Take the Giant Screen Down Now

PavCo Minister Bell admits that lack of consultation by rogue agency BC PavCo is “problematic”

2012-02-14T17:08:00.001-08:00

The following CKNW interview on the Bill Good Show was recorded following a meeting with BC PavCo Minister Pat Bell on February 8, 2012. In the interview, Take the Giant Screen Down Now spokesperson David Cookson describes what representatives from the citizen’s group discussed with the Minister. Also explained is the group’s new conciliatory demand concerning the three giant outdoor screens at BC Place Stadium.

Despite the Minister’s non-responsiveness towards residents for the five months following the erection of the outdoor screens, and despite the screens’ continued operation daily and nightly, the group has made great concessions from its previous demands to 'Take the Giant Screen Down Now' and now instead has made a simple request: that basic City standards and processes be applied to the signage at BC Place Stadium.

Adhering to City standards and processes IS WHAT ALL CROWN CORPORATIONS HAVE ALWAYS DONE in the City of Vancouver and also very importantly IT'S WHAT PAVCO SAID THEY WOULD DO when they engaged the City in 2008 about the BC Place Stadium renovations (see the September 2008 FCN ODP 'Upgrade Commitment Agreement' where PavCo agreed "not to fetter Council discretion" concerning the development of False Creek North). This conciliatory demand that PavCo 'follow the City standards and processes' (which would mean that PavCo simply submit three sign permit applications to the City as per the City's bylaw requirements) is a completely reasonable request and one which is increasingly resonating with the vast majority of the public who are seeking a speedy resolution on this matter.

On January 17, 2012 Vancouver City Council unanimously passed a motion demanding that BC PavCo comply with the City's sign bylaws.

(CKNW radio interview player should appear just below this sentence)

PavCo Minister Bell deaf to new conciliatory request from TtGSDN group?

2012-02-10T17:17:00.001-08:00

Take the Giant Screen Down Now organisation has taken a new conciliatory tone, deviating from its long-standing demands to immediately remove the giant screen at Terry Fox Plaza and the two other giant screens surrounding BC Place Stadium. Rather than continuing to insist that the screens be taken down with no further discussion, the group has made great concessions towards BC PavCo and is now simply requesting that regular processes regarding city infrastructure be followed and that existing city standards concerning entertainment district signage be applied.

During a meeting with PavCo minister Pat Bell on February 8, 2012 David Cookson, spokesperson for Take the Giant Screen Down Now told the Minister that residents would be satisfied with PavCo and the Ministry if they “Just follow the process. There’s an accepted process in this city, one which was followed by the Federal Government for the CBC Studios screen at 700 Hamilton Street. All PavCo needs to do is submit three sign application permits to the City for the three screens it wishes to operate. If indeed the public wishes there to be giant video screens at BC Place Stadium, then the City's standards and processes will certainly make it so.”

(Please click the following link for the full Metro Vancouver news story)
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/1092901--residents-spotlight-billboard-woes

(Please click on the following two images to view the two memorandums delivered to Pat Bell during the February 8, 2012 meeting with the Minister.)

MEMORANDUM-1: Questions for the Minister

MEMORANDUM-2: Conciliatory request to the Minister

Minister Bell admits: Province could have done more

2012-02-10T16:31:00.000-08:00

In the following story by 24 Hours News, PavCo Minister Pat Bell sidesteps questions about the gross negligence demonstrated by BC PavCo in erecting three screens at BC Place stadium – the Minister instead talks about the ‘complaints’ surrounding the screens.

“The fact that emotions are as high as they are is a strong indication we haven’t communicated effectively,” Bell told 24 hours. As explained to the Minister during a meeting with Take the Giant Screen Down Now spokesperson David Cookson on February 8, 2012 “emotions are as high as they are because BC PavCo has not yet followed the City’s standard processes concerning signage. Communications with the public ‘after erecting the screens’ is really more of a damage mitigation tactic than anything else. What the Minister and PavCo need to do now is just simply follow the City’s processes – it’s that easy.”

The province and PavCo have received increasing pressure from Vancouver City Council, which passed a unanimous motion last month demanding a clear action plan from the Crown Corporation to bring the digital screens into compliance. Embarrassingly for PavCo, additional documents have also surfaced demonstrating PavCo’s written commitment in September 2008 “not to fetter council discretion” on issues regarding the development of False Creek North.

(Please click the following link for the full 24 Hours story) http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2012/02/08/19357171.html

The BC Place giant screens debacle: City asks PavCo to do what it said it would do

2012-02-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

The following story is from the personal blog of Vancouver City Councillor and citizen’s rights champion Geoff Meggs, who has officially and as a matter of public record exposed BC PavCo’s wilful disregard for due process in the BC Place giant screens debacle. On his blog, the Councillor states “When Vancouver city council voted unanimously to demand an action plan from the BC Pavilion Corporation to bring its new digital signs into compliance with city policies, the city was simply asking PavCo to do what it has always said it would do.”

Councillor Meggs then goes on to produce documents showing how in a September 2008 ‘Upgrade Commitment Agreement’, PavCo specifically promised in writing to follow the City’s wishes concerning these matters and “not to fetter council discretion regarding False Creek North Official Development Plan Amendments or otherwise”. (Please see document image below.)

