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Rick Vugteveen

@rickvug.bsky.social

Music, technology, community, politics

87 Followers  |  63 Following  |  81 Posts  |  Joined: 02.05.2023  |  2.298

Latest posts by rickvug.bsky.social on Bluesky

You are a close follower of municipal politics. From your non-partisan journalistic perch, would it be fair to say that Fontaine is hyper-partisan and generally antagonistic in his dealings at council? Pot calling the kettle black on this one - and then some!

08.07.2025 22:33 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hopefully! There likely are ways to bring that cost down but any way you slice it we are still talking expensive infrastructure. Can still be worth the investment, especially in high traffic, high density areas where it would be a transformative change.

26.06.2025 23:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm talking CapEx. St George St Rainway is budgeted at $36M, split roughly 50/50 between the city and province. I believe that is for 5 blocks (Broadway to East 5th).

26.06.2025 22:55 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
The Lost Streams of New Westminster Project – Connecting geography, history and people

Have you come across newwestloststreams.ca? I love your vision but huge $$$. If the city was to prioritize I think 7th Street has the most potential. Super wide and cuts through the heart of the city. The grade would make for nice water flow. I believe also next in line for mobility lanes.

26.06.2025 22:38 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm tapping out on Gasworks. Same with "Muni Evers" Park. Those public washrooms built into the waste water treatment plan are going to be retro by the time they finally get used!

24.06.2025 23:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for noticing!

24.06.2025 23:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What out what you wish for, there used to be coal powered gas lights around these parts!

24.06.2025 18:06 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

It would be nice if the contract wasn't already awarded, allowing for some additional flexibility. There might be other options that come to light. Based on what is known what you suggested is likely the best approach.

24.06.2025 18:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Presumably a custom fabrication job. My Dad works in a machine shop. They build custom stuff like this for municipalities all the time. However it is very expensive and the performance of the lighting itself in this case may be limited due to style. Still think it will be worth doing.

24.06.2025 15:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for live tweeting! Nice to be done with kids sports and be able to quickly get up to speed. Sounds like my time was better spent! 🀣

24.06.2025 05:06 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Imagine a world where the spend on roads shrunk from 33% to 25%. That would be enough to double how much spent is spent on Parks, Sports & Recreation.

05.06.2025 20:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

A loophole that is so good that it is political suicide to even suggest changing it. Even a reasonable change such as a neutral tax shift to lower income taxes while putting some form of a cap on the principal residence exemption would be a non-starter.

03.06.2025 03:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Nice honest materials.

26.05.2025 17:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Has anyone gone through each of those ridings to confirm that what is left is the advance votes, not special ballots? If advanced votes I think you are right that we could end up with a Liberal majority, or at least past 170.

29.04.2025 16:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Still quite a few polls yet to report. Anyone know if the advance ballots have been reported?

29.04.2025 16:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This is 100% what is happening when you see Conservatives leading in some of the safest NDP ridings.

29.04.2025 04:05 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

May we never forgive Trudeau for winning an election on electoral reform and bailing on it.

29.04.2025 04:02 β€” πŸ‘ 109    πŸ” 14    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

America discovers Chantel.

29.04.2025 03:30 β€” πŸ‘ 429    πŸ” 57    πŸ’¬ 19    πŸ“Œ 2
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Making the case for electoral reform.

29.04.2025 03:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
New Westminster--Burnaby--Maillardville results after 5/193 polls reported: Liberal 188 / 34.6%, NDP 177 / 32.6%, Conservative 163 / 30%.

New Westminster--Burnaby--Maillardville results after 5/193 polls reported: Liberal 188 / 34.6%, NDP 177 / 32.6%, Conservative 163 / 30%.

Boy howdy close race in #NewWest so far

29.04.2025 02:57 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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If Vancouver East is actually going Liberal then there’s still many more Liberal seats to come in Metro Vancouver as the polls start to come in.

29.04.2025 03:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Only one poll in so far but wow, it would be absolutely wild to have Peter Julian in 3rd. #newwest

29.04.2025 02:53 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

he should have done the hip flip

29.04.2025 02:14 β€” πŸ‘ 341    πŸ” 69    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 2

Election day in a country that has had a fair and free vote for generations.

Where all the opposition parties are free to take power.

Where virtually everyone will accept the election result.

After my last year, it’s a history and a privilege I’m more grateful for than ever.

Let’s get at it.

28.04.2025 14:58 β€” πŸ‘ 2251    πŸ” 299    πŸ’¬ 33    πŸ“Œ 16

I don't know if that is all of it but yes, small-caps are known to be more economically sensitive.

16.04.2025 19:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

So, just to recap, Trump's tariffs:
-Were reciprocal for other nations' tariffs
-Ok, were actually reciprocal for non-tariff barriers
-Nevermind, they're about closing trade deficits
-Aren't negotiable
-Ok, ARE negotiable, but only for cash
-nevermind back to 10% across-the-board

09.04.2025 17:38 β€” πŸ‘ 344    πŸ” 89    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 5

Pffft. Finances and investing are cool. Financial independence (some day, hopefully!) will be even cooler! Plus markets are extremely interesting, at least for me personally.

09.04.2025 18:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I have some individual stock holdings which messes up overall weightings to do the all XEQT strategy. Also some periodic USD income that gets contributed to RRSPs to $VOO (super low MER). Based on this it makes sense to me to invest in the underlying components of XEQT (or similar).

09.04.2025 18:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I should probably just keep it simpler and buy something all in one like XEQT or VEQT. I use the weightings from both as guidelines anyhow, keeping overall geographic exposure within 5% of their model "Canadian Couch Potato" passive portfolio.

09.04.2025 18:37 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Kinda. Not selling US but not buying. Most contributions right now are going to $VIU, which is the developed markets ex-US, ex-Canada. Already have enough Canadian exposure, I've been underweight ROW developed. Feels like as good of a time as any to focus there.

09.04.2025 18:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

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