Earth Hour 2008 Video
As a further reminder of Vancouver's commitment to the Earth Hour project on March 29, 2008 at 8pm, please watch this promotional video.
Mayor’s Communiqué: City Hall Progress Report
I am writing to update you on progress we are making on important issues at City Hall that support the five goals we have established for our government.
Chinatown Heritage
This month, we are all celebrating Chinese New Year. I was honoured to participate with Councillor B.C. Lee and my other Council colleagues in many special events across the region to recognize this special time in Vancouver. To help mark the occasion, our government approved an important revitalization plan for Chinatown at City Council this week.
The plan supports community efforts to rehabilitate heritage buildings in Chinatown and provides $500,000 to assist five family associations and Benevolent Societies in the planning associated with rehabilitating their buildings as part of Chinatown revitalization.
2010 Two-Year Countdown
Mayor Sullivan on CTV’s Canada AM to celebrate the 2-year countdown to the start of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
This week, we marked the two-year countdown to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler. There is a growing awareness around the world that no city has been as prepared as Vancouver to host an Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. And as good as the Olympics and Paralympic Games will be for Vancouver – we will be good for the Games. Our city is uniting for that common cause.
Mayor Sullivan on the Larry & Willy Show
Mayor Sam Sullivan has been making the rounds of radio shows this past week to promote the announcement of the 2009 Juno Awards coming to Vancouver. Click the link to…
Two Year Countdown to 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Begins: Progress Report on Venue Construction
$1.7 million investment for playing fields at Andy Livingstone Park will help promote healthy living & fitness legacy of Games: Sullivan
Mayor Sam Sullivan and Park Board Chair Korina Houghton today welcomed the two-year countdown to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games beginning this week in Vancouver and Whistler. The Olympic Winter Games will take place February 12-28, 2010.
The Paralympic Winter Games are scheduled for March 12-21, 2010.To mark the countdown, Mayor Sullivan and Park Board Chair Houghton provided an update on local venue construction and confirmed their plans to support a $1.7 million investment for playing fields at Andy Livingstone Park to help promote a healthy living and fitness legacy for 2010.
“There is a growing awareness around the world that no city has been as prepared as Vancouver to host a Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Mayor Sullivan. “And as good as the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will be for Vancouver – we will be good for Games. Our city is uniting for that common cause.”
Letter to Hon. Jim Flaherty: Mayor Sullivan’s Federal Budget Submission
This week on behalf of Vancouver City Council Mayor Sam Sullivan submitted the following letter to Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in advance of the 2008 Budget.
Mayor’s Communiqué: 2007 Record Year for Building Permits in Vancouver
February City Council Report – Progress on BC Place, UBC Line, Arts & Culture
Further to previous reports, I am writing to update you on our government’s plan to deliver on the five goals we have established for our government. It focuses on:
- Economy – Record Building Permits in 2007
- Project Civil City – policing & supportive housing
- EcoDensity – UBC Rapid Transit Line
- Arts & Culture – BC Place
- Inclusion – SUCCESS partnership
Economy – Record Building Permits in 2007
Last year, we set a new record for building permits in the City of Vancouver. The total value of permits last year was over $2.5 billion. This represents an increase of approximately 20% over last year – even with the strike.
City of Vancouver Building Permits Total Value (in billions)
2002 – $1.31 B
2003 – $1.06 B
2004 – $1.73 B
2005 – $1.6 B
2006 – $2.04 B
2007 – $2.57 B
And speaking of the strike we will return all administrative savings to property taxpayers in this year’s budget. I anticipate this amount will be much higher than originally anticipated due to the length of the labour action.
Ottawa Citizen: “Gunning for easy answers”
Courtesy of The Ottawa Citizen
A mayor, reacting to killings on his city’s streets, can choose to adopt one of two attitudes. There’s the path of outrage and the simple idea; or there’s the more difficult path of circumspection and wisdom.
Toronto Mayor David Miller has chosen to take the first course, over and over again. Whenever someone is shot in Toronto, Mr. Miller expresses outrage, and demands that the federal government ban handguns. Every crime, to him, comes down to the same cause. Every story is the same story.
When bystander Hou Chang Mao was shot and killed this month, Mr. Miller said publicly, “The reason I keep going back to the guns is because these tragedies happen simply because of the easy availability of handguns. That’s what causes this.”
There’s no doubting the sincerity of his grief and anger. Indeed, outrage is an appropriate response when people kill, especially when they kill people they’ve never met out of indifference to human life. But outrage isn’t a solution. It’s an emotion that leads people to assign blame, as quickly and loudly as possible. Outraged people need rallying cries, and rallying cries must be short and simple.
Mayor and Councillors Support Plan to Create Over 1100 Social & Supportive Housing Units
MOU completes an historic year for social housing: Sullivan
Mayor Sullivan and Councillor Kim Capri tonight welcomed the unanimous decision of City Council to move forward with an historic partnership with the Province of British Columbia to develop 12 city-owned sites for social and supportive housing. Council approved the plan to create 1100-1200 new units following a series of special meetings that started on December 12, 2007.
“Tonight’s decision by City Council completes an historic year for social and supportive housing in Vancouver,” said Mayor Sullivan. “Over the past year – in partnership with the provincial government – we have initiated the development of thousands of units, secured a commitment to open shelters around the clock and agreed to expand the homeless outreach program. We look forward to more progress in 2008.”
Warm Wishes for the Holiday Season
Please accept best wishes from Lynn and I for a safe and enjoyable holiday season. As we come to the end of 2007, we have been reflecting on the past 12 months and are looking forward to the coming year.
We started 2007 reeling from devastating windstorms that savaged Stanley Park — and ended it planting new trees and celebrating the renewal of this national treasure.
The progress made in Stanley Park over the past year represents the best of Vancouver. It demonstrates again that our gold-medal citizens are the reason we are consistently ranked as one of the world’s best cities in which to work and live.
Earlier this month, we marked the second anniversary of our election to lead City Council, School & Park Board. We have governed as a unified team and worked hard to improve relations with senior levels of government.
Preliminary 2008 Tax Target Set at 2.99%
Councillors Scale Back Staff Recommendation for 6% Tax Increase
Resolving municipal/provincial fiscal imbalance could allow city to reduce property taxes this year
Mayor Sullivan and Councillor Peter Ladner today welcomed a decision by City Council to scale back a city staff proposal for a 6% property tax increase in 2008. Instead, City Council unanimously supported a motion from Councillor Ladner to establish a preliminary 2008 tax target of 2.99%.
Mayor Sullivan also renewed Metro Vancouver and City Council’s call for the provincial government to address the current municipal/provincial fiscal imbalance.