Onwards with development on Broadway

Good morning,

I sprained my wrist this weekend skiing, so this newsletter was a bit of a pain to type. Luckily ibuprofen and ice go a long way.

It’s a busy newsletter today. We’ve got an update on crime in the city, an update to the Broadway corridor redevelopment plan and what’s happening with food.

Onwards.

— Geoff Sharpe, newsletter editor

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WEATHER

Friday: 8 🌡️ 3 | 🌧

Saturday: 9 🌡️ 3 | 🌧

Sunday: 8 🌡️ 2 | 🌧

Monday: 9 🌡️ 2 | 🌧

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

👮‍♂️ $493,932: The earnings of Vancouver police chief Adam Palmer in 2022. He is the highest-paid municipal police chief in Canada. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🗳️ $4.4 million: The cost to administer the Vancouver civic election, an increase of $1.5 million from 2014. [Vancouver Is Awesome]

PUBLIC SAFETY

What’s going on with crime in Vancouver?

The unprovoked stabbing murder of a man earlier this week is raising questions about the severity of crime in the city and across the country.

Shoplifting news: Vancouver police reported that during a crackdown on shoplifting 217 people were arrested over a three-week period, according to the Vancouver Sun. Those arrested had 4,695 previous convictions and $80,000 in stolen merchandise was returned.

• Shoplifting incidents rose 30 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Focus on catch-and-release: Politicians have increasingly trained their attention on the prevalence of “catch-and-release”, where a criminal is arrested and then released back into the public. It’s an issue the B.C. Liberals have focused on in recent months.

Budgets rise: While crime is rising, Vancouver police’s budget is also growing, up to $401.8 million in 2023. That’s double what it was 10 years ago, according to the Pivot Legal Society.

Zoom out: Context is important. While crime is up, one expert, SFU criminologist Martin Andresen, says that the trendline in the last 25 years is flat and hasn’t dramatically increased, according to Vancouver is Awesome.

Yes, but: With the media, politicians and other groups focused on crime as a major issue across Canada, and the statistical increase, it’s unlikely the issue will be going away.

THE AGENDA

🏢 Warming centres are open across Vancouver as it’s expected to feel very cold in the next few evenings. [City of Vancouver]

👮 Police have released a video of the suspected Chinese Cultural Centre arson suspect. The fire occured March 26, and caused thousands in smoke and water damage. [Global]

💰 B.C. has brought in new legislation to crack down on money laundering and organized crime. The so-called “unexplained wealth orders” will require suspected criminals to explain how they acquired their wealth. [CTV]

🏠 The Squamish Nation behind the Sen̓áḵw in Kitsilano is planning massive development expansions across Metro Vancouver and Squamish on 140 hectares of land. [Global]

🚌 Good news UBC readers. If you live in West Vancouver, the UBC express bus route is reopening in September. It was originally cancelled in April 2020 due to the pandemic.

🚘 A pedestrian was hit by a car in East Vancouver and is in critical condition. The collision happened at Woodland Dr. and East 1st Ave. [CityNews]

📈 TransLink voted to increase transit fees by five or 10 cents, depending on the route, starting July 1. [Vancouver Sun]

😕 The B.C. government is in a state of confusion after the federal government budget promised no new money for the housing crisis. [Burnaby Now]

🏥 A new mobile health clinic has launched in the Downtown Eastside seeking to connect women to health services and reduce barriers to access. [CTV]

🏥A report alleges that the former and current president of the Vancouver Police Union told police officers not to take notes on the death of Myles Gray after being violently arrested by police. The officers may have committed dereliction of duty by not taking notes. [Global News]

CITY HALL

No slowdown or bikes on Broadway

Here’s the biggest stories at city hall this week.

What happened: City council voted on a number of policies for the Broadway corridor for both housing and biking infrastructure.

Background: City staff, on the direction of the previous council, presented different options on the pace of redevelopment on Broadway. It would’ve limited the number of redevelopments in the area to five, and potentially prevented a mass displacement of renters during construction.

The result: Council voted against the pace of change plan. The vote broke down 7-2, with ABC councillors and One City Coun. Christine Boyle voting against the plan and the two green councillors Adriane Carr and Pete Fry voting for it, according to Daily Hive

• Dig deeper: Vancouver Sun columnist Dan Fumano digs into the decision to speed up redevelopment in the area.

While access to rental units for displaced residents was a concern, Coun. Lenny Zhou pointed out that the key problem Vancouver faces is a lack of supply, saying “ this policy controls the supply, which is really moving us backward and creates so many unnecessary limitations for new development. As a city council, we can’t add more restrictions to a process that is already complicated and restrictive.”

Zoom out: The vote preceded comments by B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Khalon, who called on the city to not slow down on plans to build more housing, according to Global.

Bye-bye Broadway bike lanes, we hardly knew you

Council also voted in favour of the city staff proposal to not build separated bike lanes along Broadway St.

• The approved plan envisions four lanes of highway, widened sidewalks and sidewalk space for patios and trees, according to Urbanized.

The rationale: Bike lanes would’ve cost an additional $20 million to change the lane and project design. Mayor Ken Sim also suggested the neighbouring areas already have ample bike space, according to Urbanized.

