If there's a free coach on the side of the road, was it put there as an act of charity or a desperate plea?
Vision Vancouver, a party running in the Vancouver 2022 Civic Election, is assuming the latter and promising a city-wide large item removal day if elected.
They believe that the logistical issues of disposing of furniture and big junk items are a real problem for Vancouverites, especially seniors, those who live in apartments, and people who don't own vehicles. And as a party, they want to ensure that residents are able to see the city working toward practical solutions to everyday problems.
Similar to an annual initiative that happens in Delta called Spring Clean-Up, the publicly funded removal day is promised to take place by spring 2023 with the intention that it will reduce the number of discarded mattresses and furniture in alleyways and save residents money on junk removal services.
In Delta, the large-item pickup program only applies to people who are eligible for curbside garbage collection. Vision's plan is to collaborate with city sanitation services to expand to include an annual removal of large items at no extra cost to citizens.
Vision Vancouver council candidate Honieh Barzegari says, "As a resident of the West End, I see on a daily basis the hurdles involved in people trying to discard old and unwanted items. This challenge is particularly acute for my neighbours who are renters and seniors.”
According to Barzegari, city staff are collecting discarded items one at a time when citizens report them or they are impeding building entrances. “I want Vancouver to be a city where people see the value of City Hall every day. This is a tangible, concrete way City Hall can help people with an everyday concern,” he says.
Vision Vancouver is running for council without a mayoral candidate and is also campaigning on the promises of scrapping public hearings for below-market housing projects and opening all neighbourhoods to townhouses, row houses and mid-rise apartment buildings.
With files from Mike Howell.
