Vancouver BC vs. Seattle: Urban Debate

[shootingstar]

Yea, there is a critical point of effective decision-making aligned with strategic consultation combined with vigorous citizen group discussion vs. democratic process carried out to the nth degree.

We rarely have a municipal-wide vote on specific initiatives here. Last time was on how capital budget should be spent. I didn't like the way how the choices were framed on paper for voters..it felt rigged.

For Toronto when I lived there 20+ years, I only dimly remember less total of 3 different times where there was a city wide referendum/vote on specific issues+money allocation.

Now, having said what I observed, one wonders what the local vote would have been for Vancouver as host city for 2010 Olympics..if there had been a vote. But then that's viewed not just a local matter, but with federal involvement and internationally...

...even though now the city will be footing the bill for $$$ millions of building cost overruns.

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In the great debate, it was brought out by the Seattle speaker (who was a former councillor for several yrs.), that Seattle doesn't have as much free public waterfront shoreline access compared to Vancouver. He said there is a great deal that is private property.