British Columbia MAYOR GREEN, Jim (COPE) ALDERMAN BRUNEAU, Sandra (NDP) DAVIES, Libby (COPE) ERIKSEN, Bruce (COPE) LEHAN, Mel (NDP) LEVI, David (NDP) REID, lan (NDP) ROBSON, Merrilee (NDP) RANKIN, Harry, (COPE) WILSON, Patricia (COPE) YORKE, Bruce (COPE) Vote COPE, NDP Nov, 17 \eDUGe PARK BOARD BERESFORD, Charlotte (NDP) WILSON CHAUNC CHRUNIK, Mike (COPE) FOLEY, Dermot (COPE) LECLERC, Janice (NDP) LOUIS, Tim (COPE) MIA, Essop (NDP) THORNE, Gerry (NDP) SCHOOL BOARD BEER, Anne (NDP) BRUNEAU, Bill (NDP) CHAUNCEY, Patricia (COPE) DAHLIN, Susanne (COPE) GLUDOVATZ, Norman (NDP) HERMAN, Ruth (COPE) KEOUGH, Alayne (COPE) MCCUTCHEON, Jean (NDP) ONSTAD, Gary (COPE) COPE hopeful left unity will mean victory Continued from page 1 metaphor here. The NPA has scored majorities in the last two civic elections, coming to power in a strong sweep in 1986 that ended the progressive majority that ran the city since 1980. That was due in no small part to a thorough remake of the NPA’s traditional hard-nosed right image, and generous dona- tions from the city’s top developers which swelled NPA coffers to more than $1 million in two campaigns. While there are signs the money is declining this year, the right-wingers still have an impressive war chest. They dem- onstrated that with an advertising blitz that saw ads released as far back as August. It’s hard to watch an hour of local television without seeing an NPA ad, and billboards bearing Campbell’s image and the slogan, “Hard Work and Decency,” dot the Van- couver landscape. Media stories report the NPA has around $400,000 to spend, although some watchers scoff and say it’s probably twice that figure. Even if the reported amount is accurate, it far outstrips the resources of COPE and the New Democrats, at around $90,000 apiece. Both groups received funding from the Van- couver and District Labour Council, and individual unions. “We can’t compete with the billboards and TV ads,” acknowledges COPE incum- bent and contender Libby Davies. ; “But we can in our contacts with the Victoria vote VICTORIA — Civic voters have the option of electing a full labour- backed slate to city council Nov. 17. Local New Democrats endorsed by the civic group VOICE, and the Victoria Labour Council, are contest- ing aldermanic seats and the mayoral- ty. David Tumer is the mayoral can- didate. Council contenders are David Szollosi of Catholic diocese’s social justice committee, labour council sec- retary Steve Orcherton, Randy Gar- rison of the Victoria West Community Association, incumbent Ald. Jan Greenwood and former school board chair Laura Acton. : Affordable housing, anend to sew- age marine outfalls and protection of maritime industries are key planks in the candidates’ platform. Mayor Gretchen Brewin, a New Democrat, is not running. 2 « Pacific Tribune, November 12, 1990 community,” she stresses, pointing to two examples. Last spring the 22-year-old civic alliance took aim at urban environmental problems, inviting neighbourhood organizations to participate in sessions to provide guidance for COPE policies. The Community Direc- tions conference produced no resolutions, but it gave COPE input into the agendas of neighbourhoods, and its influence can be seen in the alliance’s housing policies released last week. Representatives of neighbourhood groups were in abundance at the Nov. 6 press conference announcing the policy package. Not just from COPE’s traditional east side constituencies, but from areas like Kerris- dale as well, Davies notes. COPE says the NPA has lost support there because its policies have failed to stop mega-houses and demolition of small, low- rent apartments. On a broader scale, the right-wing group has incurred the wrath of local developers because it has consistently favoured big-money schemes such as the Marathon Realty project at Coal Harbour (underscored by a 6-5 vote of approval in council last Tuesday, with the COPE alder- men opposed). The labour-backed civic alliance con- trasts the megaproject approach with a hous- ing policy that includes elected neighbour- hood planning boards with review and recommendation functions. These groups would in turn be part of a Vancouver plan- ning commission with representation on a council committee on planning and de- velopment. The group says the public involvement process will lead to “a city wide strategic plan to guide the growth and development of Vancouver (to be) submitted to the elec- torate.” Davies says the COPE plan has found “big support.” “There was real excitement there — there was finally a model for people to work _with. “Tt’s no wonder most people fight devel- opments in their neighbourhoods. They’ ve no idea what’s next.” Yorke too thinks the executive city con- cept alienates not only residents but