Mayor requests to raise office budget again

Plus, a crash in the harbour and weekend events

Author

Geoff Sharpe
June 10, 2024

Good morning,

Alright, I’ll admit, I’m having trouble cheering for the Oilers. I get it that they’re Canada’s team, but after getting more invested than I imagined in the Canucks series — yes yes, call me a bandwagon jumper — I’m still holding a grudge. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Some of you may have gotten an email yesterday about our summer survey. If you have a chance, please consider filling it out. Your input helps shape the Lookout community and the stories we cover.

Let’s dive in.

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

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WEATHER

Monday: 21 🌡️ 13 | ☀️ 

Tuesday: 19 🌡️ 9 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 19 🌡️ 0 | 🌤️

CITY HALL

Mayor requests to raise office budget again

What happened: In a time when the city faces large cost overruns on things like the FIFA World Cup and an expected property tax increase next year, councillors are questioning Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s ask for an increased budget for his office, according to CTV.

  • Details: The mayor is asking for an additional $80,000 from the city clerk’s budget “to provide administrative support to the mayor’s office.” That would put the budget at $1.55 million, up 40% from former mayor Kennedy Stewart.

The mayor’s office budget is discretionary and used to pay for political positions, such as chief of staff, communications director, and others. 

Other numbers: The current budget is $1.47 million which was approved earlier this year, and represented a 15% increase from the first year Sim was in office, according to the Vancouver Sun. Stewart’s last budget in office was $1.11 million, while the mayor before him, Gregor Robertson, was set at $1.06 million in his final year in office. 

  • Contradiction: You can watch the CBC video compilation of the then-candidate for Mayor Sim complaining about the increased budget for Kennedy Stewart, which he cited multiple times. 

What it means: Seeing increases like this may be a tough pill to swallow for residents after Sim’s ABC Party voted two years in a row to raise property taxes. On the flip side, it’s a small amount compared to the city’s $2.2-billion budget.

Do you care that the mayor is raising his budget?

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🚗 $2.5 million: The value of the stolen vehicles that were recovered at BC ports. Two men were arrested on charges of auto theft and trafficking stolen property. [CTV]

👮 5: The number of police officers injured while trying to stop a driver in a stolen vehicle on Friday morning. None were serious. [CityNews]

TRANSPORTATION

Plane and boat collide in harbour

The crash: At around 1 pm near Canada Place, a Harbour Plane collided with a pleasure craft while taking off. Everyone involved in the crash was taken to shore, with two peoplele on the boat being seriously injured, according to the Globe and Mail.

  • During the incident the captain of the SeaBus passing by stopped to provide assistance while they waited for the Coast Guard to arrive. 

A video of the crash can be viewed here.

Next steps: The crash is under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board, who are coordinating with other organizations, including the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Nav Canada and Harbour Air, according to Global. The investigation will take place over the next few days. 

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

THE AGENDA

🧑‍⚖️ Two founders of the Drug User Liberation Front, which provided a safe supply of illicit drugs to addicts in order to prevent overdoses, are facing drug trafficking charges stemming from police raids last year. They each face three trafficking charges. The organization said the drugs were sold at cost and had originally requested the same process that allowed supervised consumption sites to operate. The organization received $200,000 in public funding for testing in 2021, but not to buy drugs. [Vancouver Sun]

🪵 Frequent visitors of Wreck Beach are criticizing the change in log setup by Metro Vancouver which they say creates less privacy in the area for nude beachgoers. Metro Vancouver says it’s structured them to allow easier access for medical emergencies. [CBC News]

📱 Just so everyone is clear — any text message asking you to pay an overdue parking ticket is a scam. The city only sends mail or leaves tickets on a vehicle. [CTV]

❌ Smaller developers are foreclosing in greater numbers in Metro Vancouver, due to the rise in interest rates resulting in the developer’s inability to cover the costs. [Business in Vancouver]

🪧 A potential border strike by CBSA workers has been put on hold until Wednesday in order for the union and employer to continue discussions. If a strike does happen, expect extra long wait times to cross the border. [Business in Vancouver]

🧒 In the latest pre-election announcement, BC United said they will provide families with money directly in order to cover the costs of $10 a day childcare. Only around 10% of the 150,000 child-care spaces in the province are covered by the low payment. The $10-a-day plan was announced back in 2017 by the BC NDP. [Business in Vancouver]

EVENTS

Black and White and Everything In Between \ Ongoing | Vancouver Art Gallery | One of VAG’s newest exhibits showcasing the evolution of monochromatic art | GA $29 or book in advance for Free First Fridays 

IQ 2000 Trivia | June 11, and every Tuesday, 7 pm | Hero’s Welcome | A well-organized trivia night on Main | Free admission 

