Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson not seeking re-election

[GS8]

In what he called "one of the hardest decisions of [his] life," Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has announced he will not run for re-election on Oct. 20.

"Ten years is a long time in politics," he said, speaking at a press conference staged outside Vancouver City Hall on Wednesday. "An important part of leadership is to know when to make space for new voices and leaders."

Robertson, 53, said the decision was "intensely personal" and that he would not remain in politics in any capacity: municipal, provincial or federal. He said he had no concrete plans for when his term ends at the end of October.



3 terms in office

Robertson was first elected mayor in 2008 after serving as MLA for Vancouver-Fairview with the provincial NDP. He was re-elected mayor in 2011 and 2014, leading a Vision Vancouver slate at city hall.

He said his biggest achievement in office has been helping make Vancouver a green, livable and prosperous city admired around the globe.

"I will leave the place a lot stronger than when we came in and that's important. That said, we still haven't solved everything." the mayor said, citing affordable housing and transit as two priorities.

As recently as October, Robertson had told reporters that he did plan to run again.

Biggest regret

Robertson has faced numerous challenges during his time as mayor.

One of those has been housing affordability. The mayor had vowed to end street homelessness by 2015, but the numbers have increased over the last decade.

However, Robertson said he doesn't regret setting that goal.

"It's frustrating that we didn't get there," he said. "I think we've done more than any city in Canada for homelessness and affordable housing but we've got to keep doing more."

Robertson became emotional when he spoke about what he considered to be his biggest regret over the last 10 years.

"I regret not spending enough time with family and friends. That's what I grappled with over the holidays," he said.

"Being in politics is a challenging lifestyle. My youngest daughter just had her college graduation, but for a lot of her high school school years I wasn't there."

Had he won the upcoming municipal election, he would have eclipsed Philip Owen as the only person to win four consecutive terms as mayor in the city's modern era. Robertson also would have surpassed Louis D. Taylor as the city's longest-serving mayor during his term.

"It's been the greatest honour of my life to serve this extraordinary city and help make Vancouver an inspiration to people and cities around the world," Robertson wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson not seeking re-election - British Columbia - CBC News

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I would totally fling an insult at him but something must have happened in his life for him to quit completely. He told people in October last year he was planning to run again. I'm sure he's had some questionable dealings but I won't speculate. Oh well. The question is who will follow in his shadow?

[jasonturbo]

He must be going back to his home planet.

[MG1]

^ Happy Planet


Not to be confused with Capt. Happy Bubble

[Bonka]

He came across as IDGAF but he certainly has his ego. Why risk running if there was a good chance he was going to lose (possibly humiliated) - in his mind he's going out on top with plenty of opportunities available to him in the private sector.

Vision (or on their behalf) surveyed the public last year regarding Vision and Robertson favorability in the upcoming election and if public persona is any reliable indication they are all but finished.

Whatever. Different party, same bullshit.

[twitchyzero]

one of the longest-running CoV mayor
I don't think there's much humiliation even if he lost
10 years, horey shit I don't even remember who the previous mayor was, aside from Sam Sullivan

[Verdasco]

has millions of china money in his pocket, enjoy your forever rich retirement sir, your condos from concord pacific have set up great funds to your RSP

[ae101]

Nooooooo he's gone, now who's going make more bike lanes in Vancouver

[pastarocket]

Good riddance! Although Moonbeam is finally out of Vancouver city hall, I don't see any positive changes for Vancouverites.

Real estate developers are still gonna have a big influence on politicians by lining their pockets full of cash through campaign contributions.

-ending homelessness by 2015?

[Hondaracer]

While I give him credit for staying in the limelight for 10 years it felt like his efforts were almost always misguided and out of touch with the general public’s opinion

Obviously lined his pockets with Chinese and developer money and will likely end up with some kushy position making 250k+ on some board.

We went from the cripple to the pretty boy, now we’re likely to land somewhere in the middle and I have a feeling it could be a relatively stagnant term for the next incoming mayor

[Traum]

Originally Posted by GS8

I would totally fling an insult at him but something must have happened in his life for him to quit completely. He told people in October last year he was planning to run again. I'm sure he's had some questionable dealings but I won't speculate. Oh well. The question is who will follow in his shadow?

Compared to his first 2 election efforts, Moonbeam's percentage votes dropped a whopping 8%. Now add the results form the most recent civic by-election, and I think the writing is on the wall -- people are fed up with Vision, and are also increasingly getting fed up with Moonbeam's crazy antics in City Hall. I mean, installing bike lanes literally right in front of VGH? Seriously?!

If Moonbeam were to run again, I think he'd have a slightly higher chance of losing than winning, but neither outcome would surprise me. What I would definitely expect is, had he chosen to run again, it will be his toughest election campaign yet.

