Thread by @PtFry

Highlighting Mayor Sim’s ever-growing, secretive Office Budget

Coming recommendation to reallocate money from public service to political staff in mayor's office.
Sim has spent more (and showed up less) than any mayor predecessor. #vanpoli
Thread💰👀🧵
council.vancouver.ca/20240611/docum…

Since last election, budget reporting changed.

Compare '22 to '24 budgets:
Previously, Mayor & Councillor expenses were separate line items, they're now aggregated -perhaps b/c ABC Councillors pool their budgets into mayor's office -but it's harder to track spending 💸

We can dig a bit deeper into Open Data on the City's website though, and shows the Mayor's expenses in more detail. What is clear is that in 2022, the mayor's private office budget was $1.12m, in 2023 w/ Sim it was $1.61m. A half million jump 🤑
Source: opendata.vancouver.ca/explore/datase…

Beyond jump in budget for Sim's office, a notable expense:

Since Sept'23, $80,000 variously for strategic advisory services, communications plans, and monthly retainers to Wellington Advocacy, a Conservative-affiliated issues management and lobby firm 🤔
wellingtonadvocacy.com/who-we-are/

Wellington Advocacy is headed by Nick Koolsbergen, former staff to former PM Stephen Harper, premier Jason Kenney, campaign manager for Alberta's United Conservative Party, and oil and gas lobbyist for Alberta's "Energy War Room."
cbc.ca/news/canada/ed…

Why does this matter?
Sim and co. ran on the promise "An ABC Majority will limit partisan activity from Mayoral office staff"

*they also promised lobbyist registry, reduced FOI fees, and line item budgets*
- but limiting partisan seemed the bare minimum abcvancouver.ca/platform/

Today, Sim's office operates with no transparency or accountability waging highly partisan campaigns from abolishing Park Board to privatizing public assets, amidst allegations of interfering on PoliceBoard and intimidating political enemies.
It is paid for with your taxes.

Two years ago campaigning, Sim made hay calling out overstaffing & overspending by then-mayor Stewart. But as mayor, Sim has spent & staffed considerably more

*Tuesday's report recommends the $80k in video for clerks now goes to Sim's political office

Adding that Sim's attendance record (at Council and various boards) has (so far) been worse than any mayor in recent history... Which begs the question, who is doing the work in the mayor's office, and who is paying for it?

bc.ctvnews.ca/here-s-how-man…