I’ve been hard on Burnaby Coun. Colleen Jordan in the past – most recently in this blog about a decision to block a new cannabis store for dubious reasons.
But I’ll give credit where it is due and Jordan deserves credit.
When discussing a proposed rental tower in Burnaby’s Metrotown area Jordan offered up vocal opposition to what she called a “really awful” design.
The Bosa development is planned for three lots on the 5900-block of Kathleen Avenue, currently occupied by single-family houses. The development, if approved, would see a 34-storey building on a lot of 1,727 metres squared.
“The Burnaby building – we don’t even have balconies. There’s no balconies,” Jordan said at a public meeting. “I wouldn’t want to live there; I don’t care what the rent is. No balconies. The only space for children to play will be in some kind of shared space on the 34th floor. There’s no outside area at all. The whole lot is covered in cement.”
Now my praise has nothing to do with me agreeing about the design of this proposal. In fact, I sort of disagree based on what I’ve seen.
My praise is just the fact that Jordan has come out guns blazing about a development project by Bosa.
You see, Bosa has long been a big financial supporter of Jordan and the rest of the Burnaby Citizens Association party that she was a part of before quitting earlier this year, along with Coun. Dan Johnston. (Paul McDonell, who died earlier this year, also quit the BCA.)
The BCA once ruled the city by having every single seat on council before Mayor Mike Hurley and Coun. Joe Keithley broke the monopoly. Now Jordan and Johnston have left the BCA and two spots are up for a byelection, although don’t look for that to happen until well into 2021.
The BCA has received tens of thousands of dollars from Bosa over the years, as well as other big developers and labour unions. That allowed the BCA to amass huge war chests every election. It made the BCA virtually unstoppable.
That, of course, has changed now with B.C. putting in new limits on corporate and union donations to municipal candidates.
So with all of these changes, now we have Jordan dumping all over Bosa’s project in a way I seriously doubt would have happened before the last civic election, when ex-mayor Derek Corrigan ruled with an iron gavel.
Jordan might disagree with my take, but that’s the way I see it. It just seems like more than a coincidence.
Whatever the reasons, I think it’s good for Burnabarians to have councillors be outspoken on these issues and to not be tainted with the stink of big money donations. The handcuffs appear to be off and that can only benefit citizens.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
