Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson's statement on independent riot review
Mayor Gregor Robertson delivered the following statement today (September 1) in response to the independent riot review report:
I want to start by thanking Mr Furlong and Mr Keefe for what is a detailed and comprehensive report on the June 15th riot.
They put an enormous amount of work into it, and I want to thank the two of them, their research teams and expert advisers, all of the participants and members of the public who contributed to make this report possible.
What happened that night had a terrible impact on all of us, and particularly our downtown businesses and the employees who were in those businesses when the riot took place.
I went to see the destruction first-hand that night and was appalled. In the ensuing weeks I spoke with businesses and people impacted and it was heartbreaking to hear their stories.
As well, I’ve met many of the heroes who helped protect people and property that night, and came downtown to clean and reclaim our streets in the days that followed, and they have only strengthened my faith and pride in Vancouver.
I want to thank the men and women of the VPD, our fire department, paramedics, and hospital workers, whose hard work and dedication prevented things from being much worse.
No one wants to see a scene like that again, and that’s why it’s so critical that we move quickly to accept and implement this report. This report provides a positive, solutions-oriented way forward.
It also acknowledges and builds on the tremendous outpouring of positive support from the public. This report captures the spirit of people in Vancouver who want to celebrate safely and responsibly and have great pride in our City.
That is why there will be a special open meeting of council next Tuesday, September 6th, where we will go through this report to discuss its findings and conclusions. During this meeting we will also give clear direction to staff to use Mr Furlong and Mr Keefe’s report to guide our planning for the Grey Cup and other major events in the future.
The recommendations from Mr Furlong and Mr Keefe are tangible, we can move quickly on them, and I am committed as Mayor to seeing all the recommendations they made for the City put into action.
It is an exhaustive report, and it will take us all some time to digest it in its entirety. However, it is one that provides a pragmatic, thoughtful framework for the city and region to hold major public gatherings safely and effectively.
Once again I want to thank Mr Furlong and Mr Keefe for their time and energy in making this report possible, and I look forward to acting on it.
Comments
12 Comments
Gloria
Sep 1, 2011 at 6:17pm
You make me sick....you poor excuse for a man. You can't even stand up on the news tonight and take any blame for screwing up the planning of the Stanley Cup riot...just as long as you were happy in your box seats. I don't know how shit heads like you get a job in the government!!!
Save Vancouver
Sep 1, 2011 at 11:50pm
In other words: "Thanks for not pointing out I came up with this harebrained idea, John".
Worst mayor ever
Sep 2, 2011 at 12:49pm
Never seems to do any work. Only cares about silly ideas like chicken coops, bike lanes, and all things green (no matter how much bloody money it costs us). Never involved in any sort of concrete planning yet always ready to take credit when the cameras are rolling. Finally, when all goes to hell, he hides behind one of his staffers who must take the podium and answer the difficult questions.
James G
Sep 2, 2011 at 1:47pm
@Worst Mayor Ever
Seriously? Where were you over the past 40 years? Mayor Robertson clearly does not deserve re-election but he is no Jack Volrich or Tom Campbell. He also trumps Sam Sullivan and easily surpasses Gordon Campbell. Philip Owen I have to split into before and after "the moment" when he woke up and saw what the City was becoming under his NPA. Far worse than Robertson beforehand and afterwards he barely surpasses our current mayor. I am no fan of Gregor but he also pips Art Phillips.
No-body compared in decency or ability to Mike Harcourt as of yet and not by any measure. Who knows, I would never have marked an X for an NPA candidate but maybe the City missed the boat by declining the job to Peter Ladner. Ladner elected alongside a council with a non-NPA majority might have been tolerable.
Taxpayers R Us
Sep 3, 2011 at 8:49am
Far as I'm concerned, the riot was Robertson's fault. Dumbass didn't even read the 1994 recommendations and had no clue how to pay for all of the extra policing necessary, yet opened the floodgates anyway. Total recipe for disaster and he was too arrogant to think it would happen on his watch.
James G
Sep 3, 2011 at 6:31pm
My memory is intact. What do they put in the water at NPA headquarters?
Bill McCreery1
Sep 3, 2011 at 11:57pm
You need to read between the lines on this report, and if you do Robertson and his Vision Council are clearly to blame. The Mayor expanded the Live Sites, put a limit on spending, didn't ensure the planning was adequately done, invited the Province Downtown to party so he would look like a hero in the victory celebrations, and then didn't stay on top of the devolving atmosphere. Now he refuses to take responsibility for the many mistakes he and his Vision Council have made in creating this riot which did not need to happen.
Compare the actions of the Mayor of Boston to Mayor Robertson. Boston did not have a riot, Vancouver did.
James G
Sep 4, 2011 at 11:33am
@Bill McCreery1
Oh, come on. You compare the winning city with the losing one? Surely you know the difference?
As for Robertson, I voted for him and consider that a mistake. I consider the entire advent of Vision Vancouver a serious mistake, nearly as bad for our City as the NPA itslef. Your party is just foundering for an issue since so little separates you from Vision. Your only councilor voted along with them much more often than not and more often than the COPE reps. We all know that you are making gains in this election, and I do hope that there are enough non-Vision candidates elected to deny them a majority but continuing to treat the voters with this kind of contempt won't help. Unless maybe you think there are enough of them unaware of who won the Stanley Cup? A pathetic strategy indeed. Proceed at your own risk since Anton is pretty much out of it but some of you could end up on City Council -- if you start treating that pretty-damned-observant 30 per cent who vote in municipal election like adults.
GZLFB
Sep 5, 2011 at 9:10pm
How much did all these panels and crap cost on top of the damage or versus? Christ.
James G
Sep 5, 2011 at 9:36pm
Additional: (thanks to Red Dwarf)
When I stated that Suzanne Anton is pretty much out of it, I meant in terms of candidates already declared. I am awaiting the results of the COPE nomination meeting. If it goes well and a fighting, independent spirit is found in whichever candidate gets the nod, I will be pleased as assuredly will many others.
If there is obvious manipulation by some of the Vision henchmen within COPE, I will simply adjust as will others. If a prominent person with a COPE background strikes out in an independent campaign for mayor, all bets are off. Likely this candidate will not have the finances to succeed but it would draw enough of the mile-wide-inch-deep support for Robertson to make Anton competitive.