Broadway Plan Public Engagement

.

The Broadway Plan is almost upon us. It will be going before City Council in May for approval. Before then, the public is offered one last chance to make comments until March 22nd.

According to an email I received, you can:

• Learn more: Detailed information on the Draft Plan, planning process, and engagement opportunities are available on our Shape Your City website.
• Take the survey: Provide feedback through the online survey which is open until March 22, 2022. Take the survey here.
• Attend the open houses:
  • ​March 2:  Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House (800 East Broadway) from 4:30 – 7:30pm 
  • March 5: CityLab (510 West Broadway) from 10:30am – 1:30pm
  • March 7: Kitsilano Neighbourhood House (2305 West 7th Avenue) from 4:30 pm – 7:30pm
• Talk to the team: Book a time to chat over the phone with a member of the Broadway Plan team through our Office Hours.

If you have any questions, please email us at broadwayplan@vancouver.ca.

Of course, those of us who have seen the utter futility of so-called public consultation in this City for the last dozen or so years may wonder whether it is a worthwhile exercise. Clearly the Planners have already decided what they want, and this is just a PR operation.

In a report about the development at 1477 W. Broadway, the Fairview/South Grandview Action Committee noted that:

“7 times throughout the Report, City staff state that the proposed height and density of the proposal aligns with the Broadway Plan Refined Directions, even though the Broadway Plan is not finished, nor has it been approved by Council.“

In other words, the fix is already in, and these “consultations” are basically just to make us all feel a bit better about a process we have no control over.

Image: Philadelphia Market Street Bank

B.C. Transit — Public Webinar

.

The West Coast Climate Action Network is planning four monthly webinars on the theme of Transportation in a Time of Climate Crisis which “will explore the best policies and practices for transportation in BC, propose a policy platform, and mobilize political action.”

The first of these — Great Public Transit – Urban and Rural — is on March 9th at 4:00pm. Speakers will include Kukpi7 Chief Judy Wilson, BC Union of Indian chiefs, and Eric Doherty, a Victoria-based transportation planner. 

Anyone interested in virtually attending can get tickets at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/great-public-transit-urban-and-rural-tickets-271858103907.

.

[h/t to Nathan for the notice]

B.C. Ombudsman Hiring

.

The Office of the Ombudsperson is an independent office of the B.C. Legislature that listens to and investigates complaints about local and provincial public sector organizations and reports of serious wrongdoing in the provincial government. Seeking to expand their work with the indigenous peoples of BC, they are planning to hire five “part-time regional Ombudsperson Pathfinders to assist with our commitment to improving the quality and availability of ombuds services to Indigenous people through outreach, education, and direct support.”

The five Ombudsperson Pathfinders will be situated throughout British Columbia and will be mandated to:

• Raise awareness and understanding of ombuds services within Indigenous communities across the province;
• Cultivate trust between Indigenous Peoples and the Office of the Ombudsperson;
• Facilitate the making of complaints that fall within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsperson by helping Indigenous people to navigate the ombuds process; and,
• When their issues are outside of the Ombudsperson’s jurisdiction, assist people to identify and access the right complaint system to address their issues.

Anyone interested in this initiative should contact their website: https://bcombudsperson.ca/about-us/our-indigenous-services or contact Jolene Andrew, Indigenous Liaison Officer with the Office of the Ombudsperson. Jolene can be reached by email at JAndrew@bcombudsperson.ca or by phone at 604 318-2855.

 

Losar 2022

Today is Tibetan New Year, or Losar. I can only hope and wish that 2022 is a better year for that sad occupied land.