The local news addict: October 7, 2011

By BARB JUSTASON (Oct 7, 2011)

Local media snub?

Vancouver Police Chief, Jim Chu urged patience as the VPD’s Integrated Riot Investigation Team collect evidence to ensure all responsible for the riots face justice.

More than a week after a press release described media who “beat the drum most loudly” and, says the release, incited the riots, VPD broke its silence in a  written comment published not in local media but in the National Post.

The media relations difficulties (read gaffs) continued with the lifting of a ban on a production order that now required The Vancouver Sun to provide its images of the riot to police.

And in a move that has raised the anxiety levels of an already stressed legal system, the BC Liberal government demanded in Monday’s throne speech that the Stanley Cup riot trials will be broadcast on television and radio.

Evergreen Line funding

Funding of the Evergreen Line was never far from our minds or reading material this week. The week opened with the news that Metro Vancouver mayors and councillors would be meeting this week (Friday) to vote. Vancouver’s mayor and council voted on Tuesday unanimously in favour of the gas tax. By Friday’s vote among Metro Vancouver mayors, property taxes also were in the mix.

Pickton inquiry

Yet more groups have said they will not take part in what is being called a “sham inquiry.” Despite being granted full standing, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Women’s Memorial March Committee will participate instead in a rally October 11. These groups cited the absence of funding and the adversarial nature of the inquiry process for their departure.

BC Place

The renovated stadium opened to great fanfare on September 30 when the Lions hosted Edmonton. Despite confusion at the ticket booths and concessions’ supplies shortages, the stadium is widely regarded as a success, at least for fans.

But the Vancouverites were “blindsided” quite literally by the huge high-def LED video screen, located at (or very near) the former Terry Fox memorial site. Residents whose homes face the stadium say the sign is too bright and distracting, and it’s on too late at night.

Municipal election

The race for mayor and council is never far from a local pollster’s mind. For the first time since Suzanne Anton announced her candidacy for mayor in May, a columnist has dared ask, “Are Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision crew headed for defeat?”

In his piece in The Province, October 5, Jon Ferry wonders if “keeping your green” is becoming more important than “being green.”

Occupy this!

Few Vancouverites knew earlier this week that the Occupy Wallstreet movement originated in Vancouver with multi media company Adbusters. The July edition of their hyper successful anti-establishment magazine included the call-to-action, which on September 17, 2011 launched the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Occupy Vancouver is scheduled for October 15. The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association reacted with surprising calm to the possibility of another riot in Vancouver in their Tips for Business Preparedness memo distributed to members today.