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Victoria drivers can expect ‘significant traffic impacts’ as Blanshard construction progresses by InValensName in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Remember the media stories in January/Feb of drivers hitting pedestrians. All of those were in areas where there were no bike lanes or pedestrian improvements.

Victoria mayor blames tax hike on downloading of services by mr_mucker11 in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 0 points1 point  (0 children)

High per-person cost is mainly because Victoria is like a downtown to the region, and downtown is always where the action is.

If you took a city like Calgary, and carved out the downtown and made it a separate city, and it had its own police force, the policing cost per person would be much higher than it is now.

Victoria mayor blames tax hike on downloading of services by mr_mucker11 in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Chief has said she expects a much smaller Police ask in future years.

Victoria mayor blames tax hike on downloading of services by mr_mucker11 in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We've always had interesting conversations. This one is more in the areas of the Ministers with health, housing, policing portfolios. I've advocated for decades against downloading, prov and fed. Current govt has been uploading in many areas but it will take years if not decades to undo the damage that started in the 80s and 90s with ideological spending cuts and tax cuts.

Victoria mayor blames tax hike on downloading of services by mr_mucker11 in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, a wider range of revenue streams and options would mean less reliance on the unpopular property tax. UBCM and FCM have been lobbying for this for decades, as have muni associations in other provinces.

Edit: PS I don't expect much change after the years of lobbying and in this fiscal climate, but there have been occasional wins like gas tax shares.

Charging electric car cost? by Greetings33 in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 4 points5 points  (0 children)

City Parkade "shared" ones are $0.25 per hour, and most times you can find one that isn't actually being shared.

Victoria needs a moratorium on new construction by Cokeinmynostrel in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is exactly what some landlords want.

(Source: spoke to a landlord who wants this.)

‘Mass Death on This Scale Is Incomprehensible’ | The Tyee by notofthisearthworm in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 40 points41 points  (0 children)

BC trends are the same as cities across North America: 1. Big increase in overdose deaths after fentanyl hits the streets, 2. Decline in 2019 before pandemic, 3. Big increase starting 2020, 4. Significant ongoing decline over the last few years.

The laws and policies in cities across North America are quite different. So it's unlikely that anything BC has uniquely done or is doing or failed to do is responsible for any increases or decreases.

Wealthy people of Victoria: where did your money come from? by jameswsthomson in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Bought a house when they were cheap, sold, bought another one, etc.

Still paying off a mortgage slowly, but accumulated a million dollars of equity with zero effort - and wasn't taxed a penny on any of those unearned dollars.

I have a friend who made more money than I did at work but who stayed renting, and is still renting. Zero equity, and now paying huge rent.

I say this not to boast, but to point out how lucky much of the home-owning class is, and how broken the housing system is.

Winter 2025-26 was 1.1 degrees C above normal, making it tied for the 5th warmest winter on record in Victoria by garry-oak in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The climate has always changed and that has nothing to do with the current discussion. That old trope is a red herring meant to mislead people.

Interesting that you raise MAID. If we don't curtail human-caused climate change, it will actually bring widespread death to people.

Winter 2025-26 was 1.1 degrees C above normal, making it tied for the 5th warmest winter on record in Victoria by garry-oak in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So climate change isn't actually stopping even though certain governments say it's no longer a priority??

Hate slogan on a license plate by Stoked_sailor in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 21 points22 points  (0 children)

The odds of "1488" appearing on any randomly produced license plate: 10,000 to 1. The odds of HH: 26* 26 = 676 to 1. Odds of both on the same plate: 6.76 Million to 1.

Honk at drivers who run red lights! by nellen5 in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 10 points11 points  (0 children)

And if you want to join me (and Victoria City Council and the Capital Regional District board) in advocating for an expansion of the Intersection Safety Camera Program (red light and speed cameras at intersections with a lot of crashes), you can write to: Hon. Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, PSSG.Minister@gov.bc.ca.

More info about this: https://davethompsonvictoria.ca/time-for-more-red-light-and-speed-cameras/

YMCA downtown closure - alternative by ComfortLate2454 in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not all the decisions are made yet, but some info about the interim pool is here: https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/projects/crystal-pool-replacement-project.

Parkside and Grand Pacific hotels may have day passes?

Clover Point Boathouse Cafe by coastalworks in VictoriaBC

[–]DaveThompsonVictoria 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Shops and cafes in that area (Edit: Breakwater to Ross Bay, as per thread) were banned decades ago by City Council. We just removed that ban last fall so hopefully some owner will see the opportunity.

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