This damaging document serves as yet further proof in support of the massive outcry to Provincial Ministry officials to have the rogue PavCo organisation reined in and ordered to follow the due process always followed by Crown Corporations: that is, to submit three standard sign permit applications for the three outdoor screens to the City’s Centre for Billboard Permitting for standard scrutiny under the existing Sign Bylaw provisions applicable to all entertainment districts in our city. − Is anyone else wondering where the PavCo Ministry is during all this? (i.e. The Ministry of JTI)

(Please click on the following link for Geoff Meggs’ blog) http://www.geoffmeggs.ca/2012/01/18/the-bc-place-sign-debate-city-asks-pavco-to-do-what-it-said-it-would-do/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-bc-place-sign-debate-city-asks-pavco-to-do-what-it-said-it-would-do

(Please click on the following image to view the ‘Upgrade Commitment Agreement’ where PavCo specifically promises to follow the City’s wishes concerning these matters. See item #3.)

PavCo admits to not owning BC Place giant screen! – points to Telus as culprit

2012-01-31T16:27:00.000-08:00

In response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by citizen’s group ‘Take the Giant Screen Down Now’, BC PavCo has reluctantly but officially admitted that the giant video screen at Terry Fox Plaza does not belong to PavCo at all, but rather to a third party.

In a letter sent January 24, 2012 by PavCo administrator Alexandra Wagner, the PavCo CEO’s assistant confirms that “With respect to <revenues earned from advertising on all three giant outdoor screens> there are no records in reference to your request”, which confirms what has been suspected for months now: that a third party is collecting those advertising revenues instead.

Effectively narrowing down the screen owner’s identity to either PavCo or Telus Corporation, Wagner writes in her follow-up letter sent January 30, 2012 that “Ownership of the Screen at Terry Fox Plaza is part of the ongoing negotiations between PavCo and its preferred Telecommunications partner”, suggesting that the future ownership share of the screen between these two parties is currently under deliberation. Wagner does go on to admit however that “at present PavCo has no records related to the <screen ownership> portion of your request”, which finally confirms conclusively that PavCo is not the current owner of the screen, suggesting de facto that Telus must be.

This admission further bolsters widespread beliefs that Telus Corporation is in fact the owner of all three giant outdoor screens at BC Place Stadium, a development first announced by MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert after being told so by PavCo Deputy Minister Dana Hayden in December of 2011.

As noted in previous blogs, non-Crown-agency third-party ownership and operation of the giant outdoor video screens at BC Place is illegal under a 2000-2003 BC Court of Appeals judgement concerning the BC Interpretation Act. It now remains to be seen how swiftly Vancouver’s City Council and Legal Department will use the courts to force Telus and PavCo to comply with the City’s Sign By-laws and ultimately whip PavCo’s leadership into behaving as they should have in the first place.

(Please scroll through the following document to view the full FOI correspondence with BC PavCo)

BC PavCo FOI correspondence

BC PavCo attempts to stave off Freedom of Information request: illegally withholds third-party documentation

2012-01-31T13:54:00.000-08:00

The following two letters of complaint were sent January 29 and 31, 2012 to BC PavCo’s Freedom of Information Coordinator Alexandra Wagner (who is notably also the direct executive assistant and corporate secretary to PavCo CEO Warren Buckley). The letters which address PavCo’s incomplete FOI response describe on-going attempts by the PavCo leadership to continue withholding the screen owner’s identity as well as documentation describing PavCo’s complicity in the screen’s continued operation - this despite Freedom of Information laws requiring that PavCo disclose all related documentation.

Observers can rest assured that those leadership and non-leadership members of the BC PavCo administration who are deliberately allowing justice to be obstructed through wilful non-disclosure of the screen owner’s identity will legally and financially be held accountable under laws such as the province’s Tort and Nuisance laws, just to name a few. The hole is growing deeper – time to come clean.

(Please click on the following two images to view the two complaint letters sent to PavCo regarding their incomplete FOI response.)

Letter of Complaint #1

Letter of complaint #2

Residents rally against invasive light from digital signs outside BC Place

2012-01-22T22:28:00.001-08:00

This article in the Globe and Mail tells how the three giant video screens at BC Place have sparked hundreds of emails and letters since last fall from downtown residents who properly assert that light from the flashing, beer-advertising sign has invaded their living rooms by day and their sleep by night. The story goes on to explain that BC PavCo’s recent tinkering with the screens demonstrates that they’re not at all listening to residents’ concerns. Concerned and directly affected citizens alike have been rallying for four months for the standard application of due process and have demanded that BC PavCo be made to comply with the city’s sign by-laws, laws which were precisely designed and have been successful at achieving the proper balance regarding appropriate signage throughout so-called ‘entertainment districts’ in the Vancouver downtown core. Finally, the story reminds readers that CBC (recalling that CBC is a Federal government entity, a level of government superior to the Provincial government), when seeking to erect a screen at CBC Plaza at 700 Hamilton Street in 2008, followed the standard billboard permit application process as do all Crown corporations when looking to implement projects which are generally described and governed by Vancouver’s city by-laws.

– Feeling the pressure mounting, PavCo CEO Warren Buckley has chosen to run and hide and has left BC Place assistant general manager Kathy Delisser all alone to make outlandish statements, such as trying to shrug-off responsibility by saying that BC Place isn’t free to do exactly what it wants with the sign due to ongoing sponsorship negotiations. …It’s becoming increasingly obvious to even the least interested onlooker that PavCo’s actions regarding the three screens at BC Place Stadium are marred with irregularities and that the erecting of the three screens is a complete deviation from any and all accepted procedures considered appropriate by all levels of civic and provincial government.

