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Entries from January 2016

Two mayor candidates’ visions of the Downtown Eastside

October 22nd, 2008 · 9 Comments

Another night, another debate. This one got hot a few times, though, thanks to giving mayoral candidates Gregor Robertson and Peter Ladner a chance to argue with each other. As well, there were several good questions from the audience and moderator Gary Mason of the Globe & Mail. The most noteworthy one of the night […]

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Tags: 2008 Vancouver Civic Election

First attack ad appears in civic race

October 21st, 2008 · 6 Comments

The Non-Partisan Association was first out with the billboards and a pleasant slogan that’s something like “For a greener, safer, more affordable city vote for Peter Ladner and his team.” (I can never quite catch all the words as I’m driving past.) At any rate, I know it’s nice and positive and doesn’t mention EcoDensity […]

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Tags: 2008 Vancouver Civic Election

More bad news re Fortress

October 19th, 2008 · No Comments

This story about Fortress, the US company that has provided the construction loan for Vancouver’s Olympic village developers, is making the rounds at a furious pace in financial circles.

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Tags: Uncategorized

Peter Ladner: Strong on crime-fighting or not?

October 19th, 2008 · 6 Comments

When Peter Ladner and the Non-Partisan Association launched the party platform last week, they also kicked off a round of commentary about Ladner’s supposed new emphasis on dealing with crime and boosting police and other security measures. Some saw it as a surprise. I didn’t. I said in a story I wrote in the first […]

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Ladner and Robertson: “Experience” versus “change and leadership”

October 17th, 2008 · 5 Comments

Vancouver mayoral candidates Peter Ladner and Gregor Robertson keep emphasizing a theme about their campaign. For Ladner, it’s “experience.” For Robertson, it’s “change and leadership.” I had a story in the Globe Friday that looks at why code words like that get used. As University of Victoria political-science professor Dennis Pilon points out, those kinds […]

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Tags: 2008 Vancouver Civic Election

One tower that’s not in any financial trouble at all

October 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

There’s a lot of hysteria out in Developer World, with all the rumours flying about whose projects are in trouble and whose aren’t. Adding to the problems, people are transferring the details of one project to another as they pass rumours around. As a result, the news that the Infinity Towers project in Surrey has […]

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Gruelling meeting tonight a reminder of what council all about

October 17th, 2008 · No Comments

Those newcomers vying for a seat on Vancouver city council might want to check into the meeting that’s still going on here at 9:30 at night, to see if this is really what they want to sign up for. Councillors are grappling with what sounds like an unresolvable dilemma of trying to find new artist […]

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The campaign begins: Developers in disarray, Vision peppy, Peter sick

October 16th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Oh yes, another election. Don’t forget. The billboards are starting to go up. (There’s one a half block from my house with Peter Ladner and his smiling team saying something about creating a green and affordable city.) The Visionistas are happily out delivering lawn signs. Yes, it’s time for the main battle. Well, almost, as […]

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Peter Ladner the most house-rich mayoral candidate

October 14th, 2008 · 6 Comments

This election campaign in Vancouver is a treasure trove for research junkies, since the candidates’ full financial disclosures are listed online — sorry to all of you whose privacy feels violated. (Go to the section where the election information is kept and there’s a link in the top right to their nomination and financial-disclosure forms.) […]

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We must all give thanks …

October 14th, 2008 · 1 Comment

… that most of us got to have a couple of days without having to hear any more news that the world is coming to an end, in a financial sense. I still find it kind of strange to be bombarded with talk shows and headlines saying this bank or that country has failed and […]

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