Wendy Waters
@wendywaters.bsky.social
Analyze how we live, work, and invest in cities. Seem to have developed some (rental) housing expertise. Also like to talk about offices and CRE.
Find me on LinkedIn for my job title and formal posts. This site is for my own Blue Sky thinking.
Find me on LinkedIn for my job title and formal posts. This site is for my own Blue Sky thinking.
Looking forward to judging the best new ideas for transit funding:
Come watch!
Come watch!
Introducing our distinguished panel of judges for the competition segment of our event this Friday!
Representing a wide range of industries and perspectives, our judges (and YOU!) will help select the winner of "Transit’s Next Top Funding Model!".
www.eventbrite.ca/e/transits-n...
Representing a wide range of industries and perspectives, our judges (and YOU!) will help select the winner of "Transit’s Next Top Funding Model!".
www.eventbrite.ca/e/transits-n...
November 12, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Looking forward to judging the best new ideas for transit funding:
Come watch!
Come watch!
How can this be real?
They’ve laid off so many people that the government is now getting its economic data from DoorDash.
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 AM
How can this be real?
Reposted by Wendy Waters
November 1, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Reposted by Wendy Waters
We've been campaigning to get people to fill out TransLink's survey about BRT and we're down to the last 29 hours before it closes! Many thanks to @rmtransit.bsky.social for sharing our cute little video with his 340k subscribers!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
The Problem with Vancouver's Boundary Rd BRT (w/ @MovementYVR )
YouTube video by RMTransit
www.youtube.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:15 AM
We've been campaigning to get people to fill out TransLink's survey about BRT and we're down to the last 29 hours before it closes! Many thanks to @rmtransit.bsky.social for sharing our cute little video with his 340k subscribers!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Tu...
Reposted by Wendy Waters
Have you filled out TransLink's survey on Bus Rapid Transit? The last day is Sunday.
Surveys like this are why Movement needs to exist.
You know that our region needs to change A LOT to make our streets safer, less congested, and less polluted. Buuut. . . 1/ movementyvr.ca/bby-heights-...
Surveys like this are why Movement needs to exist.
You know that our region needs to change A LOT to make our streets safer, less congested, and less polluted. Buuut. . . 1/ movementyvr.ca/bby-heights-...
Tell TransLink not to miss Burnaby Heights! | Movement
Burnaby Heights residents and businesses could miss out on direct, rapid transit service to Metrotown and North Vancouver. We need your help!
movementyvr.ca
September 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Have you filled out TransLink's survey on Bus Rapid Transit? The last day is Sunday.
Surveys like this are why Movement needs to exist.
You know that our region needs to change A LOT to make our streets safer, less congested, and less polluted. Buuut. . . 1/ movementyvr.ca/bby-heights-...
Surveys like this are why Movement needs to exist.
You know that our region needs to change A LOT to make our streets safer, less congested, and less polluted. Buuut. . . 1/ movementyvr.ca/bby-heights-...
Reposted by Wendy Waters
We firmly believe firing comedians is not a sign of a healthy democracy. In some countries, they even elect them to defend against ambitious fascists. — PM Tuxley II
September 18, 2025 at 3:33 AM
We firmly believe firing comedians is not a sign of a healthy democracy. In some countries, they even elect them to defend against ambitious fascists. — PM Tuxley II
Reposted by Wendy Waters
Africa (Morocco) has a high speed train. Fast, clean, efficient and on time.
Somehow we can’t figure out how to offer this wonderful service in North America. (Even clean, efficient and on time elude North Am).
Somehow we can’t figure out how to offer this wonderful service in North America. (Even clean, efficient and on time elude North Am).
September 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Africa (Morocco) has a high speed train. Fast, clean, efficient and on time.
Somehow we can’t figure out how to offer this wonderful service in North America. (Even clean, efficient and on time elude North Am).
Somehow we can’t figure out how to offer this wonderful service in North America. (Even clean, efficient and on time elude North Am).
