Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Sep 3

"There were 13,880 applicants for Seniors Subsidized Housing, of these 884 (6%) applicants were housed while 12,996 applicants remained on the waiting at year end. The number of applicants waiting has increased by 61% over the past five years and 13% compared to the previous year. "

www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

RadReduction (Larry Edwards) @radreduction.bsky.social · Sep 2

Example for Canada: Hawaii Dept. of Transportation's draft GHG plan reacts to the reality of climate breakdown, cutting cruise ships by 75% by 2035 & no ships >3,000 passengers. (Cruise is unnecessary, discretionary travel.) Road & flying measures too.

www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article...

Now, Hawaii Transportation Plan Targets Cruise Sector With Phased Reductions to Tourism Ship Arrivals By 2045 to Meet Net-Zero Goals - Travel And Tour World

Hawaiʻi plans to cut cruise ship visits by 75% and phase out large vessels by 2035 to meet state transportation emissions goals.

www.travelandtourworld.com

2 4 5

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Aug 21

Wealth tax. The equitable pathway to build affordable housing supply. share.google/ues7Z6AA2HTl...

Can a nation in crisis rely on the baby boomer generation to step up? I think the UK is about to find out | Phillip Inman

A raid on property wealth and pensions is being signalled by the Treasury, and it has sound reasons for doing just that, says Phillip Inman, the Guardian’s senior economics writer

share.google

1

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Fair Sailing @fairsailing.bsky.social · Aug 7

It's a 3-cruise-ship day in Victoria, for a change. JK, it happens all the time. Today we get Anthem, Riviera, Edge. The Hat Trick of Horror, a Trio of Fines Avoidance. Yep, they're here as required by an 1886 American law to dodge $$millions in fines. Victoria, Pit Stop of the Pacific.

Magazine cover for August issue of parody Cruise Exec - we do greenwashing right. Image of large cruise ship spewing pollution over Victoria.

1 2 4

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Aug 3

Here's an affordable alternative wayhttps://share.google/qeHmYtrkwWe0ZM8t0

Modular apartments in downtown Calgary aim to address housing

A six-storey modular apartment building is set to be completed in downtown Calgary this December, just eight months after construction began.

share.google

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Aug 3

Here's an affordable alternative way. share.google/qeHmYtrkwWe0...

Modular apartments in downtown Calgary aim to address housing

A six-storey modular apartment building is set to be completed in downtown Calgary this December, just eight months after construction began.

share.google

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Aug 1

Crazy to allow/encourage these rates - it's as if our civic leaders #1 concern is supporting the well-off. What a narrow way to live life. www.timescolonist.com/opinion/edit...

Editorial: Low-income housing needs to be a priority

University Heights’ prices are far higher than average rental rates in the region.

www.timescolonist.com

2 1

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Jul 10

Conflict is definitely changing the way we (Canada) do business; eg our favourite chocolatier... share.google/XxdkBEj72JP0...

‘Buy Canadian’ movement pushes Purdys to sell outside own stores for first time in 118-year-old history

Purdys Chocolatier says the buy Canadian movement has generated so much demand for its products that it decided to sell them outside its own stores for the first time in its 118-year-old history.

share.google

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Jul 2

Cannes is banning cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 people. That would be a progressive move for our @victoria.ca council to take, too, in support of sustainable tourism. www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...

Another European city issues cruise ship ban as overtourism anger grows

Nice also announced limits on cruise ships earlier this year

www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Nicole Chaland @nicolechaland.bsky.social · Jun 13

I took a lovely 68-year-old homeless lady out for b-day brunch yesterday. She's lived in a #yyj shelter for over 1 year.

There is nowhere to store or charge her scooter at the shelter.

@ravikahlon.bsky.social & @jeremycaradonnayyj.bsky.social pls ramp up supply of $500/mo homes.

1 6

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Fair Sailing @fairsailing.bsky.social · May 29

Today Victoria endures NCL Joy and RCL Anthem. Here for a combined 26 hours, you can taste and smell the pollution throughout the portside residential neighbourhood and into downtown. It's a close-the-windows day because Victoria's cruise industry privatizes profits & socializes costs/harms.

2 1 3

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · May 23

Is James Bay the only neighbourhood in Greater Victoria where residents close their windows to escape hours of pollution each day? I'm curious. I've lived in big cities where 7 x 24 smog and general pollution was a definite issue. That doesn't seem to be the case here, with cruise exception.

2 2

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

The Breach @breachmedia.ca · May 7

Identifying subjects of stories is basic journalism—but when it comes to people committing racist acts, Canadian media regularly blur out and protect their identities.

