NPA President trips over past words

Posted by Jonathan Ross

NPA President Michael Davis didn't seem to have as scrutinizing an eye when his party and Sam Sullivan were in power.

It is no surprise that the NPA came out swinging following Vision Vancouver’s release of their financials yesterday:

NPA Calls Vision Vancouver Fundraising astonishing

Vancouver—Vision Vancouver today released statements showing they have raised over $433,000 since March 1, 2009.

Vancouver Non-Partisan Association (NPA) President Michael Davis says Vision Vancouver is taking municipal campaign fundraising to astonishing levels.

“In front of reporters, Mayor Robertson says campaign finance is out of control and should be reigned in through legislation,” says Davis. “Behind the scenes, the party he leads is taking close to half a million from developers and trade unions in a non-election year. What do you suppose these donors expect in return?”

The documents filed by Vision Vancouver show they took $433,560.83 in contributions since March 1, 2009. The party used $241,666.70 to pay off their 2008 campaign debt and spent $181,522.35.

“Residents should be very concerned about what how much this Mayor is prepared to pay to stay in power,” adds Davis, “and who is paying the bills.”

But Davis had a different set of criteria when talking about the donations that his own party received for the 2008 election.

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Vision Vancouver first of parties to offer financial disclosure

Posted by Jonathan Ross

Vision Vancouver has set a standard that Vancouver citizens should expect from both the NPA and COPE.

Vision Vancouver has just released a list of their financial contributors:

Vision Vancouver Supplemental Report on Campaign Contributions (March 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010)

Contributors over $100

So, my question for COPE and the NPA is very simple:

When is your organization going to do the same?

Bike lane opponents prefer anecdotal impressions over facts

Posted by Jonathan Ross

The traffic numbers are slowly going up for the Dunsmuir bike lane, in spite of those who are attempting to cast doubt as to the accuracy of the data.

The bike lanes tend to be a topic of conversation with those that know I have an interest in municipal politics.

Of course, the ones that feel the need to speak to me tend not to be supporters or even indifferent to them, because as is the usually the case, it is the opponents that are the first to voice their opinions.

And, I have heard of the usual responses from these people before:

“No one uses the lanes.  There is no traffic on them.”

“The biking lobby have co-0pted the Mayor’s office to the detriment of drivers.”

“The amount of cyclists in this city do not warrant this kind of expense.”

But yesterday the City released the first figures to emerge from the Dunsmuir bike lane trial, and the numbers show that the intent of increasing cycling traffic into the downtown core is showing signs of success (although I have no idea how they came up with the 250% increase – my math says 300).

What comes next for the detractors?  Well, they attack the accuracy of the statistics, making ridiculous statements like “The figures the city has published about bike riders are absolute rubbish – if they were even remotely true, you would always see many, many more bike riders on Burrard Bridge – but you can never see more bike riders than pedestrians, never, regardless of the time of day.”

Here, however, are a few things to consider.

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Quick hits

Posted by Jonathan Ross

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Sat Jul 31, 2010

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FACT OF THE DAY

Vancouver’s West End is 204 hectares and is home to 44,000 people (as at 2006) and has increased 5.8% in the previous 5 years and 66% moved since the last census.  61% speak English as their mother tongue.  The majority are in the 20-39 year old age group.  59% are one person households, with 8,710 families and an average household inome of $38,000.  There is a total of over 28,000 private households.

Quote OF THE DAY

“We’re really asking people to be respectful of the diversity of our community.  People live down here because of the diversity, they feel safe within diversity, and that’s a really important value for us.” – Brent Granby, West End Resident’s Association

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