The framing that the city loses at appeal isn't true, and it's not helpful. It pushes the idea that it's not worth trying. I will send through items again this year suggesting specific cuts. You are welcome to take them up, and I would encourage you to identify more.

City councillors ultimately have to take responsibility and identify VicPD budget items to cut, and be prepared to stand by their principles. Or they can cut more services.

Down thread, Jeremy talks about pushing back on the police budget "if one believes that doing so is in the public interest," and acknowledges some appeal success. But advancing the frame that it's all out of the city's hands, which I've seen from Thompson and now Caradonna, is dereliction of duty.

The idea that nobody has ever suggested specific police budget items to cut is also insulting. It's 1) not true; and 2) if councillors are worried about runaway policing costs, they too can find items to reject within that $90 million. Perhaps they could even use city resources to help.

Victoria didn't reject anything from VicPD's 2024 budget, and most of the 2025 budget items are still under appeal, so no conclusions there. There are 16 people in Victoria and Esquimalt who can intervene now to try to stop a $90 million VicPD budget next year, and Jeremy Caradonna is one of them.

I don't believe that city councillors are increasing the police budget because the province would only do it anyway. Instead, I believe that city councillors are choosing to increase the police budget, and then saying the province would do it as a way to deflect responsibility and criticism.

And 3) by controlling the release of the documents, they can add comms spin to try to shape people's understanding. In this case, they added extensive text trying to justify the expense, alleging it was all worth it. Not great! Anyway, this story nevertheless brought to you via FOI.

Thanks Shannon!

VicPD is asking for $90 million in 2026. They're asking for it because they think they can get it. With mayors onstage at a frivolous event costing $22,015 in public money and ending with "god save the king," it's no wonder they think they'll get it. bsky.app/profile/step...

VicPD spent $13,750 on the venue, including catering, and $4,097 in staffing costs, trucking in officers "beyond their regularly scheduled duties" and paying them OT. They also shuttled their people to the event, and spent money to stream it, even though they don't stream their own budget meetings.