Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver aims to overthrow Vision with "strategic slate"

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      Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver is recommending a “strategic slate for change to reclaim democracy at City Hall”.

      The group is suggesting that voters choose for mayor either Kirk LaPointe of the Non-Partisan Association or Meena Wong of the Coalition of Progressive Electors.

      “We have a network that is very diverse, and there are some people that…are willing to vote the NPA strategically because they are the most likely to be able to unseat [Vision Vancouver’s] Gregor Robertson,” NSV’s steering committee member Elizabeth Murphy told the Straight by phone. “However, there are others that just wouldn’t be willing to do that. So that [endorsement of Wong] gives them also another option.”

      For the 10 council seats, NSV’s list includes Lisa Barrett, Gayle Gavin, and Tim Louis of COPE; Cleta Brown, incumbent councillor Adriane Carr, and Pete Fry of the Greens; current NPA councillors George Affleck and Elizabeth Ball and hopeful Gregory Baker; and for the remaining spot, a choice between COPE’s Keith Higgins, the NPA’s Ian Robertson, and Nicholas Chernen of the Vancouver Cedar Party.

      For park board, NSV has recommended incumbent NPA commissioner John Coupar, the NPA’s Casey Crawford, COPE’s Anita Romaniuk, and Stuart Mackinnon and Michael Wiebe of the Greens. NSV is also recommending four candidates for the nine-seat school board. These are Janet Fraser and Mischa Oak of the Greens, and Penny Noble and Christopher Richardson of the NPA.

      “There’s been growing concern about the direction that the city’s been going in, and with Vision having had a majority now for two terms, if we want a change in direction, we have to not have that majority,” Murphy said. “The only way that that can happen is where the voting is somewhat strategic because there’s so many parties and candidates running that they would just split each other’s votes and it would again allow for a Vision victory.”

       

      Comments

      19 Comments

      Ripley

      Nov 5, 2014 at 11:42am

      Ah yes - the group that has redefined sustainable to mean "preventing developments I don't personally like, even if they let more people live in a city where people's environmental footprint is low".

      Hermie

      Nov 5, 2014 at 11:50am

      A balanced council such as these recommendations suggest would be the best outcome for Vancouver. No more Vision majorities!

      Cool beans

      Nov 5, 2014 at 12:27pm

      Great I will take Elizabeth Murphy's recommendations to the bank.

      Hint to Ms. Murphy, there is more to the City than the West Side and a bunch of west side based political hacks and wannabe's.

      Perhaps one might take Ms. Murphy and her band of feckless followers more seriously if she actually had some credibility and ability to see the WHOLE city from her rarified Pont Grey view.

      JamieLee

      Nov 5, 2014 at 12:37pm

      Interesting that NSV which opposes developers funding political parties is now recommending a Mayoral candidate who is funded by developers to get rid of another Mayoral candidate who is also funded by developers. Bizarre.

      Arthur Vandelay

      Nov 5, 2014 at 1:27pm

      Wow, these NSV guys are like the Glenn Close character from Fatal Attraction. Maybe some counseling or something may help you get over this perceived slight or whatever issue you have with Gregor. Is it that he's got great hair maybe? Get yourselves together, its just getting super awkward now. And stay away from the scissors in the meantime please.

      Felix the Cat

      Nov 5, 2014 at 1:59pm

      While I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of a mixed slate, I can't understand the endorsement of the NPA, which will be looking out for the welfare of Big Money as much as Vision ever was. Many outstanding independents to choose from this time, among them Bob Kasting for mayor. It's worth the time to do the research.

      OMG

      Nov 5, 2014 at 2:15pm

      @Felix the Cat

      They're mainly people who have nice houses and don't want any condo towers in their neighbourhoods. Their only motive is to make sure Gregor isn't elected again.

      Charles

      Nov 5, 2014 at 2:52pm

      Oh, puh-leeze. At Council, NPA'er Gregory Baker over Rob McDowell or Ian Robertson? Are they kidding? Shows that NSV doesn't have a clue when it comes to endorsing NPA candidates for Vancouver City Council. Keith Higgins and Nicholas Chernen are great alternates, but unfortunately don't have a chance in hell of getting elected to Council. Otherwise, Adriane Carr, Pete Fry (and, maybe, Cleta Brown) are great choices. COPE'S Tim Louis, Gayle Gavin and Lisa Barrett would well serve the city - but, unfortunately, they ain't gonna get elected.

      Me, I think Grandview-Woodland activist Jak King's Council <a href="http://jaksview3.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/now-is-the-time-to-choose/" target="_blank">endorsement list</a> offers a far more acute insight into who to support at the polls in 2014. Note: as is the case with the NSV endorsements, on Jak's list there are <a href="http://www.vanramblings.com/decision-2014-vision-vancouver-has-not-earne... target="_blank">NO Vision Vancouver candidates that are deemed worthy of voter support</a> - that oughta tell voters something about informed, political class disdain for Vision in Campaign 2014.

      The message is clear: in 2014, <em><font color=#990000>do not vote Vision Vancouver at the polls</font></em>.

      NSV's Park Board choices are great (thank goodness someone cares about parks issues in this campaign)! I'd add the NPA's Erin Shum as an NPA MUST-ELECT.

      For School Board: no endorsement for Jane Bouey and Gwen Giesbrecht? Really? And endorsing clueless, anti-democratic NPA School Trustee candidate Penny Noble, over Stacy Robertson - are they nuts? Thank goodness that the NPA's Christopher Richardson has received an NSV endorsement - by far the strongest NPA School Trustee candidate running in this election (I mean, doesn't everyone in this city LOVE Christopher Richardson, Chair of the Mount Pleasant CCA, and democrat par excellence?).

      Only 10 days to go. We'll know the outcome of Campaign 2014 soon enough. Let's hope for diverse party representation at all three of our elected civic bodies.

      Marion

      Nov 5, 2014 at 3:37pm

      I agree that there is no sense voting for another development-funded candidate for Mayor to replace the current one. 1/2 the people I talk to say they support Meena, but will hold their nose & vote for Kirk so Gregor won't get in. The other 1/2 say they support Meena, but will hold their nose & vote for Gregor so Kirk won't get in. If everyone who wants democracy votes for Meena Wong she will win so just do it!

      Say Anything politics

      Nov 5, 2014 at 4:48pm

      The say anything candidate Meena Wong is high on sloganism and low on specifics and logic. How to account for the shortfall of taxes collected on empty condos? What happens if court challenges derails her airy fairy policies? Does Translink's Board of Directors get dismantled to pay for $30/month transit? What about stepping on provincial jurisdiction regarding setting the minimum wage? What about non-profit organizations that serve large numbers of people but then are suddenly faced with a large hike in minimum wage increase?