(Please click the following link for full story in the Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/residents-rally-against-invasive-light-from-digital-signs-outside-bc-place/article2307488/

Vancouver requires “clear action plan” on digital signs compliance at BC Place

2012-01-22T21:30:00.000-08:00

In this story appearing in the Georgia Straight, Vision Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs describes the unanimous motion passed by Vancouver City Council concerning the giant digital billboards at BC Place Stadium and describes how the City is requesting that PavCo follow standard protocols which are typically followed by Crown Corporations, “This motion asks PavCo to do what Crown corporations have said in the past they would do...that they would adhere to city policies and procedures when it came to issues that would normally be under our jurisdiction”.

Meggs’ motion, which was passed unanimously by City Council, asks Vancouver’s city manager to write to PavCo, advising them that the City requires a clear action plan to bring the signs into compliance “with city standards and processes”. City Manager Penny Ballem adds that “there’s a larger question here as we go forward... about PavCo’s relationship to the city.”

– It seems that PavCo CEO Warren Buckley’s appalling lack of community values and shameful actions are not only trouncing on local city residents’ right to a peaceful home environment, but now Buckley is also putting into jeopardy BC PavCo’s long-term relationship with the City of Vancouver. …Not exactly qualities you’d want from the head of one of our provincial organisations, nor someone you’d want empowered to make such big decisions about the shape and character of our City.

(Please click the following link for full Georgia Straight News story)
http://www.straight.com/article-585491/vancouver/vancouver-requests-clear-action-plan-digital-signs-bc-place

City Hall insists that PavCo comply with Sign By-laws

2012-01-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

“There’s no reason why a small group of revenue-hungry elitist executives in a dark room somewhere can decide what type of harassment that they’re going to impose on our community,” says residents group Take the Giant Screen Down Now primary spokesperson David Cookson about the BC PavCo leadership. – Vancouver City Council agrees.

In this follow-up story by Erica Bulman, we learn how Vancouver City Council has demanded a clear action plan from PavCo on how it will bring into compliance the giant digital screens at BC Place which are beaming ads directly into the adjacent condos. In the story, City Council clearly warns that failure to respect municipal bylaws would create “difficulties down the road” for PavCo. City Councillor Geoff Meggs then insists that PavCo needs to “…do what is right by the public, not just what is right by PavCo.”

Councillor Meggs goes on to explain about agreements made between PavCo and the City prior to the stadium renovations, “They promised when they applied for rezoning in the first place they would come forward to the city the way anybody else would under the circumstances.” Crown corporations traditionally respect municipal bylaws, but PavCo erected the screens without city approval.

(Please click the following link for full 24 Hours News story)
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2012/01/17/19258581.html

UNANIMOUS! - City backs residents in billboard battle

2012-01-22T20:15:00.001-08:00

In this follow-up story by Matt Kieltyka, we learn how Vancouver City Council is standing up for residents complaining about the electronic billboards at B.C. Place, unanimously voting in favour of a game plan which councillors hope will pressure BC PavCo into complying with the city’s sign bylaw. PavCo’s reprehensible behaviour has harshly been criticised by several members of City Council, with Councillor Meggs saying “(Residents) are asking for some reasonable accommodations from PavCo and they should get it.”

The motion effectively puts the PavCo leadership on notice that they must comply with City processes and sign bylaws and demands an action plan from PavCo for full compliance. City manager Penny Ballem also confirms that the City is looking into possible legal options if PavCo does not respond swiftly.

(Please click the following link for full Metro Vancouver News story)
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/1074173--city-backs-residents-in-billboard-battle

‘Blinded by the light’ – Take the Giant Screen Down Now group vows to protest until screen comes down

2012-01-14T02:26:00.000-08:00

In this story by Metro reporter Matt Kieltyka, members of Take the Giant Screen Down Now (TtGSDN) and the community alike applaud Councillor Meggs for standing up for local residents quality of life and well-being. City Councillor Meggs states that “On an overcast day, it’s quite disturbing having a light flashing in your living room”. — 'Disturbing' is an understatement; community residents need rest when they’re at home, not bombardment with advertising all day every day.

Surprisingly, the MLA For Vancouver-False Creek Mary McNeil remains conspicuously quiet on the issue and has abandoned the Councillor to defend this community on his own, which is disappointing to say the least since this is McNeil’s constituency. TtGSDN primary spokesperson David Cookson confirms not hearing back from McNeil despite repeated requests for contact by phone and by email on many occasions. Is MLA McNeil toeing the partisan line and simply refusing to listen to her electorate in the hopes that this will go away?

(Please click the following link for full story) http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/1070563--blinded-by-the-light

‘Signs of Trouble’ - If Telus owns screens at BC Place Stadium then City By-laws should apply – PavCo and Telus duck comments on ownership

2012-01-14T01:52:00.000-08:00

In this follow-up story by CTV BC News, MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert confirms that PavCo Deputy Minister Dana Hayden admitted Telus Corporation’s ownership of the Terry Fox Plaza screen. When contacting Telus to confirm ‘who owns the screens’, Telus is exposed by CTV reporter Shannon Paterson as inappropriately ducking the question and deferring to sponsorship issues. – Similarly for PavCo. Interestingly, jurisprudence in the BC Appeals Court decision ‘District of Squamish v. Great Pacific Pumice’ indicates that City By-laws are applicable, therefore providing the City with the authority to remove third-party-owned screens from Provincial land if they do not comply with City By-laws.

