Thread by @j_mcelroy

My shift is over, but I‘m a messy local politics nerd that lives for drama, so I’m in West Vancouver for the vote to stop the B-Line at Park Royal, where council is jam packed

We’re at the fun part of any big council meeting, where dozens of people get to learn about a planned building higher up in the agenda they don’t really care about

Former West Vancouver Mayor Michael Smith would joke to me that “things move slowly in West Van,” and I would chuckle, but staff just took five minutes to explain how to comment in a public hearing, and it’s the most recent piece of evidence that Smith was not joking.

What everyone is here for: the B-Line debate.

What is happening now: three 11-year-old boys are explaining to council why plastic bag use should be decreased.

Ah, local politics.

We're juuuust about at the West Vancouver B-Line motion, so while we're waiting, feel free to watch my story from tonight

We're beginning the debate, with Mayor Mary-Ann Booth explaining how the process goes, from motion to public comments, to council debates to a vote.

"I know it sounds complex, but it’s not that difficult," she says, stretching the truth depending on what city you're in.

Councillor Peter Lambur begins explaining his motion.

“There have literally been a flood of letters to mayor and council,” he says.

That's not what "literally" means, so we're off to a good start!

Lambur: "West Vancouverites are not opposed to better transit ... it may just be what is a good idea elsewhere isn’t the type of solution that’s a good fit in Ambleside."

We're now in the middle of a 15-minute debate between councillors over whether the preamble clauses to the motion rule out bus lanes or a terminus station west of Park Royal and I've changed my mind and will be staying on the road forever instead of covering council meetings

Programming note: West Vancouver Mayor Mary-Ann Booth has already said that once we hit 10pm tonight, council will adjourn and pick it up tomorrow, which means I *may* be a grumpy gus at 10:01.

There's a group of around 10-20 people here against the B-Line who have been chirping at councillor Nora Gambioli anytime she says something they don't like, so we're already at the point where gavels are being pounded by the mayor.

yayyyyyy democracy

Councillor Sharon Thompson thanks everyone for showing up, says that all the input has been "top notch."

"This isn’t NIMBYism, this is people speaking to what is important to them."

I mean, these things are not mutually exclusive, but okay.

We have our first speaker.

He is an older man with a British accent, who says grandiose things like "history is replete with doomsayers who use fear to stand in the way of the progress."

People applaud loudly, and to be honest I'd be fine if there was no cheering or booing.

"I am certainly not culturally entitled," says one speaker against the B-Line.

"We West Vancouverites, who are clear thinkers, are opposed to the B-Line, and we don’t want this to ruin the fabric and the culture of our community."

We've had 3 speakers for the B-Line, 3 speakers against the B-Line, and 6 speakers that have ended with half the audience applauding loudly, which is *definitely* going to sway councillors and darn it I'm already grumpy

We have a speaker against the B-Line, who says today's decision "has ramifications not only for the safety and well-being of our families, but also our homes' equities."

friendly reminder we are speaking about a new bus going through a place where buses already go

We've had three speakers in a row against the B-Line — the most recent one saying it won't help with greenhouse gas emissions, since the buses will sit empty most of the time.

(this argument has been given about 30% of the time, in my experience)

Another person against the B-Line says science doesn't support the extension because there will be too many empty buses, and says the one good thing out of this proposal is that "it has rekindled activism" in West Vancouver.

going on my gravestone

https://twitter.com/ZorkTarkington/status/1102783095281860608

A person in favour of the B-Line says that that TransLink data shows ridership in Dundarave eclipses the number of people that use Braid SkyTrain station.

I'd like to use this moment to highlight this wonderful link on urban dictionary.

"I'd encourage you all to vote with facts ... and reason," says one person in favour of the B-Line.

Pro tip: trying to change a politician's vote by implying they're anti-facts and anti-reason generally doesn't work!

A new speaker says he's pro B-Line.

"It's not a perfect solution, and I’m hoping council will be able to make improvements to it."

Then says smarter people have given detailed arguments for it, so he won't bore council.

This man is breaking every rule of public hearings.

New speaker begins with "Greetings, earthlings," and I'm ready for anything.

Update from this speaker:

- Said someone involved with the consultation had an Indian accent
- Said "yes, I’m 69, it’s hard to believe"
- Adds "It’s my hometown, I’m Huck Finn on Dundarave."
- Adds because of all the pollution, "we're all going to be gagging."

