Sandy Garossino – An Alternative Voice for Vancouver Voters

Can one voice make a difference?

Haveyou ever heard of Stella Bliss, Sherri Zarankin, or Michael Huck? In all likelihood the answer to that question is no, though the likelihood is quite high that you may have benefitted from the choice each of them made to speak up is pretty high.

Pregnant women in Canada today can collect employment insurance benefits because Stella Bliss spoke up and said it was not fair that she couldn’t collect employment insurance benefits simply because she was pregnant. Thousands of women and girls are protected from sexual harassment at work because Sherri Zarankin spoke up about the vulgar, coarse remarks, the touching and fondling she had to put up with at work. Accessibility for persons with
disabilities in public spaces is something we take for granted because Michael
Huck spoke up when he couldn’t watch a film in a theatre because there was no space for patrons like him who were confined to a wheelchair.

Human rights law is a branch of the law designed to empower individuals. It requires an individual, one person to stand up and say this is not fair. If
that individual is willing to go the distance, their voice can have far reaching
consequences.

Sandy arossino is one of those people. Last riday I had the honour and privilege to meet her. I learned that Ms. Grossino spoke up to prevent the expansion of gambling in Vancouver by co-foundeding the Vancouver Not Vegas Coalition, which successfully opposed the expansion of Edgewater Casino on the BC place site.

I learned why Ms. Garossino is choosing to run as an independent in the upcoming municipal elections in Vancouver. She is speaking up about the “toxic politics” that keep the parties from working collaboratively. She is speaking up about the importance of engaging people, all people, in the process of governing through authentic public consultation. She is speaking up about the cost of living in Vancouver, artificially inflated by a housing market that is making a few people rich, while talented, hardworking and creative people cannot afford to live or move here.

Ms. Garossino is speaking up about the issues I care about. Like the late Jack Layton, she is a candidate aligned with my values. She is passionate about the issues I am passionate about.

After hearing her speak last week I felt inspired and hopeful. I want her voice to be heard at City Hall. I invite you to meet Sandy. http://votesandy.ca. I know you will be as impressed as I was.

Collectively we can use our power to make sure her voice is heard.