Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
@pentastich.bsky.social
Urbanism, utility cycling, rowing, food, vintage cocktails, and city living. Victoria, BC, Canada. He/him.
Blog: https://www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
Mastodon (rarely) https://urbanists.social/@pentastich
Formerly @pentastich on Birdland
Blog: https://www.boomin-in-victoria.ca
Mastodon (rarely) https://urbanists.social/@pentastich
Formerly @pentastich on Birdland
That's disappointing. I'd be happy to pay more for a recirculating fountain.
November 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
That's disappointing. I'd be happy to pay more for a recirculating fountain.
I'm more interested in day to day activation, which I feel gets driven by things like food carts, maybe the odd (curated) busker, etc. I think the revitalization plan enables this.
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I'm more interested in day to day activation, which I feel gets driven by things like food carts, maybe the odd (curated) busker, etc. I think the revitalization plan enables this.
Ugh… my inclination is to hate the sign. I suppose the devil will be in the details.
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Ugh… my inclination is to hate the sign. I suppose the devil will be in the details.
4/ I think council's decision was reasonable, as were the votes to allow the store. Notably, the neighborhood association was in favour as that storefront (in a new building) has been empty since construction. That said, I hope Council revisits the policy, because I think it's flawed.
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
4/ I think council's decision was reasonable, as were the votes to allow the store. Notably, the neighborhood association was in favour as that storefront (in a new building) has been empty since construction. That said, I hope Council revisits the policy, because I think it's flawed.
3/ BTW, a quick online search suggests that cannabis stores are NOT associated with street disorder, which suggests to me that the current policy is not fact-based.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Exploring the Ecological Association Between Crime and Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Routine activities theory purports that crime occurs in places with a suitable target, motivated offender, and lack of guardianship. Medical marijuana dispensaries may be places that satisfy these conditions, but this has not yet been studied. The ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
3/ BTW, a quick online search suggests that cannabis stores are NOT associated with street disorder, which suggests to me that the current policy is not fact-based.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
2/ It sounds like the current regulations, which date to the very beginning of legalization, have a bit of a "reefer madness" vibe.
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
2/ It sounds like the current regulations, which date to the very beginning of legalization, have a bit of a "reefer madness" vibe.
Reposted by Jim Mayer 🇨🇦
Land use matters first. Staff have recommended a decline for a rezoning at 1555 Vancouver St (right next to Panago at Vancouver/Pandora) for a cannabis retailer. Presentation rolls out.
November 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Land use matters first. Staff have recommended a decline for a rezoning at 1555 Vancouver St (right next to Panago at Vancouver/Pandora) for a cannabis retailer. Presentation rolls out.
They are, though the location varies. He typically announces three "Coffee Chats" on BlueSky and on his blog. I really appreciate it when councillors make the effort to explain their thinking in long form, as opposed to media sound bites:
davethompsonvictoria.ca/blog/
davethompsonvictoria.ca/blog/
Blog - Dave Thompson Victoria
davethompsonvictoria.ca
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
They are, though the location varies. He typically announces three "Coffee Chats" on BlueSky and on his blog. I really appreciate it when councillors make the effort to explain their thinking in long form, as opposed to media sound bites:
davethompsonvictoria.ca/blog/
davethompsonvictoria.ca/blog/
What? I want infinite services for free, paid for entirely by eliminating waste and those nasty councillor salaries.
/s
/s
November 25, 2025 at 9:36 PM
What? I want infinite services for free, paid for entirely by eliminating waste and those nasty councillor salaries.
/s
/s
I live in Vic West, too! We moved here because we wanted to live in a walkable, bike friendly, neighborhood as we got older.
Do you know about Councillor Dave Thompson's (@davethompsonvic.bsky.social) community chat tonight at Spinnaker's? He's a good resource on these issues.
Do you know about Councillor Dave Thompson's (@davethompsonvic.bsky.social) community chat tonight at Spinnaker's? He's a good resource on these issues.
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I live in Vic West, too! We moved here because we wanted to live in a walkable, bike friendly, neighborhood as we got older.
