DRA & DV2020 Election Questions
for a Better Downtown Victoria
Submitted by Robert Allington• Please list specific initiatives and proposals you will put forward to improve the livability of Downtown for its residents.
Perhaps the dominant question raised by voters is homelessness. On this issue I will back interdisciplinary approaches that respect human rights. A good example is the Victoria Integrated Community Outreach Team, which needs enhanced funding and support. VICOT brings together police, health and social workers to work in unison getting those in need help to stay off the street and address their health concerns.
• Please state your opinion about, and a corresponding action you would propose that the City of Victoria adopt, on the following issues:
• Park planning/green space
Park planning and green space is fundamental to maintaining a city with a human core. I support retaining Cridge Park, and I was not in favour of the Lawn Bowling Green becoming a parking area. Beacon Hill Park should be used in a manner consistent with its original covenants as a public, non commercial space.
• Late night downtown issues
People who choose to live downtown should expect as part of the bargain that they must co-exist with some night life. We cannot be expected to roll up the sidewalks at dusk. The lounge and entertainment district is an important part of city life. Inevitably there may be some related policing costs. Council job is to see there is appropropriate cost recovery, and services that ensure the safety of night visitors, not to impose unreasonable curfews on legitimate services.
• Policing and safety
Council needs to take control of police hiring and promotion. We need to invest in police officers' professional development. We need more police on foot and cycle patrols.
• Continuing residential development
We must recognize that there are limits to growth within a city of Victoria's scale. Through thoughtful development, that integrates affordable housing, community squares and open spaces, and establishes appropriate height restrictions and ecological building standards we can help create the architectural heritage sites of tommorrow.
• Additional cultural/social amenities
Encouragement of the arts and cultural industries is one key to Victoria being a viable cultural and tourism centre for the province..
• Commercial prosperity
Commercial prosperity relies to a large degree upon the common prosperity. We should encourage and maintain an industrial zone and a working waterfront. This can provide good paying jobs for people who don't work in the governmental and educational sectors. It can also balance the residential ratepayer burden.
Transportation planning
We need a renewed focus on viable transportation options to the automobile.
• Infrastructure improvements
• Budget priorities
Affordable housing: 20 percent of Victorians are working poor. Eliminating affordable housing, as we have been doing, or failing to encourage its creation, puts modest income earners at risk and threatens businesses that depend on them. If we are not careful we will soon suffer from the Whistler Syndrome--a city everyone loves to be, but where workers can't find accomodation they need.
• Property taxes
In uncertain economic times we must avoid irresponsible tax increases while looking at the potential of business relief and cautious public investment to provide a stimulus.
• Please explain your plan to ensure that an effective Good Neighbour Agreement with respect to social service providers is put in place to avoid negative effects in the surrounding area.
A good neighbour agreement is a two-way street. Il Terrazzo, one of our finest restaurants, resides next door to the Sally Ann. Il Terrazzo's neighbour and her clients, don't don't seem to discourage diners from enjoying a fine meal. I think its a question of attitude, and mutual responsiblity.• The Social Health of Downtown
There are 214 Non Profits funded by the United Way in Victoria. Funding Analysis shows that their volunteer base and number of funders is declining. Many of these Non Profits are charged with providing essential services for the social health of Victoria. Now that the economic climate is weakening these services are more important than ever. How would you work to support Non Profits in the community, and what role do you see the City playing in helping keep this sector strong?
We have a Coalition to end Homelessness, we have a plan, but we don't have all of the organizations working together yet. The new mayor and council will be charged in ensuring that this is resolved or the Coalition will not be successful and the problems will only get worse. How do you propose getting all 214 non-profits to come to the table and work together under the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness to provide a more seamless provision of services to those in need and stop providing a duplication of services and therefore a waste of valuable funding?
It may be unrealistic to get 214 non-profits all working together. We need to target those that can be most effective and those over which we can have a legitimate influence such as VICOT and put our resources there.
What kind of priority will you give issues such as building a new and up-to-date Central Library, encouraging institutions such as the Art Gallery, or University to come downtown?
A new and updated Central Library may be desirable, but our first priority should be adequately funding the staff and resources we have, before we consider major capital expenditures. If I had to choose between real pay equity for library workers together with enhanced hours for the public and a new building, I would choose the former. One possibility that needs to be explored as a capital city is integrating the Legislative Assembly Library together with a headquarters library for the Greater Victoria Region. The magnificient collection at the Legislature was recently put in storage, the Library closed and staff laid off. With a forthcoming increase in the number of MLAs the Legislature needs more space. Perhaps a joint effort of the City, the Province, the Provincial Capital Commission and the CRD could bring about a new libary that served the needs of all and it could be located within the Legislative Precinct.
Realistically the Art Gallery is only a few blocks from downtown, and being near Government House, Craigdorrock Castle and numerous B&Bs, its in an area already frequented by tourists. Downtown can't have everything to itself. Other districts need enhancements.
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