Services

Getting value for taxes paid at a municipal level is an issue that concerns everyone in our city. From renters, to homeowners and business owners, we all have a vested interested in ensuring City Hall spends our tax dollars on services that benefit us and our communities.

But when we constantly witness service failures – from garbage not being collected to snow going uncleared on side streets for weeks – we question how wisely the City is spending our money. Our elderly and mobility-restricted residents shouldn’t have to rely on “Snow Angels” (volunteers) to clear their walks, something our city has fallen back on when services proved insufficient.

At the same time, our city repeatedly over-commits precious city resources, such as police, fire and ambulance, to a single call. The result is a dangerous level of redundancy and unwarranted strain on our first responders.

Police are tasked with camping out on Granville street all night, babysitting Granville street party mobs. Instead, we should redesign streets for safety and create more options for business licensing to promote a safer environment.

Not only can we do a better job of dispatching and managing our precious resources, but we owe it those who commit their livelihoods to public service to do so.

Let’s re-prioritize how we spend our tax revenue, make value-per-dollar our key metric and ensuring Vancouverites of all ages and abilities get the core services they deserve in a healthy, safe city.