smaller developers as well. “There has been a sig- nificant section of smaller developers frozen out by Campbell’s pandering to Li Ka-shing (owner of the former Expo lands), Marathon and the VLC (Properties, a controversial NPA project using private money to develop housing on city land).” Ald. Jonathan Baker, running as an inde- pendent this election, is one of those who represents the smaller business people, and his rejection at the NPA nominating meeting is significant, Yorke says. He also notes developer Morris Wosk’s anger at being denied a council hearing for a proposal to build 350 units of low-cost housing. Anti-NPA sentiments by the likes of ar- chitect Gerald Hamilton, a former president of the business group, the Downtown Van- couver Association, are further indications of a split in traditional conservative ranks. As are the candidacies of five independents including former mayor Jack Volrich, he points out. : Yorke says the NPA is also being targeted by “the widespread opposition to the secon- dary suites issue.” The so-called “legaliza- tion” process has disrupted neighbourhoods, threatens needed low-cost housing, and is costing far more than it produces in results. And according to a secret poll conducted for the NPA, the alliance is faring poorly, Yorke says. Eriksen thinks the right-wingers are smarting because of their refusal to disclose sources of campaign funds, something COPE has done for several elections. “We're proud of our labour backing. What the NPA is really is, ‘We’re ash- amed,’” he charges. Among COPE’s supporters are the city’s unionized firefighters, upset over reductions to pumper crews and the sale of the only fireboat by the NPA. In a brief the fire- fighters criticize the NPA’s current about- face, which envisions a fleet of new fire- boats and a barge — which collectively cannot pump as much water as the old one, now in service in San Francisco. Other NPA black eyes include advertis- ing that has drawn attention, but the wrong kind. A recent four-page spread in the com- munity weekly, The Courier, was criticized for creating the impression that the collec- tion of articles plugging NPA candidates was in fact normal copy in the newspaper — because the four pages were interspersed with regular pages, and did not carry anotice that they were advertising. Civic New Democratic council candidate David Levi has filed a complaint with the B.C. Press Council. The “Hard Work and Decency” slogan shows the NPA campaign is tired and the organization is “completely on the defen- sive,” Yorke says. “The fact is, the right in this city is divided. And the left is united. And thanks to the outstanding performance of Jim Green, we’ve a better than average chance of turning this election around.” _ 9 plebiscites in Van. | Parks commissioner Pat Wilson charges that the dominant group on Vancouver parks board is engaging in scare tactics over op- position to the board’s $40-million zoo ex- pansion plan. Wilson, an aldermanic candidate for the Committee of Progressive Electors, said statements that the parks board would kill the present zoo or dismantle the popular miniature railway in Stanley Park are simply not true. “Statements such as those are typical of the Non-Partisan Association. They are nothing but scare tactics,” she charges. COPE, the Civic New Democrats, and several environmental and community groups.are asking Vancouver voters to vote “no” to the first stage of the proposed expan- sion plan, which will entail the loss of several trees in the park. The zoo plebiscite is one of five that will be on the ballot when voters trek to the polls on Nov. 17. The others are: ¢ A question asking voters if they support the federal government’s Goods and Ser- vices Tax. COPE urges a loud “no” on this one. ¢ Questions asking public support for proposed infrastructure improvements — streets and public works — approval of a new main building for the library, and ap- proval of a parks upgrading plan. COPE urges a “‘yes” on those three plebiscites. Volunteers needed E-Day A “veritable army” of volunteers is needed on election day, says the Committee of Progressive Electors. “Everybody who can walk or hold a phone to their ear should be there on Nov. 17,” says John Church, co-ordinator of the 1990 COPE campaign. Enumeration for this year’s civic election was based on the latest provincial list, which increased the number of Vancouver voters by some 60,000 names — many of those residing on the COPE-supporting east side of Vancouver, Church says. “Combined with the favourable political winds, it gives us an opportunity to put progressive candidates on council, school board and parks board,” he notes. Volunteers are needed to phone and drive voters to the polls. COPE’s number is 874-6441.