Landon Hoyt

This may seem like a simple thing, but treating us as an afterthought when we are a clear and important stakeholder is symbolic of so much. I hear regularly from community members about why we don't have basic things like benches, garbage bins, clean sidewalks, etc.

Instead, what could have been a positive investment feels like another reminder that the DTES/HxBIA is not offered the same care and attention as other neighbourhoods. Our community deserves better. 💔

Once again, this community gets the afterthought version of an improvement. With more notice, we could’ve brought partners together, found solutions, and even added beauty. This is our role as a local BIA. We are always standing ready to support this work.

That left no time to work with nearby cultural institutions (Firehall Arts Centre & Police Museum) who lost key loading+drop-off space, or to add art and colour to the barriers. Instead, we’re left with mismatched leftover barricades from other parts of the city.

A small example of how DTES/HxBIA are often overlooked when it comes to simple city infrastructure:
This past weekend, @CityofVancouver installed a new concrete island on E Cordova — a well-intentioned pedestrian crosswalk upgrade. But HxBIA was informed only 3 days before install

"How Are the Very Rich Feeling About New York’s Next Mayor?"

A Dramatic Reading of The Recent New York Times Dispatch from the Hamptons.

Presented by The Gilded Age's Morgan Spector.

excellent comments from three councillors in response to the mayor/police

Yes it’s hard to attribute this to TFB. Absolutely.

All being said, I'm looking forward to a more holistic approach to safety in the DTES, and our whole city. The City can't do this alone, nor should it. I will be watching to ensure the community is heard throughout this process.

3)From the surface, accountability and transparency are built in. However, pay attention to how statistics and results are presented and where they are attributed to. Does adding more police really reduce overdoses? Or is harm reduction or a shift in drug use causing that?

Police/safety will only one of the 6 areas of stats they will be tracking. Health, engineering, economy, etc will all be included. So I'm pleased to see this acknowledgement that police are indeed not the only solution. Will allocated resources reflect that? This remains to be seen.

2)VanStat will be evidence-based & allocate resources based on stats & trends. This should demonstrate impact & results. It will come down to the actual decisions made & how. I want to ensure there are community voices included in this process as much as possible. This will be critical, esp in DTES.

1)Moving toward new Dist. 5 - this will be largely positive, as it will allow for more relational policing, rather than the OT-based policing we've had with TFB. Consistent beat cops, getting to know residents, businesses, dealers, etc. How this will play out administratively & funding-wise is TBD.

If being "political" means standing up for what the community really needs, then I will take that criticism.

As for next steps, this is where I believe there will be a positive impact, and I am cautiously optimistic. Here's my take on the new "VanStat" as it's being called:

In meetings I've had with police and political leaders, I've been accused of being "political" with this critique, and that I'm a naysayer. And today at the press conference, indirectly called out for not thinking TFB would work. Well, it depends on how you want to tell the story.

What the stats don't show is the impact TFB was having on other services. Our BIA patrol teams saw a 250% increase in "referrals to other services" during past 6-months. Referrals to food, shelter, OPS, detox, etc. 250%! That shows that there was not coordination - something we've been begging for.

The results from the Task Force over the past 6-months appear positive, and they largely are. I think the most impressive numbers are the significant reduction in fire and medical calls, possible side-benefits of this approach (ex. overdoses fell by 45%, overall calls to Hall 2 down 30%).

I've been a critic of Task Force Barrage in DTES since it started, largely due to its lack of coordination and holistic approach to public safety, esp in an over-policed community facing severe poverty.

I received an advance update last week on what's next, and here are my thoughts. 🧵 #vanpoli

Quelle suprise. Of particular note: Former VPD officer Montague refusing to cooperate with the investigation. Between this & the slow-rolling of FOI requests on "stranger attacks" during the election is highly suggestive of a culture of unaccountability at the VPD, & probably the model for ABC.

Vancouver’s Integrity Commissioner has found Mayor Ken Sim and ABC councillors broke the code of conduct on multiple occasions for coordinating amendments to controversial motions in separate private online conversations ahead of public council meetings

Opinion: The people of the Downtown Eastside don't need saving. They need their government to finally do its job This is a policy failure. My challenge to government: Create a single, accountable body with real power, clear metrics and fixed timelines

This this this 100%.

"We do complex things all the time when we decide they matter enough to create proper governance structures. The Downtown Eastside crisis isn’t unsolvable. It’s unmanaged. There’s a difference."

vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

‘Fear and anxiety’: What our police FOI requests uncovered about Vancouver’s stranger assault scare Internal emails obtained through Freedom of Information requests shed light on the Vancouver Police Department's media strategy related to stranger assaults ahead of the city's 2022 election.

This story is incredibly disturbing. Specific crime numbers actually coming down, despite an increase in media releases. Failure to comply with serious FOI requests.

www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Oof this recap of Mayor Sim’s speech is so cringe

A detailed recap of the mayor’s speech today at a bitcoin conference, which his office said he was doing in his personal capacity

After a decade of death, Canadian scientists say they've found the sea star killer | CBC News A team featuring Canadian scientists has, after years of testing, determined the cause of the devastating sea star wasting disease. The culprit is a bacterial pathogen called vibrio pectenicida, and h...

This is an exciting update! I’ve seen the impact on the sea floor of losing these creatures, and it’s been brutal. Hoping we can work toward restoring these sun star populations soon! www.cbc.ca/news/science...

Vancouver’s 2026 Dragon Boat Festival cancelled, cites FIFA World Cup restrictions - BC | Globalnews.ca The organizers of Vancouver's Dragon Boat Festival say they've been forced to cancel next year's event due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A world class event having to cancel despite offering alternative options. All at the expense of a corrupt organization taking over our city. globalnews.ca/news/1131522...

Vancouver's set to co-host World Cup next year. Who stands to benefit? | CBC Radio World Cup soccer is just a year away from descending on Vancouver. And while some are thrilled about international football stars coming to their backyard, others are concerned about the potential neg...

The next few months are going to be ones to watch as we uncover more and more of what the city is on the hook for and how thats going to impact our neighbourhoods, specifically areas closest to the stadium. www.cbc.ca/radio/thecur...

Motion to support Vancouver's art community heavily amended, drawing criticism | CBC News Vancouver artists have expressed anger and disappointment after a recent motion crafted by the city's arts advisory committee was heavily amended and passed on Wednesday despite the opposition of the ...

Watching this play out this past week was so disappointing and a slap in the face to so many artists and organizations driving real culture change in Vancouver.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Opinion: The Downtown Eastside is not a failed experiment. It’s a living community of resilience Working on the frontlines, we witness the power of culture, community activism and fierce compassion among residents that defines the DTES

I can attest to the DTES being a living community of resilience, not a failed experiment. Give this piece a read! vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

Paul Mochrie leaves role as City Manager of Vancouver | Urbanized The City of Vancouver will be on the hunt for a new chief bureaucrat to replace Paul Mochrie, who has left his role as City Manager.

Big news here in Vancouver. Sad news about Vancouver City Manager Paul Mochrie. He’s a highly capable, decent & affable guy, a people-person with integrity. I had opportunity 1st-hand to see his character.

I’ve also seen 1st-hand how much damage a bad city manager can do.

Pay attention, Vancouver.