Cambie Report

We're back at the mics to start catching up on Vancouver politics. City Council passed a couple motions to look at changing policing in the city, we may get to drink in plazas but have to wear masks on transit. Also Gassy Jack was a pedophile.Pearl Lowe Twitter threadVancouver council votes to request police ban on street checksVancouver city council passes motion deprioritizing policing in mental health calls and social issuesVancouver councillors demand action to quell fears, threats near Strathcona ParkVancouver approves pilot project to allow outdoor drinking at select city plazas Pronunciation guide for šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énk Square TransLink implementing mandatory face covering policyA petition is calling on the Vancouver Park Board to increase vehicle access to Stanley ParkTangled traffic as cars, bikes and horses forced to share the road in Stanley ParkThe Tyee Tearing Down Our Monumental Mistakes

The Vancouver Just Recovery Coalition is calling on the City of Vancouver to prioritize lessening existing inequalities, respecting Indigenous rights, and tackling the climate emergency.Tessa speaks to co-chairs Kimberely Wong and Matthew Norris about the impacts of the crisis on marginalized communities, the Coalition's joint statement and what needs to happen going forward.Learn more at vancouverjustrecovery.caThanks to support from our patrons, a transcript will be available soon at cambiereport.ca

COVID-19 is the biggest shock to transportation in Vancouver since the Olympics. Instead of surging demand, we're seeing collapses and massive mode-shifts.Matthew speaks with Dale Bracewell, the Manager of Transportation Planning at the City of Vancouver about how the City's transportation department is coping with this sudden change and looking to the future.Patrons get access to our full interview.A transcript will be available soon at CambieReport.ca

Ian speaks to Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Burnaby Now reporter Dustin Godfrey about the City's response to COVID-19.Our Patron Slack is open to all supporters – Fill out the form for accessBurnaby Now: Local journalism needs your supportBurnaby losing $5 million-plus a month as budget debate beginsBurnaby dragged its feet on COVID-19 protections, says city worker

Translink is in trouble.A complete collapse in ridership and gas tax revenue has punched a half a billion dollar hole in the transit agency's 2020 budget. If they don't get a bailout from higher levels of governments, the service will be unrecognizable.New Westminster Councillor and Transit advocate Patrick Johnstone spoke with Ian on April 26 about the state of Translink's budget and what you can do to help.Public Meeting of the Mayors' Council [PDF]Save Transit in BC: HomeAbundant Transit BC 

The BC Government is moving residents camped in Oppenheimer Park to temporary accommodations in hotel rooms and community centres. We look a bit more at the announcement and then Ian speaks with Councillor and longtime advocate for the Downtown Eastside Jean Swanson about the news.Interview with Jean Swanson starts at 6:33.BC Government Announcement: Province secures safe shelter, supports for people living in major encampmentsPhoto credit: Flickr/bcgovphotosOur Patron Slack is open to all supporters – Fill out the form for accessTranscript

Tomorrow would be the first day back at school after spring break for over half a million students across British Columbia.The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that all in-class instruction has been cancelled indefinitely as we all heed that important advice from Chief Public Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry to Stay home.In this Community Conversations episode of Cambie Report, Tessa Vikander speaks with people directly affected by the school closures and the potential of online learning. First she talks with Christina Meyers, a parent to two school-aged children. Then she speaks to grade 12 students Elijah and Oren. These interviews were recorded last week on March 14 and 15.For the duration of the crisis, we're opening up our Patron Slack to all listeners and supporters. Go to leginbootmedia.ca to request an invite.Wash your hands and stay home.

Ian speaks to Karen Ward (@kwardvancouver) and Garth Mullins (@garthmullins) about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people in the downtown eastside and drug users.Check out Crackdown PodcastPhoto via Flickr/GoToVan

At the behest of Jean Swanson and Pete Fry, Vancouver declares a homelessness emergency in what was described as a watered down motion that lacks clear targets. Nevertheless the motion maintained a call for vacancy control, so we break down what that is and why some oppose the measure.Vancouver Rape Relief, long criticized for its refusal to serve trans woman, has permanently lost funding from the City of Vancouver. The debates led to a cringeworthy moment as Councillor Colleen Hardwick asked the head of the City's LGBTQ2S+ Advisory Committee what sex they were assigned at birth (she later apologized for the question).Ken Sim, who came within 1000 votes of becoming mayor, wants another crack at it and he may launch a new party to do it.Indigenous youth occupied East Vancouver MLA Melanie Mark's office and secured a meeting with her over the ongoing Wet'suwet'en/Coastal GasLink standoff. Nevertheless, there's been a spate of serious anti-Indigenous racist violence in Vancouver.Surrey is a step closer to replac

