Whatever happens to the NPA in the upcoming election, Michael Geller deserves a vote. He’s gets planning and urban design. When he goes places, he looks around and notices what he sees, if you know what I mean.
And he’s got a big enough ego to share what’s he learned. (Justifiably, I’d say.)
So here’s a chance to judge for yourself.
Michael Geller goes to St. James on Monday November 10 at 7:30 pm – St. James Community Square, 3214 West 10th Avenue at Trutch. It’s free, and they’re serving refreshments with the discussion.
12 GREAT IDEAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Last year, while on sabbatical from Simon Fraser University, I toured 31 countries on four continents seeking innovative ideas and creative solutions. I
I saw forms of housing that are not being built in our city that should be built; new types of public transit that could help us get around; delightful urban squares and provocative public art ….
Many of the interesting things that I found were recorded in a personal blog.
I have therefore prepared a new presentation that will highlight 12 specific ideas that I think could help us…
‘For more information contact Michael Geller michaelgeller@shaw.ca 778 997 9980 or Margot Paris paris4geller@gmail.com 604 889 3252
I want to vote for Geller, but don’t know who to drop from the Vision slate. Any suggestions?
No argument. Geller is an articulate and polished presenter. But what you won’t hear him talk about is his ties to developers such as ‘Renoviction’ landlords Gordon Nelson Investments Inc. They have already mass evicted three West End apartment buildings and are in the process of planning their fourth.
Former internet gambling execs Chris Nelson and Jason Gordon (a former CEO of Bodog Riptown) have been on a shopping spree in the last 18 months, buying five and possibly more buildings solely to mass evict, renovate and re-rent at usurious rates, displacing residents and victimizing new tenants squeezed by a tight rental market.
They bought the Seafield in July 2008 and have expressed their intent to kick out everyone (including 80 and 90 year olds who’ve been here almost 50 years) in order to renovate and jack the rents by 80 to 100 percent— “or whatever the market will bear,” in Chris Nelson’s words.
You know the building and its close community well, as it’s just up the street from the Queen Charlotte. You also probably know that the 1930s heritage B structure which—contrary to Jason Gordon and Chris Nelson’s claims—is in good condition, having been well maintained over the years. Tenants have also paid rent increases which have been maxed to the cap every year, in part to help cover such maintenance.
The Seafield residents are the first to stand up united as a group to this kind of activity. Aside from our own predicament, we feel it’s crucial to give voice to the rapidly growing number of people in pre-Olympic Vancouver whose lives are being wrecked by those few landlords who don’t wish to follow the spirit of the Residential Tenancy Act. In recent cases such as Berry and Kloet vs. Hollyburn Properties http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/sc/07/02/2007bcsc0257.htm and Allman vs. Amacon http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/ca/07/03/2007bcca00302.htm the courts have consistently found for the tenants. But few have the stamina or resources to pursue such cases.
Nobody is opposed to renovations as needed, including the Seafield residents, who have cooperated with and lived through such major in suite upgrades as re-plumbing, full sash window replacements, rewiring and more.
Nor are they opposed to the landlord renovating according to their right, within the law, as suites become available. Gordon Nelson have already encountered one such available vacancy but opted not to renovate that suite, choosing instead to proceed with their threat to mass evict—unless the residents want to pay them more rent, of course, in which case the once ‘much needed’ reno’s mysteriously become no longer necessary. Funny that.
Apparently, the NPA has no problem with such evictions and the intimidation, sleepless nights and worry of being forced out of the community that goes along. They have chosen to defeat motions brought before council to demand the province to close the loophole being exploited by landlords under RTA Section 49 6 b.
However nice a guy or enlightened he may be, Michael Geller won’t be getting my vote, whereas Gregor Robertson, who has shown that he strongly supports tenants’ as well as landlords’ rights, will.
Much more at http://www.seafieldapartments.com
Best wishes to Michael!
Shoot, I just found out about this. How was it? I don’t live in the City so unfortunately I can’t vote for him, but I would!
I know Margot…
Geller would have had my vote, but he doesn’t oppose waste incineration.
I’m sorry I didn’t get Seafielder’s vote, especially since I never had any ties to Gordon Nelson’s Investments. In fact I returned their campaign donation once I learned about their practices in the West End! I for one did have a problem with their activities.