Can It Be?! The NPA Showing Signs of Life?!?! Even Small Ones Help
This has to be some encouraging sign: The NPA are having an event that is relevant to their reelection chances that will actually focus on something other than navel-gazing.
But wait, wasn’t that the same NPA getting swamped at the Pride Parade? And then this last weekend, at a Chinatown event, AGAIN, NPAers swamped by people begging for relief from the Hollyhock puppets and Mayor Moonbeam. In fact, Vision skipped the event altogether (showing you that they only embrace the Chinese community when they need them).
What a difference a failed two years of nightmarishly extremist policies has made. The NPA swamped at Pride AND at a Chinatown event! But more so than the numbers approaching them, it was the message, ‘We don’t trust Vision’ and ‘How do we get rid of Gregor Robertson?’
Stunning.
Oh, and where were the Visionistas? They were over at the Filipino community event, where they have now placed almost all their ethnic chips (the Mayor hired a Tagalog speaking staffer, remember). But I’ll deal with how Vision has literally bought into the Filipino community in a follow-up post (Vision was PAYING Filipino volunteers during last election). And how the Filipino community should be ashamed to have allowed themselves to be bought and paid for.
Then again, CASH is king, baby…you’ll have to wait for the post.
In the meantime, here is the invite sent out to supporters by an NPA director. Sent over here by a friend from a local station. If the NPA keeps this up, they may have a chance–a good chance in fact. These are precisely the kinds of events that will make it happen for them.
Now for some decent candidates…
Hi All:
Please mark your calenders and pencil or touch in, Twitter and/or Facebook the following event and date to your calenders!
This will be the 1st of our NPA Community Forum Series
West End Community Forum
(an event to better understand the issues and concerns of West End residents)
When:
Monday 20 September 2010
Where:
Bidwell Room
West End Community Centre
870 Denman Street
Vancouver
Time:
18:45 – 21:00 (6:45p.m. – 9:00p.m.)
Agenda and more event details to follow as they are finalized
Feel free to invite your friends, relatives, neighbours and anyone interested in the “Future of the City” to make this Fall kick off event a success.
Regards
Dave Pasin,
Director
They still need a stand up candidate. Not sure what is on the horizon.
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I have a pretty good idea what is on the horizon and if it has anything to do with Suzanne Anton, I may move to Surrey.
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At least kudos to Sean Bickerton for finally requesting the end of the Critical Mass ride of which Mayor Moonbeam is an alumni. Finally someone has some sense. I wasn’t even aware of Critical Mass until last year when I got stuck in traffic for ~20 minutes.
90% of ‘em who rode past me looked like they would have made a great fit in the Ringling Bros & Barnum & Bailey Circus – both in terms of what they were riding and who was riding ‘em .
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Yeah, I saw that and almost lost a perfectly good Bloody Mary off the arm of my pool chair. Oh well, maybe Bickerton’s turning the corner. About time…
And I’d appreciate it if you would refer to it as what it is ‘Critical Mess’.
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“‘Critical Mess’.”
Criminal Mess; they should all be off to the skookum house.
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People may be screaming for something other than Vision – but if the NPA can’t define themselves behind policies that are opposite to Vision, then all we’re getting are the same types of ideals – in a different wrapper. Big f–king (insert “NPA hacks” here if you like) deal.
Already the two directors that joined the board to bring some change, we’re voted down on their motions;
1) to change the name
…which wasn’t a terrible decision, but the decision to keep it was made for the wrong reasons…..and made by many folks who should retire their membership cards and join Vision…..you know who you are…
2) the motion to not set firm policies heading into 2011
this will prove to be their undoing if Vision finds their feet and pulls their collective heads out of Solomon’s ass.
As it stands, we have Bill McCreery still sitting on the fence and pandering to the bike lobby with comments about supporting bike lanes…..(Bill, does that mean you plan on leaving in the Dunsmuir Lanes, and the Hornby lane……cause it sure sounds like it)
Of course we still have old faithful, and not the horse, I’m referring to Suzanne Anton, the NPA’s public voice and policy maker, voting whichever way the wind blows. $25 million here, a bike trial here, there and everywhere……
Then we have Peter Ladner commenting positively in his publication on issues that Vision is behind, all the while showing up to NPA meetings, giving the Visionistas the Peter Ladner card to play – which they do at every chance.