💯💯💯💯💯

A new speaker against the B-Line calls buses "20th century rubber-tired vehicles", suggests in the future Uber and Lyft will be around, driving up to 6 people to wherever they need to go, which is a much better solution.

"Don’t destroy the quality of life," here, he warns.

“I didn’t plan a speech, because I’m absolutely convinced I’m not going to change anybody’s mind,” says a new speaker, speaking, with a speech.

A new speaker, whom hasn't said whether he supports or opposes the B-Line, begins by lamenting "the polarized nature" of the debate.

"Part of it is the half answers we get from each side, half-truths at times, but some unreliable statistics."

This man is at a higher level.

"The reporters in this room are anticipating a [negative] result tonight. Let’s prove them wrong," says a member of the Capilano Students Union in favour of the B-Line, and I am now anticipating not getting a result tonight because it will go past 10pm, so JOKE'S ON YOU

"I am of course, a supporter of taking action on environmental climate change … but I don’t want Ambleside businesses to suffer. They’re going to lose their businesses, can’t feed their families."

A man against the B-Line is now telling people of a conversation he allegedly had with a TransLink employee, who could not answer any of his questions.

Says TransLink man said "there will be fewer blue buses on the road, to make the B-Lines go faster."

Audience goes "oooooh"

We're now at 15 speakers wanting the B-Line to end at Park Royal, 19 speakers who want it all the way to Dundarave, and a bunch of people are making smart points on both sides, but there is 280 characters and you're following me for only a *moderate* level of minutiae, so.

John Cave, who is against the B-Line (and who last meeting said people for the B-Line didn't pay taxes or own businesses) just said this to students:

"I do not feel like an old guy, out of touch with my world. I have seen far more of the planet than many of you ever will."

Another speaker against the B-Line says people in West Vancouver are usually Type A personalities, and don't have time to wait for the bus? (I will transcribe later)

Also says B.C. now a record number of insured vehicles, so there can't be *that* much demand for more transit.

Also, West Vancouver has this policy where everybody has to say where they live before they speak to council — is this a requirement at any other municipality?

Some people in the crowd shout out "say where you live!" if people don't start with that, and it's vaguely weird.

Now a man is here with a VERY detailed proposal for a shared bus lane, says “I’m going to take some time with this,” goes well over allotted time, mayor asks if any future speaker wants to give up their time, there is shouting, the falcon cannot hear the falconer

oh no

a person is speaking to council and quoting my article at length

but he pronounced my last name correctly, so

Nigel Malkin, leader of the anti B-Line forces, with a brisk speech to council.

Focuses most of his ire on the consultation process, argues that "TransLink lied" about ridership models, based on "faulty, non-existent data."

Also a motion was just made to go past 10pm wheeeeee

A person against the B-Line talks about the dangers of the bus stopping or going around an elementary school, says the diesel emissions can harm young people.

"We need to protect our children, surely we can all agree on this point."

FINALLY I CAN USE THIS GIF

important question, there is no indication when the speaker list will conclude, how long should i stay

Hey! It's longtime Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Al De Genova!

He starts namedropping Condon, Beasley, Toderian, this is the good stuff.

(yes i'm weird)

He's for the motion passing tonight, but hopes a compromise can be made where the B-Line goes to Ambleside.

A new speaker opposes the B-Line, says it only provides flawed transit solutions for a limited area of West Van.

"If we make a fly-by B-Line, that is like a wind tunnel through our communities, I don’t want to walk on the street."

People ... people still walk on Broadway.

Ladies and gentlemen, your moment of zen.

Another person against the B-Line argues that the data provided by TransLink is flawed and cites their own experience with half-empty buses.

“Instead of just reading reports, and going by what figures you’re given, go on a bus and take a look at what you see.”

honestly, at this point a pro b-line person could say "a vote against the b-line makes you a bad person and condemns all of us to burn in a climate change hell" and an anti b-line person could quote abe simpson verbatim and i would be like "yep, okay, all perfectly reasonable"

All the speakers are done!

Now, there's a motion ... for council to debate and vote on this NEXT Monday.

life is a cruel prank

The motion to defer the vote on the B-Line until next Monday's council meeting passes.

fun fact i will be #onthemcelroad then and so this ends my west vancouver coverage for the forseeable future

In summary and conclusion:

Earlier I tweeted about a particularly novel argument against the B-Line, but said I would transcribe it later because I got lost part way through.

Here it is.