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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · 2d

Original motion:

council.vancouver.ca/20251008/doc...

council.vancouver.ca

Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · 2d

Unfortunately, what could have been a painless, benign improvement to code of conduct w/ sanctions even in the case of a conflicted council majority (would not have applied to recent transgressions) was rejected by ABC in favour of watered down tokenism. Future councils can still skate around rules.

Voting screen shows Councillors Fry, Maloney and Orr voting against ABC’s heavily amended and toothless version of Fry’s original motion to better enforce Vancouver’s code of conduct

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · 3d

Inside joke at #vanpoli
Zero means zero

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · 11d

Reckless. Feckless.
After squandering his first 3 years on bitcoin, unelecting Park Board, and record tax increases. Sim's promised zero budget means big cuts (likely ~$100m) First up, Equity. More to come.
“a desperate act in the last year of his term,”

Screenshots from Vancouver Sun and CTV News, respective headlines read "Big cuts are coming to Vancouver City Hall. Will they be 'reckless' of cost saving efficiencies Ken Sim has long promised" and "City of Vancouver shutters Equity Office" - pictured are Ken Sim and ABC councillors and an arial shot of City Hall

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 27

Since neither the Integrity Commissioner nor Council can mete punishment or sanction for ABC’s transgressions (underscoring futility of huge taxpayer-funded legal bill), the Province are promising to step in and my colleagues and I resolve to strengthen Code vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...

B.C. says it will strengthen oversight of municipal governments

The B.C. government says it will explore implementing mandatory codes of conduct for local governments and strengthening enforcement.

vancouversun.com

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 27

Nate Lewis at Vancity Lookout did a great round-up and confirmed ABC’s insinuation that my complaint will cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, is actually for the mayor et al legal fees to refute and block their investigation and indictment
www.vancitylookout.com/p/abc-party-...

ABC Party found to have breached Vancouver council open meeting rules

A newly-formed non-profit society is challenging the city and park board's process in deciding to build a half-sized pool to replace the existing facility.

www.vancitylookout.com

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 27

I break down the breakdown of integrity at City Hall, why there was an investigation, and what it means that the Integrity Commissioner has ruled Ken Sim and ABC have broken the Code of Conduct
#vancouver #vanpoli

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 23

"One stranger attack is too many. Obviously, we want to ensure public safety is paramount for everyone who visits, lives and works in Vancouver, but we don’t need unnecessary fear-mongering to drive political agendas, and ultimately scare people away from our city."

www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

VPD’s media blitz on stranger assaults potentially tarnished city’s international reputation

A CTV News investigation into a Vancouver police media blitz regarding stranger assaults in the city during the 2022 election year prompted concern from international tour operators.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 19

Transparency:
If *as the mayor's office is suggesting* the departure of previous and hiring of new city manager was
"made by a vote of Council following all established procedures" --then release any agendas, minutes and votes to debunk "baseless suggestions"

vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...

Text from screenshot of Vancouver Sun article:

In an emailed statement Monday, Sim’s office said: “There have been no inappropriate or closed door meetings related to the departure of Paul Mochrie or hiring of Donny van Dyk whatsoever. Any suggestions otherwise are completely baseless.”

“The complaint is based on second-hand rumours from what a resident heard in the media, not any sort of actual evidence,” said the statement, adding that Mochrie’s departure was a mutual decision between him and the mayor, and van Dyk’s hiring was “made by a vote of Council and followed all established procedures for the hiring of a new city manager.”

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 18

Zavarise livetweeting Vancouver mayor's cringe comments at his bitcoin bit this weekend, but this one belies the fundamental problem with Sim's administration: a disregard for rules and legal principles of local government, which he dismisses as bureaucracy that must get out of his way

isabella zavarise @isabellazavarise.bsky.social · Aug 18

Sim says staff report will come back in the fall. Says he underestimated how tough it is to get things through the beeuroacracy.

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Reposted by Pete Fry

isabella zavarise @isabellazavarise.bsky.social · Aug 18

Sim says bitcoin mining is great for environment.

