Mayor Moonbeam Goes (Show)Boating on Burrard Inlet

whatnext · #1 Posted: **Jul 4, 2010, 8:07 PM**

I guess vacuous good looks aren't enough to win over your peers:

...Mr. Baker’s article prompted an invitation to a city council meeting organized by Mayor Gregor Robertson solely to discuss the dangers of oil tankers in Burrard Inlet. Various representatives – from Port Metro Vancouver, the city’s emergency-management team, the B.C. Environment Ministry – would also talk about the tankers and the harbour, which, strictly speaking, are regulated by the federal government.

What are the mayor’s motivations? ..

...As Mr. Robertson’s annoyed regional colleagues are saying publicly, he could have worked through an existing port committee at Metro Vancouver, headed by North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto.

“If we want to have a voice, it would be a more significant voice if we stuck together,” said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, whose municipality is home to Kinder Morgan storage tanks and an underground pipeline. “I think if George Chow [the Vancouver councillor who is the rep for the port committee] had come in and said, ‘This is an important issue,’ we would have done something. But then it would have been Darrell Mussatto at the head of it. And that wouldn’t have served Gregor Robertson’s purpose. I guess it’s all about an effort to get recognition... (bold mine)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1627227/

Porfiry · #2 Posted: **Jul 4, 2010, 8:20 PM**

Quote:

At Ecojustice, formerly the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, lawyer Margot Venton said that “we applaud local-government efforts.”

I also applaud the mayor.

whatnext · #3 Posted: **Jul 4, 2010, 10:12 PM**

Wow, what a surprise.

Its just another instance of Mayor Moonbeam embracing causes when the cameras are rolling. Personally, I hope the article is right and he is eyeing federal politics, it will prevent him from doing any more damage at the civic level. However, the federal Liberals would be crazy to embrace him, he's too far left and a dud of a speaker to boot.

Porfiry · #4 Posted: **Jul 4, 2010, 10:51 PM**

Politicians like attention.

racc · #5 Posted: **Jul 4, 2010, 11:43 PM**

I suggest you watch CNN for a bit and see how pathetic the politicians down in Louisiana are. They have been in the pocket of the oil companies for years. They let them drill off shore without any supervision and now their environment and economy have been destroyed. Even more pathetic, they have so mismanaged their economies they are total dependent on the oil industry. In one breath they will complain that BP has destroyed their way of life and in the next they are begging Obama to reverse the 6 month moratorium on drilling.

Everyone should glad that politicians like Gregor are standing up to the industry here before it is too late.

whatnext · #6 Posted: **Jul 7, 2010, 4:17 AM**

Looks like there may be something more than showboating involved. Stuff to do with the rich Americans who financed Mayor Moonbeam:

Why did Gregor and his Chief of Staff spend $6000 to visit New York last April?

Crack 24 Hours reporter Bob Mackin filed a freedom of information request on the itinerary of Gregor Robertson for his whirlwind 3-day visit to New York City in mid-April which he reported on Friday. The story titled Mayor Gregor's Big New York Bash was oddly neutered from its online version – published last Thursday evening – and the edition published in the paper Friday. In the paper it was titled with the more benign "Gregor in Big Apple". Mackin, knowing that the subject of foreign political meddling was a hot topic for the week, made the obvious linkage to that story...

...So to sum up. Gregor goes to New York with Magee and it costs us $6000. They meet a bunch of folks that we can all trace back to Vision and Tides. Gregor meets with the NRDC and seems to get religion on oil shipping, and decides to create a big, pointless photo op around it...
http://www.citycaucus.com/2010/06/wh...ng-in-new-york

Hourglass · #7 Posted: **Jul 7, 2010, 5:17 AM**

Definitely sounds to me like he has higher political aspirations. After all, why work within an existing framework when you can draw publicity and position yourself as a leader on an issue that is front and center with the oil spill in Louisiana?

