Developers’ donations carry costs, says COPE
Cassidy Olivier, November 18, 2011
The Province

The law governing political donations at the municipal level should be altered to prevent local developers from buying influence through fat campaign contributions, says COPE city council candidate Tim Louis.

Speaking Thursday outside City Hall in the final days before the Nov. 19 election, Louis, a two-time councillor, said Vancouver’s council would be healthier and more democratic if elections weren’t determined by developers, a group that historically sinks big bucks into the city’s main political parties. Continue reading →

Who should you vote for? A guide to the attack dogs, workaholics, and more of Vancouver city council
November 17, 2011
francesbula.com

Everyone uses a different value system and set of criteria to decide who they want to vote for. I wouldn’t presume to give people a list of “best” candidates, because my best will never match your best. I’m not endorsing anyone either.

Some people are going to vote straight Non-Partisan Association or straight Vision/COPE slate because they know what those parties are offering and they want to make sure there’s a majority elected to ensure the party can carry out what it promised. Continue reading →

Alliance for Arts releases its civic candidates survey — no response from Mayor Gregor Robertson
Jessica Werb, November 17, 2011
Straight.com

The Alliance for Arts and Culture has released the results of a survey it conducted which polled civic candidates across Metro Vancouver on arts, culture, and heritage issues. Of the 442 candidates it was sent to—in all Metro Vancouver communities except Electoral District A and Becarra—280 replied.

In Vancouver, while the NPA’s mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton found time to respond, Mayor Gregor Robertson did not. In addition, only three Vision council candidates, Heather Deal, Kerry Jang, and Andrea Reimer, responded. None of the Vision’s park board candidates responded. Continue reading →

Vancouver Civic Election Endorsements

The Vancouver municipal election takes place this Saturday November 19th. Here the editors of the Mainlander present our endorsements for Vancouver City Council, Parks Board, and School Board.

This election should be considered within the context of the past three years. In 2008, Vision Vancouver candidates for City Council ran aggressively against the NPA’s record. But since that time, Vision has continued the NPA’s policy of business tax cuts, gentrification, “ecodensity,” policing the poor, privatization, and cuts to the public service. Relations with community organizations have been severed, rendering city hall even more out-of-touch. Alas, the two developer-funded parties differ less than hairs plucked from the nose of Pinocchio. Continue reading →

Randy Helten, November 17, 2011
Vancouver Sun

Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver is a real alternative for voters in the 2011 civic election, probably the most important one in a generation. In addition to Vision Vancouver and the Non-Partisan Association, NSV is the only other elector organization that has a mayoral candidate and a slate for city council.

Since 2007 NSV has been a citizen-based network of groups and individuals in neighbourhoods across the city who have extensive experience dealing with City Hall. [View partial list]. The Sam Sullivan/Suzanne Anton NPA-dominated council was largely rejected in 2008, in part due to unsupported policies, and Vision swept into power. Vision promised change but instead has further reinforced and implemented the NPA’s principles and policies. Continue reading →

David P. Ball, November 16, 2011
rabble.ca

We all love to scoff at sensational, low-brow journalism — perpetually rehashing past scandals, eluding substance.

But when Mayor Robertson dismissed a critic last summer with the following infamously recorded words, who knew the guy would come back for revenge on the campaign trail: “Who are all these fuckin’ — who are these hacks man? Are they they NPA hacks?”

But how else could one begin writing about Randy Helten’s campaign for mayor — and his upstart Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver (NSV)’s bid for council — without referencing what he calls “the f-bomb incident.”

Quixotic spoilers, some would say. David versus Goliath: another, more sympathetic, cliché.

So let’s get to some substance: Helten told rabble.ca that what offended him wasn’t His Honour’s cussing, but what was behind it. It was Robertson’s follow-up mockery of the public consulation process:”God, we’re just tryin’ to have a little advisory committee, for fuck sakes.”

And that, Helten adds, is an attitude that should push Robertson from office.

“The bottom line is trust,” Helten says, recounting the mayor’s July 10, 2010 gaffe, as he sips on a triple-shot black Americano in a West End coffee shop. “I had no emotion — I wasn’t personally insulted or outraged. All it did was double my passion.” Continue reading →

NSV Answers to Arts & Culture Survey
City of Vancouver, November 15, 2011

1. COPE, NPA and Vision have all endorsed policies for artists’ studios. What these policies typically lack are measurable targets for preservation or allocation of suitable creative space; and reference to specific public policy options that can be used to either regulate the real estate market or to preserve exciting spaces. What are the available policy options — that haven’t been used yet — and how can they be used to stem the loss of studios and other creative spaces?

Randy Helten (NSV): CoV planning processes should test community support for expansion of mixed-use zones, and Comprehensive Development (CD-1) proposals that include residential densification should include a commensurate increase in commercial space (e.g. second storey business use) where appropriate and community supported. NSV supports development of a small business property tax credit program, which would provide a lower tax rate for small spaces. This would have the added benefit of allowing more home-based businesses to relocate in areas zoned for commercial or mixed uses. Consideration should be given to requiring replacement and expansion of commercial spaces, and relocation assistance where a rezoning is sought. We are reluctant to suggest specifying arts or arts related uses for a redevelopment / rezoning-linked replacement policy because these are difficult to define and could have the unintended consequence of deterring property owners from leasing to arts-use tenants. Continue reading →

Grassroots groups eyeing city hall
Matt Kieltyka, November 16, 2011
Metro Vancouver

The Non-Partisan Association and the Vision Vancouver/COPE coalition aren’t the only options for Vancouverites.

Community-based organizations and independents are always present on civic ballots, and the 2011 municipal election in Vancouver features several underdog candidates threatening to bring high-rolling city hall back down to earth.

The biggest of these groups is Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver (NSV), a grassroots advocacy organization that has recently transformed into a political party over its displeasure with the lack of community engagement, rampant development and an allegiance to big-money donors under both NPA and Vision leadership. Continue reading →

Furor over Vision’s funding allegations
Erica Bulman, November 16, 2011
24 Hours Vancouver

Just days before the civic election, an independent researcher threw a grenade into Gregor Robertson’s camp, raising questions about campaign financing that sparked a hostile skirmish between Vision Vancouver and the NPA.

North Vancouver researcher Vivian Krause, who has long been investigating the origins of Robertson’s campaign finances, suggested in the 2008 civic campaign Vision Vancouver may have received up to $340,000 in donations from private “investment firms” and “PR companies” funded by U.S-funded charities. Continue reading →

Ned Jacobs, November 15, 2011
Straight.com

I will be voting for Randy Helten for mayor and the council candidates endorsed or recommended by Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver (NSV).

But first, here is why I will not be voting for Gregor Robertson, Suzanne Anton, Vision Vancouver, or NPA city council candidates (with one exception).

When it comes to ending homelessness and improving housing affordability, Mayor Robertson and Vision Vancouver have had more bark than bite. Provincially funded HEAT shelters, SROs, and supportive housing on city-owned sites were largely due to relentless pressure from the low-income community and COPE councillors. The supportive housing and SRO acquisitions were facilitated by the previous NPA-led council. Continue reading →