Update: Frances Bula at the Vancouver Sun has what I would consider the definitive take.
This weekend’s big “holy shit” moment was that of Vancouver’s ruling party declining to re-nominate it’s sitting mayor for this Fall’s election. In retrospect, one shouldn’t have been surprised – the writing was clearly on the wall, and Sam Sullivan was headed for electoral annihilation at the hands of Vision – but still, it’s a bit of a shock development. There’s a degree of schadenfreude, but before we go into that it should be acknowledged that Sullivan – a quadrapelgic – has accomplished much on a personal level, overcoming his tragic accident to climb the ladders of power. And, who know? With his Tory ties, he may yet move on to the House in Ottawa.
But then there’s the harm he’s wrought on our city. From his attempts at demonizing his own workforce during an incredibly unnecessary strike provoked by design (and backfiring on him badly), his threat of libel suits against opposition councillors for the most nebulous reasons, his attempts to personally trademark city initiatives…all spoke to vindictive pettiness and self-aggrandizement. And that’s just tone. His policies were worse, especially the gutting of Vancouver’s incredibly successful “urban model” in favour of corporate developers. I don’t care how rich the Sultan of Abu Dhabi is, you have to be pretty dissatisfied to bolt from a world renowned City Planning department of a city about to host the Olympics for the climes of Middle East. The transparent effort to privatize policing was another notable disgrace.
I honestly believe Sullivan emulated the polarization strategy and vicious bully tactics of Karl Rove, and he will not be missed.
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