Vancouver Rundown Wednesday November 29, 2023

Summary of local news with the links to stories Facebook blocks

Nov 29, 2023

Summary

Finding solutions to efficiencies in the City of Vancouver budget may not be as easy as one promised. The mayor’s budget task force is giving itself a deadline extension and won’t be reporting back until after Christmas. As Vancouverites stare-down a 10.7 per cent property tax increase, the task force is trying to find new revenue streams and additional ways to cut spending. All this comes as the city contends with high inflation, high interest rates and a swack of new contracts with higher pay for police and other workers.

Other stories…

Gangster (gangsta?) hitman Tyrell Nguyen has been found guilty of two counts of first degree murder in two Lower Mainland killings - one in 2017, the other in 2018. The Brothers Keeper is convicted of killing rival gangster Gary Kang in Surrey and Jagvir Malhi, a mistaken target, in 2018. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

An actor on the popular TV show Arrow is lending his support in the effort to raise money through a GoFundMe campaign for the family of a crew member found dead following a lengthy search. Canadian actor Stephen Amell, 42, says the cast and crew of Arrow are like family and the loss of David McLean, 49, is devastating. McLean, a genny op, was found dead last month after going missing in Burnaby for close to two weeks. The death is not suspicious. McLean leaves behind a wife and two children.

Don’t expect to attend as many holiday parties this season. If you do get invited to a few, expect them to be smaller. That’s the word from the business community in B.C. as early indications suggest people are cutting back on booking venues for such gatherings. That said, this also comes following a slight uptick over last year in spending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The good news - expect less fog for the rest of the week. The bad news, along with slightly warmer temperatures, we’ll get some showers starting Thursday. Here are the latest conditions from our private weather station in Surrey.