If Telus proves to be the owner of the screens, PavCo CEO Warren Buckley and PavCo Minister Pat Bell will have a lot of explaining to do, beginning with why this vital information has been withheld from City Hall and from the general public for all these months. (CTV video link should appear just below this paragraph)

City Hall and residents questioning leadership at BC PavCo

2012-01-14T01:07:00.000-08:00

In this story, CTV BC News reports that “Complaints keep on rolling in” about the giant screen at Terry Fox Plaza and how “There’s been a steady stream of complaints about the billboard for more than three months – Councillor Geoff Meggs has an inbox full of emails”. Meggs goes on to describe how “People are being driven crazy by the lighting that’s hitting their buildings” and explains that “There hasn’t been enough of a <consultation> process as far as they’re concerned” and “a lot of them are demanding that the sign be taken right down”. (CTV video link should appear just below this paragraph)

City Hall confirms “A lot of residents are demanding the sign be taken right down” – PavCo and Telus lock down all communications with press and public

2012-01-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

The following CTV News story confirms the flood of complaints reaching City Hall over the last four months regarding the intolerable nuisance caused by the three giant video screens at BC Place Stadium. Also covered in the story is the increasingly likely prospect of Telus Corporation actually owning and operating the three screens in secrecy.

Seeking desperately to flee from this public relations disaster, both PavCo CEO Warren Buckley and Telus spokesperson Shawn Hall have frantically resorted to the age-old damage mitigation tactic of stonewalling the press by refusing to comment on the Telus ownership issue. Increasingly, it’s not just the ownership of the giant screens of that’s being put in question, but also the leadership of the BC Pavilion Corporation.

(Please click on the following link for the full CTV BC News story)
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120112/bc_place_lights_120112/20120112/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Questions swirl around ownership of B.C. Place’s video boards

2012-01-13T15:39:00.000-08:00

Investigative journalist Bob Mackin of the Vancouver Courier publishes an incredible admission from the PavCo Ministry stating that the three giant video screens at BC Place Stadium are privately owned by Telus Corporation and not at all owned by BC PavCo as CEO Warren Buckley has been intimating to City Hall and to Vancouver City residents!

(Please click here for full Vancouver Courier story) http://www.vancourier.com/Questions+swirl+around+ownership+Place+video+boards/5987095/story.html

“Crown corporations usually consult with the City” says Councillor – Why not PavCo?

2012-01-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

In this CKNW News story, Councillor Geoff Meggs correctly points out that PavCo and the BC Liberals have deliberately circumvented Vancouver City By-laws, this despite existing precedents for voluntary assessment of video screens set by the Federal government at CBC Studios 700 Hamilton Street in September 2008. In City documents made publicly available at http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20080930/documents/p1.pdf, the City Director of Planning writes, “CBC, (al)though a federal government crown corporation, has chosen to work with the City on their sign proposals and apply for the necessary by-law amendments and permits.”

Provincial and Federal agencies, as a matter of protocol and of respect for civic authority, always follow city by-laws voluntarily - Such has always been the case, as it has been completely unthinkable that the Crown would act in a way so obviously detrimental to the well-being of the local community. PavCo has the honourable distinction of showing us otherwise.

Billboards still hurt their eyes
LAURA BAZIUK CKNW NEWS

A Vancouver City Councillor is trying to address the complaints he says are still coming in about the bright lights around BC Place.

It's been more than three months since people living near the newly renovated stadium started complaining that its billboards were keeping them up at night.

Geoff Meggs says that issue hasn't gone away and Pavco's efforts haven't been enough.

So, he plans to table a motion next week to ask the stadium operator to bring the signs up to standard, "Go back, use the best match you can work out for what should have happened in terms of public consultation and go through a process with people, because it's not working the way it is."

Meggs says the city was taken by surprise when the signs were installed without consultation, as he says Crown corporations usually do.

City Hall turns up the heat to protect local residents – PavCo to be told to deliver a sign bylaw compliance plan

2012-01-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

Liveable communities champion and City Councillor Geoff Meggs has tabled a sharply worded motion for discussion at the upcoming City Hall Council chamber session on January 17th. In the motion document posted on the City website (see ‘Motions on Notice’ at http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20120117/regu20120117ag.htm), Meggs outlines the various discussion items to be addressed regarding the BC Place Stadium Digital Signs, items which could not be less embarrassing and exposing for BC PavCo CEO Warren Buckley and his team. Among the shameful items to be reviewed is the categoric rebuttal of recent PavCo propaganda suggesting that fiddling with operating hours and/or brightness has reduced the daily torment felt by residents whose glass-enclosed living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms are facing the giant illuminated screens. Also on the list-of-shame is the continued exposure of PavCo Minister Pat Bell’s non-collaboration with Mayor Robertson’s team, a subject on which Bell mislead the BC Legislative Assembly on November 17th, 2011.

As City Hall shines an even brighter spotlight on PavCo’s demonstrated contempt regarding the hundreds of complaints continuing to flood City and Provincial officials’ inboxes, it has become clear to Vancouverites that the leadership of this Crown agency lacks the very basic respect and concern for community values that citizens expect and demand in this day and age. This late and ugly discovery about PavCo’s lack of community concern becomes particularly alarming when one realises that this Crown agency wields such great influence over the shape and infrastructural character of our great city, a city whose world-class reputation has been painstakingly built on responsible principles of liveability, sustainability and harmony with our urban environment.

Next Tuesday morning promises to be an exciting chamber meeting for citizens concerned with protecting Vancouver residents’ quality of life, and a miserably painful day for disconnected officials PavCo Minister Pat Bell and CEO Warren Buckley.