Do you know about Councillor Dave Thompson's (@davethompsonvic.bsky.social) community chat tonight at Spinnaker's? He's a good resource on these issues.
Do you know about Councillor Dave Thompson's (@davethompsonvic.bsky.social) community chat tonight at Spinnaker's? He's a good resource on these issues.
My shot wasn't fun either, but it was a LOT better than the time the flu kept me in bed for a week!
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
My shot wasn't fun either, but it was a LOT better than the time the flu kept me in bed for a week!
If you're interested in public transit, his book is really good. Its audience is decision-makers and the general public, not other planners, and I like how it lays out the priority choices that communities need to make.
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
If you're interested in public transit, his book is really good. Its audience is decision-makers and the general public, not other planners, and I like how it lays out the priority choices that communities need to make.
My wife and I are seniors. We bought ebikes because my wife's back makes it hard for her to walk long distances. With a bike she can get everywhere and almost always park near her destination. She carries a folding cane in her panniers. The safe bike and roll network really does mean freedom.
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
My wife and I are seniors. We bought ebikes because my wife's back makes it hard for her to walk long distances. With a bike she can get everywhere and almost always park near her destination. She carries a folding cane in her panniers. The safe bike and roll network really does mean freedom.
2/2 I suspect the best Council can do is separate the cost of policing from the rest of the budget, and make it clear that more policing means higher taxes. Some of that is happening—for example, property tax bills list the police as a separate line item.
November 25, 2025 at 6:28 PM
2/2 I suspect the best Council can do is separate the cost of policing from the rest of the budget, and make it clear that more policing means higher taxes. Some of that is happening—for example, property tax bills list the police as a separate line item.
1/2 I think a number of councillors are determined NOT to make this an austerity budget, while a minority is using a manufactured crisis to attack the programs they always opposed. The police issue is tough, both politically and practically (because Council decisions are often overridden).
November 25, 2025 at 6:28 PM
1/2 I think a number of councillors are determined NOT to make this an austerity budget, while a minority is using a manufactured crisis to attack the programs they always opposed. The police issue is tough, both politically and practically (because Council decisions are often overridden).
The planner Jarrett Walker (@humantransit.bsky.social) talks about planning transportation networks with the goal of freedom (which apparently planners call "access"). He writes about public transit, but I think the approach works for any transportation network.
humantransit.org/basics-acces...
humantransit.org/basics-acces...
Basics: Access, or the Wall Around Your Life — Human Transit
What if we planned public transit with the goal of freedom? Well, it’s hard to improve things that you can’t measure, but now it’s becoming possible to measure freedom, or as we call it in transport ...
humantransit.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The planner Jarrett Walker (@humantransit.bsky.social) talks about planning transportation networks with the goal of freedom (which apparently planners call "access"). He writes about public transit, but I think the approach works for any transportation network.
humantransit.org/basics-acces...
humantransit.org/basics-acces...
I hear you. I know quite a few people who can't drive because of disabilities, and use the bike network to live their lives independently. I get frustrated that much of the opposition to safe cycling infrastructure claims to be in support of "the disabled" (as if all disabled people are the same).
November 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I hear you. I know quite a few people who can't drive because of disabilities, and use the bike network to live their lives independently. I get frustrated that much of the opposition to safe cycling infrastructure claims to be in support of "the disabled" (as if all disabled people are the same).
Sorry… that's "transportation energy usage". I want an effort button.
November 24, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Sorry… that's "transportation energy usage". I want an effort button.
I have no clue what she thinks, and I increasingly don't care.
November 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I have no clue what she thinks, and I increasingly don't care.
Everyone who lives here pays taxes. I pay taxes. I'm even a homeowner. I don't pay my taxes to live in a grey, lifeless, visionless, city that's unwilling to invest in its future or its youth.
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Everyone who lives here pays taxes. I pay taxes. I'm even a homeowner. I don't pay my taxes to live in a grey, lifeless, visionless, city that's unwilling to invest in its future or its youth.