Here's some Vision Vancouver spam that came into my in-box since Friday

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      Sometimes, I subscribe to lists so that I can obtain information to do my job. That can result in more junk mail arriving via email.

      With that in mind, here are recent notes I've received from Vision Vancouver since Friday (September 26).

      I haven't requested to be removed from any lists, so I have no one to blame but myself.

      Letter Number 1 (September 29)

      Dear Charlie --

      There are now 47 days to the election. We're in a tough race against the NPA as we work to identify supporters in every corner of the city. Every day, Vision is out knocking on doors, phoning supporters, and signing up volunteers.

      Here's what you can do to help us win on November 15th.

      Show your support by putting up a lawn or window sign. As people see the city painted Vision greens and blues, it sends the signal that Gregor and Vision are the best way to keep our city moving forward on the environment, housing, and the economy. It’s one of the most effective ways to help our campaign.

      There’s a range of sign options to choose from, including lawn and window signs. We’re already assembling them at the campaign office, and distribution will start in early October.

      Take 30 seconds and request your sign here: http://votevision.ca/signs. Your sign will be delivered within two weeks.

      I'm proud of what we've accomplished together, but we've got much more to do on becoming the greenest city, standing up against more oil tankers and building more housing that's affordable. We can't risk the NPA -- they'll take our city backwards.

      Putting up a sign will make a big difference to our campaign.

      Hope you can help!

      Thanks,

      Niki Sharma
      Vision Vancouver Candidate – City Council

      Vision Vancouver
      http://www.votevision.ca/

      Letter Number 2 (September 29)

      Dear Charlie --

      I am writing to ask for your help to win a third term on Vancouver City Council. Thanks to your support, we've been able to accomplish a great deal -- but there's much more to do.

      There are three ways you can make a difference:

      On November 15th, Vancouver voters face a clear choice between Gregor and Vision, and the NPA. It's clear that Kirk Lapointe -- who has no civic experience -- would drag the city back to the stagnation and division we saw under Sam Sullivan.

      During the past six years, I've been proud to be part of a council that has quadrupled the construction of rental housing, sharply reduced street homelessness and moved Vancouver into the front ranks of the greenest cities in the world.

      But housing costs remain out of sight for most families. We need to use the new Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency to increase the supply of housing our city requires by working with co-operatives and non-profits, among others. The NPA opposed this initiative. I want to make it happen.

      Equally important is our work to build the Broadway Subway extension to Arbutus, cutting travel time for students and workers in the most important business and research corridor in the province. The NPA has been relentlessly negative about this key transit initiative. I want to see it built.

      Thanks for your support.

      Geoff

      Vision Vancouver
      http://www.votevision.ca/

      Letter Number 3 (September 27)

      Dear Charlie --

      One of the reasons I decided to run for Park Board is to continue our work improving access to recreation and providing better parks for everyone. As a Commissioner and Chair of the Park Board Committee, I want to ensure we continue making investments in new community centres - like our plan to renew the Britannia Community Centre, pool, and ice rink - to build a more accessible, affordable, and healthier city for all.

      But we can’t do it without electing Gregor and the entire Vision team on November 15th.

      We’re in a tough campaign against an out-of-touch NPA who will only drag Vancouver backwards.

      To help us win in November, will you make a donation to our campaign? A donation of just $25 or $50 will help us defeat the NPA and keep Vancouver moving forward. Please click here to make a donation to support my re-election campaign.

      Thank you for your continued support,

      Trevor

      Vision Vancouver
      http://www.votevision.ca/

      Letter Number 4 (September 26)

       

      Visit http://votevision.ca/donate to give $10 today.

       

      Thanks, 

      Gregor



      Vision Vancouver
      http://www.votevision.ca/

      Comments

      15 Comments

      Matt

      Sep 29, 2014 at 3:59pm

      so you subscribe to a list and then write an article about it calling it spam? I don't usually read straight.com articles, are they all this stupid?

      Charlie Smith

      Sep 29, 2014 at 4:08pm

      I don't know what I signed up for. I merely wrote this to demonstrate how vigorous the Vision direct-mail campaign is. I don't mind receiving these messages. They suggest to me that Vision might be feeling good about some of its candidates' prospects, but are going to make extra efforts to push Trevor Loke, Geoff Meggs, and Niki Sharma across the finish line.

      After all, I didn't receive pitches from Kerry Jang or Raymond Louie, who were easily reelected last time.

      ursa minor

      Sep 29, 2014 at 4:14pm

      Extending mass transit to Arbutus does ZERO to cut travel time for anyone going to UBC. Unless a line is built all the way to UBC, all that line would do is move the Broadway bottleneck at Commercial Drive a few blocks west where UBC students, faculty and staff would be waiting as long, if not longer than they would on the #99 B-Line.

      Once Seattle completes North LINK to the University of Washington campus, metro Vancouver will be the only major city in the region with no mass transit link to any of its major universities.

      OMG

      Sep 29, 2014 at 5:04pm

      I'm still not sure why you posted this. Your explanation doesn't seem very sincere.

      Charlie Smith

      Sep 29, 2014 at 5:06pm

      I just posted it because Vision Vancouver was bombarding me with pitches to take signs, give money, and knock on doors. No other party in this election has done this. The public has a right to see how politics occurs in this town. If you have a problem with me showing rather than telling in this instance, there's not much I can do about that.

      Kristine

      Sep 29, 2014 at 5:23pm

      Has Charlie Smith ever signed up for the Georgia Straight's newsletter? Talk about spam.

      Matt

      Sep 29, 2014 at 6:12pm

      Are you really this thick? YOU SIGNED UP FOR IT. For the headline to call this spam is a complete lie. I'm shocked that any publication would let this run.

      Disgusted

      Sep 29, 2014 at 7:17pm

      I see the Vision trolls are out in force tonight.

      Hope they get paid overtime...oh, of COURSE they do!

      ;-)

      Michael Castnaveras

      Sep 29, 2014 at 8:58pm

      Charlie, your "spam" headline is clickbait. You're comment is valid...*is* newsworthy that no other party has sent the same volume of emails to subscribers. But you didn't mention that in the article. You could then go on to editorialize why the party may be taking different strategies. But this article, as written, is disingenuous.

      Arthur Vandelay

      Sep 30, 2014 at 6:49am

      The GS openly stumps for the federal NDP, BC NDP and civic COPE. That's what happens on this site -- either directly or with swipes at the competing parties, like this piece. Anyone who doesnt know that is either new to this site or not paying attention. Personally, it's pretty much the entire reason I visit this site as those parties generally provide a whole lotta comic relief in their never ending failed attempts at meta morphing from protest movements to actual governing parties. The comedy stylings of Adrian Dix are some pretty fond memories for me. Can't wait for ole Frenchy Mulcaire's posse of bar maids and frat boys to flame out next fall. This will be comedy gold not to be missed.