(Please click on the Motion Notice image here below to enlarge the text)

PavCo Giant Billboard continues to operate in 2012 - No rest for neighbours

2012-01-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

‘City Hall Watch’, a citizen review website addressing major City of Vancouver policies, chronicles the 2008 decision by the BC Supreme Court and BC Court of Appeals to have a giant billboard at Main and Broadway removed as per the City of Vancouver’s wishes. The story goes on to explain that “At the time, the City of Vancouver had assembled an entire legal team to fight the billboard in Mount Pleasant”, and that now, the author adds, “the city has experience and <has set> a precedent in fighting illegal billboards.” - Will City Hall once again mount a determined charge against, this time a high intensity electronic billboard, and force the dismantling of the Terry Fox Plaza giant screen? Indications coming from City Hall are very promising… stay tuned for developments.

(Please click on the following link for story) http://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/pavco-giant-billboard-continues-to-operate-in-2012-no-rest-for-neighbours/

Mayor rings Bell with sternly worded letter about giant screen

2011-12-27T00:13:00.000-08:00

In this news scoop by Bob Mackin of the Vancouver Courier, the investigative reporter acquires and publishes a letter from Mayor Gregor Robertson to PavCo Minister Pat Bell for all to see. In the impressively sternly worded letter, the Mayor declares that the giant video screen at Terry Fox Plaza “is not in compliance with our sign By-law” and emphasises that “This sign is already the source of significant complaints due to its impact on the neighbours”. Furthermore, the Mayor insists that “Minister, I would ask that you direct your officials at PavCo to…bring your signage into compliance with our Bylaw”. This revealing letter leaves no doubt whatsoever that the Mayor wants the giant screen taken down. Read Bob Mackin’s full story at: http://2010goldrush.blogspot.com/2011/12/mayor-rings-bell-with-letter-about.html

(Please click on the Mayor’s letter here below to enlarge the text)

Residents call for removal of illegal screen - Concerns rise over drop in property value

2011-12-26T22:37:00.000-08:00

The following story in Vancouver’s largest Chinese language newspaper about the giant video screen describes how property values of hundreds of homes facing Terry Fox Plaza are expected to decrease significantly as a result of PavCo erecting the giant video screen. The story explains that those property owners worried about the ill-health effects on their families of continuous daily exposure to the incessant flashing Telus and Budweiser advertising are also now expecting to have great difficulty in selling their homes. – Ask yourself honestly: Would you buy a home for your family which is facing a giant flashing video advertising screen?

The Sing Tao story continues by reporting that Vancouver City Mayor Gregor Robertson has requested of the PavCo Minister (Pat Bell) that he instruct PavCo to comply with City By-laws (effectively calling for the removal of the screen). The story ends by describing how local residents John Kang and Jason Hathaway are negatively affected, both directly and indirectly, by the giant video screen.

By DAVID JANG, SING TAO NEWS

December 22, 2011

居民促拆體育館強光熒幕轟違溫市府附例憂物業價值降

http://news.singtao.ca/vancouver/2011-12-22/headline1324553581d3609080.html

‘Vancouver's most unwanted night light’ - Provincial Officials thumb their noses at Vancouver Residents

2011-12-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

In the following 24 Hours Vancouver news story, PavCo Minister Pat Bell’s disingenuous and misleading responses about the giant video screen at Terry Fox Plaza are further exposed. When taking stock of opinions on the subject, at last count: The Vancouver City Mayor has asked that the screen be removed, City Councillor Geoff Meggs has said that residents were “ambushed” with this giant screen in their living rooms, Vancouver City By-laws dictate that the screen must be dismantled, MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert has stated that the screen must be taken down, and the overwhelming local resident outcry has demanded that the giant screen be immediately removed. When will the BC Liberals stop this daily harassment into our homes?

Residents in nearby towers complain the glare from the oversized screen at BC Place is disrupting their home life. (PHOTO COURTESY OF STOPBILLBOARD)

By ERICA BULMAN, 24 HOURS

The province appears to be thumbing its nose at Vancouver residents, allowing a giant BC Place screen to beam ads into nearby glass condos because the provincial land it sits on is exempt from city bylaws.

Residents around Terry Fox Plaza are up in arms, blinded by the flashing billboard, which is lit from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Many say the light wakes them, prevents children from sleeping, and floods living rooms in the early evenings. The advertisement screen is nearly 2,000 sq. ft. although a city bylaw allows just 200 sq. ft.

“The land that PavCo operates on is provincial land … so they are exempted from it,” a Tourism, Jobs and Innovation Ministry official said Tuesday.

Last month Minister of Tourism Pat Bell told the B.C. legislature PavCo is working with the city to fix the problem. “Our senior staff say that’s not the case,” said Coun. Geoff Meggs, adding he can almost read the ads “with the naked eye” from his home in Fairview, nearly two kilometres away.

A ministry official told 24 hours Bell’s office sent a letter about the screen to Vancouver’s mayor Monday, but wouldn’t reveal its contents.

PavCo has reduced the screen’s operational time to 12 hours per day. “They’ve changed the time and reduced the glare a little bit but I think they’re hoping just by ignoring it and saying it’s solved, the people who’ve had their homes in some ways wrecked, give up and move away,” said Vancouver West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, who represented the area before riding boundaries changed. He said residents are rightly concerned their home values have depreciated. No one from PavCo was available to comment.

“You can’t be sitting anywhere within your glass home without this penetrating light flashing off all the surfaces within your home. We close our blinds but the light still comes through,” said David Cookson, who leads the group Take the Giant Screen Down Now. “We’re not talking about lights that serve the community; it’s something put up simply to blast advertising. “I understand the stadium is a good thing for the city’s economy. We all think the Whitecaps and Lions are great, we like entertainment, we like living in a bustling city, but this is so far beyond what’s considered acceptable."

