Bill Ritchie: Vancouver has chance to rebuild civic identity

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      Mayoral candidate Bill Ritchie on his plans for the future of Vancouver
       

      Many know me as Bill “The Wet Wizard” Ritchie--but my roots in the community go beyond being a small business owner. I have lived for many years in the working-class neighbourhood at 41st and Main, and have looked forward to my strolls out and about the area with my wife. That having been said, our view of the skyline has devolved into a reminiscence of thrift store bargain basements.

      In the latter ’80s the city council, under Gordon Campbell, opted to be pro-developer in the False Creek, North Waterfront, and Yaletown areas; and that legacy of party-developer mutual support has continued ever since. A city council, with an independent mayor, may have a chance--a one-time window of opportunity--to reestablish a “community” and “real civic” identity. The “post-Olympic blues” will soon be upon this city, and it will be imperative that Vancouver’s council be ready to respond in positive ways for the sake of its citizens.

      A step towards that goal would be an embracing of an independent mayor’s chair--hopefully setting an example in focusing on all citizen interests. This position would not tolerate the echolalia of party interests. Instead, a monthly “open house” would be on the agenda--with council hearing from the people instead of from their party backers. Vancouver is vibrant, multicultural and, potentially, humanistic; if only the elitist and special financial interests could be held in check.

      My view of reshaping includes dedicated lanes for cyclists (real lanes--not curb hugging); a long-overdue selling off of 25 percent of the city’s overmanaged/underutilized real estate and assets to relieve taxpayers; and a ban on alcohol and gambling sales, not four times a month like “in the old days” but just on “Welfare Wednesday”--alleviating costs the provincial government’s greed has put on our policing and rescue services, as well as on the human costs of domestic violence.

      Another initiative I would like to put on the table would be an evaluation of the planning and development office. In the rush for developer donations, again, the party system has allowed a devolution of aesthetic, people-friendly development. Under this initiative I would ask the neighbourhood groups to submit ideas--and review some pre-approved aesthetic, eco-friendly, and structurally sound architectural concepts for residential, recreational, and commercial developments in their neighbourhoods. This initiative, hopefully, would restore some of the previous “character” aspects to this beautiful and unique city of Vancouver. The “leaky condo” spectre from the fast-tracked developments of the late ’80s and early ’90s still hangs over us--let’s try to rebuild with a better view of what this city can really achieve!

       
      How would you reshape your municipality? The Georgia Straight is publishing articles on its Web site from mayoral candidates in Metro Vancouver. For more information, e-mail webeditor@straight.com.

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