Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson drops F-bomb while disparaging council speakers


Gregor Robertson's comments are heard toward the end of this video.

Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson has been caught using the F-word while complaining about residents critical of his plans for a mayor’s West End community advisory committee.

“Who are all these fuckin’... who are these hacks man? Are they”¦ they NPA hacks?” Robertson said on July 8, unaware that his microphone was on.

The mayor was speaking with Vision Vancouver councillors Heather Deal and Tim Stevenson after city council heard from several speakers who expressed concerns about the motion to create the committee.

“God, we’re just tryin’ to have a little advisory committee, for fuck sakes,” Robertson went on to say.

The conversation was captured by the videotaping system that records council meetings.

According to West End Neighbours, a clip of the mayor's comments remained on the city’s Web site until Sunday (July 11), but has since been removed.

The group posted a YouTube video featuring the comments, and provided the following transcript of the conversation:

Robertson: “Who are all these f*ckin’”¦ who are these hacks man? Are they”¦ they NPA hacks?”

Heather Deal: “They’re owners”

Stevenson: “Oh no, no they...” (inaudible)

Robertson: “What’s that?”

Stevenson: “Carol Walker was a COPE candidate”

Robertson: “Who was?”

Stevenson: “Carol Walker”

Deal: “The last speaker”

Stevenson: “But they’re all”¦ you know”¦ who knows really”¦”

Stevenson: “But it’s 100% owners”¦”

Stevenson: “Every one... there’s not a renter”¦ and that’s what they’re upset about”¦ they don’t like”

Robertson: “They don’t want renters in the, in the mix.”

Stevenson: “Ya”

Stevenson: “You can’t railroad us”¦”

Robertson, Deal, Stevenson: (laughter)

Robertson: (mocking) “You’re trying to subvert process here, damn it... We want consultation. They want...”

Deal: “Democracy cubed”

Robertson, Deal, Stevenson: (laughter)

Robertson: “God, we’re just tryin’ to have a little advisory committee, for f*ck sakes”

West End Neighbours is opposed to the city’s Short Term Incentives for Rental Housing program and is calling for a new urban plan for the neighbourhood.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

Comments

30 Comments

Bobbie Bees

Jul 12, 2010 at 10:32am

Aw, who gives a fuck.
All of those idiot speakers are 'fucking assholes' to put it mildly.
all they want is for the renters to be run out of their exclusive West End. If it was condominiums going up, you wouldn't have a single complaint. But because most of the new buildings going up are for renters, these 'fucking assholes' come out in full force.

Oppppsss, am I allowed to call them 'fucking assholes'?

Stephen K

Jul 12, 2010 at 10:58am

This is news?

Therzo38

Jul 12, 2010 at 11:40am

Hey, Stephen Hui, I want a transcript of everything you say while you're on your job; even if it's not meant to be heard, such as this transcript.

You're a hack "journalist" (oh, wait, I see, your a blogger, not a journalist) for posting this, only kowtowing for the "West End Neighbours".

JR Wills

Jul 12, 2010 at 11:46am

That made my day

Steve H

Jul 12, 2010 at 12:15pm

Robertson and his gang should resign over the contempt he has shown for the citizens they were elected to serve.

Robertson's ego far exceeds his his political savvy.

Birdy

Jul 12, 2010 at 12:27pm

It's not about saying fuck, that's not the issue, the problem outlined here is that Vision thinks anyone who disagrees with them is a "fuckin' NPA hack, man"

Then we have these super-entitled renter activists who think they have the right to tell others what to do with their own property. Listen up "comrades", you don't have some magic god-given right to live in the most expensive part of the most expensive city in the country if you can't afford it. I hear Langley is nice this time of year.

RodSmelser

Jul 12, 2010 at 12:35pm

My guess?

Robertson was told to do this by Brad Zubyk as part of a re-engineering of his image in prepatation for a "grass roots" campaign to lead the BC Liberals after Campbell.

Rod Smelser

Well alright.

Jul 12, 2010 at 1:04pm

I <3 Gregor Robertson

I think this is the first time I've felt proud of him as mayor...

Martin de Pateshull

Jul 12, 2010 at 1:13pm

Is Gregor a "fit and proper person" to discharge the Office of Mayor? Do fit and proper persons call others "fuckin hacks"?

beelzebub

Jul 12, 2010 at 2:05pm

Uhh, they're not NPA hacks, they are citizens..... exercising their rights.... including freedom of speech. Voters as well, no doubt.