Vancouver rundown for Thursday, February 27, 2025.
New supportive housing in Vancouver has been put on hold.
City Council has approved the temporary halt.
That controversial move follows an outcry of public hearings and demonstrations
from those who are concerned with Mayor Ken Simms' plan to stop new supportive housing projects,
including those on the downtown east side.
Simms maintains Vancouver has only 25% of the region's population,
but directly or indirectly supports 77% of the supportive housing units.
Other news, the city of Surrey wants to pull the plug on its participation
in the Metro Vancouver Regional District's growth strategy.
Mayor Brenda Locke says it fails Surrey by attaching too many things to public transit
while stopping a lot of development in her city.
The Metro 2050 regional growth strategy is a coordinated approach to planning jobs,
housing and population increases over the next 30 years.
A man has been arrested after several brutal assaults in Holmbrinkens in South Surrey.
The arrest happened very early Wednesday morning after homes were broken into near King George Blvd. and 160th St.
It's believed one of the assaults involved an elderly man being beaten and dragged into the street.
Police think the incidents are random.
A dangerous crack in a Fraser Valley waterslide has prompted industry-wide recommendations.
At least three sliders were badly cut.
When a fiberglass slide cracked last July at the Bridal Falls Waterpark,
Technical Safety BC is calling for updated hazard training and inspections, recording changes to the conditions of the slides,
and revamping hazard reporting procedures.
A mix of sun and clouds for Thursday, the slight chance of showers, sunny on Friday, showers on Saturday.
For all the details on these local Vancouver area stories, along with those links,
go to vancouverrundown.substack.com