UBCM Housing Strategy for BC

UBCM Housing Strategy for BC

Union of BC Municipalities have released a housing policy paper, “A Home For Everyone: A Housing Strategy for British Columbians” that consolidates some excellent recommendations. Read More
Over six months later, negligent developers still screwing over local neighbours.

Over six months later, negligent developers still screwing over local neighbours.

Word that the developers of the Brixton Flats project in Chinatown are refusing to fairly compensate residents of the half dozen homes they destroyed back in in April, when a wind storm collapsed a brick retaining wall they had been constructing (ironically covering over the very mural they have featured in their promo for the new development).

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Penalties for Illegal Ridesharing Operations should be Steeper

Penalties for Illegal Ridesharing Operations should be Steeper

VANCOUVER, Archive, RIDESHARE

While MLAs continue to debate how to regulate ride shares in Vancouver and across BC — here in the Lower Mainland, growth in illegal rideshares has been absolutely explosive!

Yesterday on CKNW I followed up with Lynda Steel on a conversation we had back in July.

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Green politico Pete Fry sounds alarm about loophole in campaign-finance law

Green politico Pete Fry sounds alarm about loophole in campaign-finance law

Big money may continue to influence local elections in B.C., says a former city-council candidate. Pete Fry of the Green Party of Vancouver claims that this is due to a loophole in legislation that was passed by the province last month regarding campaign financing.

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Know Your Rights: Tenant Relocation and Protection policy

Know Your Rights: Tenant Relocation and Protection policy

VANCOUVER, affordability, Archive, tenants

Under the City’s Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy, formally evicting long term tenants for “minor repairs” necessitates at a minimum 4 months free rent and moving expenses (in the case of a 10year tenant).

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On Zoning.

On Zoning.

VANCOUVER, Archive, HOUSING, URBANISM

Zoning and land-use decisions are the big tools at the city’s disposal. The outrageous land valuation increase detailed in this article is a direct result of the city’s changes to permissible building height and scale — and it’s what is driving a rush on speculation as well as replacement and displacement of actually affordable housing in the West End.

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Voting Vision is more of the same and voting NPA could block key budget votes

Voting Vision is more of the same and voting NPA could block key budget votes

The best part of political campaigns is meeting people and reconnecting with our city’s neighbourhoods.

But it’s bittersweet.

Too many folk are being pushed out. People are living on the street. Increasingly our city is becoming more about speculative investment and less about people who live and work here.

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Adriane Carr: Vancouver and I need Pete Fry on city council

Adriane Carr: Vancouver and I need Pete Fry on city council

VANCOUVER, Archive, in the media, POLITICS

I love my job as a Vancouver city councillor. But I’d get a lot more done and the city would be better off if Pete Fry were to join me at the council table.

Dynamics were different at city hall when I was elected as Vancouver’s first Green councillor in 2011. The two NPA councillors—Affleck and Ball—were willing to second my motions even if they didn’t vote for them, just to ensure they got publicly debated. Vision councillors, who often tried to dissuade me from even making motions, occassionally seconded one, then basically quashed it by referring it to staff for review.

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'We're really about the grassroots': Interview with Vancouver city council candidate Pete Fry

‘We’re really about the grassroots’: Interview with Vancouver city council candidate Pete Fry

VANCOUVER, in the media, POLITICS

Party candidate Pete Fry is hoping to join Green Party councillor Adriane Carr on Vancouver’s city council. rabble.ca spoke with Fry to find out how a second Green Party member would change the dynamics on city council. This interview has been edited and condensed.

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Video: I’ll fight to protect our communities, homes and jobs

VANCOUVER, Archive, POLITICS, video

I’m running to be your city councillor, because when I talk to Vancouverites, they tell me they are frustrated – they feel like the city is failing them. Failing them on housing. Failing them on homelessness. People feel that there’s special treatment for a special group of developers; that too many decisions get made behind closed doors. Public trust is broken.

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