue. For this we can thank the vision of the City's planning and engineering departments, Translink, and the clever ideas of my former VCPC colleague Frank Ducote who was a lead planner on the Main Street upgrades.

In part because of the improvements to the public realm, several compelling new restaurants have appeared in the neighbourhood. Our choice of Friday was Latitude, an urban-styled dining spot with a respectable wine menu featuring BC and international labels. The typical mark-up for alcohol in a restaurant like this is 100%, making something you might pay $18 for at retail, is now $36. Not everyone thinks it's fair, but not everyone knows the costs of running a restaurant. If you want something a little nicer, expect to pay well over 50 bucks a bottle.

Our wine choice pairing for a delicious paella and a beet salad starter was a 2008 Orofino Gewürztraminer, which we knew would be light, crisp with apple and pear notes, and a light acidity that would complement the dishes. It was the perfect fit both for our meal, and at $34/bottle it was within our budget.

As it turns out, had we been in the mood for a red that evening or wanting to spend a little more on wine, we could be breaking Vancouver's so-called 50/50 bylaw that takes effect January 1st, which requires that patrons spend not a penny more on alcohol than they do on food.

Credit goes to the Vancouver Sun's Gordon Hamilton, who first broke this story last week. The city and Councillor Raymond Louie, who has decided to own this issue on behalf of council, formed a quick response and stated they would give the new bylaw a "second look."

Local restaurant owners are trying to band together to fight what some have accused as a well-funded and organized lobby by the liquor primary license (aka bar) owners. While it is indeed true that the city's bar and nightclub owners heavily supported the campaigns of the NPA and Vision Vancouver during past elections, there's no clear evidence to suggest it was an influence on this bylaw. Many restaurant owners are skeptical though.

Critics of this policy will suggest that it was a half-baked attempt to try and whip some offending restaurant establishments into line. It's true that a small number of restaurants were becoming de facto bars with food as an afterthought. But restaurants mix food and a social ambiance that bars cannot always offer. If you have a meal, and decide that you want to have a bit more alcohol will you be cut off by the establishment not because you're inebriated but because you're spending too much money on booze?

Bars and nightclubs for the most part are inhabited by younger patrons. Once you get a little grey on your temples, clubs and bars can lose their lustre. A restaurant with a good wine menu has always been an attractive alternative to sitting around your own kitchen with friends. When the conversation flows, often so does the drink.

So how will Vancouver city council fix this pickle that they've created? Or will people be forced to order more food that they won't eat just to make sure they can order another drink? And what if you want to order an exceptional bottle of wine, and only a light meal? These are only a few of several questions that come to mind.

This bylaw is just another bad idea and a slap in the face to Vancouverites who've suffered lousy policy on serving alcohol since the days of Gassy Jack. Tim Pawsey, aka The Hired Belly over at the Vancouver Courier has written a brilliant response to this mess created by our city council that I urge our readers to have a look at.

No wonder restaurateurs are up in arms. We all should be.
Over the last few years, Vancouver's restaurant culture has evolved--matured, even--dramatically. And thank goodness it has. Whether you choose to dine traditionally (appetizer, main course and dessert), nibble on small plates and try different wines, or just have a snack and a couple of drinks while watching a game, you have a choice and can go where you want. In fact, the more relaxed regulations have resulted in the arrival of a whole new food, wine, beer and cocktail culture, which is blossoming across the Lower Mainland.
The very notion of "liquor primary" and "food primary" licensing is an absurd and outdated system.

Just when Vancouver's restaurant scene had become something worth bragging about, we throw it under the bus. Council must go back to the drawing board and fix this before the world arrives here during the 2010 Games in mere months.

Vancouver's restaurant booze bylaw gets bad reviews

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:28:59 -0800

This is a special cross-post editorial to BCWineLover.com

No wonder restaurateurs are up in arms. We all should be.
Over the last few years, Vancouver's restaurant culture has evolved--matured, even--dramatically. And thank goodness it has. Whether you choose to dine traditionally (appetizer, main course and dessert), nibble on small plates and try different wines, or just have a snack and a couple of drinks while watching a game, you have a choice and can go where you want. In fact, the more relaxed regulations have resulted in the arrival of a whole new food, wine, beer and cocktail culture, which is blossoming across the Lower Mainland.
The very notion of "liquor primary" and "food primary" licensing is an absurd and outdated system.

Surrey's big homes issue is a real test of Watts' leadership

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:24:10 -0800

Is Surrey giving a boost for builders of monster homes?

It would be accurate to say that we here at CityCaucus.com have been very supportive of Dianne Watts' style of leadership in the City of Surrey. She has shown herself as someone who can be very inclusive both within her own council, and within the region as a whole. Unlike her counterpart in Vancouver, Watts has led the way on issues facing the region such as transportation and economic vitality.

