Andy Yan
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ayan604.bsky.social
Andy Yan
@ayan604.bsky.social
10K followers 1.8K following 1.6K posts
An Urban Planner taking the World on one bite at a time.

Director, SFU City Program + Assoc Prof of Professional Practice, Urban Studies

My thoughts are my own.
IG: publicyan | Twitter: ayan604

https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/about/city-program
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ayan604.bsky.social
Andy Yan @ayan604.bsky.social · Feb 5
It is a tremendous honour to announce that I am a recipient of a King Charles III’s Coronation Medal.

This would not have been possible without the help, support, patience, + fortitude of family, friends, and colleagues over the years in my many lives.

www.sfu.ca/continuing-s...
ayan604.bsky.social
Tell City Council: Not another giveaway!

Reject Parq Casino gambling expansion

On Tues, Feb 17, Council will hold a public hearing to decide whether Parq Casino’s can the slots by 50% - effectively adding another casino downtown.

#vanpoli #vanre

actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Tell Vancouver City Council: Reject Parq Casino Gaming Expansion
Vancouverites have already said no to downtown casino expansion. Will City Council ignore the will of the people and reverse that decision for minimal public benefit? The BC Lottery Corporation (B...
actionnetwork.org
February 11, 2026 at 5:59 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
Tell City Council: Not another giveaway!

Reject Parq Casino gambling expansion

On Tues, Feb 17, Council will hold a public hearing to decide whether Parq Casino’s can the slots by 50% - effectively adding another casino downtown.

#vanpoli #vanre

actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Tell Vancouver City Council: Reject Parq Casino Gaming Expansion
Vancouverites have already said no to downtown casino expansion. Will City Council ignore the will of the people and reverse that decision for minimal public benefit? The BC Lottery Corporation (B...
actionnetwork.org
February 11, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Reposted by Andy Yan
elvezio.bsky.social
Looks like the only entity that doesn't appreciate the value of property in Vancouver is the City of Vancouver
ayan604.bsky.social Andy Yan @ayan604.bsky.social · 3d
"The City lacked a strategy for selling or exchanging land and did not proactively use its land
portfolio to support strategic objectives."

Here's the original Auditor General's report: vancouver.ca/files/cov/20...
vancouver.ca
February 11, 2026 at 1:19 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
Where did it go? Is there a systemic monitoring of CACs in the CoV?

"Auditor casts doubt on $6M in promised public amenities for downtown Vancouver tower" as told by Mike Howell via @bivnews.bsky.social

#vanpoli #vanre

www.biv.com/news/economy...
Auditor casts doubt on $6M in promised public amenities for downtown Vancouver tower
Report: ‘The actions and inactions of the city mean there is significant doubt that this amount of value was delivered to the city.’
www.biv.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:43 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
"...city staff failed to track whether $6m in community amenity contributions..."

"City of Vancouver's response to scathing land-sales audit report a 'smokescreen,' whistleblower says" told by Joanne Lee-Young via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/city-of...
City of Vancouver's response to scathing land-sales audit report a 'smokescreen,' whistleblower says
'We will never know what decisions council may have reached had it been provided with more complete information.'
vancouversun.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:49 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
"WestJet cuts service to 10 U.S. cities as demand continues to drop" as told by Joe Ruttle via @vancouversun.bsky.social

vancouversun.com/news/westjet...
WestJet cuts service to 10 U.S. cities as demand continues to drop
The airline is cutting back scheduled routes out of Canadian airports including Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary and Edmonton
vancouversun.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:25 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
Militant Moms Unite!

"East Vancouver students rerouted as legendary Militant Mothers of Raymur Overpass shuts down" as told by Sarah Grochowski via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/east-va...
East Vancouver students rerouted as legendary Militant Mothers of Raymur Overpass shuts down
The bridge has been shut down out of "an abundance of caution" after an inspector found “an area of potential concern.”
vancouversun.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:30 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Rival Filipino community centre development to be presented to Vancouver council" feat @filipino-bc.bsky.social as told by David Carrigg via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/local-n...
Rival Filipino community centre development to be presented to Vancouver council
Vancouver council to decide which of two community centre projects to support
vancouversun.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:34 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Why Building Alone Won’t Solve the Housing Crisis" as told by @rondakaysen.bsky.social via @nytimes.com

GIFT LINK: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/r...
Why Building Alone Won’t Solve the Housing Crisis
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Reposted by Andy Yan
kguiry.bsky.social
Langford’s Official Community Plan has been shortlisted for the 2026 CIP Canadian Awards for Planning Excellence!

This plan felt pretty special when it was adopted and it’s amazing to see it amongst some inspiring projects. Thank you @brenttoderian.bsky.social for work on this!
CITY OF LANGFORD’S OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN NAMED FINALIST FOR CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF PLANNERS AWARD - City of Langford
(Langford, B.C.) – The City of Langford is pleased to announce that its new Official Community Plan (OCP) has been shortlisted as a finalist for a 2026 Award of Excellence by the Canadian Institute of...
langford.ca
February 7, 2026 at 2:11 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Foreclosure hearing for Vancouver site for possible Filipino centre adjourned for six weeks" as told by Susan Lazaruk via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/local-n...
Foreclosure hearing for Vancouver site for possible Filipino centre adjourned for six weeks
Lawyers requested more time to respond to two matters regarding the fate of the Vancouver property slated for Filipino cultural centre
vancouversun.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:00 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
One off or a systemic fail on CAC oversight?