PavCoCrime posts YouTube video showing Minister Pat Bell caught on tape covering up BC PavCo’s violation of City By-laws!

2011-12-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

YouTube video producer/editor ‘PavCoCrime’ has posted a scandalous video on YouTube showing how Minister Pat Bell is trying to conceal PavCo’s violation of City By-laws, resulting in the destruction of quality of life, health and well-being for downtown Vancouver residents. It was only a matter of time before videos like this would start surfacing! Thank you PavCoCrime for your excellent work! (please click on the following YouTube link to view video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmyB9XiKR44

Premier Christy Clark confirms citizens want giant screen removed – Discussions imminent

2011-11-30T18:21:00.000-08:00

Following Vancouver City Mayor Gregor Robertson’s critical comments about the giant screen and also the recent fiery criticisms received by PavCo Minister Pat Bell on the floor of the BC Legislative Assembly, in a letter sent November 21, 2011, BC Premier Christy Clark also confirms receiving demands that the giant screen be removed and states that citizens’ “feedback and requests will be included in any related discussions”.

Please keep up your email and letter writing folks! PavCo’s friends are quickly disappearing! (for simple instructions on how to write an email, please click on the following link and follow the instructions) http://takethegiantscreendownnow.blogspot.com/2011/11/pavco-minister-is-warned-modifying-how.html

Chinese language news story – Outrage spreads over giant PavCo video screen

2011-11-30T18:02:00.000-08:00

Overwhelming rejection of PavCo’s unscrupulous actions continues – The citizen’s protest campaign over the reckless erection of a giant video screen in Yaletown at Terry Fox Plaza in front of hundreds of glass residential homes has been picked up by Chinese language website Goldy News, signalling a further dissemination of the protest movement across languages, further helping to unite Vancouver City residents in their demand for the immediate removal of the giant screen.

(Please click on the following link for full story)
http://www.goldynews.com/2011/11/1-1302/

PavCo Minister is warned: “Modifying how you break the law is still breaking the law!”

2011-11-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

In this CTV News story, the discrepancies in PavCo Minister Pat Bell’s misinformed comments about the giant video screen at Terry Fox Plaza become glaringly obvious – No doubt, as a result of PavCo’s extended mis-information campaign. We are hopeful that once the Minister’s staff has had a chance to verify for themselves that Vancouver City By-Laws are indeed being broken and that the Vancouver City Mayor himself has asked for the removal of the screen, that Minister Bell will instruct PavCo to stop breaking City By-laws, to Take the Giant Screen Down Now, and to relocate the screen to a venue where it is not directly facing hundreds of glass residential homes. (CTV video link should appear just below this paragraph)

PavCo Minister says that breaking Vancouver City By-laws is a “successful conclusion”??

2011-11-19T13:36:00.000-08:00

In this video of the BC Legislative Assembly, Vancouver West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert warns the Minister responsible for PavCo that the giant video screen MUST BE TAKEN DOWN NOW! Please email Minister Pat Bell <JTI.Minister@gov.bc.ca> and MLA Mary McNeil <mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca> (and be sure to ‘cc’ MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert <s.chandraherbert.mla@leg.bc.ca>), and tell Minister Bell and MLA McNeil that:

local residents STILL have a giant video screen invading their living rooms, flashing across their dinner tables, and pumping ads into their children’s bedrooms;
this situation has DEFINITELY NOT “reached a successful conclusion”;
modifying how you break the law is STILL breaking the law;
EVEN THE MAYOR OF VANCOUVER has asked the Province to comply with City By-laws;
PavCo cannot possibly be “working within the structure of the approved bylaws” because the screen’s SIZE ITSELF contravenes City By-laws (as well as several other sections of the law);
City Councillor Meggs has said that PAVCO AMBUSHED CITY HALL with this giant screen and therefore the Minister cannot claim that “PavCo has been working with the City”;
comments about operating hours and brightness are a poor whitewash tactic – The health and wellbeing of Vancouver City residents is NON-NEGOTIABLE;
the giant video screen at Terry Fox Plaza MUST BE TAKEN DOWN NOW!

(Legislative Assembly video link should appear just below this paragraph)

MLA tells Minister Pat Bell in BC Legislative Assembly that the giant screen “needs to be taken down now”!

2011-11-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

See here below a letter and transcript record of Vancouver West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert standing up for the rights of local residents in Vancouver in the BC Legislative Assembly by asking Minister Pat Bell to respect Vancouver City By-laws and by asking for the immediate removal of the giant screen at Terry Fox Plaza. Please be sure to take immediate action by 1. having MLA Mary McNeil’s office call you, and 2. by emailing Minister Pat Bell’s office with your complaint – Contact them again, even if you’ve done it before. You’ve already contacted them twice? Do it a third time! They must be told firmly that you are expecting PavCo and the Province to comply with the City Signage By-laws that were put in place to protect citizens from exactly this type of advertising harassment.

