Letters to The Vancouver Sun: City council and park board can work together Nov. 8 letters to The Vancouver Sun.

My letter to Park Commissioners and Council concerning the SIM ABC Park Board budget cuts.

vancouversun.com/opinion/lett...

𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫

Yesterday afternoon, at the Bill Reid Gallery on Hornby Street, political strategist extraordinaire Kareem Allam officially announced his campaign to become Vancouver's next Mayor. #vanpoli

vanramblings.com/kareem-allam...

Terminator Trump Must Be Toppled Now | The Tyee Clearly unfit for office, he deserves to be impeached. Before it’s too late.

Michael Harris: Given the gravity of Trump’s transgressions against freedom and brutal policies on health care, immigration and international law, it has become clear that the man who would be king should be removed from office as unfit to be president. Before it is too late. 🇺🇸 #uspoli

Wonderful. Love every element of this nonsense story. Long live the Park Board.

Great news!

🚨 PARK BOARD NEWS 🚨

I've been told that the B.C. government WILL BE RETRACTING its bill to allow Vancouver to hold a referendum to get rid of the park board.

It might return next year, but I understand more work is needed re: disputes with Sim, and further consultations with First Nations.

I’m happy to hear the Park Board has been saved. Three years ago, I was told by Ken Sim it was a done deal and would be gone by January. I left my party over this and worked to ensure the Park Board was protected until people could vote. It’s been a long three years, but worth it. 🌳💚

Vancouver's popular pop-up plazas becoming permanent fixtures Plazas and public spaces: what are we getting right, and where are we going wrong?

"Vancouver's popular pop-up plazas becoming permanent fixtures" as told by Denise Ryan via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/local-n...

Interesting factoid when Vancouver schools are starting this week:

The population of school aged (5-18) children living in the City of #Vancouver in 2024 is about the same as 2001 while the total population of the CoV has grown by 32% in the same period

#bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

Battle lines drawn over foreign capital in B.C. real estate Feds standing by foreign buyer ban as B.C. stakeholders debate policy

"Battle lines drawn over foreign capital in B.C. real estate" as told by @jamimakan.bsky.social via @bivnews.bsky.social

#cdnpoli #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

www.biv.com/news/real-es...

Struggling Downtowns Are Looking to Lure New Crowds Traditional business districts in cities like Chicago and Portland are still waiting for office workers to return. Can younger residents and families fill the gap?

"Traditional business districts are still half-empty and waiting for office workers to return. Can younger people and families fill the gap?" as told by @zachmortice.bsky.social

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Silent Coup: How Trump’s Allies Are Gaming Algorithms To Seize Your Feed New research unravels the secret tactics behind Stop the Steal and other right-wing disinformation campaigns.

This is exactly why Dems get their ass handed to them by Trump's world. They have no clue how to leverage social media algos to their advantage.

open.substack.com/pub/weaponiz...

Strategies for Personal and Professional Resilience When Facing Uncertainty In a time where so much of the profession feels unsteady, and with new and old issues continuing to put stress on the nation’s planners, personal resilience and support from peers have taken on greate...

Some great ideas from for those in the planning profession and beyond

"Strategies for Personal and Professional Resilience When Facing Uncertainty"

www.planning.org/blog/9313579...

Wonderful!!!

Welcome to the Great Bear Sea | The Tyee After decades of discord, Canada is working with First Nations to create marine protected areas stretching from Vancouver Island to Alaska.

It’s true the ocean off the Central Coast is some of the richest in the world. But stressors like overfishing and climate change are threatening its productivity and the ways of life that depend on it. @serenarenner.com reports. 🌊

City Program

Looking for start or deeper practice in urban issues?

The Fall 2025 SFU City Program online and in-person introductory + advanced classes & workshops on #CityMaking + #Urbanism are now open!

www.sfu.ca/continuing-s...

GOP Rep. Bryan Steil holds an in-person town hall event and is greeted with boos

Why are they wearing masks?

And why are they unidentified?

Most Canadians Back Ban on Foreign Real Estate Purchases Overall confidence to deliver affordable housing is higher for a Liberal federal government than a Conservative one.

Most Canadians Back Ban on Foreign Real Estate Purchases

“The regulation is also supported by most respondents whose descent is South Asian (87%), Indigenous (84%), European (77%) and East Asian (74%).”

#cdnpoli #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

researchco.ca/2025/04/24/h...

'Like a second COVID': 2026 Vancouver dragon boat festival cancelled as FIFA restrictions hit hard The World Cup matches go from June 11 to 19, but the exclusion zone will be enforced from June 1 until the end of July.

Sacrifice a 40 year old Vancouver tradition for 7 soccer games?

"'Like a second COVID': 2026 Vancouver dragon boat festival cancelled as FIFA restrictions hit hard" as told by @SarahGrochowski

#cdnpoli #bcpoli #vanpoli #DoBetter

vancouversun.com/news/2026-va... via @VancouverSun

It's an honour to be included in the 2025 @bivnews.bsky.social BC500!

Special thanks to all my @cs-sfu.bsky.social @sfuurb.bsky.social @sfufass.bsky.social @sfucity.bsky.social colleagues, friends, and family!

bc500.biv.com

#BC500

People Around the World Support a Carbon Tax | The Tyee Despite political pushback, a researcher finds people in affluent countries are open to paying the tax.

“We found that people in high-income countries are willing to let go of some purchasing power, if they can be sure that it solves climate change and global poverty,” researcher Adrian Fabre said.

thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

Poll: Most feel democracy is threatened and political violence is a major problem 76% of Americans think that democracy is under a serious threat, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. And their faith in political leadership in the White House and Congress is low.

76% of Americans think that democracy is under a serious threat, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. And their faith in political leadership in the White House and Congress is low.

If you want to understand East Van, you go down. The lanes. If you want to understand the West Side, go down the tree lined streets with curbs, gutters, sidewalks...

Brookfield Properties buys Shangri-La hotel and retail space in downtown Vancouver tower Hyatt Hotels Corporation says it is planning a multi-million dollar redesign and that the hotel will be part of its Park Hyatt brand

"Brookfield Properties buys Shangri-La hotel and retail space in downtown Vancouver tower" as told by Joanne Lee-Young via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/brookfi...

After repeated denials, B.C. NDP admits to problems inside supportive housing Vaughn Palmer: But despite a rising tide of concerns, the NDP is taking a go-slow approach to making changes

"After repeated denials, B.C. NDP admits to problems inside supportive housing" as told by Vaughn Palmer via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...