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2018 Greater Victoria Civic Election Review


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#21 spanky123

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 09:18 AM

Jensen's best quote over the last four years, IMO, was that he's not sure if housing density is the solution to housing affordability that it's being made out to be.

 

I.e., he was of the opinion that Oak Bay's role in the housing equation needn't change to address housing affordability.

 

I think that housing "affordability" is playing itself out. There is so much inventory coming online that even if nothing new was built in the next 4 years we are probably ok. 



#22 Redd42

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 09:19 AM

I live in on one of the big houses that straddle the Oak Bay - Victoria border, most of which were split in to suites decades ago. Most also had huge properties which have all been carved off over the years. My house is surrounded by houses that were built on the original property. We still have enough property left for on site parking for everyone and a big front area for the owner. 

 

This kind of gentle densification is not possible currently in Oak Bay.

 

Across the street to the west is Victoria. A couple of hears ago, the heritage house there was lifted and moved to the corner of the lot. 5 houses were built on the surrounding property. Fit right in the neighbourhood.

 

A couple of houses away to the east in Oak Bay, is a big heritage house that has never been split in to suites and has a huge lot. The current owner is trying to split off ONE lot, where a dilapidated garage currently sits. Guess what luck he is having with that in the current Oak Bay? Across the street from him is another not quite so big house and lot. They have one of those anti-development signs on their fence, facing right at the guy that wants ONE lot carved off.


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#23 spanky123

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 09:29 AM

I live in on one of the big houses that straddle the Oak Bay - Victoria border, most of which were split in to suites decades ago. Most also had huge properties which have all been carved off over the years. My house is surrounded by houses that were built on the original property. We still have enough property left for on site parking for everyone and a big front area for the owner. 

 

This kind of gentle densification is not possible currently in Oak Bay.

 

Across the street to the west is Victoria. A couple of hears ago, the heritage house there was lifted and moved to the corner of the lot. 5 houses were built on the surrounding property. Fit right in the neighbourhood.

 

A couple of houses away to the east in Oak Bay, is a big heritage house that has never been split in to suites and has a huge lot. The current owner is trying to split off ONE lot, where a dilapidated garage currently sits. Guess what luck he is having with that in the current Oak Bay? Across the street from him is another not quite so big house and lot. They have one of those anti-development signs on their fence, facing right at the guy that wants ONE lot carved off.

 

"Gentle densification" is great for homeowners and developers. Is it going to have any impact on affordability though? If you take your property, subdivide it and add two other houses does that mean that instead of having a $2M home there will now be three $700K ones? Of course not, there will be three $2M homes. The developer and the homeowner make money but nothing has changed otherwise. 


Edited by spanky123, 21 October 2018 - 09:30 AM.

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#24 johnk

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 10:37 AM

Though I live in Oak Bay, hadn't really paid attention. Other than Jensen had been annoyingly showing up at any community event he could this past year. That to me doesn't show leadership at all. Leadership is making decisions, not trying to be everybody's friend.

This quote from Jensen on realizing he lost gives a big hint - a pretty juvenile and arrogant answer.

".......and given the
promises that I heard from the other side, I hope the deer to be
gone in a year, and the infrastructure to be replaced in five.”"


https://www.oakbayne...neral-election/


I was not surprised Murdoch won but I was surprised at his margin. Personally, I
thought it was time for a change though I dont believe change for the sake of change is necessarily a good thing. Jensen has been around one way and another
for about 15 years and that's too long whether muni, prov or fed.
I found it telling that the small print on Murdoch's signs indicated Chris Causton as
his financial agent. Causton was mayor for a long time and would know Jensen as a councillor and as as a mayor, so I assume there was some inside knowledge or
opinion that wanted Jensen out.

Also, OB is changing, its less and less the redoubt of Colonel Blimps, tea, crumpets
and geriatrics. Its not old and addled Brit pensioners building all those cubes. A youngish software-type guy perhaps more reflects the aspirations and desires of a younger, affluent generation moving into OB. Bottom line, Murdoch is just one of seven council votes so real radical change is not coming to OB.

Edited by johnk, 21 October 2018 - 10:44 AM.

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#25 Bingo

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 01:18 PM

Anyway, I'm waiting for my subsidized bus pass.  I'll need it if our local roads fall into further disrepair.  

