11779 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

I wouldn't say nothing. They probably have a couple hundreds in repairs and renos over the years and a few hundred in property taxes that they have paid.
They still have to live somewhere though and my point was that someone considering downsizing to put some money in their pockets wouldn't bother anymore.

if you put that kind of maintenance or love into your washing machine it’d probably increase in value.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 October 2020 - 12:58 PM.

[aastra]

 

that’s the reward the government gets for creating conditions for an ever-increasing real estate value.

 

It's true, when the governments manufactured the housing crisis by artificially restricting development, they inadvertently drove up the property values for some ordinary urban homeowners.

 

So now they're stepping up to attack the on-paper prosperity that they accidentally created.

 

Ordinary people are always the loser, no matter what noble & heroic initiative we happen to be talking about.

[Mike K.]

The discussion on housing values has been moved to: https://vibrantvicto...values/page-162

[Mike K.]

From the mole inside City Hall: Planning Dept @cityofvictoria 33% turn over in 1 year Correlated to the departure of former Director who had strong voice at the leadership (chagrin of City Manager apparently) Untimley departure has led to massive turnover and slowing of applications #yyj

 

Who is this former director that the person is talking about?

[spanky123]

From the mole inside City Hall: Planning Dept @cityofvictoria 33% turn over in 1 year Correlated to the departure of former Director who had strong voice at the leadership (chagrin of City Manager apparently) Untimley departure has led to massive turnover and slowing of applications #yyj

 

Who is this former director that the person is talking about?

 

Fraser Work?

[spanky123]

From the mole inside City Hall: Planning Dept @cityofvictoria 33% turn over in 1 year Correlated to the departure of former Director who had strong voice at the leadership (chagrin of City Manager apparently) Untimley departure has led to massive turnover and slowing of applications #yyj

 

Who is this former director that the person is talking about?

 

I haven't seen anything yet that would convince me that the 'mole' was/still works at City Hall. Everything I have read is public knowledge.

 

Fun to read though.

Edited by spanky123, 02 October 2020 - 01:26 PM.

[Mike K.]

How would someone outside of the organization know 1/3 of the planning department workforce departed Victoria? I don’t think information like that is readily available.

Fraser Work was not the planning department director, but public works.

[mbjj]

I asked family member and they said, if it's the guy who went back to Ontario several years ago, they would give some thought to it. Can't recall at this very moment.

[spanky123]

How would someone outside of the organization know 1/3 of the planning department workforce departed Victoria? I don’t think information like that is readily available.

Fraser Work was not the planning department director, but public works.

 

You are assuming the 1/3 comment is true. 

 

He/she could very well be on point but we both have had enough 'sources' over the years to question the messenger every time a new one pops up.

[spanky123]

So the Mayor and Staff are recommending that the City proceed with renewing their failed bus pass program for students beginning in January 2021. https://pub-victoria...ocumentId=59208

 

Now one might think that before we throw another $700K+ at this boondoggle, we should step back and see how the program is currently faring under our revised back to school program. According to the City Manager though, because we are in an election, BC Transit can't disclose current ridership numbers! Sounds strange to me that we would be paying for a service yet BC Transit cannot give us data on how our own specific service is performing but assuming that is true, why would you not then wait 3 weeks until after the election, look at the ridership and then make your decision?

Edited by spanky123, 03 October 2020 - 09:25 AM.

[Awaiting Juno]

In the context of the pandemic and what are likely to be very trying times in the years ahead with city revenues falling, it would be wise to look at all city spending and redirect it towards activities that will enhance city revenues (ie. minimize the impacts of the pandemic).  It would be wise to focus on "core services" and cut anything that is a frill, including free lunches for council members.

[On the Level]

In the context of the pandemic and what are likely to be very trying times in the years ahead with city revenues falling, it would be wise to look at all city spending and redirect it towards activities that will enhance city revenues (ie. minimize the impacts of the pandemic).  It would be wise to focus on "core services" and cut anything that is a frill, including free lunches for council members.

 

Which is precisely why Helps is asking for more "funding tools" for "fairer distribution of wealth".  Oh wait.....isn't their a pandemic?  Aren't families and businesses struggling and going under?   Gee.....I know how to make things better.  Let's tax them more.

[Nparker]

So the Mayor and Staff are recommending that the City proceed with renewing their failed bus pass program for students beginning in January 2021....

It was a failure before the pandemic, a failure during the pandemic and will be a failure after the pandemic. But with a council almost entirely driven by ideology, they will never abandon this program, even if it eats into general revenue.

[Awaiting Juno]

How many shelter spaces would $700,000 buy? How many people could be out of our parks and in appropriate shelter, where they could be triaged for their needs?  How many additional policy officers could it buy?

[spanky123]

How many shelter spaces would $700,000 buy? How many people could be out of our parks and in appropriate shelter, where they could be triaged for their needs?  How many additional policy officers could it buy?

 

Yeah but how many votes does $700K in bus passes buy?

[spanky123]

Mayor Helps announced yesterday that she is ending her Friday presser (she has been skipping many of them recently anyways). We will instead have City PR send a video to media organizations on Mondays. 

[LJ]

^Oh crap, what a loss. How ever will we fare?

[rmpeers]

Mayor Helps announced yesterday that she is ending her Friday presser (she has been skipping many of them recently anyways). We will instead have City PR send a video to media organizations on Mondays.

So a scripted video where she doesn't have to answer bothersome questions?

[Midnightly]

didn't they decide that the 700k for the passes was a waste so they broke the contract with BC transit, that there was not enough people collecting the passes so they decided to scrap that and buy the passes AT COST for those who wanted the passes because it was cheaper? 

[Awaiting Juno]

We're now at a place that is so dysfunctional one daydreams about the Province intervening, revoking the city's letters of incorporation and merely having what is now Victoria absorbed into Saanich, Oak Bay and Esquimalt - Vic West going to Esquimalt, Oak Bay getting everything South of Fort St. and Saanich getting everything that remains.  No amalgamation, just dissolution and reallocation - after all if Victoria is going to behave like a child, perhaps it should be given over to more mature and caring municipal governments.