Wet'suwet'en solidarity protests shutdown Vancouver and Mayor Kennedy Stewart weighs in. The Throne Speech hints at goodies for Metro Vancouver. Vancouver council continues to want to have its cake and eat it too.Micah Goldberg joins us to break down two recent court rulings on ride hailing, as well as a challenge to New Westminster's renoviction bylaw.And in our roundup, Richmond wants to ban birthright citizenship, Burnaby's long-ruling municipal party implodes and a Surrey councillor faces discipline for claiming to be a physician during her campaign.Vancouver is also looking for more input on the forthcoming City Plan. Take the survey.And in our Vancouveratta we reflect on the 10 year legacy of the Olympics, how Stephen Colbert was almost mayor for a day and some of the highlights of the Olympics.

In our first Community Conversation, Tessa Vikander speaks to Brooklyn Fowler and Linnea Strom from the City of Vancouver's LBGTQ2S+ Advisory Committee. The mandate of the LGBTQ2+ Committee is to advise Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit and queer communities to fully participate in City services and civic life.The committee is currently working on an anti-hate policy that will guide the city on how to create spaces and events that protect marginalized groups from hate and discrimination.The conversation also touches on the recent news that the Vancouver Public Library has once again green-lit a talk by Meghan Murphy. A similar decision last year by the library led to Vancouver Pride Society blocking them from the Pride Parade. RationalWiki provides a referenced background on Murphy's views on trans people.Want to hear more Community Conversations? Support Cambie Report on PatreonThanks to Cortado Productions for editing support

Cambie Report is back for 2020! Matthew and Ian are joined by our new cohost Tessa Vikander to talk snow, RapidBus, CMHC's Annual Rental Report, a review of Vancouver City Council, the arrest of Maxwell Johnson and his grandaughter and the latest pigeon drama gripping the North Shore.LinksFollow @TessaVikanderRapidBus is here! TransLink launches new and revamped RapidBus routes in Metro VancouverNational Vacancy Rate Declined for the Third Year in a RowVancouver's housing market cools, but rental market stays the sameVancouver keeps crown as Canadian metropolis with highest rents and lowest vacanciesInvestigation ordered into arrest of Indigenous man and granddaughter at BMO bank'BMO has to answer for this': Angry Vancouver mayor to review why 12-year-old, grandfather arrested at bankNorth Vancouver asks Supreme Court to toss pigeon suit because filers are from the wrong North VancouverThe day oil rained down on BurnabyPhoto credit: Wikimedia/Scazon

Sam Sullivan is the current MLA for Vancouver False Creek and he was the 38th mayor of Vancouver, serving from December 5, 2005 until December 8, 2008. Sam joins Matthew Naylor and Simon Jackson of Nature Labs.Nature Labs is an interactive online textbook.The discussion touches on Vancouver history, underlying meta-narratives surrounding development in Vancouver and streetcars.Photo by Mark Kinskofer - https://www.flickr.com/photos/samsullivan/2535117245/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9051008

Alex Hemingway, of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives BC office, wrote an article about why he thinks Vancouver's property taxes are still too low. Ian speaks with him about why he thinks that.A special thanks to Cortado Productions for their support editing our show.

Rebecca Bligh calls in to talk about her decision to quit the NPA following a "far right" turn by its board of directors. Then Ian and Matthew break down the rest of the story.A chandelier under Granville Bridge has drawn significant criticism but it's art. And SkyTrain workers are set to go on strike on Tuesday.

The Squamish Nation looks to build 6000 homes, Vancouver staff propose changes to rental incentives, protests continue in Burnaby and pigeons threaten to bring down a North Vancouver councillor.PolitiCoast's Scott de Lange Boom joins Ian to break it all down.Editing services are provided by our friends at Cortado ProductionsThanks to the 100+ people who continues to support the show on Patreon.Globe editorial supports Senakw developmentRental incentives report goes to councilProtests continue against demovictions in BurnabyVagramov returns as Mayor of Port MoodyTransit strike set to shut down Metro Van bus systemPigeongate engulfs District of North Vancouver

Zoe Ferry returns for a jam packed episode with Matthew in which they discuss the Coast Mountain Bus Company job action, the fireworks ban, the Massey Tunnel replacement board approval, all that damn weed plastic, the Broadway plan, and the (now) ongoing construction of the sewage treatment plant in North Van. 

What happened federally that municipal politics should care about? Matthew is joined by Mark Elyas, a municipal and public affairs consultant to discuss the aftermath of the vote. What does this mean for cities? Will the Broadway Subway get built any faster? Slower? What about that TransMountain  pipeline? Will the federal government be more engaged through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in housing supply?