Category Archives: City Hall

Vote October 20 — don’t let others decide for you!

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Tim Louis

This coming Saturday, Oct. 20 is municipal election day. I’ve already voted at the advance poll so that I’m free to volunteer for the candidates I’m supporting on election day. Who am I supporting? For me, it was a very … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, City Hall, COPE, Green Party, People Power, sustainability, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vancouver Park Board, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Support “shop local” when you “vote local”

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Tim Louis

With “for lease” signs popping up everywhere in Vancouver’s commercial districts, it’s become crystal clear just how difficult the situation is for our city’s small businesses. Online retail is part of the reason so many small businesses are closing shop. … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, City Hall, developers, economy, gentrification, NDP, Planning, Vancouver, Vancouver election | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Out the door for Vision — and good riddance

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Tim Louis

At long last, Vision Vancouver is about to be swept out the door by the electorate, as it rightfully should be. Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, COPE, First Nations, Green Party, NPA, People Power, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vancouver Park Board, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

View cone demolition – another nail in the coffin of affordable housing

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Tim Louis

Yesterday, Vision Vancouver approved the application for a tower adjacent to BC Place Stadium. The application is from BC Pavilion Corporation or PavCo, the provincial Crown corporation originally created to manage the Expo 86 site. The tower, one of three … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, British Columbia, City Hall, developers, gentrification, Heritage, homelessness, National Housing Strategy, NPA, Planning, Vancouver, Vancouver election, viaducts, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Affordable rents: There’s a way, just no will

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Tim Louis

Over the last number of years, Vision Vancouver has been offering developers significant incentives in the form of waiving development cost levies or DCLs in return for a commitment from the developer to provide purpose-built rental housing. (See my June … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, British Columbia, City Hall, developers, electoral reform, gentrification, Green Party, homelessness, influence peddling, National Housing Strategy, NDP, Planning, seniors, social justice, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Affordable rents: There’s a way, just no will

Hurried “chainsaw massacre” of our city’s zoning

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Tim Louis

I don’t normally read the Vancouver Sun — it’s much too conservative for me. However, I was recently made aware of a great guest editorial by Elizabeth Murphy, a respected urbanist and former member of Vancouver’s planning department. Her op … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, Broadway Corridor, City Hall, COPE, developers, gentrification, homelessness, National Housing Strategy, Planning, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Developers, their fair share — and real low-cost housing

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Tim Louis

Housing was all over the news this week, but three examples really speak to the usefulness of development cost levies in this regard — when they’re used for real affordable housing. I’ve long been critical of the City of Vancouver … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, City Hall, developers, equality, fiscal responsibility, gentrification, homelessness, influence peddling, National Housing Strategy, Planning, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Developers, their fair share — and real low-cost housing

A fighting chance with limits on big money in politics

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Tim Louis

Last week I blogged about the very positive, upbeat COPE nomination meeting I recently attended. This week let’s take a look at the bigger picture — the likely impact of new legislation that will govern campaign financing in this fall’s … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, British Columbia, City Hall, COPE, developers, Elections - British Columbia, electoral reform, equality, gentrification, NDP, People Power, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vancouver Park Board, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A fighting chance with limits on big money in politics

COPE is definitely back!

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Tim Louis

If you support COPE and the kind of progressive policies it stands for, I’ve got good news for you. Last Sunday, I attended the COPE nomination meeting — the first COPE meeting I’ve attended in almost a year since I … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, City Hall, COPE, developers, events, homelessness, People Power, Vancouver, Vancouver election | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on COPE is definitely back!

COPE’s nomination meeting — a party comeback highlight

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Tim Louis

This coming Sunday, June 10, at 2 p.m. the Coalition of Progressive Electors will hold its nomination meeting. COPE has done a very impressive job of rebuilding over the past few months, and this nomination meeting looks like it will … Continue reading →

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