Originally published by:

The Boston Globe
February 14th, 2010
Written by: Shira Springer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Protesters replaced partygoers insections of downtown and west Vancouver yesterday morning. More than 200 masked protesters targeted the Olympic Superstore located at the Hudson’s Bay Company. Windows displaying souvenir Olympic gear were smashed and splattered with red paint. Witnesses said the windows were shattered by protesters throwing metal newspaper boxes. Police confirmed protesters vandalized cars and stores in the area.

Will it be Wayne?  Here he is at the Samsung pavilion opening yesterday. 

Sam Sullivan will be carrying the torch on Friday at 9:58 AM, starting at Shopper's Drug Mart on Commercial and 1st (by Il Mercato) and heading to 1st and Salsbury - 300 metres.

Come out and support Sam, or take in a relay event in a neighbourhood near you. The Vancouver Sun has a complete listing of all the stops in the city. Two major events for the City of Vancouver are at City Hall (2.48 Thurs) and the Live Site at David Lam Park (8.00 pm Thurs). Staff are expecting huge crowds at David Lam Park so get there early. It'll be a party!

A review of the city’s view corridors came to council today.  In its haste to please all those who said, “We love our views!” (who wouldn’t say that?) council gave up on two important opportunities.

The first relates to St Paul’s hospital.  The hospital is considering redevelopment at its current site and may need height above the current allowable 15 stories in order to make it work.  I suggested allowing St Pauls to consider this option.  Council did not agree.  Given the uncertain future of the hospital, Vancouver needs to do whatever it can to support St Paul’s and it is unfortunate that council missed an opportunity to do just that.

Think that the 2010 Games are too expensive to enjoy? Think again! There's plenty to do for FREE. CityCaucus.com has developed the city's most complete page where you can research, comment and rate some of the 2010 Games coolest and most unique free events & venues. The "Where 2 Be for Free" 2010 Events Guide has become a must visit on the web.

Vancouver parkers are getting shafted by the new TransLink parking tax and this council doesn’t care.  On  downtown parking you will now pay 21% more on the price, a hefty tax under any circumstances.  This might possibly be fine if it was applied across the lower mainland, but unfortunately nearly 100% of the tax is collected in Vancouver where all the pay parking is located.

How much would you, oh grateful taxpayer, like to give up of your city taxes to get a developer to agree to build private rental housing? Anything? How about $10,000 per unit, the amount contributed by the city to renovate provincially owned rooms in the Downtown Eastside? Or $19,000 per unit, such as in a recent case in which city rents were forgiven on a low-income co-op building which was in difficulty?