Brandi Cowen
Jul 7th, 2009
At yesterday’s city council meeting, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer promised that “if it’s lawful today, it will be lawful during 2010,” so the skepticism expressed by some people at yesterday’s meeting was understandable.After all, if what’s lawful now will be lawful in 2010, why does Vancouver need designated “free speech areas” during the Games? If, as Mercer claims, the civil liberties guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms will remain in place during the Olympics, won’t the entire city be a “free speech area”?
Brandi Cowen
Jul 6th, 2009
Many people in the city would like to see US President Barack Obama pay a visit to Vancouver next year during the Olympics. Given the results of a
Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll released on Friday that reported almost three-quarters of Canadians think Obama is doing an “excellent” or “good” job, that doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
Brandi Cowen
Jun 30th, 2009
TransLink’s month-long consultation about the region’s transportation future wraps up today, but despite the online tools designed to make participation in the process easier, a lot of Vancouverites seem dissatisfied.
I rode the 99 from UBC to Broadway Station and back this morning, chatting with fellow transit users about TransLink’s consultations. I found lots of people with strong opinions, but finding people who took the time to share those opinions with TransLink was another matter entirely.
Brandi Cowen
Jun 26th, 2009
Periodic showers and thick gray clouds in the distance failed to put a damper on Wednesday night’s garden party fundraiser for Heritage Vancouver.
The fifth annual Heritage Garden Party, held in Councillor Suzanne Anton’s blooming backyard garden, was attended by many officials from all levels of government, including Mayor Gregor Robertson, Councillors Heather Deal and Andrea Reimer, MLA Spencer Herbert and MP Joyce Murray. Officials mixed and mingled with representatives from Heritage Vancouver and supporters who paid $100 each to attend the fundraiser.
Brandi Cowen
Jun 24th, 2009
Vision Vancouver Councillor Andrea Reimer sat down with Brandi Cowen last week to chat about life as a first term city councilor, and governing during an Olympics that she voted against back in the 2003 plebiscite.
VO: How has your life changed since being elected to city council?
Brandi Cowen
Jun 15th, 2009
In the photo above by Brandi Cowen, Councillor Tim Stevenson was obviously frustrated by Councillor Ellen Woodsworth's motion to defer a decision on the STIR report. He later supported a deferral proposed by Councillor Raymond Louie. Story by Brandi Cowen.
Vision Vancouver councillors and city staff came under fire at today’s Special Transportation and Traffic Committee meeting, when members of the public and opposition councillors alike claimed that they were not given enough notice about an agenda item affecting rental housing.
Brandi Cowen
Jun 14th, 2009
Last week, Vision Vancouver Councillor Geoff Meggs sat down with Brandi Cowen to discuss his first six months in office. Here’s the skinny on how his election to city council has changed Councillor Meggs’ life, and how he sees the Olympics impacting Vancouver through 2010 and beyond.
VO: How have things changed for you since being elected?
Brandi Cowen
Jun 14th, 2009
Tempers flared at Wicklow Pub yesterday afternoon, where some False Creek residents gathered to demand answers about what city council will do for leaseholders in the neighbourhood.
Brandi Cowen
Jun 12th, 2009
At yesterday’s city services and budgets meeting, city council made several decisions that could bring big changes to the Woodward’s site, located in the city’s Downtown Eastside.
Council approved $2 million in funding for tenant improvements. One million dollars of that will be drawn from funds set aside for the Downtown Eastside Revitalization Program, and the remaining $1 million will come from unallocated Community Amenity Contributions, set aside for such purposes in the city’s 2009 Basic Capital Budget.
Brandi Cowen
Jun 12th, 2009
Vision Councillor Kerry Jang sat down earlier this week with Brandi Cowen to discuss his first six months on city council. Here’s what Jang thinks about council work, the caucus, inheriting responsibility for the Olympics, and running for re-election.
VO: What has changed for you since the election?
Kerry Jang: My appreciation of human nature and what human beings are like. As a psychologist I thought I had a pretty good handle on the way people are and that they’re rational, sentient beings. I used to see and hear about when people and their emotions get in the way. I certainly see that more on council, and how rigid people’s thinking can be.
Also, I’ve learned that not everyone thinks like me. I think that was kind of a big shock! Everybody thinks they’re always right, and guess what? They’re not! But instead of denying it, I’ve embraced it and used it. I’ve been really flexible and keeping an open mind has been my biggest surprise.
