麻豆传媒映画

RIOT ACT

This Wednesday will mark the first time since the Stanley Cup riot that Mayor Gregor Robertson and Police Chief Jim Chu will attend a public meeting together to discuss the mayhem that engulfed downtown June 15.

The 麻豆传媒映画Police Board agenda for the July 20 meeting at the Cambie Street police precinct indicates there will be an update on the riot. Time allotted is 15 minutes.

Both the mayor, who is chairperson of the police board, and the chief made themselves available to media after the riot and patiently answered questions from reporters about what went wrong after the 麻豆传媒映画Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

But for some inexplicable reason, they were never in the same room.

In the past, the mayor and the chief joined together at events to talk about a drop in crime, the benefits of new supportive social housing, introduce a campaign to combat violence against women, condemn hate crimes and promote safety for cyclists.

Robertson's most recent update on the riot came July 15 via an op-ed column he penned for the 麻豆传媒映画Sun in which he wrote, "I've said from day one that, as mayor, I am ultimately responsible for public safety. I spoke frequently with Chief Jim Chu throughout the playoffs about police preparations, and ensured that everything the VPD asked for in terms of city resources, they received."

The chief has told reporters that, in hindsight, he would have done things differently. But he also pointed out the VPD doesn't have a limitless budget when it comes to preparing for Canucks playoff runs.

The VPD's budget, of course, is allotted by city council which is a big promoter of large-scale events in the city such as the Celebration of Light. The idea for the so-called fan zones set up downtown for the playoffs came from the mayor's office, although a recent city report noted "council has given staff clear direction subsequent to the Olympics on activating city streets, particularly in the downtown and in partnering in street celebrations where possible."

SO WHAT WENT WRONG?

Several reviews are underway into the riot, including one each at the VPD, fire department and the city. In addition, former VANOC head John Furlong and former Nova Scotia deputy justice minister Douglas Keefe are conducting an independent review that is expected to be completed by Aug. 31.

In the meantime, the VPD continues to roll out compliments from citizens who praised officers for their work on the night of the riot. This is something Chu did during one of his press conferences but Wednesday's agenda is bursting with kudos.

The police board took excerpts from more than 40 letters but didn't identify the authors.

Here's a sample: "The restraint and level-headed response of your officers speaks to the calibre of the force as a whole. Your policemen and policewomen did an exemplary job under less-than-ideal circumstances."

At the last police board meeting, which coincidentally occurred on the same day of the riot, the chief told me there wouldn't be a riot. (What else was he going to say?) No other reporter was there to hear him. I'm guessing that won't be the case at Wednesday's meeting.

ELEPHANT TALE

Yes, George Chow is in.

The Vision 麻豆传媒映画councillor, who is retiring from civic politics in November, has decided to seek the NDP nomination for the provincial riding of Vancouver-Fraserview.

But in true enigmatic fashion, Chow announced his intentions to me in the form of an email titled, "The elephant story."

Here we go: "Once upon a time on a beautiful island called Vancouver, there existed a famous international school to which students from all over the world came to study. One day, the teacher asked the class to write an essay on elephants. First to put up his hand was, of course, the student from the United Kingdom, who said, 'I'll write about elephants and the empire.' Not to be outdone, the student from France said, 'My topic will be bigger and better elephants.' Already writing furiously, the student from Japan stood up and reported, 'Elephants at work.' The student from China said, 'Elephants as delicacy is what I'll explore.' Finally, at the back of the room, came the voice from the Canadian student. 'Elephant--is it a provincial or federal responsibility?'"

Then Chow added this: "Dear Mike, I have decided to look for the elephant by throwing my name in the safari to contest for the nomination in the provincial riding of Vancouver-Fraserview with the B.C. NDP."

No nomination date has been set.

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Twitter: @Howellings