--------------------------------

PavCo’s shameful betrayal of public trust on display; Residents desperately seeking action from elected Provincial officials

2011-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

In the following radio interview on CKNW’s Simi Sara Show, I give concrete examples describing PavCo’s shameful betrayal of public trust. Now that Mayor Robertson, in support of the public outrage over the giant video screen, has specifically asked Minister Pat Bell to have PavCo comply with City By-laws, how many provincial officials will step forward and add their voice to the growing drumbeat for the screen’s immediate removal? This harassment cannot continue to be imposed on us; recall that we’re not requesting special treatment – we are simply demanding that PavCo be ordered to comply with City By-laws, the very laws written to protect citizens from exactly this type of situation. (CKNW audio/video link should appear just below this paragraph)

Mayor Robertson requests compliance with City By-laws, Mayoral Candidate Anton also not happy with screen

2011-11-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

Mayoral Candidate Suzanne Anton says: "I've had many complaints about the new screen...Not good enough that neighbours are badly impacted." Read it on Global News

(Please click on the link and scroll to the bottom of the page) http://liveblogs.globaltvbc.com/Event/Suzanne_Anton_live_blog?Page=1

‘B.C. Place’s bright signs could spark lawsuit’ – but we hope it doesn’t come to that

2011-11-14T00:29:00.000-08:00

In the following story appearing in The Province newspaper, PavCo and Telus further demonstrate how willing they are to continue betraying the public trust and how comfortable they are violating City of Vancouver by-laws.

(Please click on the following link for full story) http://www.theprovince.com/news/Place+bright+signs+could+spark+lawsuit/5693489/story.html

Giant advertising billboards at BC Place Stadium are by far the brightest objects in Vancouver

2011-11-13T23:55:00.000-08:00

Follow the link for an incredible picture taken of beautiful Vancouver on a typical hazy November afternoon. The photographer claims that if PavCo were deliberately setting out to be hated, they couldn't be doing a better job. (Please click on the following flickr link) http://www.flickr.com/photos/ouno/6333730620/

In the photographer’s blog, she states “The brightest light in Vancouver is a giant digital billboard! Welcome to Idiocracy!” -The author goes on to say “The underlying problem is with the landowner, a public, provincial corporation called PavCo that repeatedly acts against community interests.” Please be sure to check out her full story (Click on the following link for the blog) http://blog.ounodesign.com/2011/11/20/bc-place-stadium-pavco-billboard/

Reply to The Honourable MLA Mary McNeil

2011-11-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

The Honourable MLA Mary McNeil, respectfully, (November 4, 2011)

Thank you for your direct message on Twitter. To those paying attention however, it would sound as though your office is seeking concessions regarding two instances of impermissible misconduct by PavCo: 1. non-compliance with City by-laws and 2. contempt regarding the health and well-being of this community. Please know in the strongest possible terms that these are Non-Negotiable. This abusive giant screen must be taken down immediately and relocated to a venue where it is not directly harassing an entire residential glass community.

Reduction of hours and immeasurable-and-ambiguous ‘dimming’ are not at all what this community has been demanding. Perhaps your office has forgotten that this is a residential glass neighbourhood and that this oversized abomination is at point blank range from our children’s bedrooms. Any reasonable observer will conclude that if PavCo had wanted less light in our homes they would have bought a smaller screen and they would have pointed it in a different direction. This abusive giant screen must be taken down immediately and relocated to a venue where it is not directly harassing an entire residential glass community.

By allowing your office to be placated by a supposed promise of ‘reduced hours’, you are essentially accepting that PavCo decide when our families can enjoy their glass homes. Recall that if the giant screen remains in place, our community will forever remain hostage to this billboard assault on ‘main event nights’, with PavCo operating the screen until whatever random hour that pleases their cash-abundant advertisers. Notice also that this concept put forward by PavCo that a reduction of operating hours on some nights ‘solves the issue’ is ill-formed as it suggests that continued harassment of this community and disregard for City by-laws is perfectly acceptable so long as it's not perpetuated all of the time. This abusive giant screen must be taken down immediately and relocated to a venue where it is not directly harassing an entire residential glass community.

As the provincial representative of this community, we will expect that your office strongly voice our demands to Minister Bell and to Premier Clark; we are counting on your strong support of this community and of our demands on this non-negotiable matter. This abusive giant screen must be taken down and relocated to a venue where it is not directly harassing an entire residential glass community.

- An error becomes a mistake when you refuse to correct it -

Regards,

David Cookson

David Cookson, Primary spokesperson

Take the Giant Screen Down Now

Send us an email: take.the.giant.screen.down.now@gmail.com

View our blog: http://takethegiantscreendownnow.blogspot.com/ (read from bottom up)

Comment on our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Take-the-Giant-Screen-Down-Now/159656580793829

Join our Facebook Group by searching keywords: Take the Giant Screen Down Now

View our Flickr partner photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/StopBillboard

Follow our Twitter partner: http://twitter.com/StopBillboard

Telus complicit with PavCo in demonstrating contempt for Vancouver City By-laws

2011-11-03T17:25:00.000-07:00

In this, Geoff Olson’s part-2 follow-up editorial column (please also see part-1 on this blog), Telus is named-and-shamed for its continued inexcusable giant-flash-advertising assault on the local residential glass community, and also for its complicity with PavCo in demonstrating contempt for Vancouver City By-laws.

(Please click on the following link) http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/editorials/Place+screen+lighting+city+wrong/5652447/story.html

Telus is primary enabler of harassment through its financial support of giant video screen

2011-10-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

Telus has recently provided a statement to the Take the Giant Screen Down Now organisation which effectively declares that continued assault of local residents by Telus advertising on the giant video screen at Terry Fox Plaza until whatever random hour on major event nights is acceptable and that a continuation of operating hours well past sundown on all other nights is ‘issue solved’. This concept that a reduction of operating hours on some nights ‘solves the issue’ is ill-formed as it suggests that continued harassment of this community and disregard for City by-laws is perfectly acceptable so long as it's not perpetuated all of the time.

