It has been an interesting week for the City of Vancouver on the political side of things, and ABC Vancouver has been on the receiving end of much backlash on a couple of different issues.<\/p>\n
The first one is its 180<\/a> on the Vancouver Park Board abolition plan, spearheaded by Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim.<\/p>\n On July 13, Daily Hive Urbanized learned<\/a> that Sim was dropping his bid to axe the Park Board at a conference in which he asked it to end the reservation system for pools.<\/p>\n He made that announcement just three months before Vancouver voters return to the polls.<\/p>\n \u201cThis current Park Board is simply not working, and Vancouverites deserve better,\u201d said Mayor Sim in a statement earlier this week.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why ABC Vancouver will be putting forward a team focused on the needs of residents, with a mandate to deliver high-quality parks and services that are both affordable and accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n The social media reaction was swift and fierce from political players and residents alike.<\/p>\n Some called the course change a \u201cclown show<\/a>,\u201d while others called the whole situation \u201ca gong show.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n Former Vancouver Park Board Commissioner John Coupar didn\u2019t hold back in his criticism of Sim and ABC.<\/p>\n You had a majority at @ParkBoard<\/a> after last election and then you tried to eliminate it and starved it for funds. Seriously @KenSimCity<\/a> @Vote4ABC<\/a> you have got to be kidding! #Vancouver<\/a> residents won\u2019t be fooled again! Nobody believes your B.S. https:\/\/t.co\/dEemxLpX3P<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Coupar (@JohnCCoupar) July 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Cancelled meeting<\/p>\n A second issue emerged following the Park Board drama. On July 14, it was revealed<\/a> that ABC Vancouver Councillor Brian Montague moved to cancel the July 29 council meeting. That motion was carried.<\/p>\n On X, Kareem Allam, another mayoral candidate, said, \u201cThe pattern with Ken Sim and ABC: when the work gets inconvenient, they cancel it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a result of this undemocratic action, they will no longer be brought before council until after the election,\u201d COPE told Daily Hive in a statement.<\/p>\n COPE Councillor Sean Orr was particularly upset, as he had five motions to present.<\/p>\n This is honestly wild. Not only do I think this was a political decision and against the Vancouver Charter\u2019s rules of good governance, it\u2019s also a waste of taxpayer money. Dozens of hours have been spent crafting motions that were drafted in consultation with community members https:\/\/t.co\/OUmnIxAf4M<\/a><\/p>\n