 

In Saanich I'm waiting for more sidewalking for our seniors, so that thread could use more debate on the subject.

here;  https://vibrantvicto...lking-victoria/


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#26 aastra

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 01:28 PM

 

It amazes me then that the "take from the rich and give to the poor" mantra has traction, who do people think the rich are?!

 

Your neighbour, your brother, your co-worker, your ex-wife, etc. It's grievance politics. 


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#27 John M.

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 01:29 PM

Bottom line, Murdoch is just one of seven council votes so real radical change is not coming to OB.

 

Basically Oak Bay council:

 

Oak Bay Watch Slate 

Kevin Murdoch: centre-right, progressive conservative. Soft NIMBY

Hazel Braithwaite: slightly more right-wing, aligns closely with Kevin but also a bit more of a NIMBY then him

Esther Paterson: Much more right-wing than those other two, much more of a NIMBY

Erich Zhelka: Somwhere between Hazel and Esther on both policy and development

 

"Progressive" Slate

Tara Ney: centre-left, classic NDP type, pretty pro-development

Andrew Appelton: don't know much, but he was clearly aligned with the "progressives", although he comes off as a bit more centrist and green-ish



#28 Bingo

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 02:02 PM

Basically Oak Bay council:

 

Oak Bay Watch Slate 

Kevin Murdoch: centre-right, progressive conservative. Soft NIMBY

Hazel Braithwaite: slightly more right-wing, aligns closely with Kevin but also a bit more of a NIMBY then him

Esther Paterson: Much more right-wing than those other two, much more of a NIMBY

Erich Zhelka: Somwhere between Hazel and Esther on both policy and development

 

"Progressive" Slate

Tara Ney: centre-left, classic NDP type, pretty pro-development

Andrew Appelton: don't know much, but he was clearly aligned with the "progressives", although he comes off as a bit more centrist and green-ish

 

That's a load of poppy-cock. You left out councillor Cairine Green



#29 rjag

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 02:03 PM

Basically Oak Bay council:

Oak Bay Watch Slate
Kevin Murdoch: centre-right, progressive conservative. Soft NIMBY
Hazel Braithwaite: slightly more right-wing, aligns closely with Kevin but also a bit more of a NIMBY then him
Esther Paterson: Much more right-wing than those other two, much more of a NIMBY
Erich Zhelka: Somwhere between Hazel and Esther on both policy and development

"Progressive" Slate
Tara Ney: centre-left, classic NDP type, pretty pro-development
Andrew Appelton: don't know much, but he was clearly aligned with the "progressives", although he comes off as a bit more centrist and green-ish


You forgot Cairine Green

#30 John M.

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 05:16 PM

You forgot Cairine Green

Right, woops. Cairine Green I would say started off on the left during her first term, then when she ran against Nils moved to the NIMBY centre. She campaigned this time the same way, I suspect on this new council she'll swing back and forth but will certainly keep her anti-development voting record 



#31 Sparky

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 07:43 PM

Was it just me or was it difficult to find much in the way of political analysis and updates after 8:00 PM?

I was on the road until 10:00PM so I relied on updates texted to me from friends. What was the best and worst media outlet for election results?

#32 songheesguy

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 08:02 PM

I think we are in for a scary four years with the Help-less and togethers. Of all council to stick on Ben Isitt....WTF am I missing here. This forum will have to remove the Vibrant from the name and make it Bleeding hearts Victoria. I hope in a year or two I look back to this thread and am proven wrong but I doubt it. Amateur hour here we come.... but hey there will be plenty of bike lanes


Edited by songheesguy, 21 October 2018 - 08:03 PM.

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#33 LJ

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 08:03 PM

I was quite happy with the results in Langford and that is where I will be doing all my shopping.

You Victoria residents can keep all your "culture", I walked through town on Tuesday and saw a lot of it, I didn't contribute monetarily to it though.


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Life's a journey......so roll down the window and enjoy the breeze.

#34 On the Level

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 08:15 PM

I was quite happy with the results in Langford and that is where I will be doing all my shopping.

You Victoria residents can keep all your "culture", I walked through town on Tuesday and saw a lot of it, I didn't contribute monetarily to it though.

Why would you want to go to a big box store in Langford when you could go to 7-11, a pot shop or a money mart in Victoria?


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#35 LJ

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 08:17 PM

Why would you want to go to a big box store in Langford when you could go to 7-11, a pot shop or a money mart in Victoria?