Multiplexes are a great option that should be allowed. But with some modest flexibility on assembly, and maybe some creativity, could we have a lot more 3 bedroom townhomes ?
vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
Townhouses now almost impossible to build in Vancouver, says developer
Ground-oriented townhouse clusters are now difficult to get underway in Vancouver because of upzoning promoting multiplexes on single lots.
vancouversun.com
August 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Multiplexes are a great option that should be allowed. But with some modest flexibility on assembly, and maybe some creativity, could we have a lot more 3 bedroom townhomes ?
vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Wendy Waters
The Museum of African-American History is one of the most exciting and surprising institutions in the USA, and I’m glad I had the privilege to see it when it was an acceptable country to visit. The president now says it should showcase the brighter side of slavery
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...
Trump Says Smithsonian Focuses Too Much on ‘How Bad Slavery Was’
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The Museum of African-American History is one of the most exciting and surprising institutions in the USA, and I’m glad I had the privilege to see it when it was an acceptable country to visit. The president now says it should showcase the brighter side of slavery
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/u...
They’re only talking because I cancelled flights to get my kid to McGill (which has orientation starting Saturday) and rebooked on a United Airlines milk run through the US.
I’d figured luck would have it if we cancelled they’d find a deal.
I’d figured luck would have it if we cancelled they’d find a deal.
Air Canada must have realized they fucked up because CUPE says the company has returned to the bargaining, despite previously saying it wouldn’t negotiate until flight attendants were back on the job.
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...
August 19, 2025 at 4:35 AM
They’re only talking because I cancelled flights to get my kid to McGill (which has orientation starting Saturday) and rebooked on a United Airlines milk run through the US.
I’d figured luck would have it if we cancelled they’d find a deal.
I’d figured luck would have it if we cancelled they’d find a deal.
@pattyhajdu.bsky.social Air Canada is too important to the Canadian economy and society to be allowed to shut down. It is infrastructure.
Send everyone to arbitration or mediation and get planes moving again.
Send everyone to arbitration or mediation and get planes moving again.
August 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
@pattyhajdu.bsky.social Air Canada is too important to the Canadian economy and society to be allowed to shut down. It is infrastructure.
Send everyone to arbitration or mediation and get planes moving again.
Send everyone to arbitration or mediation and get planes moving again.
Reposted by Wendy Waters
Fascinating new piece by the CMHC. Among other things, they find that once you control for age of building, amenities, and so on, there is no difference in the apartment rents charged by REITs and non-REITs.
Accelerating rental supply: balancing development and tenant protection
Discover insights on increasing rental housing supply in Canada, addressing affordability and protecting tenants without compromising private investment.
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
August 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Fascinating new piece by the CMHC. Among other things, they find that once you control for age of building, amenities, and so on, there is no difference in the apartment rents charged by REITs and non-REITs.
Reposted by Wendy Waters
Data aren’t just numbers—they’re the map we all use to navigate the economy. Undermine their credibility, and you’ve taken away the compass from businesses, policymakers, and families alike.
August 14, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Data aren’t just numbers—they’re the map we all use to navigate the economy. Undermine their credibility, and you’ve taken away the compass from businesses, policymakers, and families alike.
Reposted by Wendy Waters
You've seen this movie before.
2018: Steel tariffs go up
→ 1,000 jobs saved in steel (it's a tiny industry)
→ 75,000 jobs lost elsewhere (steel is used everywhere)
Same script. Same cast.
Spoiler alert: The ending still sucks.
2018: Steel tariffs go up
→ 1,000 jobs saved in steel (it's a tiny industry)
→ 75,000 jobs lost elsewhere (steel is used everywhere)
Same script. Same cast.
Spoiler alert: The ending still sucks.
June 3, 2025 at 9:32 PM
You've seen this movie before.
2018: Steel tariffs go up
→ 1,000 jobs saved in steel (it's a tiny industry)
→ 75,000 jobs lost elsewhere (steel is used everywhere)
Same script. Same cast.
Spoiler alert: The ending still sucks.
2018: Steel tariffs go up
→ 1,000 jobs saved in steel (it's a tiny industry)
→ 75,000 jobs lost elsewhere (steel is used everywhere)
Same script. Same cast.
Spoiler alert: The ending still sucks.
Reposted by Wendy Waters
"if you wanted to find a way to really destroy American manufacturing, what you would do is figure out a way to jack up the cost of steel for American manufacturers."
June 3, 2025 at 12:28 PM
"if you wanted to find a way to really destroy American manufacturing, what you would do is figure out a way to jack up the cost of steel for American manufacturers."