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 14

Since the mayor’s scheme for the City to invest public funds into crypto has already been debunked and dismissed by the Province, it’s fair to ask if the mayor’s personal interests are in conflict with running the city in a way expected by the taxpayers of Vancouver dailyhive.com/vancouver/va...

Vancouver mayor attending bitcoin event featuring peculiar Kits Pool panel | Business & Tech

Crypto heating?

dailyhive.com

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Aug 14

Obviously, the mayor spends a lot of time hustling crypto: as reported extensively, he’s using his literal and figurative office to promote digital lucre over a multitude of videos and conferences in the last year - how much are taxpayers spending on mayor's hobby? www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Could Bitcoin mining be used to heat Vancouver’s Kitsilano Pool?

A Vancouver group believes it has a solution to address financial and structural issues with the city’s popular Kitsilano Pool – Bitcoin mining.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jul 23

Left my digital radio on streaming last night, and thought Lisa Christiansen had taken over the Early Edition from @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social when I woke up to back-to-back Ozzy/Sabbath 🦇

I was, like: Sweet, Leave it off snooze
youtu.be/4DZBaW1nSNE?...

Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf

YouTube video by Harys Rodriguez

youtu.be

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jul 23

Vancouver was well served by City Manager Paul Mochrie, a skilled, thoughtful professional. I wish him the absolute best.

I've no insight or agreement on Sim and Mochrie conversation that "mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change" - but it's a big loss for CofV.
#vanpoli

Screenshot from internal City of Vancouver all staff memo, "Update to Staff: Paul Mochrie departure as Vancouver City Manager" reads:

Dear City of Vancouver Team Members,

I wanted to share with you that Paul Mochrie will be stepping down from his role as City Manager.

Paul and I mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change. I want to personally thank Paul for his 14 years of dedicated service to the City of Vancouver, including the last four as City Manager. His commitment to public service and to this city has been deeply appreciated, and we wish him nothing but success in the future.

Paul will be assisting with the transition over the coming weeks. In the meantime, Karen Levitt has been appointed Acting City Manager as we begin the process to fill the role permanently.

Thank you all for your continued dedication to serving the people of Vancouver.

Sincerely,

Ken Sim

Mayor, City of Vancouver

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jul 9

My motion at council today.
Time to pull the plug on garburators.
It's not just the cost borne by taxpayers for clogged sewers or wastewater treatment of otherwise divert-able organics; in multi unit buildings in-sink disposals can result expensive blockages & floods.

www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Here’s why a Vancouver councillor wants to see a ban on garburators

A Vancouver councillor is hoping to move the city closer to banning the use of in-sink garbage disposals to get rid of food waste that ought to be composted instead.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jul 9

Today, Vancouver finally set to approve bylaw for 30km/h speed limits on local residential streets.

Six years since this resolution passed at Council/UBCM; passed again unanimously in 2024; building on work of local/global #VisionZero, active transportation advocates...

Slow, safe, stoked. 😀

Screenshot from an April 2019 tweet by @ptfry features a photo of a road sign reading 30 km/h with the caption:

My motion for 30k/h speed limit on residential streets comes before City Council Tuesday. It's work based on advocacy of many local orgs like @WeAreHub and @bccycle, the previous council, my own personal experiences, and a growing worldwide safety-first movement to slow down...

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jun 21

Not knocking VPD
But we need clarity in chain of command. We need to know that authorizations from the police office are not coming out from the back room of the mayor's office, but they're coming through the appropriate channels, and there's appropriate accountability

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Vancouver councillor calls for transparency from mayor over Downtown Eastside crime and drugs task force | CBC News

Coun. Pete Fry is calling for more transparency from Mayor Ken Sim and his office after it was revealed that the Vancouver Police Board was not aware of Task Force Barrage until it was announced to me...

www.cbc.ca

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jun 20

The legislated oversight board for the Vancouver Police only found out about the DTES street sweep operation Task Force Barrage and its $5m price tag after Sim and ABC caucus announced it in a public media event.
Legal? This seems inconsistent w/ 27 & 28 of the Police Act. Heckuva scoop here.

isabella zavarise @isabellazavarise.bsky.social · Jun 20

An oversight body whose role it is to develop the Vancouver Police Department’s budget, wasn’t part of the approval process for a multi-million dollar initiative aimed at targeting crime on the Downtown Eastside.

