June Newsletter – Safety on our streets and in our parks
June 25th, 2025 Good afternoon everyone, For the last several weeks, the drug crisis and safety on our streets and parks have made the headlines. Today, the Times Colonist printed my Comment article on crime and disorder and the City’s recently released Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan (CSWB). CHEK news has also posted a version of my […]
Community Safety and Well Being Plan
At the 19th June 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting Council endorsed the Community Safety and Well Being Plan The following articles are provided below: 20th June, Victoria News, “Our city is in crisis’: Victoria endorses community safety plan” 19th June, Globe and Mail, “Victoria city council endorses plan to address homelessness, addiction and mental illness” […]
Pandora- The Globe and Mail examines the Opioid Crises
The following articles are provided below: 24th May, Globe and Mail, “Pandora’s Block – How fentanyl ravaged this Victoria Community” 26th May, Globe and Mail, “Victoria is spending millions to tackle its homelessness crisis, stressing taxpayers” 27th May, Globe and Mail, “B.C. Premier, Opposition Leader spar over solution for Victoria’s Pandora Avenue” 28th May, Times Colonist, […]
Leger Survey: Alberta/BC Downtown Core
January Update: 2025 budget, referendum and more
January 2nd, 2025 On January 13 and January 30, Council will be considering the 2025 budget. These sessions will be significant. VicPD has asked to speak to Council once again about the VicPD 2025 budget request before Council concludes considerations. Below are updates on Councillor remuneration, Missing Middle Housing developments, the upcoming 2025 budget decisions […]
December Update
2025 Budget, Traffic and Councillor Liaison December 9th, 2024 In my October and November newsletters, I spoke of the opportunity for voicing opinions on the City’s 2025-2029 Draft Financial Plan (2025 budget). Since my November newsletter, two significant documents have been released, namely the VicPD Provisional Budget and the staff response to Council’s request for […]
Your Voice and the 2025 Budget – November Update
November 17, 2024 In my October newsletter, I had spoken of the opportunity for voicing opinions on the City’s 2025-2029 Draft Financial Plan (2025 budget). Since that time, the discussion and opportunity for input process has been altered. Hence this newsletter. I encourage you to follow City Council’s review and analysis of this plan and to […]
Your Voice and the 2025 Budget
October 27, 2024 Last Thursday, Council began its discussion of the City’s 2025-2029 Draft Financial Plan (2025 budget). City staff has launched the Public Input Opportunity, an invitation to provide feedback on the 2025 Draft Budget, with a deadline of November 17. I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity. Last summer, you may have participated […]
Communications with City and Council
October 26, 2024 I have heard from many of you that Council is not listening. In this newsletter, I want to explain how communications to the City may be used to get your views heard by Council. Open governance is something I care a lot about and something I have spoken about many times. Recent […]
UPDATE: Renumeration – more $$$
In March, the public spoke loudly and clearly that they did not support a Council base remuneration increase of 25%. Instead, on September 5, 2024, the majority of Council approved the remuneration bylaw which, if endorsed by the Council to be elected in 2026, would see a Councillor increase in base remuneration of at least […]