But Dianne Watts is not entirely impervious to politics in her own community, and her extremely unclear approach to the large homes subject in Surrey has been a rare misstep.

"Monster homes," as they're referred to, are being built to accommodate the large extended families living in Surrey. Critics of the large homes feel that they are too large, often garish and poorly designed. The exact same fight, albeit with different players, occurred in Vancouver's west side during the early 1990s, when many new families arrived in the city after fleeing Hong Kong before its handover to China by the UK.

The crisis of "monster home" development blew up on then Mayor Gordon Campbell, who knew that in spite of the loss of heritage, that the overseas money was giving Vancouver a needed economic boost during a recession. Campbell resisted putting in any restrictions on demolitions, which were mainly happening in the well-off and WASP-y Kerrisdale and Shaughnessy neighbourhoods.

A pair of policies were put in place as a compromise by Vancouver city council in response to the public criticism. First, there was the famous RS-5 zoning for south Shaughnessy, approximately bounded by East Boulevard and Oak Street, and King Edward and 41st Avenue. This set of guidelines for housing design was forced upon a neighbourhood by the community itself. No other part of the city has had the wealth, influence and wherewithal to create similar restrictions.

The second compromise by council was the tree removal by-law, which requires replacement of any trees over 20cm in diameter, and limits the number of trees that size which can be removed on a property per year to one.

New Vancouver homes, with some exceptions, still got a whole lot uglier in the years since, but these two by-laws deflated the racial tension within a city that was undergoing major demographic change. The by-laws in essence forced home builders to respect the value Vancouver placed upon its heritage neighbourhoods, and the importance of trees.

Surrey has its own set of problems, and the underlying tension, from what I can see, is about race and politics. Watts can ill-afford to alienate a strong base built within ethnic communities, which is the best way to explain her waffling on this issue to date. Today's cover story in The Province describes the frustration with Watts on the homes issue from her own city workers, who fear illegal home additions are creating potential liability issues for Surrey:

Robin MacNair, spokesperson for the city's local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, says Mayor Dianne Watts knows about the unsafe conditions but has not taken action.

"All of the additions were built without permits and without inspections. The majority were not up to the building code. The work included plumbing and electrical installations," MacNair said.

Surrey was ready to take more than 70 cases to court in the fall of 2008, with charges of building without permits and building against stop-work orders.

But council voted to hold all impending cases "in abeyance" on Sept. 29, 2008, several weeks before the municipal election. Altogether, the city has 278 stop-work orders for unauthorized construction which are being held in abeyance.

The city council decision came after lobbying by the Surrey Ratepayers Association, which presented a 4,239-name petition requesting stop-worker orders be "held in abeyance" while house sizes were reviewed.

MacNair said the union asked "several times" for meetings with the city about safety concerns, but it took Watts six months to respond.

Watts in essence has been accused by her opposition of using delay tactics to ensure her victory in last year's election:

Prior to the election, the ratepayer group lobbied Surrey First and the Civic Coalition.

Watts insisted that putting stop-work cases on hold was not about trying to attract votes.

Clearly Surrey has an issue arising out of housing demand, and a strong difference of opinion on whether building big homes (with little regard to design principles) is the answer. Why, in all the rancor, hasn't someone in Surrey offered a creative solution? Are more, smaller homes a possible answer for Surrey's mess? Would a Vancouver-style solution, like creating zoning to allow for denser lots, be one direction?

Sometimes CityCaucus.com guest editorialist Michael Geller has sounded off in a recent Vancouver Sun Op-Ed about the size of homes and apartments. Geller proposes that a shift is happening to a smaller size of home. In spite of family size decreasing since WW2, home sizes have increased. Recent stats cited by Geller suggest that this trend is changing, but clearly Surrey didn't get the memo.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median size of a new house dropped to 2,114 square feet in the fourth quarter of 2008, down more than 100 square feet from the first quarter of the year.

Perhaps in reaction to the "McMansions" that have been built across North America, there has also been a growing interest in very small houses. This has led to the "Tiny House Movement", which promotes smaller, detached single-family homes that can range anywhere between 65 square feet (yes, 65 square feet) and 750 square feet.

Surrey is charging forth on plans for a denser, more urban orientation that will provide the city with a sustainable future. But the fact that Surrey city council is prepared to approve a 25% increase in the limit for the size of homes is shortsighted and self-defeating. This idea almost ensures that the city will forever hold onto its suburban, car-oriented sprawl designation.

History is repeating itself in Surrey. Vancouver has had its own growing pains over monster homes, and while they were not able to stop it, the city did set in motion some creative ideas to uphold community standards while respecting the growing market for newer home styles.

All signs are that Surrey will make a political decision to accommodate the monster home market. What the city should do is ask stakeholders for new ideas on how to create better quality housing options without using more land.