Premier Moonbeam, perhaps, to start?

Yume-sama · #8 Posted: **Jul 7, 2010, 5:20 AM**

I really don't see how he could appeal to people outside of Vancouver, without lying to everyone on his stances. Especially the people in the valley / Okanagan.

He seems to take a lot of stances on things he has no power over. So, it's good he's getting that vibe out there, I guess

mr.x · #9 Posted: **Jul 7, 2010, 5:41 AM**

I had a day dream today while busing home...Mayor Moonbeam quit his mayor post and flew down to Louisiana to help scrub some rocks - er, I mean animals.

WarrenC12 · #10 Posted: **Jul 7, 2010, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.x

I had a day dream today while busing home...Mayor Moonbeam quit his mayor post and flew down to Louisiana to help scrub some rocks - er, I mean animals.

Then Suzanne Anton took over and it quickly became a nightmare...

whatnext · #11 Posted: **Jul 8, 2010, 3:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Then Suzanne Anton took over and it quickly became a nightmare...

Anton hasn't been doing a bad job, considering she's a party of one. I didn't vote for her last time, but probably will next election. I'm not sure she should be the NPA's mayoral candidiate though.

jhausner · #12 Posted: **Jul 8, 2010, 4:05 PM**

The only reason Mayor Robertson got elected is because of one of the lowest voter turn outs ever in Vancouver. If people actually would have gotten off their behinds and went in and voted, he wouldn't have become mayor.

Next year you can put money on him not being re-elected thus why he is taking the initiative right now to do whatever he can to make a name for himself in higher or alternative politics. Not to mention he's probably tired of other mayors shining above him in the region.

whatnext · #13 Posted: **Jul 8, 2010, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhausner

The only reason Mayor Robertson got elected is because of one of the lowest voter turn outs ever in Vancouver. If people actually would have gotten off their behinds and went in and voted, he wouldn't have become mayor.

Next year you can put money on him not being re-elected thus why he is taking the initiative right now to do whatever he can to make a name for himself in higher or alternative politics. Not to mention he's probably tired of other mayors shining above him in the region.

A believe a lot of the NPA vote stayed home, after the infighting that led to Sullivan being dumped. Plus Ladner didn't do as much as he could have to differentiate himself from Robertson. That said, I'd like to see Ladner back on council next time. The City needs more balance.

Stingray2004 · #14 Posted: **Jul 8, 2010, 5:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhausner

The only reason Mayor Robertson got elected is because of one of the lowest voter turn outs ever in Vancouver. If people actually would have gotten off their behinds and went in and voted, he wouldn't have become mayor.

Next year you can put money on him not being re-elected

I have to disagree with that assessment. Remember that Vision Vancouver had thousands show up at the mayoral nomination, which was unprecedented in Vancouver civic politics. Gregor Robertson had that "Obama" effect and his candidacy was akin to a speeding freight train - everyone was jumping on board. The NPA was left in the dust with all of their public in-fighting.

His promise to end homelessness also captured the imagination of the electorate and his coattails resulted in huge VV majorities on all three civic boards.

Voter turnout was 32% in 2005 and 31% in 2008 and those are traditional voter turnouts at the civic level. I suspect that many traditional but disillusioned NPA voters stayed home in 2008, while the independent swing voter moved over to Gregor.

Even a recent StratCom poll showed that Gregor had a 70% approval rating in the CoV. Caveat - StratCom is a major financial contributor to VV.

That said, the shine seems to have come of VV of late yet I expect that Gregor will again win the mayoral crown in 2011 albeit the NPA will likely move from 1 councillor to 4 and also elect more members on both the school boards and parks boards.

2005 mayoral election result:

NPA - 61,543 (46.6%)
VV - 57,796 (43.8%)

2008 mayoral election result:

NPA - 48,794 (39.3%)
VV - 67,598 (54.4%)

Source: City of Vancouver

twoNeurons · #15 Posted: **Jul 8, 2010, 6:00 PM**

There's quite the North-South Divide there.

