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oliveridley.bsky.social
OliveRidley
@oliveridley.bsky.social
280 followers 300 following 690 posts
Environment, public health PhD. I love cities, birds and music. I’m mostly around #yyj biking with my family, caring a lot about housing and the toxic drug crisis, and singing tenor in a choir. Genderqueer. The Olive Ridley is a sea turtle!
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oliveridley.bsky.social
timescolonist.com/local-news/paving-park-upgrades-targeted-in-victoria-budget-trims-11537859 As always, only talk about trimming costs. Nothing about getting people to pay more for services some (typically more affluent) are getting for free. Residential parking on public space for example 1/
Paving, park upgrades targeted in Victoria budget trims
Council agreed to reduce infrastructure funding to $4 million from $5.5 million next year to get closer to its goal of capping the city’s portion of next year’s tax hike at 4%.
timescolonist.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
melwoods.me
My story on this and a whole lot more 💫

xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
The lies Danielle Smith is telling to overturn trans kids’ rights | Xtra Magazine
The Alberta government is invoking the Notwithstanding Clause to protect its three anti-trans laws from being challenged in the courts
xtramagazine.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
oliveridley.bsky.social
Ugh gross, add grooming to the list of reasons why we don’t need cops in schools
kwardvancouver.bsky.social karen ward @kwardvancouver.bsky.social · 11d
“a [VPD] member attended a high school to provide a presentation on policing, following which the member exchanged emails with a female student regarding a career in policing. After the student had graduated high school, the two became engaged in an intimate relationship”
opcc.bc.ca/wp-content/u...
Upon request from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the Commissioner ordered an investigation into the conduct of a VPD member. It was reported that the member attended a high school to provide a presentation on policing, following which the member exchanged emails with a female student regarding a career in policing. After the student had graduated high school, the two became engaged in an intimate relationship. The investigation showed that the member had lied to the female about their age and was verbally and emotionally abusive towards her. The member developed an inappropriate relationship with the female which included the member’s behaviour towards the female during their relationship. MISCONDUCT Discreditable Conduct Conduct that discredits the department DISCIPLINARY MEASURE Dismissal Date of Incident: 2018-2022 Process At the conclusion of the investigation, the Discipline Authority found that the member appeared to have committed misconduct. No prehearing conference was offered and as a result, the matter proceeded to a discipline proceeding where the member admitted the allegation. The member resigned from the VPD before the conclusion of the discipline proceeding. In arriving at the appropriate disciplinary or corrective measures, the Discipline Authority noted the seriousness of the misconduct, that the member was in a clear position of trust, influence, and authority and would have significant influence over the female’s career aspirations. The Discipline Authority also noted the abusive and demeaning behaviour was shown to be sustained throughout the relationship rather than limited to a single outburst, and that the member kept the relationship hidden, indicating he understood the relationship was inappropriate. The member did not request a review of the disciplinary decision. The OPCC reviewed these findings and determined that further review was not required and that the discipline imposed was appropriate in the circumstances.
November 19, 2025 at 4:48 AM
oliveridley.bsky.social
toronto.citynews.ca/video/2024/1...

Looks like Doug Ford wants to actively hurt Toronto businesses and people so he can go zoom zoom in his car car
Annex businesses tell Ford to back off Bloor bike lanes
Stores in the Annex say the Bloor bike lanes have been a big boost to business. As Michelle Mackey reports, the neighborhood's BIA wants the province to back off its new bill that could see the lanes ...
toronto.citynews.ca
November 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
susankimyyj.bsky.social
In response to @oliveridley.bsky.social : share the good word!

MSP covers CBT for insomnia if taken synchronously online. I'm just a few sessions in but it's been wildly revelatory for me, including how my insomnia come from childhood trauma.

Yay 4 public health!

drsarahadams.com/courses/inso...
November 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
Spent halloween trick or treating in Victoria's most dangerous neighbourhood North Park, with a short trip to Fernwood and the most dangerous by far part of the evening was, you guessed it, cars. Highlight was my kiddo repeating this statement loudly ad nauseam as we trick or treated :)
November 1, 2025 at 1:37 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
None of these sacrifices involve rich people and capital gains of course
October 23, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Reposted by OliveRidley
quinnmacdonald.bsky.social
Amazing. / 74 people housed through Victoria's $1.6 million investment into Dowler Place
74 people housed through Victoria's $1.6 million investment into Dowler Place
One-and-a-half years after the announcement of funding for an access hub, a report offers insight into what success the $1.6 million investment has had in housing homeless people in Victoria.
cheknews.ca
October 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
davidzipper.bsky.social
Plot twist: High-viz clothes are *more* dangerous for pedestrians.

