City Conversation #44: The proposed spot rezoning of 1477 West Broadway highlights the state of the trust between a remote civic government and its citizens
I have been at this for a year working toward defending deeply affordable housing in the 57 co-ops across Vancouver and more specifically in the neighbourhood where I live in False Creek South where we are marked for redevelopment. I spend a lot of time in the past year learning about the financialization of our housing. What you speak of here Brian as the erosion of our democratic process is on point. The Blackrocks and Blackstones of the world have infiltrated so many government institutions and the top down approach might be a testament to that. The fact that the Chief Planner couldn't be bothered to even stay is also a testament to ... well other things too.
(I am not sure how she ended up in that most important post.. was there an interview process? She is a permit clerk whose name is tangled with shenanigans in Dallas with permits she gave to oil drilling in parks and floodplains. Her boss was fired and she migrated here--
So the question of solutions also has to address how we protect our democratic institutions. The result of all this unfortunately is loss in trust from the public, which further erodes the democratic process since those who are fighting to survive to pay rent, do not have time to show up at council meetings and hearings. Thank you for your posts.
Daniela, thank you for reading. I'm not sure I have anything more to offer at this exact moment. You may have seen my City Conversations around False Creek South. That threat has not gone away but has been bumped down the priority list by developments like the Broadway Plan and Vancouver Plan, which are happening momentarily, hence taking more of my time.
I wish I could say I need never return to discussions about the survival of affordable housing in FCS, but sadly, I expect to return to the subject unless there is a major shift in the October elections. If you've not already done so, please consider joining TEAM as the best hope for Salse Creek (and the rest of the city). Cheers.
Thank you Brian. I am part of the freshly minted Place Mattering Matters Collective and we are planning a session on Happy Density for May 10th (we usually run on the second Tuesday of the month). It would be lovely if we can have you as a guest speaker. Usually that would be a 10min addressing the issue and we also add some poetry and/artistic engagement, and answer questions. Do let me know if you are interested and if you can make that day or perhaps another month and I will be in touch. You work and creative way of engaging with the issue is very welcome and refreshing. Thank you.
Not really new, having Councillors not pay attention. In presentations I have made at the best of times will all in Chambers, only a minority were interested. Yes it's tiring listening to citizens, but a few chatted amongst themselves, one knitted, and others were obviously on devices, while I spoke. I've had others in Municipalities where Councillors discussed barbecues, who's picking up the kids today etc with the staff who were against our project. One exception was a very vibrant Council in West Vancouver. They held their staff to task, asked inciteful questions of both staff and presenters. Maybe ours should sit in on one of their sessions to observe.
I spent a lot of time on the Broadway plan and pointed out in my comments that the questions were phrased in a way to produce the answers they wanted. I continually brought up trees and cycling in my comments. I kind of lost heart to attack the Vancouver Plan faced with that huge report to read first, especially after reading in City Hall Watch that the report lacked substance. The blogs columns which are excellent, do leave me feeling "what's the point," even though you always urge readers to do the surveys. For instance, City Hall Watch pointed out how city planners pick and choose amongst public responses in order to present a result they want from their survey. I've done a number of public commentary surveys for other issues, particularly agricultural animal welfare and forests. It's discouraging to be asked if I'm a stakeholder, and then to plow through complexly worded, loaded multiple-choice questions which create false dichotomies.
I am so sorry if my writing has caused you to lose heart. Buried in amongst my City Conversations are several that address "How do we make it better?" But you remind me that more solutions are needed. I am just in the midst of another problem Conversation, but promise I will move from there to "How do we make it better?" Please hang in there!
Sorry, I don't want to shoot the messenger. I think your columns are very thoughtful and enlightening. The fact is the state of city is hall is disheartening, not your columns.
I watched this session and was appalled at the Mayor's responses to Colleen. Also when counsellors asked the planning dept and developer questions they nimbly ignored and answered talking about transportation, and the grocery store being in the building. They also said no provision for bikes. that the station would take care of the bikes. It was pitiful to listen to what our city has become.
Lara, thanks for listening. Sadly, I cannot dispute any of your comments. Colleen is the only person in the room (so far) after the Mayor's Chair, so I expect to see much more of this disrespect over the next several months.
So disheartening, we must put compassionate and dutiful citizens on council who will champion community building!
Our best option for what you ask is to elect TEAM for a Livable Vancouver in October
Thank you for all the work you have put in to potential disaster for our communities, we all must get out and vote to ELECT TEAM!
I have been at this for a year working toward defending deeply affordable housing in the 57 co-ops across Vancouver and more specifically in the neighbourhood where I live in False Creek South where we are marked for redevelopment. I spend a lot of time in the past year learning about the financialization of our housing. What you speak of here Brian as the erosion of our democratic process is on point. The Blackrocks and Blackstones of the world have infiltrated so many government institutions and the top down approach might be a testament to that. The fact that the Chief Planner couldn't be bothered to even stay is also a testament to ... well other things too.
(I am not sure how she ended up in that most important post.. was there an interview process? She is a permit clerk whose name is tangled with shenanigans in Dallas with permits she gave to oil drilling in parks and floodplains. Her boss was fired and she migrated here--
LInk: https://www.downwindersatrisk.org/tag/dallas-climate-change-plan/
---)
So the question of solutions also has to address how we protect our democratic institutions. The result of all this unfortunately is loss in trust from the public, which further erodes the democratic process since those who are fighting to survive to pay rent, do not have time to show up at council meetings and hearings. Thank you for your posts.
Daniela, thank you for reading. I'm not sure I have anything more to offer at this exact moment. You may have seen my City Conversations around False Creek South. That threat has not gone away but has been bumped down the priority list by developments like the Broadway Plan and Vancouver Plan, which are happening momentarily, hence taking more of my time.
I wish I could say I need never return to discussions about the survival of affordable housing in FCS, but sadly, I expect to return to the subject unless there is a major shift in the October elections. If you've not already done so, please consider joining TEAM as the best hope for Salse Creek (and the rest of the city). Cheers.
Thank you Brian. I am part of the freshly minted Place Mattering Matters Collective and we are planning a session on Happy Density for May 10th (we usually run on the second Tuesday of the month). It would be lovely if we can have you as a guest speaker. Usually that would be a 10min addressing the issue and we also add some poetry and/artistic engagement, and answer questions. Do let me know if you are interested and if you can make that day or perhaps another month and I will be in touch. You work and creative way of engaging with the issue is very welcome and refreshing. Thank you.
Not really new, having Councillors not pay attention. In presentations I have made at the best of times will all in Chambers, only a minority were interested. Yes it's tiring listening to citizens, but a few chatted amongst themselves, one knitted, and others were obviously on devices, while I spoke. I've had others in Municipalities where Councillors discussed barbecues, who's picking up the kids today etc with the staff who were against our project. One exception was a very vibrant Council in West Vancouver. They held their staff to task, asked inciteful questions of both staff and presenters. Maybe ours should sit in on one of their sessions to observe.
A sad comment on our democracy
I spent a lot of time on the Broadway plan and pointed out in my comments that the questions were phrased in a way to produce the answers they wanted. I continually brought up trees and cycling in my comments. I kind of lost heart to attack the Vancouver Plan faced with that huge report to read first, especially after reading in City Hall Watch that the report lacked substance. The blogs columns which are excellent, do leave me feeling "what's the point," even though you always urge readers to do the surveys. For instance, City Hall Watch pointed out how city planners pick and choose amongst public responses in order to present a result they want from their survey. I've done a number of public commentary surveys for other issues, particularly agricultural animal welfare and forests. It's discouraging to be asked if I'm a stakeholder, and then to plow through complexly worded, loaded multiple-choice questions which create false dichotomies.
I am so sorry if my writing has caused you to lose heart. Buried in amongst my City Conversations are several that address "How do we make it better?" But you remind me that more solutions are needed. I am just in the midst of another problem Conversation, but promise I will move from there to "How do we make it better?" Please hang in there!
Sorry, I don't want to shoot the messenger. I think your columns are very thoughtful and enlightening. The fact is the state of city is hall is disheartening, not your columns.
I watched this session and was appalled at the Mayor's responses to Colleen. Also when counsellors asked the planning dept and developer questions they nimbly ignored and answered talking about transportation, and the grocery store being in the building. They also said no provision for bikes. that the station would take care of the bikes. It was pitiful to listen to what our city has become.
Lara, thanks for listening. Sadly, I cannot dispute any of your comments. Colleen is the only person in the room (so far) after the Mayor's Chair, so I expect to see much more of this disrespect over the next several months.