As Vancouver's arts, community and social services face austerity and cuts, the police budget is over again and asking for more again. I’m perplexed that this continues without stronger budget planning. And the obvious: where's the accountability?

Starting at 1% in the polls, Zohran Kwame Mamdani pulled off one of the great political upsets in modern American history. Yes. We CAN create a government that represents working people and not the 1%. I look forward to working with Zohran as he builds a city that works for all.

The City of Vancouver's draft budget for 2026 is out. We are still leafing through it. But this, from page 19 of Appendix 1, stands out. Vancouver doesn't want Ken Sim's cuts.

2023: ABC refunds millions of dollars of Empty Homes Tax to developers 2025: ABC refuses to use EHT money for its intended purpose, putting 81 affordable homes for women and children at risk What an astonishing decision by Ken Sim and ABC.

I agree. And rejecting community-led housing in the DTES doesn’t uplift the neighbourhood, it harms it. What’s the real reason for the opposition?

Defund the community seems to be this majority council’s mandate. They found millions for cops, but not a million for homes. We need to build a safer city that invests in dignity, housing and affordability. Period.

People power.

People Power showed up at City Hall. And this is just the beginning. 360+ still on the list to present. Every single ABC Councillor should be seriously reflecting on what they have heard so far. Do the right thing and stop these cuts. Vancouver doesn't have to be this way.

“Zero Means Zero” isn’t leadership, it's reckless governance. Two days in, with hundreds of speakers, and lots more to come, people across Vancouver are rejecting austerity budgets. Will this majority Council listen, or double down on a slogan that will cause real harm?

Vancouver’s living wage is $27.85 dollars and our minimum wage is ten dollars less. That gap is pushing workers right up against the poverty line. A gap like this can't only be closed by employers. It also needs government action on wages and lowering the cost of living.

We warned that pausing supportive housing so other cities would pick up the slack would have the exact opposite effect. Looks like we were right.

Donations coming in tonight for tomorrow. Feeding families, seniors and low income folks from DTES , Chinatown and Strathcona

This is no way to treat the workers who keep our city running. Cutting the living wage, threatening layoffs, and gutting morale is what ZERO respect looks like. Vancouver’s staff deserve stability, dignity and a city that has their back.

Do you remember the heat dome? I do, on the frontlines helping. Cutting city funding for climate resiliency leaves seniors and low income neighbours exposed and shows ZERO regard for their health and safety.

Leadership that shows up! More tomorrow.

$13.4M for FIFA VIP suites? While people bear the burden of this budget’s cuts to arts, climate action, community services, and even baby-change tables? Vancouver shouldn’t be paying the price for this Ken Sim majority ABC Council’s choices.