Cause the big box store gives me a box to put my purchases in. :)


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Life's a journey......so roll down the window and enjoy the breeze.

#36 Bingo

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 08:57 PM

Was it just me r was it difficult to find much in the way of political analysis and updates after 8:00 PM?

I was on the road until 10:00PM so I relied on updates texted to me from friends. What was the best and worst media outlet for election results?

Best was the Times Colonist website around 10:00pm. Worst was Global TV as it showed no numbers for our local results



#37 nerka

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Posted 21 October 2018 - 11:34 PM

I was surprised at the election of the entire Together Victoria slate.  They all had pretty skimpy resumes IMO. Dubow a bit better than the other two in that regard.

 

I will miss Chris Coleman. He was a voice of moderation and reason. And a genuinely nice person.

 

Even though I lean left I would have preferred to see one or two of the New Council candidates elected for more balance on council.

 

I have to agree with others that the New Council campaign didn't totally resonate. Not to say they ran a BAD campaign just not quite good enough. It is really tough to unseat incumbent councillors and mayor.

 

The future?  I worry a bit about the changes to Victoria's council.  I hope the TV members grow into their jobs quickly and moderate some of the pie in the sky ideas. Nonetheless I suspect we will muddle through and Victoria will still be a great place in 4 years. If the new council members really do a poor job then several of them will be toast in 2022. Thank you democracy.


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#38 Wayne

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 09:17 AM

nerka, on 22 Oct 2018 - 12:34 AM, said:

I was surprised at the election of the entire Together Victoria slate.  They all had pretty skimpy resumes IMO. Dubow a bit better than the other two in that regard.

 

I will miss Chris Coleman. He was a voice of moderation and reason. And a genuinely nice person.

 

Even though I lean left I would have preferred to see one or two of the New Council candidates elected for more balance on council.

 

I have to agree with others that the New Council campaign didn't totally resonate. Not to say they ran a BAD campaign just not quite good enough. It is really tough to unseat incumbent councillors and mayor.

 

The future?  I worry a bit about the changes to Victoria's council.  I hope the TV members grow into their jobs quickly and moderate some of the pie in the sky ideas. Nonetheless I suspect we will muddle through and Victoria will still be a great place in 4 years. If the new council members really do a poor job then several of them will be toast in 2022. Thank you democracy.

Thank you democracy.

 

Amazing isn't it? I am tired of being the only one right.



#39 spanky123

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 09:52 AM

I was surprised at the election of the entire Together Victoria slate.  They all had pretty skimpy resumes IMO. Dubow a bit better than the other two in that regard.

 

I will miss Chris Coleman. He was a voice of moderation and reason. And a genuinely nice person.

 

Even though I lean left I would have preferred to see one or two of the New Council candidates elected for more balance on council.

 

I have to agree with others that the New Council campaign didn't totally resonate. Not to say they ran a BAD campaign just not quite good enough. It is really tough to unseat incumbent councillors and mayor.

 

The future?  I worry a bit about the changes to Victoria's council.  I hope the TV members grow into their jobs quickly and moderate some of the pie in the sky ideas. Nonetheless I suspect we will muddle through and Victoria will still be a great place in 4 years. If the new council members really do a poor job then several of them will be toast in 2022. Thank you democracy.

 

I think that the issue with newbies is that they will feel that they need to hold hard on their pie in the sky promises in order to establish themselves with their base. 

 

There are several development proposals coming to the table over the next few months. All of them are very skimpy on "affordable housing" and offer little to anything in the way of contributions to any funds. If TV lets those go through then I think that they will immediately be called to the mat. At the same time, in order to provide a consistent message to developers, City staff are going to have to be given clear guidelines on what is expected and that will fall under the arena of Helps and the City manager.



#40 tedward

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Posted 22 October 2018 - 10:37 AM

The move to the far left, and the voters mandate to keep moving even further left is shocking, and is really the major story of this COV election. I've lived here (Saanich, Oak Bay, and Victoria) for my entire 61 years ... and I lean to the left politically ... but this move to the left is far, far in excess of anything I (and other "lefties" I know) support, or expected to see.

 

What is this "far left" you speak of?

 

Putting people and community first is now, "far left'?

Building a more liveable and affordable city is, "far left"?

 

Together Victoria is not, 'far left" unless you are Fox News.


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