Michael Wiebe

The conventional approach to public safety is reactionary, top-down, and overwhelmingly siloed. Real public safety means wellbeing, dignity, and opportunity for all of our residents; this requires us addressing systemic inequality at the root and properly rehabilitating individuals suffering from lack of mental health supports, intergenerational poverty, and other intersections of trauma under capitalism and colonialism. The Community Safety and Wellbeing Framework motion wil...l be discussed tomorrow, Tuesday the 19th. We need strong speakers to call in and share their perspective on why community safety needs to be a priority for council and how removing the silos and creating a community-led framework is necessary for our progress towards a safer Vancouver where wellbeing, access, and security are status quo for all. I really appreciate everyone who’s taken the time to speak to me over the past several weeks and months. These conversations continue to challenge me and deepen my understanding of what needs to be done, and I am eager to continue this dialogue with you as we find more and better ways to effect permanent change. Read the Community Safety and Wellbeing Framework motion: https://council.vancouver.ca/20210119/documents/b3.pdf Sign up to speak at council (sign up by 8:30am Tuesday): https://vancouver.ca/y/speak-at-city-council-meetings.aspx

Vancouver artists! The BC Arts Council, under new Arts & Culture Minister Melanie Mark, just announced a new grant program "Pivot for Individuals" with two categories: Adaptation and Transition, which gives funds to support projects that allow individuals to make bold pivots or transitions in their artistic practice in response to the changes in the arts and culture sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and, Professional Development, for professional development opportu...nities or specific learning activities that will sustain or advance the careers of artists, cultural practitioners, and arts administrators. You can apply until February 16th. Tell your friends!

2020 was a year of change. A year of pivots. On all levels. We had to change the way we move through the world, how we interact with each other, how we live and work and play. While these challenges were unprecedented for most, many people who don’t fit into colonial society felt some relief at finally having their experiences equalized. 2020 shone a bright light at the flaws in our society and gave us more time to reflect on our ability to impact change. Despite our City C...ouncil having put such necessary energy and focus into the COVID-19 crisis, we also made a lot of progress beyond the pandemic. The work that I have been doing since my Park Board days continues to catalyze and I am truly excited to see the projects, policies, and progress I have been working towards for years start to take hold. We’re going to see big, lasting changes in 2021. I know there is a lot of frustration around housing, public safety, drug policy, economic recovery, the climate emergency, and so on. I want you to know that I share your frustration. Our governance structure does not yet allow for the kind of rapid change we need or deserve. I want to assure everyone that I am doing everything in my power to ensure the well being of all residents of Vancouver, this includes shifting the structure so we can help people faster. 2021 isn’t going to be magically better, despite what some of us need to believe right now. 2021 will be better because of the momentum we’ve built over the past several years. The transformation we’ll see this year is because of all the pivots and shifts and changes we made in 2020 and 2019 and earlier. It is my expectation that this transformational change means overcoming our differences and frustrations with each other. So many of us are deeply angry, and for good reason, and I hope that this passion can be fuelled into unity, not further division.The only way forward is to work together. I see my role as a public servant growing and I know there is a significant disconnect between the work that I do and the public’s perception of my intentions and capabilities. (And not just me, it seems this disconnect exists everywhere between public and politics.) So this year, I pledge to do better when it comes to transparency, accessibility, and cooperation. I have always made it a priority to listen to all perspectives, and this year I intend to make it easier than ever before to engage with me, and for us to work together. Thank you to everyone paying attention and staying involved. I look forward to hearing from you, working with you, and shaping the future of our city together. I am here and I am listening. Happy New Year.

How do we define public safety as a community? Join us on January 7th for an open discourse on crime, community care, and the steps needed to make our city safe for everyone.