Mayor Gregor Robertson acknowledged the Occupy Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»protest outside the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery is becoming a challenge for him but doesnt believe it is derailing his re-election campaign.
The mayor made the comment Tuesday following the first public mayoral debate between him and Suzanne Anton, an NPA city councillor who is Robertsons main contender in the race for the mayors chair.
Occupy Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»is a big event and action thats taking place downtown and obviously people are watching it very closely, he told reporters outside a theatre at Simon Fraser University at the Woodwards building, where the debate was hosted by the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Board of Trade. So its a challenge within a campaign that also has a lot of other important issues that matter to people in Vancouver.
Several protesters from the Occupy Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»encampment attended Tuesdays debate, many posing as reporters and wearing media stick-on tags. Some occupied seats designated for media.
At one point, protester Darrell Zimmerman, who is a regular visitor to city council meetings, stormed the stage and demanded he be included in the debate. Zimmerman, a saxophonist who also goes by the moniker saxmaniac, is running for mayor.
Zimmermans sudden rush to the stage caused Robertson to stand protectively in front of Anton before a security guard escorted Zimmerman from the theatre. The incident occurred while several other protesters shouted at the candidates.
Can you call yourself a government if you cant house and feed the people? shouted one protester sitting in media row next to a man with a bongo drum. That is the only question that should be on the agenda.
Robertson acknowledged the diversity of opinion in the city when the debate resumed and he and Anton took questions from panelists on leadership, bike lanes, buses, taxes, cutting red tape, the economy, homelessness and the Stanley Cup riot.
Much of the debate covered issues already discussed publicly between Robertson and Anton at city council and, most recently, at the Couriers mayoral debate Oct. 21 at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre (see video at vancourier.com).
Anton again raised her plan for a downtown streetcar while Robertson said the transportation priority has to be improved bus service and rapid transit on Broadway before considering an expensive streetcar system.
A question from panelist Marcella Bernardo, a CKNW reporter, brought levity and laughter to what was one of the most raucous Board of Trade events in recent memory. Bernardo asked what each candidate liked about each other.
Well I certainly have appreciated Suzannes criticism over this past three years because it is important to have opposition and critique of everything that happensto challenge those points, Robertson said.
Anton said she liked that Robertson was greenas in environmentally consciousand that he is a friendly, nice person and people appreciate those traits when they visit city hall.
The one new position that Anton announced at the debate is that the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts should not be destroyed, despite the ruling Vision Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»councils drive to consider knocking them down.
City staff is reviewing the future of the viaducts and Robertson wouldnt say what his preference was until the options are presented to council, including results of a public ideas forum on the viaducts.
Near the end of the debate, both candidates addressed the Occupy Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»protest, with Robertson taking a firmer stance than he did in the days following the first day of the gathering.
It is your right to protest but it is not your right to have an encampment in our downtown from here on, he said. We want to see a resolution that is peaceful and respectful of all the citizens and that enables you to keep protesting but that ends the encampment as it now exists.
Anton agreed protest is fine but camping on the grounds of the art gallery, which the city leases from the provincial government, is not fine. She said Robertson should give the protesters one weeks notice to move out.
Mr. MayorGregoryou must end this tent city, she said.
Twitter: @Howellings