Councillor contrite

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:42:38 -0800

Vancouver City Councillor Andrea Reimer admits to "stupid" behaviour when insulting Coleman

After CityCaucus.com broke the story on Thursday night about Andrea Reimer's insulting Twitter post about Minister Rich Coleman, there certainly was a lot of attention paid by Vancouver's media to this story. The crack team at CKNW were first off the mark, getting quotes from both Reimer and Rich Coleman on Thursday night before both hit the sack.

The always nimble 24hrs Vancouver managed to get some ink in their paper before Friday's edition went to the presses. CTV BC's website has this print story with interesting comments from readers, and of course there is the great video story by GlobalTV's Rumina Daya from Friday night's broadcast.

From what we're hearing, Andrea Reimer was left to twist in the wind on this one. It was such a poorly timed embarrassment for Robertson, who was mid-flight drinking champaign on a military jet with the Olympic flame while this issue arose, that no one from the Vision team would come to her aid. Judging by the Global clip, it looks like Reimer hadn't slept the night before.

While some were trying to position Reimer's actions as a matter of "privacy," most realize that it's about politics and personal judgment. Reimer lashed out because she is in accord with David Eby on the question of whether homeless people should have the right to freeze themselves outdoors during extreme weather.

Reimer used her Twitter and Facebook as a public stage for her opinions, not a private message sent to supporters. She has been humbled hard for her actions, and with good reason. Vancouver voters will have to add this to their checklist in 2011 when deciding if this is the kind of person they want representing them on council, should she decide to run again.

UPDATE: CBC reports on this story

Andrea Reimer must apologize to Minister Coleman for rude remark

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:54:41 -0800

Is it the chip on her shoulder talking? Councillor Andrea Reimer disses Rich Coleman

It is with amazement and an amount of chagrin that we report that Vision Vancouver City Councillor Andrea Reimer has personally insulted the one person in the Provincial government who has been most generous to our city. In a mean-spirited post on her Twitter page [note, link now removed by Reimer], Reimer refers to Minister of Housing Rich Coleman as follows:

Thinking about introducing a motion requiring police to pick up Minister Coleman next time in Vancouver and dropping him off at Jenny Craig.

Minister Rich Coleman is a big man. He's also seen as someone whose heart is firmly in the right place on the housing and homelessness file – note the thousands of units of housing he is providing. On one occasion, after he dashed up to a podium to speak out of breath, I heard him say, "Yes, I'm fat." But just because Minister Coleman can be self-deprecating, it certain doesn't mean that a sitting City Councillor can toss insults at him.

To date CityCaucus.com has held Councillor Andrea Reimer in relatively high regard within the Vision Vancouver caucus in spite of some shortcomings. For example, we've described what we see as a "chip" on the young woman's shoulder, that shows itself in a sometimes arrogant disposition in the council chamber. Today's remarks have us rethinking our assessment.

Tomorrow, Mayor Robertson will be joining several other dignitaries on the front steps of the legislature as the Olympic torch is brought to British Columbia, for the beginning of the torch running ceremonies. The actions of a member of his caucus certainly brings the work of Robertson's council into disrepute.

Andrea Reimer must apologize immediately to Minister Coleman to prevent further embarrassment to herself, her party and the city.

This will be a true test of Gregor Robertson's leadership. Reimer is seen as one of his closest allies on council. They both espouse a "green" lifestyle, and are closer politically than most of Robertson's caucus.

Reimer's remarks are a huge setback for the Mayor's attempts at generating goodwill with Victoria. She will have to be seen to be punished by Robertson for her idiotic remarks, removed from key files and as chair of the Planning and Environment Committee at least for the short term.

This is a huge loss of face for Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver on the eve of the biggest day for Vancouver in almost a generation – the symbolic beginning of the 2010 Games, and the arrival of the Olympic torch in Canada.

Reimer's immature remarks are unbecoming of her position as a Vancouver city councillor.

UPDATE: Since we've posted this story Andrea Reimer has removed the item from her Twitter. Reimer explains her remarks as a reaction to new proposed legislation to get the homeless off the street during extreme weather. She now says she "regrets" making the comment and will contact the Minister.

CKNW reports the story and NPA Councillor Anton reacts saying, "I'm not going to comment on the comment that was made on him, I think i'll let your listeners do that for themselves."

Battle against sprawl hits the Kootenays

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:10:52 -0800

Cranbrook citizens will vote on sprawl November 14th

The citizens of Cranbrook, BC are going to the polls on November 14th in a unique fight over land use. To Sprawl or Not to Sprawl, that is the question. We here at CityCaucus.com have regularly made the crisis of urban sprawl a focus of our writing. We abhore sprawl, wherever it is taking place, and we would like to support the good people living at the southeast end of our province in their decision-making.