More importantly, if you look at the recent (city council) by-election results, you will see that Vision has lost quite a bit of support. Previously, Vision enjoys an overwhelming control of the city council, but a close friend pointed out to me that while he thinks Moonbeam could probably still win the mayoral race, he/Vision would almost certainly lose control of the city councilors. Facing the likelihood of an opposition council, and thereby becoming a lame duck mayor, this is probably an important factor that contributed to his decision to retire from municipal politics.

I've always thought Moonbeam had a knack for sensing this kind of political wind and atmosphere, so it is much better to bow out while he can still do so gracefully, instead of getting a harsh eviction notice form the voters. So kudos to him for knowing when to quit (unlike Crusty Clark or Steve Harpy).

As much as I disagree with Moonbeam's many political directions, I still admire and commend him for the courage and determination that he has shown in pushing on major issues. At a minimum, I admire him for trying hard to bring about changes that he thinks will improve city life.

[teggy604]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

While I give him credit for staying in the limelight for 10 years it felt like his efforts were almost always misguided and out of touch with the general public’s opinion

Obviously lined his pockets with Chinese and developer money and will likely end up with some kushy position making 250k+ on some board.

We went from the cripple to the pretty boy, now we’re likely to land somewhere in the middle and I have a feeling it could be a relatively stagnant term for the next incoming mayor

Don't forget his kushy pension while being mayor of Vancouver. At 53 he can retire, not like he has to work with all those yrs of salary, plus investments.

[Hondaracer]

Originally Posted by teggy604

Don't forget his kushy pension while being mayor of Vancouver. At 53 he can retire, not like he has to work with all those yrs of salary, plus investments.

People like him never retire, there’s no point

[TypeRNammer]

And yet tax payers will be on the hook for the removal of the Georgia viaducts

[CivicBlues]

Vancouver mayor won’t run for re-election because he can no longer afford to live in Vancouver
https://www.thebeaverton.com/2018/01...ive-vancouver/
18 HOURS AGO by MARY GILLIS

Photo Credit
VANCOUVER – After ten years as Vancouver’s mayor, Gregor Robertson has announced he will not be running for re-election because he can’t afford to live in the city anymore.

“I love Vancouver and serving as its mayor has been the greatest privilege of my life,” Robertson said in a press release. “But an unfortunate side effect of my success in making Vancouver into a world-class centre of culture and commerce is that I am not financially able to continue to live here.”

“I’m not rich, I’m just a regular millionaire. My annual salary of $165,000 barely covers the cost of parking.”

Robertson’s planned departure from Vancouver, which has the highest cost of living of any city in Canada, is the most recent example of an exodus of non-monied that the city has been experiencing, turning what was once a thriving metropolis into a gilded ghost town.

“It’s bad enough we can’t find regular servants anymore, but now we’re losing civil servants, too?” says local billionaire advocate Tiffany Getty. “I just hope our next mayor is someone who realizes that a city like Vancouver needs a robust, settled underclass if the wealthy are going to thrive.”

“And can afford a one bedroom plus den in Yaletown.”

Robertson plans to spend his last ten months as mayor fighting with his roommates over who should pay for the damage to the carpet in the living room from their last party.

[ae101]

seriously if the mayor of vancouver cant even afford to live in van city then what about the regular folks like u and me lol

[Traum]

On a completely unrelated note, WTF happened with his hair?



His hairstyle has always been a little dopey at the best of times, but this is probably one of the worst hairdos I have seen him in.

[twitchyzero]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

read three sentences in thinking it was real

[Bouncing Bettys]

Originally Posted by Traum

On a completely unrelated note, WTF happened with his hair?

Spoiler!

His hairstyle has always been a little dopey at the best of times, but this is probably one of the worst hairdos I have seen him in.

All the local hair places had to close up shop due to high rent and an inability to retain staff who couldn't afford to live locally or commute from Hope.

[Badhobz]

go build another bike lane you fucking troll!

[yray]

Originally Posted by Traum

On a completely unrelated note, WTF happened with his hair?



His hairstyle has always been a little dopey at the best of times, but this is probably one of the worst hairdos I have seen him in.

no longer have asian gf, don't need to worry about hair

[asian_XL]

white people have bad Asian taste

[MG1]

Touted to be the handsomest mayor in Canada. Like WTF? That is so sexist.

What would happen if we said she's the hottest female politician in Canada? We'd be branded sexist. We men are not fucking objects, women!!!! There's more to us than............ eyes up here! Sheesh.....







three troll worthy, gulolol

[GS8]

Originally Posted by asian_XL

white people have bad Asian taste

With those lips, she must sound like a YAMAHA F300 when she's motorboating.

[MG1]

Integra Girl's evil twin.........

[Traum]

Originally Posted by yray

no longer have asian gf, don't need to worry about hair

What? They broke up?