@desmondcole.bsky.social breaks down why anonymizing racism isn’t just bad journalism—it’s a gift to white supremacy.

How Canadian media provide cover for racist acts

YouTube video by The Breach

youtu.be

3 44 97

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · May 5

Alas, "displaced" is an appropriate word. Many long-term tenants (especially seniors) forced to relocate reluctantly leave their neighbourhood, to get anew. To them, its a tragic loss of their community, place-based.

Victoria to look into increasing compensation for displaced tenants

Coun. Stephen Hammond had wanted staff to look at specific levels of compensation for tenants displaced by property redevelopment, but that idea was rejected

www.timescolonist.com

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · May 2

Universal basic income as a new social contract for the age of AI blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessrevi...

blogs.lse.ac.uk

2

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · May 2

I'm glad the piece touched on the lack of housing variety (even if at bottom end, shelters), suitable for low-income seniors.

1

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Nicole Chaland @nicolechaland.bsky.social · May 2

Most seniors who find themselves without stable housing are too embarrassed to speak up. Good for you, Maggie. I hope you get subsidized, safe housing this weekend.

www.timescolonist.com/local-news/h...

Homeless senior lands at Rock Bay, surrounded by open drug use

When 73-year-old Maggie Harris was discharged from Victoria General Hospital, she was sent to Cool Aid’s Rock Bay Landing shelter because she had nowhere else to live

www.timescolonist.com

1 2 3

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Fair Sailing @fairsailing.bsky.social · May 1

Victoria is Canada's busiest cruise ship port-of-call, with 320 ships scheduled in 2025. When 3 cruise ships are in port at the same time, these ships contribute 47% of Victoria's GHGs-per-hour. This will occur almost 50 times this season. So yeah, 'transportation.'

Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · May 1

BC Admits It Won't Come Close to 2025 and 2030 Climate Goals via @thetyee.ca

Climate accountability report shows "emissions spiking thanks to increases in sectors like gas fracking and transportation."
thetyee.ca/News/2025/05...

BC Admits It Won’t Come Close to 2025 and 2030 Climate Goals | The Tyee

The province’s new climate report walks back last year’s positive forecasts.

thetyee.ca

1 2

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Apr 29

Manitoba is Canada's heartland. I know it as a creative, unique mix of east, west, north, indigenous... when it comes to thought and innovation in the political sphere.

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Nicole Chaland @nicolechaland.bsky.social · Apr 28

MASSIVE GAP

“If they have a forced move, if their building sells to somebody else in the market and it gets redeveloped … they are very, very at risk of homelessness.”

Atkey said seniors are the fastest growing demographic among .. homelessness in the region.

www.thestar.com/business/met...

Metro Vancouver housing figures underscore massive gap in affordable units

VANCOUVER - The latest housing report from Metro Vancouver underscores the significant gap between current affordable rentals and the number of units required to prevent more people from falling into

www.thestar.com

1 2

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa @penalosag.bsky.social · Apr 16

Thanks Ben. People who have a car spend over 20% income on mobility; those who walk bike, public transit, 4%.
Imagine if people downsize from 2 to 1 or 1 to 0 cars. Winning a lottery, 16% add. income every year. Forever!
Where does it go? Local economy, restaurants, hardware, recreation… #ShopLocal

1 1

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Apr 16

The car industry makes its profit on the financialization of car buying; eg interest on your car payments. More public sharing of that fact and of the financial benefits of life without car ownership would increase good feelings for public transit.

1 2

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Apr 12

Given the CDC layoffs, I wonder if there will be any local (Victoria) health controls re: disembarking passengers? Perhaps @mattdellvictoria.bsky.social (James Bay liaison) would know?

1 2

Reposted by Ben Ziegler

Fair Sailing @fairsailing.bsky.social · Apr 12

Ships will arrive, often three at a time, into the high-density, majority seniors residential neighbourhood where the cruise port is located. What could go wrong?

loveisphere @loveisphere.bsky.social · Apr 12

Dear Victoria neighbours, WATCH

300+ cruise ships and one million passengers are scheduled to arrive at Ogden Point this season.

At least 12 outbreaks have been documented on cruise ships so far in 2025, making headlines for sickening hundreds of people. #ElbowsUp

www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-cru...

1 3 5

Ben Ziegler @benziegler.bsky.social · Mar 31

The tension between Canada and U.S. goes way, way back. A good overview from Australia public radio. Fun fact: this isn't the first rodeo re: "51st state" provocation! www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Not so tolerant Allies: The story of Canada and the United States - ABC listen

President Trump not only want to make America great, he also wants to make it bigger and incorporating Canada as the 51st state would certainly do that – except for the fact that Canada is a sovereign...

www.abc.net.au