Twitter user Peter Waldrick live-tweeted the debate if you want to read what happened in detail.

Yes, but: This decision follows a previous move by council to remove bike lanes from Stanley Park. It’s too early to say if this is a trend against bikes, but it’s something to watch for in the coming years.

Other news

Hey, be nice: Vancouver council was criticized for potentially limiting freedom of speech after a motion by ABC Coun. Peter Meiszner to demand grant recipients “communicate to, about, and with city officials in a respectful manner.” The official motion called for partisan organizations to be banned from receiving grants, but it was eventually removed. Coun. Pete Fry says the motion infringes on freedom of expression. [Global]

Cautious optimism: Tenant advocates are optimistic about the plan to increase the number of renovated single-room occupancy suites in the Downtown Eastside, but also want more permanent options. It’s part of a plan by the province to clean up and improve derelict SROs. [Global]

FOOD

Affordable eats, in this economy?

Reviews

Casareccio: Not well known, but this little Italian spot in Kitsilano is like stepping into a small Italian Kitchen. [Vancouver Sun]

Broadway and Cambie corridor may be the best area for Chinese food outside of Richmond. The restaurants iDen and Quan Ju De Beijing Duck House, A.Bento and many others are worth checking out. [Vancouver Magazine]

Openings

Momo Hut: A new Himalayan spot located at 6372 Fraser St. And yes, it has momos. [Daily Hive]

Beest: A new ramen restaurant that specializes in mazemen, which is a ramen with no broth. [Daily Hive]

Wa-Bagel: Japanese bagels are a thing and you can get them at this new spot. Mochi cheese bagel, yes please. [Vancouver Magazine]

Container Brewing: They’ve got a new patio that’s just opened up. Who can say no to $1 off beers from 5-8 pm. [Scout]

Neptune Eats: Kerrisdale just got a new dim sum spot. [Daily Hive]

Pho & Roll by Wooden Fish: The new Vietnamese restaurant is opening up 2323 Cambie St. [Daily Hive]

News you can use

Kamei: You likely haven’t heard of this Japanese restaurant, but it’s got a 90’s feel you’ll want to see. [Daily Hive]

Chewie’s Chicken & Biscuits, Kazu Japanese Restaurant and Sal Y Limon round out this new list of affordable places to eat in Vancouver. [The Province]

Maenam: The popular restaurant is changing up its menu and its space. [Scout Magazine]

The weather is getting nicer so it’s time to hit up the patios, and Mount Pleasant is full of them. [Daily Hive]

TWEET OF THE DAY

Love this shot. Also, where did the gondola go?

WEEKEND EVENTS

Outdoors

Richmond Cherry Blossom Festival | Garry Point Park | Discover the beauty of the 255 Akebono cherry trees. Free

Sports

Vancouver Whitecaps vs CF Montreal | BC Place | Saturday, 7:30 pm | Come check out soccer at BC Place. Starting at $34

Family

Rabbitats Easter BunnyFest | 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver | Saturday, 12 pm-4 pm | Come say hi to some real bunnies and get your kid’s face painted | Minimum $6 donation

The Big Picnic | David Lam Park | Saturday, 10 am-4:30 pm | Come enjoy the cherry blossoms in Yaletown, events, food and performances. Free

Art

Open Studio | Multiple locations | Saturday 12 pm-5 pm | Come back and check out the art studios throughout Vancouver | Free

Sip ‘N’ Paint | Pacific Arts Market | Every Friday from 7 pm-9 pm | Spent your night drinking, painting, drinking…and well you get the idea. Tickets $65.

Food

Hastings Park Farmers Market | PNE Fairgrounds | 10 am-2 pm | Pickup some food, items or grab a bite to eat at this winter farmers market | Free

Italian Cooking Class | Kitsilano Community Centre | Sunday, 10:30 am-1:45 pm | Learn how to make Roman pizza, and even take some dough | Tickets $100.

Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival Food Truck Wars | 20901 Langley Bypass | Friday-Sunday | The best food trucks in the region face off against each other. Who will win the awards? | By donation.

Movies

• The Room | The Rio | Saturday, 10:30 pm | Oh hi Mark!. The terrible (or terribly good?) classic that people can’t help but love. Tickets 14

• Speed Racer | The Rio |m Tonight, 11:30 pm | Movie lovers are reclaiming this Wachowskis futuristic race car movie. Tickets $14

• Riceboy Sleeps | VIFF | Monday, 12:45 pm, other times | Race reviews makes this story of a Korean family growing up in Vancouver a must-see. Tickets $15

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Congrats to Wally Buono and the Waterboys founders who will have their names added to the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame. [The Province]

• Now is a great time to buy bikes, due to an oversupply after the pandemic supply chains have improved. [CBC]

• Metro Vancouver is getting a 100,000 square foot sports club, and includes 36-38 courts for pickleball, badminton and other spots. [Daily Hive]

• The Canucks will wear Pride jerseys tonight against the Calgary Flames. [CityNews]

TOP PHOTO

Okay who did this?

GAME TIME

Congrats to Linda and two others who guessed the VancouverGuesser was Duffin’s Donuts. I’ve sadly never been but I’ve heard great things.

Can you guess today’s Vancouver Wordle? Play now.

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