We approved a 10 yr plan to build 38,000 affordable homes, Suzanne was the only vote against. We'll use city land to leverage funding partnerships with government, private and community partners. We need at least another 10 sites for social housing to solve homelessness after the 14 are open.
On the Olympic Village...
The last NPA council tied the City to the $1 billion project and there are still several hundred units to sell, and debt to pay down. That will happen over the next few years to maximize the return. Auditors estimated the current loss to the City is around $50 million
Occupancy at the Village is now over 80%, making good progress. Sales still happening at a steady rate/
The no-fun city label is long gone. We will continue to make our streets more vibrant with festivals, street food carts, markets, patios. And ensure that mega-events don't go badly
Question from Pam re: property taxes.
My goal is to keep increases at the cost-of-living level and we've accomplished that for the last 2 years during a recession. We have the lowest tax increase in the region this year. Councillor Raymond Louie has been a sharp Finance Chair!
Thank you Mr. Mayor. Two questions coming up, regarding bike lanes. Also a comment from scolby re: bike lanes. First the questions...
If re-elected, do you plan to install more bike lanes in the city, and if so, where?
Do you think businesses affected by the bike lanes installed during your first term were adequately consulted?
No plans for another downtown separated bike lane, we now have a cohesive network from Kits to Chinatown which is key for safety. We need to keep improving safety of the bike network around the city, it is the fastest growing mode of transpo in Vancouver
City staff spent several months consulting with businesses and residents along Hornby to design the lane. Lots of useful feedback and the refinements continue
Most of the world's big cities are having to rebuild their downtown transp networks to accomodate bikes, due to demand.
Haven't heard about Indy coming back
What is your proudest accomplishment as mayor?
Reducing the number of people sleeping homeless in our streets from 815 in 2008 to 145 this year. An 82% drop in street homelessness that means better lives for many people
Back to Occupy Vancouver for a moment.
The City is reaching out to anyone at Occupy who is homeless, to help connect them to housing. Tent cities are unsustainable and we will continue to enforce city bylaws to protect life safety and to ensure that others can use the public space now being monopolized by the protest.
On gambling, you rejected an expanded downtown casino. Why is the city seemingly OK with more casino gambling dollars going to Richmond or Burnaby when they could be benefiting Vancouver?