November 3, 2010 - 10:18 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
The city of glass is still difficult to navigate for many renters who wish to work and live in the city.
“More than half of Vancouver residents rent, but rental only buildings account for just six per cent of stock.”
That is the quote that sticks out from this news item, which while a little late, is a good step forward towards making Vision Vancouver’s promise of using tax incentives to promote the development of new rental units a reality.
Having experiencing first hand what it is like to seek out rental possibilities within the City of Vancouver, I can most definitely say that the stock of adequate and affordable options is limited, to say the least.
The program is bigger than the tunnel-vision interests of any specific neighbourhood, making this policy one that is beneficial to the entire city – which, by the way, encompasses 131,000 households that rent, representing 52 per cent of the total.
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October 7, 2010 - 10:14 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Lone NPA Councillor Suzanne Anton is going to be changing her footwear for the remainder of her term.
I have always said that changing your mind in politics shouldn’t be as big a deal as it is usually portrayed – if, that is, it is handled correctly.
And that is why I am not inclined to immediately jump down Suzanne Anton’s throat when I read this about her changing her mind on supporting the Hornby bike lane. Rather, I am open to listening to her reasoning and then assessing whether it is politics or principle that has motivated her decision.
Well, after reading her release from yesterday, it is clear that she has changed her mind because of the shit kicking she has received from opponents of the bike lane and her core constituencies rather than the reasons she so desperately tried to get across in her release.
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September 24, 2010 - 9:58 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Not everyone within City Hall is up in arms about the internal change that is currently occurring, as some might have the public believe.
Frances Bula wrote a story about the changes that are going on at City Hall, which is fascinating enough in its account of how those within the Hall are reacting to the way in which things are being shaped by the Vision administration. But then there was this comment left at her blog, which I for one don’t find surprising in the least:
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August 17, 2010 - 1:38 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Mayor Gregor Robertson's plans with regards to bike lanes and the establishment of a cycling infrastructure were never hidden from the public.
It has been a common theme from Vision Vancouver opponents and haters to claim that the party is running roughshod over the public will, whether it is in regards to dedicated bike lanes or increasing rental housing stock.
I call BS with these kinds of claims, largely because I believe that the whole debate regarding consultation on some of these initiatives already happened to a large extent.
How?
Here’s how:
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