More companies recognizing how their complex businesses benefit from togetherness among their talent force. www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
RBC asks staff to return to office four days a week
Royal Bank of Canada has asked employees to be in office four times a week starting in September, according to a memo seen by Reuters, prompting disapproval among some staff discussing the changes in ...
www.ctvnews.ca
May 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
More companies recognizing how their complex businesses benefit from togetherness among their talent force. www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
Housing researchers, does anyone have a map showing CMHC zones on the Vancouver downtown peninsula? I need to confirm a location and the website/portal doesn't seem to be working (not letting me select zones). @jensvb.bsky.social @michaelwiebe.bsky.social @amoralorealis.bsky.social
May 29, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Housing researchers, does anyone have a map showing CMHC zones on the Vancouver downtown peninsula? I need to confirm a location and the website/portal doesn't seem to be working (not letting me select zones). @jensvb.bsky.social @michaelwiebe.bsky.social @amoralorealis.bsky.social
Looking forward to a great conversation on where BC’s economy and housing markets are headed. Join us!
What do you think I should ask these experts?
What do you think I should ask these experts?
Missed our last luncheon? Don't miss this one. Join us on June 17 for an essential panel on the economic, policy & market shifts shaping B.C.'s housing future. shorturl.at/UBfDq
Speakers:
Jock Finlayson
Brendon Ogmundson
Ryan Berlin
Moderated by @wendywaters.bsky.social
#BCHousing #bcpoli #udibc
Speakers:
Jock Finlayson
Brendon Ogmundson
Ryan Berlin
Moderated by @wendywaters.bsky.social
#BCHousing #bcpoli #udibc
Housing in Focus: Economy, Policy & Market Shifts | Urban Development Institute
Unpredictable interest rates. Shifting immigration patterns. Political and global uncertainty.B.C.’s housing market is at a crossroads, and developers, investors, and policymakers are recalibrating in...
udibc.glueup.com
May 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Looking forward to a great conversation on where BC’s economy and housing markets are headed. Join us!
What do you think I should ask these experts?
What do you think I should ask these experts?
Reposted by Wendy Waters
Arbitrary executive power wielded for personal enrichment and retribution.
State central planning imposed by ever-fluctuating whim.
Vast debt financing at rapidly rising interest rates.
Markets replaced by economic warfare against fellow democracies.
State central planning imposed by ever-fluctuating whim.
Vast debt financing at rapidly rising interest rates.
Markets replaced by economic warfare against fellow democracies.
May 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Arbitrary executive power wielded for personal enrichment and retribution.
State central planning imposed by ever-fluctuating whim.
Vast debt financing at rapidly rising interest rates.
Markets replaced by economic warfare against fellow democracies.
State central planning imposed by ever-fluctuating whim.
Vast debt financing at rapidly rising interest rates.
Markets replaced by economic warfare against fellow democracies.
Reposted by Wendy Waters
Traffic backed up in the bike lane again while the car lanes sit empty.
Someone should look into why we keep building car lanes.
Someone should look into why we keep building car lanes.
May 21, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Traffic backed up in the bike lane again while the car lanes sit empty.
Someone should look into why we keep building car lanes.
Someone should look into why we keep building car lanes.
Reposted by Wendy Waters
The Big Ugly Bill slashes nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and SNAP, cutting household resources for working families by up to 4% by 2033. Meanwhile, the top 10% gain from tax breaks. Working families lose healthcare so the wealthy can pay less in taxes.
Wealthy gain, low-income people lose from GOP megabill, analysis finds
The report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is already fueling Democratic accusations that the legislation is a giveaway to the rich.
www.politico.com
May 21, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The Big Ugly Bill slashes nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and SNAP, cutting household resources for working families by up to 4% by 2033. Meanwhile, the top 10% gain from tax breaks. Working families lose healthcare so the wealthy can pay less in taxes.
Lots of chatter about Gregor Robertson's time at the city of Vancouver. Here's some data. The most housing starts ever in the city of Vancouver happened in 2016, toward the end of his time as mayor. The worst year was when he took office (also the financial crisis).
May 14, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Lots of chatter about Gregor Robertson's time at the city of Vancouver. Here's some data. The most housing starts ever in the city of Vancouver happened in 2016, toward the end of his time as mayor. The worst year was when he took office (also the financial crisis).