Rob McDowell is VanRamblings’ favourite of the independent candidates seeking a seat on Vancouver City Council in the 2018 municipal election.
VanRamblings heartily endorses MCDOWELL, Robert — 17th from the bottom of the randomized Councillor ballot list, which makes it relatively easy for you to find his name, and cast a vote for a man who we believe and know to be brilliant, a true democrat, and one of the most qualified candidates to seek elected office in recent Vancouver political history.
A careful and judicious listening to the audio of the video above will only serve to confirm for you our assessment of the accomplished Robert McDowell — who is a must-vote when you go to the polls this month (advance polls, October 10 – 17; Election Day, Saturday, October 20th).
VanRamblings recalls the joy in Rob’s voice when he called us late in the morning of Tuesday, January 15, 2015, when Supreme Court Justice Mark McEwan issued his reasons for judgement in a groundbreaking ruling that killed a Yaletown development after a flawed land swap process, that reignited election criticisms over transparency and fairness at Vancouver City Hall. Rob excitedly read this passage of the ruling to VanRamblings …
“I have concluded in this case that the public hearing and the development permit processes were flawed in that the City has taken an unduly restrictive view of the discussion that should have been permitted to address the true nature and overall cost/benefit of the 508/1099 project to the City and its residents,” McEwan wrote.
“A public hearing is not just an occasion for the public to blow off steam: it is a chance for perspectives to be heard that have not been heard as the City’s focus has narrowed during the project negotiations. Those perspectives, in turn, must be fairly and scrupulously considered and evaluated by council before making its final decision.”
Revolutionary, Rob called the ruling …
“It means, going forward, that City Hall and City Council must not only hear from the public,” Rob told VanRamblings, “they must ensure that the hearing process is fair, open and transparent, that all and any member of the public who is concerned about a decision Council will rule on must be heard, but what’s more, the ruling stipulates that City Hall and Council must do more than simply listen to the public, City Hall’s Planning and all other city departments must incorporate the ideas heard from the public when presenting a finalized plan to City Council for adjudication.”
For the past five years, VanRamblings & the accomplished Robert McDowell have met once a month at Trees Organic on Homer Street to talk politics — but not just talk politics, rather to influence the decision-making that goes on both at Council and Park Board. More often than not, our respective and collective endeavours have proven successful in achieving a decision at Council and Park Board that best serves the public interest.
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You won’t be surprised to read that Vision Vancouver challenged the ruling of the Honourable Supreme Court Justice, the ruling overruled in the always conservative Court of Appeals. For awhile, though, it looked good for us.
VanRamblings knows Rob McDowell. We know him to be a democrat, to not have missed a meeting of Vancouver City Council in seven years (sometimes, when he’s working in some far flung place across the globe, Rob will watch Council meetings through the video feed), to be eminently qualified to sit as a democratic and engaged member of Vancouver City Council, and to be your advocate at City Hall, the diplomatic and mediating force (working in concert with OneCity Vancouver candidate for Vancouver City Council, the estimable Christine Boyle) representing your dreams, your hopes and desires for a better, fairer, more diverse, friendlier and more welcoming Vancouver, breaking down the barriers of isolation that separate us, in the process building community, and a sense of place and of home.
VanRamblings asks that you save a vote for MCDOWELL, Robert when you go to the polls this month — you’ll be glad you did!
