11779 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

Her (alleged) pro-development stance is not nearly enough to make up for all the harm she has done since becoming mayor.

[spanky123]

I'm surprised Helps doesn't get at least a little credit around here. I get that she's been behind some unpopular moves, but she's also been reliably supportive of development in Victoria. I'm not saying I expect her to be beloved, but I think she deserves at least some recognition for taking on a stubbornly anti-development council and consistently supporting building projects.

 

She has been a reliable supporter of developers she likes! Having said that, Helps has some admirable qualities and is probably the hardest working Mayor we have had in a long time.  

[Mike K.]

Definitely a hard worker, but the Elsner Affair was a real low point for this community.

[spanky123]

Definitely a hard worker, but the Elsner Affair was a real low point for this community.

 

The Elsner affair was Helps' move from community organizer and activist to politician. It was no longer about what was good for the community but rather what benefitted her. 

[JimV]

We would all be better off if Lisa Helps did not work so hard.  Almost everything the glassy-eyed fanatic has achieved has been negative for the city.

[Spy Black]

As much as Helps has damaged the COV in her time as Mayor, having her depart her office won't change much (if anything at all) if TV gets back in the same numbers as they currently enjoy among COV Councilors.

 

Indeed, Helps departure might actually make the problem far worse if one of the TV folks (or their Ben and Jerry counterparts) were to somehow wind up in the Mayors chair.

[Nparker]

Agreed. It's better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

[Stephen James]

She has been a reliable supporter of developers she likes! Having said that, Helps has some admirable qualities and is probably the hardest working Mayor we have had in a long time.  

Im curious about those qualities. What, in your estimation, are her most admirable?

 

As one example of her failings, I think her choice to endorse a woman who lives in Saanich as her pick for Mayor demonstrates her glaring bias, and continuing, selfish, insensitivity to the city. I think we accidentally elected a single issue mayor (see her dissertation) and she's proven she's either not interested or not capable of anything else.

[spanky123]

^ She communicates well, is great at organizing people and is effective at leading meetings. I don't agree with the content or his political views but that doesn't take away from the fact that she is good at aspects of what she does. That is why I said she will have no issues getting a job for one of the groups that has worked with her over the past 8 years. 

 

IIRC she said she is leaning towards Alto. I fully suspect that over the next year she will be privately telling a number of people she supports them and will endorse them when the time is right. She has a number of items that she wants to get passed before she leaves office and having people think she is in their corner will help with that.

Edited by spanky123, 27 October 2021 - 12:47 PM.

[JimV]

Isitt’s latest comments re the VDBA have truly moved into the realm of the outrageous.  Basically, “nice little business association you have here, shame if anything were to happen to it.”  This guy has got to go.

[Nparker]

Do you mean the DVBA? If so, what did Comrade Isitt say exactly?

[Belleprincess]

Do you mean the DVBA? If so, what did Comrade Isitt say exactly?

He said he’s a criminal and deserves to be put in the pen. You’ll have to watch the council meeting or listen to Adam Stirling. He’s unbelievable. No idea how he’s allowed to get away with this nonsense

[Belleprincess]

Hey Mike! Are you posting his ridiculous comments/ extortion attempts on your fb page?

[Nparker]

He said he’s a criminal and deserves to be put in the pen. ..

To whom was he referring?

[Mike K.]

Here’s the show: https://omny.fm/show...october-29-2021

The DVBA signed on to a letter supporting more investment into policing resources, and Councillor Isitt suggested what sounded like encouragement for the DVBA to seek an alternate revenue stream if they want to engage in political advocacy.

Councillor Young stepped in to suggest the theme of the suggestion was get in line with government, or else.

[Stephen James]

^ She communicates well, is great at organizing people and is effective at leading meetings. I don't agree with the content or his political views but that doesn't take away from the fact that she is good at aspects of what she does. That is why I said she will have no issues getting a job for one of the groups that has worked with her over the past 8 years. 

 

IIRC she said she is leaning towards Alto. I fully suspect that over the next year she will be privately telling a number of people she supports them and will endorse them when the time is right. She has a number of items that she wants to get passed before she leaves office and having people think she is in their corner will help with that.

I'm sorry but I can't agree, unless you means she's articulate.

 

She does not listen; it's not a new problem and very well documented. Listening is the foundation of communication. In my experience both personally and in many public forums, she's not capable of hearing any point of view different from her own, and I've seen too many examples that look like misandry as well. Worse, the stronger she feels about something, the less she's listening. 

 

And I've watched her lead a meeting. It's not the kind of leadership I was taught for effective teams. It's just telling people what to do, talking fast, and faster and louder if/when dissent is suspected.

Edited by Taco, 30 October 2021 - 07:24 AM.

[Sparky]

^^ Isitt came across as a bully.

I got a kick out of when the Mayor had to correct/inform him that the City was only a conduit for funding from contributions by businesses, and that the City does not provide funding to the DVBA.

[Victoria Watcher]

I got a kick out of when the Mayor had to correct him that the City was only a conduit for funding from contributions by businesses, and that the City does not provide funding to the DVBA.

 

other money does flow though.  increasingly.

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION That Council: 1.

 

Approve $100,000 from the 2021 Financial Plan contingency budget to be allocated toward a Downtown Vibrancy and Vitality Initiative to be administered by the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) as outlined in this report. 2. Authorize a partnership agreement, on the terms satisfactory to the Head of Business and Community Relations and in the form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, with the DVBA to provide services on behalf of the City for the Downtown Vibrancy and Vitality Initiative. 3. That the above motions be forwarded to the daytime meeting of February 25, 2021 for ratification.

 

 

https://pub-victoria...ocumentId=64766

 

 

 

In response to recent vandalism, the City is exploring ways it can partner with the Downtown Victoria Business Association to maintain the vibrancy and vitality of downtown during the ongoing pandemic.

 

“Our small businesses, already hit hard economically and emotionally by the pandemic, are left with repair bills or insurance deductibles,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. “We will be looking into what steps the City can take in partnership with the DVBA to support the vibrancy of downtown and address the impacts of vandalism.”

 

This is not the first time the City has worked with the DVBA to support their members. Last year, the City made a grant of $20,000 to the DVBA to help with graffiti removal, and the DVBA has administered My Great Neighbourhood grants on behalf of their members.

 

 

https://www.victoria...-vandalism.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 October 2021 - 07:28 AM.

[Stephen James]

I'm hearing GVAT (greater victoria acting together) is the rebrand of TV for another election... conspiracy? (I guess given the TV brand is looking a little tattered)

[Mike K.]

That’s elective funding, and likely a City-desired allotment for lack of other organizations or internal mechanisms to do the work. It’s not practical to send a $35/hour or $40/hour maintenance worker to spend a day removing graffiti when there’s already such a backlog of work.