Bard on the Beach | Sen̓ákw/Vanier Park | June 11 until September | Twelfth Night and Hamlet are on this week | Tickets start at $30

Dancing on the Edge Festival | Various locations | June 13-22 | Discover numerous performances exploring contemporary dance | Tickets $25

Erickson on Film | VIFF | June 14-18 | Explore the famous Vancouver architect in a 100th anniversary celebration featuring numerous films exploring his legacy | Tickets $18 

Rickshaw 15th Anniversary | Richshaw Theatre | June 15 | Multiple musical shows celebrating the theatre’s anniversary | Tickets $30

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival | The Shipyards, North Vancouver | June 22, 1 pm-8:30 pm | Multiple films, beer garden and live performances, fun for anyone active | Learn more

Westward Music Festival | Various locations | June 22 and 23 | If you love music, this is the festival, showcasing local and national acts | Tickets $45

UP FOR DEBATE

Do you think cities are right to be increasing development cost charges?

As part of being an Insider member at the Lookout, we’ll give you the opportunity to participate in debates over big issues facing the city. 

On Saturday we asked Insiders “Do you think cities are right to be increasing development cost charges?” Development cost charges (DCCs) are additional fees attached to developments to pay for infrastructure like water mains and parks.

Here are the results. We’ve also included answers from Insiders. I’ll add additional comments as well. Unfortunately, only one reader provided a response in favour of development cost charges.


IMAGE IMAGE

Yes, cities should add development charges

Reader: We need more housing which automatically leads to the need for more infrastructure. which everyone uses so yes development cost charges need to be paid by everyone in the city using them.

Geoff: The problem is that not everyone is paying those charges. Locals who already own a home don’t pay for the new park or the new library through those charges. Rather than equitable property taxes, new residents pay a disproportionate amount through the purchase price of their home

No, cities should not add development charges

Reader: DCCs spread the cost of adding infrastructure capacity across fewer people, while the benefits of periodically upgraded infrastructure are shared by the whole area. Although munis in BC are legally limited in the ways they can collect tax (ie the income tax would need to be approved by the province) some expansion of tax mechanisms would be good. DCCs only make housing more expensive while acting as a shield for low political will to hide behind.

Geoff: To play devil’s advocate, most elected officials are less willing to bring in even more taxes on residents. DCCs are one way elected officials can generate revenue easily. It doesn’t mean it’s right, but that’s likely part of the thinking.

Reader: I have seen it credibly argued that single-family neighbourhoods don't bring in enough tax revenue to fund their infrastructure needs. This suggests that denser parts of the city already subsidize those who typically need the help least. The housing crisis is unlikely to end until or unless we collectively acknowledge the windfall gains of those who got into the housing market a generation ago. This was not hard work, it was luck.

Geoff: This is a really great point. A study by the Canadian Federation of Municipalities showed that single-family low-density housing is much more expensive to service, by a factor of five to nine times more than apartments.

Want to participate in the next debate series? Become a member for as little as the price of a coffee each week. 

Understand the world in just five minutes a day

Looking for news outside of just Vancouver? You may like International Intrigue.

It’s a free global affairs briefing created by former diplomats to help leaders like you understand how geopolitics, business and technology intersect. They deliver the most important international news and analysis in <5-minute daily briefing that you’ll actually look forward to reading.

FOOD PREVIEW

What’s the problem with brunch?

Tomorrow’s Eats newsletter is all about brunch. And I’m sad to say it’s not a praise-worthy topic.

The massive lines, the mediocre food, why do people do it every weekend? I have a few ideas, and offer a couple of alternatives that are worth exploring during your next lazy weekend.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This city never ceases to look beautiful.

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

It’s always tough to hear about a local favourite closing. Union Market was one such place, serving the Strathcona area. I was a huge fan when I lived in Cinatown. But the store shut down back in late 2023.

But in a great twist, the store opened back up in late May. The owners shared some of their thoughts on the change, including focusing more on fresh baked goods, and less on grocery items. But fear not, because the store is keeping its traditional dessert that was so popular, the pastel del nata, according to the Vancouver Sun.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Looking to enjoy Father’s Day at a restaurant? These spots are putting on specials for you and your dad. [Straight]

  • Meet the new leader of the North Shore Rescue team, a key part of allowing everyone to enjoy the North Shore mountains. [North Shore News]

  • I like the idea behind this art exhibit Home + Away, which is a stairway to nowhere, at Hastings Park. We need more creative art like this. 

  • Fans of the 102.7 The Peak, before it was altered a few years ago, will be happy to hear the old format is returning. [Vancouver Sun]

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QUIZ TIME

How many members of the Drug User Liberation Front were arrested?

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