Of course, we hope the Cranbrook votes no on the effort to expand their city boundaries to allow for more sprawl development. The grassroots website livablecranbrook.org spells out the arguments pretty well, but during difficult economic times and reductions in government funding, are people ready to make the tough decisions about their future?

There is no doubt, with developers pushing hard and making promises to bring short term construction jobs, that there is a strong temptation to support the move to expand the girth of Cranbrook. I don't know any of the players involved, but too often the perception is that a bunch of old hippies want smart growth, and the meat-eating truckers want car-oriented living. The debate over sprawl is not a left/right argument though. It's about the kind of future people want for their community.

CTV News here in Vancouver ran a pretty good report by Kimberly Davidson last Sunday night. While the individual story is not linked on their website, those who are interested can look at their Sunday night newscast (the story runs about 11 minutes in, after the Surrey monster homes story).

What is interesting is that the young landowner interviewed in the story, who is pushing for a new subdivision, is still threatening to build his development regardless of the outcome of the referendum vote. How's that for a good neighbour? "I don't care what the people say, I'll do what I want with this land."

We here at CityCaucus.com hope that the citizens of Cranbrook, BC, stand up for a more livable, better designed, and walkable community. Let's keep our fingers crossed on November 14th for them all.

Liberal nod for Rebagliati a sign of party disarray

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:21:19 -0800

Rebagliati runs in Okanagan-Coquihalla: what are these guys thinking? And what's with the toque?

So Ross Rebagliati is now a Liberal candidate. I do not know Mr. Rebagliati, and do not disparage his accomplishment of getting gold at the Winter Olympics a few years back. However, from what I've seen and heard out of his mouth in the past few days leaves me to think Minister Stockwell Day has nothing to be concerned about.

Day is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Coquihalla, a riding that is solidly Conservative. Day took it in a walk last time out, and the Liberal Party finished dead last. Parties who are worried about their ability to get enough members elected start using the "star candidate" tactic in order to draw more attention to themselves. The so-called stars are sometimes, but not always put into safe (winnable) ridings. They are sometimes also put into swing ridings, where it's hoped that their name recognition will tip the balance and lead to a winning outcome.

However, rarely are star candidates thrown into a complete losing scenario, unless there is a certain contempt at play. Take for example Arthur Griffiths run for Provincial MLA in Vancouver-Burrard last year. To me it was clear that it would be a rout for the NDP. Lorne Mayencourt barely won the riding (11 votes, after a judicial re-count) and by-elections are rarely favourable to sitting governments. Couple the fact that Griffiths, despite his family name recognition, didn't have any connection to the community of mainly renters, he didn't really have a shot.

Rebagliati would have to be able to walk on water, and have the oratory skills of Obama to even put the Liberal Party close to 2nd place. Instead Ross comes across as self-centered, unfamiliar with government policy, and at the same time he's trying to market an upcoming autobiography in time for Christmas shoppers. Voters will smell a con job, and the Liberals will pay dearly for it in BC as a result.

And what's with doing interviews in a frickin' toque? Does this guy think he's campaigning in the après ski lounge? If Michael Ignatieff's people have any sense, they'll find a way to get Rebagliati to do something else with his time. Ross will be a painful distraction for the party if and when the writ gets dropped.

As for the Tories, they must be laughing themselves silly on this one. As long as Day doesn't try to do any snowboarding during the next election campaign predicted for early next Spring, he'll trounce the lad from Whistler, BC.

CityCaucus.com Op-Ed in today's Vancouver Sun

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:25 -0800

Mike and Daniel are in today's Vancouver Sun Op-Ed page discussing Gregor's green plan

CityCaucus.com are once again privileged to be on the Editorial pages of the Vancouver Sun. The piece titled, Mayor Robertson's green dream is just that is a critical look at the 70+ page plan by Gregor and his GCAT team to achieve green greatness.

For Vancouver city council, green has become the new black. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson's 10-point plan for becoming the world's greenest city was rolled out recently.
The mayor's handpicked team of advisers has held their meetings out of public view. Now what should Vancouver residents make of the plan developed by the mayor's team without their input?

We are weighing into the debate by asking are the Mayor's goals, such as achieving 20,000 green-oriented jobs within a decade in city limits, actually achievable? Where are the hard decisions around land use? Why the rush toward social enterprises and making changes to the Vancouver Charter?

We've got much more to say about Gregor's Green Dream, so stay tuned for upcoming posts.

On other media appearances, CityCaucus.com's Daniel Fontaine made his weekly appearance on CKNW's Civic Affairs Panel on the Bill Good Show this morning. Topics included whether there is a future in large single-family homes, and should cities limit the size of houses or find better ways to tax the square footage?

You can check out the discussion by visiting CKNW's Audio Vault, and going to 9am on Tuesday, October 27th.