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 or Sam Sullivan.
I arrived home today to my first mailer, this one from Vision Vancouver. It shows a picture of city hall and then a picture of a man sleeping on the street, with the headline “PETER LADNER VOTED TO CUT THE HOMELESS ACTION PLAN” followed by “The NPA isn’t doing enough here (over city hall pic) to help here (sleeping man). THE NPA HAS FAILED VANCOUVER.
The other side is a little more upbeat. ONLY YOU CAN CHANGE VANCOUVER and accompanying talk about leadership and action. I can hardly wait for my mail tomorrow.
For those of you reading this immediately, by the way, I’m off to the debate tonight between the two mayoral candidates at the planetarium. So you can go out and enjoy yourselves, safe in the knowledge that I’ll be your eyes and ears.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Scott // Oct 21, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I remember that Gregor was previously prognosticating in the media that it was the NPA that was going to run a negative campaign and that Vision was going to run the positive campaign.
Oh well, politics as usual.
2 Vancouverism // Oct 22, 2008 at 12:41 am
What else have Vision got? Certainly there’s no record in government they can promote. By going negative the are playing to the base first, and grumpy swing voters next.
Given Raymond and Heather’s usually surly and cynical performance on council this term, it fits. Vision get most of their political spark from their dark side.
Vision’s ability to get elected depends upon convincing voters they can do a better job. Considering that Vancouver is by in large one of the most successful cities on the planet (most progressive efforts around sustainability; no discernible corruption; great infrastructure, etc. etc.), that might be tough.
Voters must ask how a political party with clear ties to the provincial NDP, who came out swinging for CUPE during the 2007 strike, will keep their taxes low, keep the economy sound, fight crime, and work cooperatively with senior levels of government (that’s the Conservatives and BC Liberals, folks) to bring in the much needed lolly to achieve all the above.
So far Chance the Gardener hasn’t indicated how his party will achieve this.
3 Vote for Pedro? Nope // Oct 22, 2008 at 2:19 pm
didn’t the NPA spend the last three months sending out emails declaring that Vision was an NDP stalking horse with a masterplan to take over the province, all the while hoping that the Olympics will fail? Guess that’s Peter’s idea of “a positive change at City Hall.”
Interesting that Vancouverism fails to mention homelessness and housing in his lil’ post - far and away the top issues in Vancouver. Maybe because he knows that the difference between the Vision flyer and the NPA emails is that the vision flyer is true.
4 St. Petersburg // Oct 22, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Hey NoPedro, if you have a copy of even one of the emails you described, feel free to paste it here. I’m on every political email list I’m aware of in this city, and I haven’t seen one like you describe, let alone several. Better back up these little rumours with some fact.
Homelessness is important. That’s why so much work is already being done on that front by the city and the province. There’s also a city to run, which some candidates conveniently overlook in their rush to build waterfront social housing.
5 Wagamuffin // Oct 23, 2008 at 2:01 am
Pedro, my friend. Please check out the NPA website. Michael Geller, a respected expert on housing addresses those very things you talk about. It looks like the new NPA has a little more oomph with a new leader in tow—and a whole lot more detail on how to get the job done.
6 Vote for Pedro? Nope // Oct 23, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Certainly St Petersburgh, here you go. Guess you were refilling that glass of NPA kool-aid when this one hit your inbox:
http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/003279.html
Wagamuffin old boy, Geller’s stuff is not in the NPA platform. He can talk about his 10 solutions all he wants, but as long as heavy hitters like Kanman don’t know they’re going on, how are they going to get implemented? The NPA platform is a whole lot of jaw jaw, with Peter telling everyone to sit tight for a few more years because he doesn’t like shelters, while he goes and locks eyes with Rich Coleman.
The only action Peter took in 6 years was to oust Sam. Plain and simple.
Is it possible to donate airmiles for Peter’s first-week-of-mayor vacation?
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