On top of it all the City Caucus lad who is strongly identified as NPA, and although he’s doing an amazing job over there, still has some extremely perverse views on what “his” Vancouver should be. Lets not forget who he worked for and still panders to.
Right now the only players in the NPA bailiwick are those who support Vision policies. The only difference is that they may not spit in your face while making the same decisions that everyone despises. Gee, thanks…..
That only translates to another 3 years of a terrible administration whether it be under a Vision wrapper or an NPA label. And if anyone has forgotten, that would make 4 consecutive administrations with a mayor and council that have decided to shape the city without truly listening to it’s citizens and taxpayers.
The last thing I’ll say is that its very easy to bitch, whine and complain about those in office, but when the time comes to lead, lets not forget that everyone involved to date is NOT any better than what’s there right now. Bickerton has already shown his true colors, we know how Anton votes, we know the board has a Vision plant or two. Let’s get the rest on the record and see what the difference really is…….I say not much.
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Glen, I think you might see NPA candidates with pretty clear policy statements come election time. I’m a realist & you work with what you have. To that end the NPA is proceeding with a series of public forums around the City & as well as AT noted we are & will be front & centre @ community events [next 1 is Sept 11th, Davie days, see you there]. & yes, the response has been very positive.
I’m not on the fence about bikes. We have an extensive bike network. That’s a good thing. We can make it better, especially downtown. Does that mean what Vision are doing is OK? A big NO. I believe there are better options, which do not create economic hardships for business owners & I will be putting these forward shortly. Do I agree with Vision’s implementation of these lanes. Again a big NO! there are better ways to do these things & they seem lost in their own process or is it ideologies? Do I agree that the timing is right when they’re spending $26M while we don’t have libraries, community centres, Bloedel & Children’s Farmyards. But, hopefully in 2012 a new Council can review these & other misguided decisions & get then right, within budget & in the context of realistic overall priorities.
You must be reading different places than I am if you think NPA members who comment publicly support Vision policies. I certainly do not. Vision is singlehandedly destroying what successive Councils & Boards have done since 1973 to make Vancouver the envy of the world.
The current NPA crowd is largely new to the organization & consequently do not have to carry the old baggage [curiously an advantage of the no policies stance]. The future is bright indeed & I think good candidates are in the works.
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One BIG correction, Bill: Sean Bickerton, until recently, and Suzanne Anton have endorsed a number of Vision policies and it’s shameful politicking at the expense of what’s best for the city. The bike lanes shoudl all be ripped up and a second crossing built period. There is no demand for any of that period. It’s all lies perpetrated by the Ballem wing of Silly Hall.
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I do not agree we should waste money tearing up bike lanes that are there, are generally accepted [Dunsmuir with standing]. I do think, however, there are better solutions for bike lanes throughout Vancouver than those initiated by crash course Vision.
A 1st principle of transportation planning is to separate different modes. Bike lanes do that to 1 degree or another. More people are, slowly, riding bikes. More will in the future as fuel prices go up & transit gets more clogged than even now. Bike lanes have been installed in Vancouver since 1974, when the Park Board, including myself, approved the installation of the Stanley Park Seawall separated lane which sorted out some major pedestrian / cyclist conflicts. Bike lanes, when properly done, will do similar things, benefiting all users of the roads.
In my view $26M on bike lanes now is not a priority when Vision’s 1st year of financial mismanagement has resulted in cutting libraries, community centres, Bloedel, Children’s Farmyard, etc. The City’s decision making process to completely inadequate, especially in that they have not considered the economic impact on affected businesses.
Not sure what you mean by a ’2nd crossing’?
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Wrong. The bike lanes through neighbourhoods are causing major traffic problems on side roads and pose significant safety issues. They should be removed. Both Hornby and Dunsmuir bike lanes are of now use–the demand is not there. The BB nike lane is not being used much more than is was before. In fact, Meggsalomania has admitted this to the press. By second crossing I mean, Kits Point to First Beach (by the Aquatic Center). Building the godamned thing and let’s get on with life. Cycling in Vancouver getting a major pick-up is MYTHOLOGY. We are wasting taxpayer dollars for Joel Solomon’s social agenda to be implemented. If you are not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Enhance the lanes we had before we started throwing up barriers.
