VICTORIA
COUNCIL
Steve Filipovic, owner, Filipovic Residential Services accountability culture.ca Top three issues:
I’d like to find cost effective solutions for Victoria’s issue with Affordable Housing. Partnerships with the City can be set up to transition renters into owners. We need to wean the City away from PR Campaigns that promise political exposure for service & end up costing tax payers for things we don’t need. I’d like to see reasonable services for those affected by poverty to improve their outcomes & return our Parks to their original purpose. These issues increase in cost and need addressing.
One big idea:
Victoria residents need to talk to each other about how our past few civic elections have gone & measure what the expectations were compared to what was delivered. I bet people would see the manner in which to gain actual change, affordable housing and reasonable services, changes we’ve been hoping to obtain for decades, is to support small money candidates and let the well financed teams fade away. They charge us for rain now. Ridiculous!
Marg Gardiner, community volunteer marggardiner.ca Top three issues:
Public Safety: public safety includes use of parks, streets, and other public places; transportation, drug use, sheltering, and hazardous situations (which may be environmental). Community Development: including housing affordability, density, community amenities, and compatible land use. Governance & Fiscal Responsibility: there is a ‘sense’ of inefficient use of monies; however, the issues may be more of transparency-disclosure and Council focus on many items outside City’s responsibility.
One big idea:
Lobbyist Registry: we have seen special interest groups and lobbyists influence grow over last few terms of Council. I propose a Lobbyist Registry which would include listing of dates/participants of lobby group and City staff/Council gatherings. Such a registry would assist residents in understanding and shaping consultation processes used by the city.
Riga Godron, 40, freelance writer riga4victoriacouncil .com Top three issues:
Housing Affordability Sustainability Needs Based Fiscal Priority
One big idea:
FREE PARKING. I would eliminate the City of Victoria’s parking department. There are appoximately 50,000 housholds in Victoria. Around 86,000 people can actually call Victoria home, but as previously mentioned atleast 200,000 people come to Victoria everyday. In Vancouver whatever address is on your licence, you can go to City Hall and get a parking permit. In Silverdale Washington the downtown businesses thrive because there are no parking meters. None. In Victoria our Parking Enforcement is completely complaint driven. This means we have Parking Ambassadors coming out on Statuatory holidays, evenings, weekends to issue parking tickets to people who may live where they are parked but their neighbour does not recognize their vehicle.
James Harasymow, 45, restaurateur citycouncillorjames .com Top three issues:
1. Affordable Housing 2. Affordable Housing 3. Affordable Housing Please check out my website for a list of other things I’d like to proposeincluding banning political lawn signs, more pet friendly homes, tourism, safety, bad renter list, more parking, fruit trees, solar panel, smoking lounges and more.
One big idea:
Nano Housing.
Rose Henry, 60, community support worker Top three issues:
How do we prevent homelessness. Making the downtown core more livable for the residents who live downtown and helping the city be more prepared for disasters by becoming more prepared.
One big idea:
to have all addresses proper visible from the streets and that the street signs be written in the local indigenous language.
Ben Isitt*, 40, historian and legal scholar benisitt.ca Top three issues:
Housing Affordability: The city can show leadership by assembling land to facilitate provincial and federal investment in nonmarket housing for youth, seniors and working families. Sustainable Transportation: The city can advocate for high-quality, low-fare, fuel-efficient public transit, and expand walking and cycling options. Strong Neighbourhoods: The city can embrace meaningful engagement on the implementation of affordable housing, new parkland, safe transportation and community amenities.
One big idea:
I favour a major expansion of decommodified, nonmarket housing to provide affordable homes for seniors, youth and working families. In this region, decommodified housing accounts for about 5 percent of the total housing supply. In contrast, a majority of housing is decommodified in some European jurisdictions.
Jesse Jimenez, 55 Top three issues:
I would like to engage every resident to have a backyard fruit and vegetable garden or even greenhouses. This program will significantly reduce the carbon footprint produce by the city.
Randie Johal, 59, retired senior manager at B.C. Transit RandieJohal.ca Top three issues:
Transportation — streamline traffic movement and create more opportunities thru incentives to use buses Homelessness- finding solutions that are long-term with proper supports where needed Affordability- creating an affordable city for residents and businesses. City leading by example thru fiscal responsibility
One big idea:
Daycare. Encourage developer to allow below market rate lease for downtown daycare. Facilitate the process with all stakeholders. Allow parents to visit their children during lunch hour. Opening the eyes of a generation of children who are more knowledgeable about their city visiting museums, parks, and downtown attractions.