Epic battles for democracy on two fronts yesterday: BC Legislature and Vancouver City Council. Who won? Who lost?

CityHallWatch: Tools to engage in Vancouver city decisions

An epic battle was fought on two fronts yesterday for the very foundations of our society and civic democratic systems.  The critical issue is who pays for civic election campaign, and how much they can pay . While the world was distracted with other things, these twin dramas unfolded in B.C. Legislature and Vancouver City Council . Citizens who care, please contact your MLA  and Vancouver City Council to tell them what you think of all this. Debate continues today in Legislature at 10 am .

Proposing an amendment to the draft Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (Bill 20), MLA Vicki Huntington almost changed B.C. history. Her proposal to delete just two words (“an organization”) from the text would have effectively banned corporate and union donations in municipal elections. Her justification:

There comes a time, and perhaps the time is now, when we have to stand up and say: “Look, the people are extremely…

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Presentation of Draft Central Waterfront Area Vision: Tuesday Feb 18th, 6pm.

The North Van Urban Forum

Update from CNV:

COUNCIL WORKSHOP

Tuesday, February 18 at 6pm
City Hall Council Chamber
Last fall, the City launched a process to develop a vision for the Central Waterfront area.

Following a public consultation process led by destination expert Roger Brooks, a draft vision for the central waterfront has been created and will be presented for Council’s consideration.

See the City’s website for further information here: http://www.cnv.org/CentralWaterfrontVision

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Presentation of Draft Central Waterfront Area Vision: Tuesday Feb 18th, 6pm.

Presentation of Draft Central Waterfront Area Vision: Tuesday Feb 18th, 6pm..

Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater

Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater

Small Grants Deadline Extended!

Small Grants Deadline Extended!.

North Shore Small Grants Deadline Extended!

An Amazing Moon Hangs Over “More Fun Alley”

An Amazing Moon Hangs Over “More Fun Alley”.

Downloads from my camera: Brentwood

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The view east on the Millennium Line, from Brentwood Station:

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But not, I expect, for long.  A car dealership adjacent to a SkyTrain Station – all that asphalt! – is more a holding property than a long-term business, especially as Brentwood Centre redevelopments.

 

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Expect to see a skyline looking more like the one currently seen from Brentwood: a ridgeline of highrises where the Expo Line glides through Metrotown.

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City Conversations – Democracy: Vote it or Lose it – Apr 4

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Election day, May 14th. Following a long downward trend, it’s likely that fewer than half the eligible voters will vote. The winning party will represent only one in four of BC’s citizens. Most of the decline in democratic participation is attributable to youth.

Why are the province’s nonvoting youth, 18-34, standing by and allowing older citizens to make their decisions? How do we change this? Should showing up to vote be required, as it is in Australia?

Our presenters are Dr. Keith Archer, Chief Electoral Officer, Elections BC; Marcella Munro, principal with the political strategy group Earnscliffe; and Sasha Caldera, campaign coordinator with Apathy is Boring. They’ll frame the issue. Then, it’s your turn. You’re welcome to bring your lunch.

When: Thu, Apr 4, 2013 /  12:30 pm

Where: SFU Vancouver, Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings, Room 2270

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Bob Ransford discussed the push by the Vancouver Council to get a rapid-transit line down Broadway in his Vancouver Sun column.  Lots of good points.

I sent it off to Human Transit blogger Jarrett Walker to see if he had any counterpoints.  Oh yeah.

So here are the two of them, with Jarrett’s remarks italicized along the way:

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Questions about a Broadway subway line must not go unasked

The number of stations would have a huge impact on the shaping of neighbourhoods along the rapid transit line

By Bob Ransford, Special to The Sun – December 8, 2012

Now that Vancouver city council has decided that a $2.8-billion subway rapid transit line to UBC is the best way to meet the growing public transportation demand along the Broadway corridor, some hard questions need to be asked.

Why ask the questions after the decision has been made?

Well, if…

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