Your attitude is troubling. What about the businesses that will be decimated because of the bike lanes? Forget them eh Bill?
I think you’ve given this as much thought as you did the name change.
You’re a bright man, whom I like. Think again please.
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Not sure this warrants a response but, I’ll try. 1st, read what I said:
“We can make it better…..”
“Does that mean what Vision are doing is OK? A big NO.”
“I believe there are better options, which do not create economic hardships for business owners”.
“In my view $26M on bike lanes now is not a priority when Vision’s 1st year of financial mismanagement…..”.
“The City’s decision making process to completely inadequate, especially in that they have not considered the economic impact on affected businesses.”
If I haven’t responded to your concerns please tell me where & why not.
2nd crossing [for bikes?} was looked @, apparently costly. Needs another look. In the meantime why not upgrade the FC ferries & do a deal with operators for bikers. They don't pay parking downtown, no license, insurance, etc, so they can pay a ferry fee. I agree, ".....1st principle of transportation planning is to separate different modes". To get bikes off bridges would be a good objective. That is one of the things I believe needs to be looked @ along with the whole enchalada [I try not to go on partly because I do have to make a living].
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You said you didn’t want to rip any out cause of cost and I simply pointed out the COST to taxpayers and the potential safety risk, that currently sits at ‘HIGH’.
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Thxs for clarifying. I think we are probably not far apart on this matter if we had a bit of time to talk back & forth &, even now for that matter.
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Call me, I’m usually up until midnight, sometimes later. But my cell is always on.
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Sorry but don’t see NPA as being any better than the lack of Vision guys and therefore they are not the solution.
We need real independant people with loyality to the voters not a political party and deep pocket supporters.
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If the NPA was actually going to be something, Terminal City can be saved from Mayor Moonbeam and the Visionaries. Would hope the NPA would return to something like it was during the 1980′s (at the time when Johnaton Baker ran for Mayor against the “Civic Independent” Mike Harcourt. Back then, it was actually fun and interesting to be involved with them, as it was a blended mix of non NDPers.
hopefully at some point the candidates will pay attention to the voters, the politically aware volunteers and not those who hand a cheque over to them (remember Old Boy, what is Accounts Receivable now
to a politician, will end up being Accounts Payable against him later!)
But one question does remain about this cycling project:
Why Hornby Street when Granville Street is a semi-pedestrian strip
from the waterfront to Smythe? Would make more sense to have the cycle route along there (marked, but there would stil be lots of space for foot people to walk the blocks), and Granville is wider than Hornby Street.
and what ever happened to that dramatically designed bridge proposal across False Creek from the Aquatic Centre over to Vanier Park? Would make better sense than using the stately Burrard Bridge.
But at leat the NPA is still out there somewhere. Trust me, the equivalent movement in Burnaby is completely shot (and that’s because of perpetual power plays made by a few people including a few within the BC Liberal Party).
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Seymour, agreed Granville St. can work, & so perhaps can Granville Bridge. These options need to be thought through once the ideological blinders are removed.
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OId Boy, they can work, since the Granville Bridge has more room, and structurally, a bike path can be placed within the truss deck, or
set to the outside since the bridge is a box truss through it’s entire length over False Creek. Look at the innovation made for the Canada Line Rapid Transit Bridge, someone had their head bolted on the right way when they thought that one up.
But another thing that would work is the Olympic Line from Granville Island through to Science World to Chinatown, then to Gastown, and along the waterfront to Stanley Park. A missed opportunity, since
costs set now will be alot cheaper than doing it 10 years from now.
Would be a great tourist draw and be a good connection from the Main Street station to downtown, relieving more cars being there.
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I’m unconvinced that the demand is there. Vancouver is a city of hills and valleys, bike lanes would be more difficult. Also, out two main ethnic groups are car-centric. I could go on, as I have in the past. Second crossing at Burrard, no problem. Add neighbourhood lanes that might link up, AFTER CONSULTATION, no problem. But the Hornby and Dunsmuir ones need to be ripped out–period.
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