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ptfry.bsky.social
Pete Fry
@ptfry.bsky.social
1.9K followers 320 following 180 posts
Vancouver City Councillor. Fighting corruption and greed.
UBCM Director, planning commission, arts/culture, dog-guy. Green.
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ptfry.bsky.social
On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, thinking about the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis, along with hundreds of thousands of dissidents, LGBT, Roma, people with disabilities. Reflecting on those horrors, the statement "never again" and the systems that enable genocide today and ongoing.
Lit candles against a dark background - a symbolic representation of International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27, 2026 at 3:50 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
Meanwhile - the right wing trolls see my reasonable comments quite differently. Cue the anonymous hewers of outrage and drawers of rhetoric to spin up some angry misinformation...
January 14, 2026 at 9:12 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
Today, as Trump awarded new "FIFA Peace Prize" his militarized ICE agents are targeting football-loving racialized migrants

Wednesday, I ask Vancouver to affirm our commitment to Sanctuary City: Access Without Fear as part of our FIFA Human Rights Plan. Please
council.vancouver.ca/20251210/doc...
PHOTO: Donald Trump celebrates 'great honour' of winning FIFA peace prize, shaking hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with cup in foreground
December 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
'Twas weeks before Christmas
And staff at the City
Checked stockings for pink slips
Such a Holiday pity...
"'Tis best for our budget!" laughed our malevolent hero
"More layoffs to come, 'cause Zero Means Zero!"

www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
AI generated Grinch in front of cartoon rendering of Vancouver skyline. Grinch is smiling as snow falls lightly around and red Dr Seuss style lettering at top right reads "Zero Means Zero!"
December 5, 2025 at 12:51 AM
ptfry.bsky.social
Zero Means Zero Meets FIFA
Staff report Dec 9 recommends terminating 10/11 Advisory Committees. As the World Cup looms and we've yet to see a Human Rights Plan, volunteer-led citizens advisories are scrapped.
Eliminating Committees saves $160,000 @ department targeted by #zeromeanszero cuts
Vancouver logo atop a staff report dated Dec 1, 2025. Reads in part: Recommendations THAT Council change the term of all Council Advisory Committees (Type A Civic Agencies), except for the Urban Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Committee, to end on January 30, 2026. Purpose To seek Council approval to change the term for 10 of the 11 “Type A” Council Advisory Committees to end on January 30, 2026, to address timing constraints and capacity pressures arising from the simultaneous scheduling demands of an intense Council and Public Hearing meeting schedule due to significant volume of public hearing referrals, FIFA World Cup 2026, and the 2026 general local election.
December 4, 2025 at 1:54 AM
ptfry.bsky.social
TODAY: Budget day at City Hall
November 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
THANK YOU Vancouver!
On doctor’s orders I’m reclined and elevating my leg after a torn calf muscle. But rest assured I’m gratefully watching/listening to the various Vancouverites speaking out against the cuts to staff and services behind ABC’s opaque #zeromeanszero 2026 austerity budget
Photo of cozy dark room with open laptop in foreground, in background a bare foot backlit by white wall. The laptop is open to live feed of city council budget meeting.
November 13, 2025 at 2:45 AM
ptfry.bsky.social
There’s still time to let council know what you think of the proposed 2026 “zero means zero” budget

Budget presentation and speakers begin Nov 12, more info and deadline below

council.vancouver.ca/20251112/spe...
November 11, 2025 at 6:05 AM
ptfry.bsky.social
Today at City Council
Drake meme: shuns: ABC: INVESTING EMPTY HOMES TAX REVENUE INTO SOCIAL HOUSING FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN loves: ABC: RETURNING EMPTY HOMES TAX REVENUE TO DEVELOPERS FOR UNSOLD CONDO UNITS
November 5, 2025 at 11:55 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
With no comment from ABC Councillors: Motion to extend votes to youth FAILS at ABC's hand. Despite ample evidence, a real imperative for youth engagement, and a clear path to enact.

While they are at it ABC vote down safety for trick or treaters and SRA protections against predatory speculation.
October 29, 2025 at 6:55 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
You might have heard about the mayor’s new “zero means zero” austerity budget and the defeat yesterday of his scheme to sell off public land to build for profit housing to raise revenue for “council priorities”. Part of his imperative to run the city like a business
I explain…
October 22, 2025 at 4:16 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
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
October 9, 2025 at 3:37 AM
ptfry.bsky.social
Inside joke at #vanpoli
Zero means zero
October 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
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
September 29, 2025 at 11:10 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
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
August 27, 2025 at 2:48 AM
ptfry.bsky.social
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.”
August 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
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
July 23, 2025 at 4:32 AM
ptfry.bsky.social
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...
July 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
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.
June 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
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.
1/3🧵
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.
June 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
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
May 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
Safe, resilient and sustainable cities, another UN Sustainable Development Goal, in their words: Slums, also known as informal settlements, lack basic services and are often characterized by overcrowding and inadequate housing, posing significant challenges to sustainability and resilience.
May 20, 2025 at 6:52 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
The situation has only grown more dire for insanitation resulting from lack of public washrooms. Vancouver has experienced recent outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant dysentery. Clean water and sanitation are identified as one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 4/6
Image from UN Sustainable Development Goal # 6, Clean Water and Sanitation - highlighting the need for Sanitation for All
May 20, 2025 at 6:52 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
While Vancouver is well outfitted with public washrooms distributed in parks throughout our city, the situation changes drastically when you consider hours and accessibility. Most park washrooms are only open dusk to dawn. Human biology isn’t quite as scheduled. 3/6
Open Map image showing all public washrooms (including in public parks and recreation facilities) open in the daytime city-wide Open Map image showing all public washrooms that are open evenings / 24hrs city-wide
May 20, 2025 at 6:52 PM
ptfry.bsky.social
What if we prioritized public toilets & drop-in spaces over costly decampments, sweeps & street flushing? My May 21 resolution asks Council to rethink our approach to street disorder, with drop-ins and public toilets. #VanPoli 🧵 1/6

🔗 council.vancouver.ca/20250521/doc...
Picture of litter strewn and insanitary alley off Hasting Street
May 20, 2025 at 6:52 PM