Stephanie Smith

A whole campaign built around the slogan “Evict Ken Sim” to viciously malign him. “Scapegoating the poor and homeless. You know, that was us.” When Ken holds an “Evict Ken Sim” button, it hits hard. His family faced real evictions and financial instability over and over again, growing up as immigrants with little to their name. And the family who lived through those struggles with him didn’t sign up for these personal attacks. Ken got into politics so his kids, and other kids growing up in Vancouver, have a chance to build a future here. That’s why safety and affordability are at the heart of ABC Vancouver’s campaign. The full change we all wanted hasn’t happened yet. There is still more work to do. The Public Safety Plebiscite is the next step on safety: stronger City laws against open-air hard drug use and a call for secure medical treatment, including voluntary and 100+ involuntary care beds. On affordability, it means a 0% property tax increase, help for families and a thriving economy where people can earn enough to get by and build a future here. Real change takes leadership that can face difficult battles and even brutal personal attacks that hit closer to home than you would ever want and keep going. Because Vancouver is worth it. #ABCVancouver #PublicSafety #Affordability

Please see my statement regarding David Eby’s announcement of a provincial election.

As Labour Day comes to a close, a heartfelt thank you to the thousands of @CityofVancouver employees who work every day to keep our city running and serve our residents. From our streets and parks to libraries, community centres and countless essential services, your work matters. Thank you for all you do for Vancouver. Happy Labour Day! 🙏

Real lasting change in our city requires more than slogans. It requires a plan. The Public Safety Plebiscite is backed by extensive policy work and consultation with doctors, law enforcement, addiction experts, community organizations and other stakeholders about how we can actually change the status quo in Vancouver. The result is Building a Safer Vancouver: The 2026 Public Safety Plebiscite Proposal, an in-depth policy plan that lays out what the City can do, what the Province must do, and what tangible change following a YES vote could look like. On October 17th, Vancouverites will be asked two fundamental questions: 1. Should Vancouver strengthen its laws to forbid open-air hard drug use in our public spaces? 2. Should Vancouver formally ask the Province to create a secure medical facility with acute voluntary and 100+ involuntary care beds for people posing a serious risk to themselves or others due to severe substance use and mental health disorders? But these aren't just questions. There is a plan behind them. A YES vote would give Vancouver a clear democratic mandate to strengthen municipal bylaws and give police another tool to address open-air hard drug use, while re-establishing the social expectation that our parks, sidewalks, transit stations and other shared public spaces should be safe and welcoming for everyone. And enforcement is only one part of the plan. The policy proposes a new 24/7 tertiary care centre providing a continuum of care, from immediate medical stabilization and psychiatric assessment to detox, addiction treatment, voluntary care, involuntary care where legally appropriate, and pathways to long-term recovery. It would also provide a way to divert appropriate patients from overcrowded emergency rooms into specialized care, getting people the help they actually need while freeing emergency capacity for other patients. Tangible change in public safety. Tangible change in healthcare. And a compassionate path toward treatment and recovery for people who need real help. For too long, Vancouver has carried a disproportionate share of this crisis while the status quo has failed the people suffering from addiction, their families, our neighbourhoods and our city. We believe Vancouver can do better. That's why Mayor Ken Sim and your ABC Vancouver team have done the work, put forward a detailed plan, and most importantly, are putting the decision in your hands. On October 17th, you will have your say. Read the full Building a Safer Vancouver policy proposal here: abcvancouver.ca/wp-content/u… #ABCVancouver #PublicSafety #Vancouver