"Vancouver's auditor general criticizes city over lack of paper trail for lost developer amenities" as told by @jmcelroy.bsky.social

Council told developer would spend $6m on upgrades around Vancouver House

#vanpoli #vanre

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Vancouver's auditor general criticizes city over lack of paper trail for lost developer amenities | CBC News
Vancouver’s auditor general said the city engaged in “serious wrongdoing” when they failed to track whether $6 million in promised community amenities for a much-publicized downtown tower ever happene...
www.cbc.ca
February 8, 2026 at 12:26 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
Canada?

"Inequality, Not Regulation, Is Stoking America’s Housing Crisis"

luskin.ucla.edu?p=121149
Inequality, Not Regulation, Is Stoking America’s Housing Crisis
Research led by UCLA Luskin’s Michael Storper argues that government action, not just market forces, is needed to make housing affordable.
luskin.ucla.edu
February 6, 2026 at 8:59 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Inequality, Not Regulation, Is Stoking America’s Housing Crisis"

luskin.ucla.edu?p=121149
Inequality, Not Regulation, Is Stoking America’s Housing Crisis
Research led by UCLA Luskin’s Michael Storper argues that government action, not just market forces, is needed to make housing affordable.
luskin.ucla.edu
February 6, 2026 at 8:58 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
Want to learn about the challenges, principles, & tools of sustainable #urbanism + #design?

Consider taking @sfucity.bsky.social CITY109: Introduction to #SustainableCities w @nlamontagne.bsky.social + Shafraaz Kaba

Starts Thurs, Feb 19 | 6pm PST| Online | Register: www.sfu.ca/continuing-s...
Introduction to Sustainable Cities
<p>Cities are at the centre of the global sustainability challenge: both sites of intense resource consumption and places of creative invention and solutions implementation.</p> <p>In this course, you...
www.sfu.ca
February 6, 2026 at 8:11 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
Consider transit if you can?

"Not a 'great week to be a commuter' in Surrey and New Westminster ahead of weeklong Pattullo Bridge closure" as told by @SobiaMoman via @VancouverSun

#vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/pattull...
Not a 'great week to be a commuter' in Surrey and New Westminster ahead of weeklong Pattullo Bridge closure
The closure is needed to facilitate work to connect the new replacement bridge to existing road networks in Surrey and New Westminster.
vancouversun.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:35 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
Would a refurbished public payphone project like this be needed and work in Vancouver?

#vanpoli
www.goodphoneproject.com
Good Phone Project
www.goodphoneproject.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:11 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Vancouver developer fights in court to keep property slated for Filipino centre" as told by Dan Fumano via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...
Vancouver developer fights in court to keep property slated for Filipino centre
A Vancouver developer will fight in court this week to hold on to the property where he wants to build a Filipino cultural centre and hotel
vancouversun.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:28 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Canada shouldn’t rule out acquiring nuclear weapons, former top soldier says" as told by @stevenchase.bsky.social /via @theglobeandmail.com

#cdnpoli

www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
Canada shouldn’t rule out acquiring nuclear weapons, former top soldier says
Retired general Wayne Eyre told an Ottawa crowd that developing a nuclear deterrent is not an immediate concern, but should be an option
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:09 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Vancouver city staff want public hearing for controversial West End hotel tower proposal" as told by David Carrigg via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/news/vancouv...
Vancouver city staff want public hearing for controversial West End hotel tower proposal
The 25-storey hotel tower would replace the Rosellen, a four-storey 1950s hotel. Read more.
vancouversun.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Andy Yan
nlamontagne.bsky.social
From the region to the city, from the block to the building, we have challenges but also great opportunities to deliver climate positive + resilient places. Learn the basics from a planning and architecture perspective.
February 3, 2026 at 2:28 AM
ayan604.bsky.social
"B.C. rental protection fund surpasses goal, preserves 2,200 homes, government says" as told by @cherylchan.bsky.social via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

vancouversun.com/business/rea...
B.C. rental protection fund surpasses goal, preserves 2,200 homes, government says
Housing officials say the $500-million program to help non-profits buy existing rental buildings has roughly $150 million unspent. Read on.
vancouversun.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:51 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
Want to learn about the challenges, principles, & tools of sustainable #urbanism + #design?

Consider taking @sfucity.bsky.social CITY109: Introduction to #SustainableCities w @nlamontagne.bsky.social + Shafraaz Kaba

Starts Thurs, Feb 19 | 6pm PST| Online | Register: www.sfu.ca/continuing-s...
Introduction to Sustainable Cities
<p>Cities are at the centre of the global sustainability challenge: both sites of intense resource consumption and places of creative invention and solutions implementation.</p> <p>In this course, you...
www.sfu.ca
February 2, 2026 at 7:59 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
"Free meals expanded to nearly every school in Surrey through 'desperately needed' program" as told by @sobiamoman.bsky.social via @vancouversun.bsky.social

#bcpoli #vanpoli

vancouversun.com/news/free-me...
Free meals expanded to nearly every school in Surrey through 'desperately needed' program
Food support across the Surrey school district has expanded to almost every school in the district, but the need remains for more.
vancouversun.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:46 PM
ayan604.bsky.social
I would figure they would prefer chips.

"Want fries with that? Food delivery robots could be coming to some B.C. cities" as told by Glenda Luymes via @vancouversun.bsky.social

vancouversun.com/news/food-de...
Want fries with that? Food delivery robots could be coming to some B.C. cities
Serve Robotics is exploring the possibility of a pilot project in three cities
vancouversun.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:02 AM