www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Vancouver Police Board learned about ‘Task Force Barrage’ through mayor’s announcement, chair says

An oversight body whose role it is to develop the Vancouver Police Department’s budget, wasn’t part of the approval process for a multi-million dollar initiative aimed at targeting crime on the Downto...

www.ctvnews.ca

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jun 18

Ironically, because your complaint was dismissed by the Integrity Commissioner, I can find no record of Lister on the city's IC bulletin register, which suggests the system works? Even a provincial IC (which I support in principle) wouldn't be able to stop a frivolous nuisance complaint...

Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jun 18

ABC rejected IC recommendation to dismiss frivolous complaints on review, instead to suspend their office & investigations. Claims of weaponization are political charade.

Quote independent review: "Just because a complaint is filed by a political rival does not mean it is a weaponized complaint"

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jun 18

That investigation: whether decisions were being made behind closed doors (contrary to local government law in BC). The out-of-order catch was that the independent review of the Integrity Commissioner (that would have predicated their suspension) was completed in February!

For the #vanpoli nerd:

screenshot from bylaw preamble:

EXPLANATION

A By-law to amend the Code of Conduct By-law No. 12886
regarding independent reviews

On July 24, 2024, Council directed staff to bring forward proposed amendments to the Code of
Conduct By-law regarding investigations by the Integrity Commissioner’s Office to facilitate a third-party independent review. The attached By-law will implement the proposed amendments
to the Code of Conduct By-law brought forward by staff in response to this resolution. Enactment of the attached By-law will implement Council’s resolution.

Director of Legal Services
August 6, 2024

Amendments to the by-law would have changed the Vancouver code of Conduct...

definition:
““suspension period” means the period running from August 6, 2024, through to that date which is 90 days after Council receives the recommendations arising from the independent review.”.

--

3. Council adds a new Part 8 in the correct numerical order as follows:
“PART 8
Independent Review
8.1 During the suspension period, the Integrity Commissioner shall continue to receive new complaints submitted pursuant to this By-law and shall continue to exercise the power to reject any complaint, or part of a complaint, that is not within the jurisdiction of this
By-law in accordance with section 6.13.

8.2 Notwithstanding any other provision in this By-law, during the suspension period the Integrity Commissioner shall not exercise any of the following powers provided for under this By-law with respect to an existing complaint received prior to the suspension period or a new complaint received during the suspension period:

a) the power to conduct a preliminary assessment of a complaint contained in section 6.15;
b) the power to conduct an informal resolution of a complaint contained in sections 6.17 through 6.23; and
c) the power to conduct a formal resolution or formal investigation of a
complaint in sections 6.24 through 6.28.A.

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jun 18

Thus ends the saga of ABC's attempts to circumnavigate transparency/accountability by suspending the watchdog; thwarted first by conflict of interest trying to silence their investigator, but ultimately/ironically by running out the clock on investigation into ABC
vancouversun.com/news/local-n...

'Stepping on a rake:' Despite Vancouver city council's attempt, integrity commissioner's work likely to continue

Dan Fumano: One thing ABC has accomplished here is to highlight what role the B.C. government should play in overseeing conduct

vancouversun.com

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · Jun 18

Yesterday, ABC's resolution to suspend Integrity Commissioner & investigations was declared out of order under section 8.7(f) of our Procedure Bylaw, nearly a year after it was introduced. I suggested it was "frivolous" --specifics of suspension period subject to independent review weren't met.
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Screenshot from Vancouver City Council meeting June 17, 2025. Councillor Pete Fry (centered in photo) gesticulating as he describes why ABC's resolution to suspend Vancouver's Integrity Commissioner and their active investigations should be ruled out of order. Fry is flanked on either side by councillors Dominato and Klassen.

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Pete Fry @ptfry.bsky.social · May 24

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Day of Music : free concerts at the 100 year old Orpheum Theatre and adjacent annex today.
A delight to introduce the Maestro Otto Tausk and the VSO this morning for rehearsal at the jewel of Vancouver’s Civic Thestres

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