Politics

It’s no secret, after over-the-week testing designs and accidentally making them live.. we have a new and improved VancityBuzz.com. We tried to make everything easier to navigate so hopefully that worked out and we continue to make tweaks. VcB also has a new feature, its Weather Channel, which Token White Guy insisted so heavily in favour for.

Many tourists around town have asked, tweeted or emailed us wondering where the fireworks/celebration gathering for New Year’s Eve (NYE) in Vancouver will be? The answer, there isn’t one and we wonder why city council and their fun police hasn’t put something together.  Cities all over the world ring in the new year in style, yet Vancouver, a ‘world class’ city, has nothing. The city has done well to bring back the  Canada Day celebrations and for the time being the Celebration of Light Festival has been saved. However, there is still nothing for NYE. 

When the proposed relocation of the Edgewater Casino was rejected by Robertson and folks at city hall, city residents declared victory. This was considered a “victory”, despite the fact that a casino is already in the neighbourhood and that council actually approved the relocation, not the expansion. Looking at the situation closely, with a municipal election coming up, Robertson and city council wanted to appease public worries and it worked. Well fast forward 10 days after the election and the proposed relocation that was approved is now made official. It should be noted that gaming expansion was not approved, but that will soon follow.

To most of us, today is known as Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days in the United States and fast becoming a busy day in Canada. Coincidentally, today is also Buy Nothing Day. An international day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists that started right here in Vancouver. It was founded by artist Ted Dave and then promoted by Adbusters magazine, the same organization behind the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Who says protesters can’t be sexy. Zuccotti Park in Manhattan is apparently full of them. Check out some of the hotties of Occupy Wall Street. For more check out the Tumblr, Hot Chicks of Occupy Wall Street. Enjoy.

After this weekend’s election and the usual low voter turnout, everyone was wondering how certain neighbourhood’s in the city voted. This morning I stumbled  upon these maps via @OpenFileVan‘s twitter feed. The maps illustrate an interesting tale of voter apathy as no neighbourhood in the city of Vancouver had a voter turnout greater than 50%.