Time for some very good news from our just-over-the-border friends in Port Moody. B.C. They’ve been fretting because the city just pre-released it’s “Beaver Management Plan” – you know the one they said they’d do to pacify the angry residents after their scheme “accidentally” drowned the kit last year.
Well the long-awaited beaver management plan turned down the imminently qualified Ben Dittbrenner to solve their problem, and instead employed a salmon-savvy husband and wife team that knew nothing about at all about the animals. Jim and Judy were getting panicked and ready to appeal the decision but then the nicest thing happened.
Canada voted last week.
You may have heard something about the other, more infamous and smokable parts of their decision. Turns out the city elections were even more exciting. Port Moody voted to throw the old bad mayor OUT and bring in the young enthusiastic and environmentally savvy man that Jim and Judy were backing.
TADA!!!
Tri-cities Election Results: Young mayors elected in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody
In Port Moody, challenger Rob Vagramov, who is 28 years old, beat incumbent Mike Clay. Vagramov denied Clay a third term as mayor with 4,545 votes to Clay’s 4,161, a difference of under 400 votes.
Vagramov’s campaign was based on what he called the “Metrotownification of Port Moody” with too many high-rise towers, which resonated with voters.
He and Clay clashed over the pace of real estate development. Clay felt a waterfront mill site, which sits near a park as well as transit, could be developed like the False Creek or Coal Harbour communities in Vancouver.
Vagramov’s stance on a slower pace of building was seen as an appeal to younger voters, but in late September, a video, filmed in 2014, showing Vagramov baiting a homeless person to drink beer in exchange for a sandwich
drew hot debate on social media.
What? You mean not selling every asset your city has as quickly as possible is popular with the voters? Next thing you know you’ll be telling me that urban green spaces and wildlife actually matter! Who knew?
CONGRATULATIONS JIM, JUDY AND ALL YOUR LUCKY BEAVERS!!! Things are looking a whole lot better today than they did last week!
Now we just have to take care of America. Which makes it a perfect time to post this.