"Wearing high-visibility clothing could actually make [cars' pedestrian detection] technology less likely to spot a person strolling in the dark."
'Embarrassment': Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking Still Flawed at Night — Streetsblog USA
Relying solely on vehicle automation for pedestrian detection and collision avoidance is not advised, a new study said.
usa.streetsblog.org
October 20, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
ershaker.bsky.social
ottawacitizen.com/public-servi... “Depending on how the cuts play out, we can expect wider employment gaps, wider pay gaps and the erosion of access to critical employment benefits” @davidmaccdn.bsky.social @kjscott.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Cuts will impact women and racialized public servants disproportionately, new analysis says
An estimated 59 per cent of the workers cut will be women, according to a new analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
ottawacitizen.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
bntly.ca
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/e... #yyj #yyjpoli
Education minister ordered to hand over documents related to termination of Greater Victoria School Board trustees
The fired trustees have filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court for a judicial review of the termination
www.timescolonist.com
October 19, 2025 at 7:41 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
Seeking permission to purchase, and paying for my house is definitely denting my budget too, but apparently markets, pricing etc. don't apply here?
October 8, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
bromptonymous.ca
TIL that I can have the BC government pay my municipal property tax so we can keep our cash flow rolling into TFSAs. Wild.
vancouversun.com/news/how-bc-...
How B.C.'s property tax system delivers big benefits to multimillionaires, and why some say it needs to change
B.C.'s property tax system is uniquely generous for wealthy homeowners. Some people think that should change. Find out more.
vancouversun.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
"to tackle street disorder on the heels of a rash of violent incidents in the downtown." - This in a news article on @timescolonist.bsky.social passed on with zero data, or any examples of this rash of violent incidents. I would really wish for our media to not just spit out words without evidence
https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/victoria-council-affirms-downtown-policing-support-11296573"
October 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
When the headline says it all :(
ANALYSIS | After losing billions of dollars on Keystone XL and tank cars, Alberta is pursuing another pipeline | CBC News
After months of Premier Danielle Smith vowing to find a company willing to develop a new oil export pipeline, the Alberta government itself is taking the plunge. The move is already drawing both praise and concern from the oilpatch, which wants a new pipeline, but rejects government intervention.
www.cbc.ca
October 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
I happen to think based on all the research I've seen and the state of the world now that inequality is the big issue, the one that sits on top of all the others and stops us from solving problems collectively. In places of growing inequality, there is no collective us and our brains show it
Study links greater inequality to structural changes in children’s brains
Researchers say findings show inequality creates toxic environment and reducing it is ‘a public health imperative’
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
sethdklein.bsky.social
If you'd like to watch an excellent & informative webinar video recording of Iglika offering a reality-check on BC finances, check out this BC Policy Solutions video here: bcpolicy.ca/2025/09/17/b...
🎬 BC isn’t broke: the truth behind the deficit (and other austerity narratives)
Take a data-driven look at BC’s fiscal health and equip yourself with arguments to challenge austerity narratives in favour of more sustainable and progressive policy solutions.
bcpolicy.ca
September 29, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
nevint.bsky.social
Over on Reddit, @davethompsonvic.bsky.social (tagging @susankimyyj.bsky.social as the face of our council!) says
Victoria Council passed a motion at UBCM to start looking at commercial rent control. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
Victoria sends housing resolutions to UBCM
The resolutions include calls for funding for the creation of co-operative and non-market housing, and more supportive housing and detox beds
www.timescolonist.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:39 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
While people keep yelling "downtown disorder", the unspoken and huge issue that hits businesses hard in #yyj is sudden and huge rent hikes. That is a disorder too, but it benefits a group of people who have a loud and $$$ voice, so we're not going to get hundreds of breathless editorials
September 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
Thankd Jodi Paterson for writibg this www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comm...
Comment: We are far from anything resembling 'endless accommodation'
We must get a grip on this tragic humanitarian crisis from the point of view of the people living it.
www.timescolonist.com
September 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
climatejusticeyyj.bsky.social
"Do we want... poverty, hunger and unaffordable-housing... Or do we want to go back to the decades after the Second World War, when the rich paid their share" Trevor Hancock in TC today www.timescolonist.com/opinion/trev... #TaxTheRich #yyj #DrawTheLine #cdnpoli
Times Colonist newspaper headline "Trevor Hancock: The problem is income inadequacy, not affordability The bottom half of the population has seen its share of national income dropping, while the top one per cent’s share has grown dramatically." photo of boxes of food in a foodbank Crowd at Sept 20 2025 Draw The Line march in Victoria organized by Climate Justice Victoria and other groups. Signs include Tax The Rich: Homes for All!, People over Profits. Large Draw The Line march crossing Johnson Street Bridge on Sept 20, 2025
September 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by OliveRidley
emmettmacfarlane.com
From yesterday, my Toronto Star op-ed on the notwithstanding clause. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
When governments trample on our rights, the courts must be free to weigh in. Full stop
Invoking the so-called notwithstanding clause doesn't prevent judicial review, despite what some provincial leaders might say.
www.thestar.com
September 28, 2025 at 1:30 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
The lack of numbers in all these articles is beyond frustrating. There is exactly one verifiable fact in this article, 200 housing units in Nanaimo. Everything else is people in power venting their feelings. How are we to solve problems without metrics, verifiable performance indicators etc?
B.C. mayors react to public safety minister saying street disorder is improving
Mayors react to SG comments that street disorder is improving during the annual meeting of the Union of BC Municipalities
cheknews.ca
September 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
oliveridley.bsky.social
Yes, it is indeed the police chief's job to ask for more resources. However, it's also on media to provide context. "Woefully understaffed" sounds terrible. But where are the metrics compared to other jurisdictions? Simple numbers like FTE/capita, spending/capita, FTE corrected for crime severity?
VicPD is 'woefully understaffed,' new police chief tells city council
Fiona Wilson says staffing numbers have not kept pace with population growth, or the change in complexity in policing.
www.timescolonist.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM