u/JRitcey2026

Oooh cool to see another New Majority event! They are a group that seeks to encourage first time and young voters to go to the polls. It isn't easy - there's still lots of misconceptions out there that students or renters can't or don't need to vote in municipal elections. I remember being at a Misfit Night Market the day before the 2022 election trying to warn people that Kamloops was about to elect a mini Trump as our Mayor and being met with lots of shrugs and puzzled looks.

For folks wondering why Milobar left when he did, more confirmation that sinking poll numbers probably played into the timing. We will see if he joins Centre BC or stays an independent, but I would strongly wager this is more about getting Kerry-Lynne Findlay to resign as Conservative leader, so he can rejoin that party and run with a leader that stands a chance at forming government in two years time.

Annual precipitation has actually been on a trend of increasing in the interior, including these past few years. So how are we in a such a bad drought situation? Temperatures have been on the rise. Particularly in the winter, we are losing that snowy season that normally protects soil moisture from evaporation. That's how climate change is being felt locally. We are living through it. Don't let anyone tell you that it isn't real and that it isn't already greatly impacting our community in a negative way.

“Why would any councillor block the mayor?” - RHJ ponders.

Hmm, why might someone want all interaction with the Mayor to be in writing and saved on the City's e-mail network? Probably the Mayor's tendency to sue his colleagues has something to do with it.

Personally, I think it is a very reasonable step to take. Some people have this weird take that politicians aren't allowed personal boundaries and need to passively absorb abuse from people who act disrespectfully, be it a colleague or constituent.

Great results from this program and a provincial advocacy item:

"One bigger change Canadian Mental Health Association is advocating for is to have mental health as a fourth option in 911.

Currently, when callers dial 911, they are asked, “Do you need police, fire or ambulance, and for what city?” 

The integration of mental health as a fourth option could help remove police from situations where they don’t need to be involved."

Story from Kelowna about a slate that is basically all AI generated content. I have noticed it in Kamloops too with some candidates posting AI photos or writing entire blog posts that clearly are the work of chat gpt (or other platform). This also includes people who frequently comment on political stuff on socials, some of them are using AI too, so the whole thing just becomes machines arguing under human names.

Is it a concern for you that people aren't using their real voices? At what point is it basically false advertising? Do we maybe need to look at a rule to label that content, so people are aware?

This whole story is kind of just ridiculous, but also funny, so passing it along.

Interesting, there's a new political party in BC that some are calling a revival of the BC Liberals. Will Peter Milobar cross the floor again and join it?

Probably not, you see the new party's leader actually brought in SOGI when he was part of the last BC Liberal government (Milobar's old party) and says the anti-SOGI rhetoric is the “perfect example of the divisive and fear-tactic politics” that have proliferated in B.C., especially in the last election.

During his failed leadership bid Milobar took aim at SOGI, held an interview with Rebel news, and talked about there only being two genders (there's no room for the existence of non-binary and intersex people in their ideology).

Despite trying to cultivate a moderate reputation, I think it is pretty clear that Peter Milobar is most at home now staying in the BC Conservatives, with their wacky, far right leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, even if she did target his family in that famous debate moment.

"What have you done to understand and prepare yourself for the role" is a good question to ask prospective candidates this fall. Good on the City for putting this on.

Curious what people think about the Crestline bridge and possibility of making Seymour and Lansdowne 2-way traffic?

BC Interior Community Foundation accepting donations slated for Build Kamloops project | CFJC Today Kamloops

I was invited to this announcement, as I volunteer on a BCICF committee, and hearing the presentation thought it made a lot of sense to go this route. Other institutions like TRU and the hospital are linked to charitable foundations that can give back tax receipts.

Unfortunately, there was a lot of online negativity/backlash from people thinking that average citizens were now being hit up for donations, while struggling with existing tax and affordability burdens. But the receipting thing is more for large dollar and corporate donors.

I had this random idea that it would be fun to set up a group rollerblading meet up event one evening. McArthur Island is a pretty decent loop. Then maybe Red Beard patio for whoever wanted to go there after. Kind of a 90's nostalgia thing. Just taking people's temperature if that resonates with anyone.

New BC Conservative leader says her party will emphasize "faith, family and freedom." Tough day for our local MLA Peter Milobar, who came in last place and is now serving under a leader who made remarks during the debate about his family that were widely interpreted as racist. There's some discussions about whether he will retire or resign, as he may have a hard time getting re-elected having veered so far to the right to compete in the leadership race.

Hmm, this is very unusual to accelerate the fee schedule that was just adopted last year. Since fares just go into general revenue it is likely that a shortfall elsewhere prompted the need for more cash. Generally speaking the city is broke, having spent down all our reserves and taken on a lot of debt, so there's little ability to absorb price shocks like a higher price of gas.

This proposal sounds pretty solid, we have a real shortage of hotel spaces in Kamloops. Over the past couple decades a lot of older hotel/motels were converted to housing, while tourism growth/demand only increased.

The last Build Kamloops project calls for an aquatics facility north of the river. I have been advocating that a hotel component be part of that. Hotel, wave pool and waterslides at McArthur Island, in particular, would be an excellent combo!

The City has launched a new page that I think will be a really good resource for the upcoming election, both candidates and voters.

Free neighborhood walks about urbanism topics, no registration required (except for the free Jane Jacob's documentary screening on Sunday).

I'll be leading a walk about pedestrian safety and storm water management, Mitch Forgie is talking about infill development and gentle density, there's topics on downtown heritage, the Tranquille construction boom, and a walk focused on Battle Street.