Any analysis of that chart and why it seems Vancouver voted in regions?

Is VV more downtown-centric?

WarrenC12 · #16 Posted: **Jul 8, 2010, 6:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

There's quite the North-South Divide there.

Any analysis of that chart and why it seems Vancouver voted in regions?

Is VV more downtown-centric?

Well Robertson was NDP, just like East and South Van, to my knowledge.

Rich people vote right wing. No news there.

whatnext · #17 Posted: **Jul 8, 2010, 7:19 PM**

Interesting maps Stingray 2004. It would be interesting to see if Sullivan's appeal to the Chinese community helped with wooing Asian voters in the East Side precincts. If so, a prominent Vancouverite of Chinese descent could help propel the NPA back to the mayor's chair, but I can' think of anyone interested off the top of my head. Suggestions, anyone?

Stingray2004 · #18 Posted: **Jul 29, 2010, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

It would be interesting to see if Sullivan's appeal to the Chinese community helped with wooing Asian voters in the East Side precincts. If so, a prominent Vancouverite of Chinese descent could help propel the NPA back to the mayor's chair, but I can' think of anyone interested off the top of my head. Suggestions, anyone?

Hmmmm... former Vancouver NPA councillor and SUCCESS CEO Tung Chan? That's the renewed scuttlebutt:

Quote:

I had the opportunity to bump into someone close to Tung Chan a short while ago. They confirmed for me that Chan is not only seriously considering a mayoral bid, but he has quietly established what is being dubbed an "exploratory committee". I'm also told that almost everywhere Tung goes these days he's being accosted by people asking (some even begging) him to run for mayor of Vancouver. One person said that "Tung is kind of feeling like Carole Taylor was a couple of years ago. Everyone wants him to throw his hat in the ring in order to get rid of Robertson and his flakey policies."

The reason Vision is so fearful of having Chan as the NPA's candidate has a lot to do with the powerful immigrant vote in Vancouver. During the last election, a large section of it voted for Vision in protest to the NPA's shenanigans over the Sullivan vs Ladner fiasco. With that now a distant memory, a candidate like Chan, who was former city councillor, would be most attractive.

In the coming months, I'm told the exploratory committee will likely get out into the field and do some polling to see if a Chan candidacy would have any appeal amongst the electorate. The election is still Gregor's to lose, but lose it he could.

Source: http://www.citycaucus.com/2010/07/np...his-money#more

flight_from_kamakura · #19 Posted: **Jul 29, 2010, 4:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhausner

The only reason Mayor Robertson got elected is because of one of the lowest voter turn outs ever in Vancouver. If people actually would have gotten off their behinds and went in and voted, he wouldn't have become mayor.

qualitatively incorrect.

Quote:

Next year you can put money on him not being re-elected thus why he is taking the initiative right now to do whatever he can to make a name for himself in higher or alternative politics. Not to mention he's probably tired of other mayors shining above him in the region.

haha, yeah, if you want to put money on gregor NOT being re-elected, i'll definitely take that bet. don't let the small anti-vv feedback loop fool you, the npa is still really unpopular.

Stingray2004 · #20 Posted: **Jul 29, 2010, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flight_from_kamakura

don't let the small anti-vv feedback loop fool you, the npa is still really unpopular.

I dunno. Former BCTV/Global reporter Harvey Oberfeld, who one can categorize as centre-left and a prime VV demographic, recently posted on his "Keeping It Real" blog as follows:

Quote:

We elected what we thought was Caring Compromise … but what we got was Castro-style Compulsion.

And “the people” are getting tired of it.

A friend tells me that at his morning coffeeshop discussion recently, three people said they had voted Vision last election, but would not next time around. He made four.

All of them, by the way, live on the city’s East side.

Source: http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/real-p...t-for-dissent/