helen (she/her)

When we have to beg to keep public lands, tax those with the least just to keep wealthy landowners happiest, only magnify the voices of those who want to freeze time & do nothing - you can’t tell me that planning isn’t abysmally broken.
You don’t need a plan to say we need homes & schools.
10/

Meanwhile young parents & couples trying to build their lives in this city are running from work to childcare to dinner & bedtime routines. How do you have meaningful planning when the only voices are unreasonable people who care only for themselves
9/

We’re stuck in a toxic cycle where those with the privilege of secure housing & time can oppose density bc of lack of infrastructure but when said infrastructure is proposed they also oppose this - bc it’s always a moving goalpost for these people.
8/

As ABC pauses property taxes to the benefit of those already comfortably housed - we’re left with little resources for new & younger families. It’s depressing that folks who’ve had the luxury of walkable communities now wish to deprive young families of a chance for a complete community as well
7/

We saw this at the Crosstown elementary - as soon as it was built, it was over capacity. Why are we not leveraging these limited opportunities to achieve the most impact for communities ?
6/

When we have rare opportunities for capital projects - ie Olympic Village’s school - we should plan way into the future. There are fixed, large costs to start up any project - so maximize that instead of accruing more costs when another school is needed again because of known, increasing needs.
5/

We must protect public assets & leverage them for impact (ie not for building market rentals that any developer can). These include building important community infrastructure, schools, or delivering deeply affordable housing. And they definitely should not be sold off
4/

It is SO hard to get land into public assets, especially for schools. We have populations that are constantly moving & growing but one thing that will always be consistent is the need for schools & recreation. It’s not just for students - schools also provide accessible community spaces
3/

I am always 1000% for new housing & developments. But when it’s proposed on VSB land - public assets - when we have SO much detached housing that is prime for more density (AHEM SHAUGHNESSY) - going after land for schools is such a weak excuse to perpetuate the inequity in land use
2/

As I’m starting to venture into the anxiety inducing world of finding daycare and subsequently the school system, I am appalled to realize how much worse it is than I imagined
Not only do we not fund for schools & infrastructure, Vancouver’s school board is actively trying to sell public lands
1/

the demographic of people who oppose more school capacity at a city centre school:

they ask you for grandkids already but not for the school for said grandkids

and you can bet those same NIMBYs opposing the proposed additional capacity for the OV school will turn around and oppose the next development bc “there’s insufficient infrastructure, like schools”

people protesting an extra floor at the OV school because of congestion when I will quite literally buy a car to drive up to Ontario & 16th for his current catchment if he can’t get into the OV school

Why are all the city themed baby play mats just stroads and cars

where are the apartments and bike lanes and busses and SHADOWS

“A lot of what fire depts respond to is car crashes”

“Single family homes have 2x the fire death rate of multi fam”

Do the opponents actually live in OV bc have you actually SEEN the amount of children here who currently drive/commute to the next closest schools which are in Chinatown & near main & 16th?!

They’d probably reduce overall congestion with the 4th floor if anything

It should actually be like 8 stories

A six floor apartment building in Vancouver’s West End

On Wed Sep 17, City of Vancouver Councillor @lucymaloney.bsky.social will intro a motion that aims to unlock new apartment buildings up to six floors, and corner stores, on quiet Vancouver streets, including cycling routes and local streets around parks. (1/3)

Great article by @helenl.bsky.social on non-market housing. One important point: demand for non-market housing is related to the supply of market housing.

1/

I’m here with @dannyoleksiuk.bsky.social @amoralorealis.bsky.social @denisagar.bsky.social and @ravikahlon.bsky.social to dig into the future of housing transit for our home of Vancouver!

YIMBYism is wild because you start to ask questions like “why was single family zoning created?” and “are our regulations for building safety based on any actual safety data?” and soon realize that ~85% of the rules governing our cities are based on nothing but tradition and vibes.

💪💪💪

Thank you to the Vancouver and District Labour Council for your support!

With our Mayor having cut wages for janitors and security guards, it couldn't be clearer that we need progressive fighters at City Hall who will call him out and fight back.

delulu ✨✨

I want to do a podcast episode on video games, the state of games and the state of the industry.

Who'd you recommend as a guest?

At least they respond to something
I’ve had responses that don’t answer my questions but are a page long 😭

To the people who don’t read instructions labelled under “instructions” in emails:

why

Oh I don’t doubt
It sounds like you all should stay inside Indefinitely

I like the kinda cold where I get to wear my nice cosy sweaters, not the kind where I have to put in a puffer coat on top of my sweater cold

We should definitely compile all public land in a registry to find best ways of mixed-use developments to address multiple but compounding benefits.
Affordable homes + community space + incorporating alternate modes of transportation near transit nodes 🏢🚌🚴🏻‍♀️🎨