With mounting public pressure and increasing scrutiny by public officials into PavCo’s questionable methods, there is little doubt that the giant video screen at Terry Fox Plaza will soon be taken down. Once removed, and once the bad apples at PavCo have been purged from the organisation, which side of civic history will Telus be on? Will it be A) supporting community values and social responsibility, or will it be B) financing the disruption and harassment of our glass residential neighbourhood?

Telus damaging its own brand equity by imposing harassment on community

2011-10-31T00:20:00.000-07:00

The following is an email sent to Telus media relations group (jim.johannsson@telus.com; shawn.hall@telus.com) and to the Telus investor relations group (ir@telus.com) on Oct 27^th and 30^th 2011:

Telus,

Did you know that your advertising is the source of much anger and resentment by a large community in downtown Vancouver? The video screen operator, PavCo, has recklessly and contemptuously erected a new giant high definition LED screen directly in front of hundreds of residential glass homes and is blasting your ads at high intensity from an area called Terry Fox Plaza. Check out: http://takethegiantscreendownnow.blogspot.com/ (and recall that blogs are read from the bottom up)

Shawn Hall of Telus has advised our group that Telus is "satisfied that the issue has been solved" and that continuous blasting of your ads into our glass homes on main event nights is considered acceptable by Telus. Given Telus' supposed commitment to community values and social responsibility, might you wish to reconsider this position? More importantly, might you want to reconsider your branding of the BC Place Stadium altogether? This issue is quickly going to transition from a PavCo problem into a huge Telus brand equity problem.

- - -

Please respond. We are referring to your incessant Telus advertising appearing on a giant video screen disrupting an entire community. Although Telus does not own the screen at Terry Fox Plaza, it is YOUR advertising which is assaulting us in our glass homes. We are certain that your investors and your marketing team will be very concerned about your firm’s brand equity in a sensitive case like this. Do not miss this opportunity to inform your teams of this quickly escalating and potentially explosive issue. Our group will soon begin exposing advertisers as ‘enablers’ of the giant screen (through your ad revenue support) and will start shaming those companies publicly. We thought it would be fair to advise your company of this first so that you could act responsibly and pull your advertising from this screen.

Regards,

TtGSDN

Two important groups come together to bring down giant video screen

2011-10-30T23:20:00.000-07:00

A new and powerful alliance has been forged between ‘Take the Giant Screen Down Now’ and the Twitter campaign group ‘StopBillboard’. Please be sure to follow StopBillboard on Twitter and to re-tweet all StopBillboard tweets to your followers. http://twitter.com/StopBillboard

How would you feel if someone stuck a giant spotlight in front of your home?

2011-10-27T01:06:00.001-07:00

This next column by Geoff Olson (part-1 of 2) really captures the extent of the despicable situation which PavCo has recklessly created for residents of this neighbourhood. Keep your eyes peeled for part-2 of Geoff Olson’s coverage of this story in next week’s paper or check back on this blog for the post.

(Please click on the following link) http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/Giant+Place+screen+city+Mordor/5611516/story.html

Disgrace befalls hero’s memorial

2011-10-27T00:44:00.000-07:00

Renowned satiric cartoonist and respected columnist Geoff Olsen of the Vancouver Courier provides his impression of the disgrace that has been mindlessly imposed on the memorial of Terry Fox, arguably the biggest hero in this City. (please click on the image to read captions)

PavCo's contempt for downtown residents

2011-10-27T00:34:00.000-07:00

Here's an important letter to the editor about how PavCo's contempt for downtown residents will not be tolerated. Please do not ease off your letter writing; this is far from over.

(Please click on the following link for the full story) http://www.vancourier.com/sports/Letter+week/5572162/story.html

Why do we need a giant video screen anyways? – debunking the rhetoric

2011-10-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

In this second interview on the Bill Good Show on CKNW, I debunk all of the empty rhetoric that PavCo has weakly offered up for building a giant video screen in front of hundreds of residential glass homes. When listening to CEO of PavCo Warren Buckly’s responses, it becomes obvious that there is actually no justification for keeping the giant video screen in operation. – Ask your friends: What public good is it serving? (CKNW audio/video link should appear just below this paragraph)

Interesting fact: Did anyone notice that for both live radio interviews where I shared the mic with PavCo (first on Rick Cluff, and then here during my second show with Bill Good), Warren Buckley didn't even have the courtesy to show up on time to hear my complaints? Both times he simply called in, came on the radio, admitted to both radio anchors that he hadn't listened to me at all (I went first both times), and then delivered the pre-packaged company line. So much for being sensitive to residents' concerns.

BC Place Stadium officials continue to assault residents’ health and well-being

2011-10-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

This CBC story demonstrates how PavCo has shown reckless disregard for residents’ sleep, health and well-being. What is the reasoning given by PavCo for sidestepping City of Vancouver bi-laws, ignoring urban planning best practices and going ahead and building a giant video screen directly in front of hundreds of glass residential homes? – “The project is being done under Provincial jurisdictions” and so they claim that they’re not legally bound to consider the health and well-being of the residents in the neighbourhood. (CBC video link should appear just below this paragraph)

Reasons why the Giant Video Screen must be taken down (part-1 of 2)

2011-10-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is a radio interview with Bill Good on CKNW (part-1 of 2). On the radio show, I address many of the major reasons why the Giant Video Screen must be removed. Please listen to it with your friends. (CKNW audio/video link should appear just below this paragraph)

Reasons why the Giant Video Screen must be taken down (part-2 of 2)

2011-10-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

This is a radio interview with Bill Good on CKNW (part-2 of 2). On the radio show, I address many of the major reasons why the Giant Video Screen must be removed. Please listen to it with your friends. (CKNW audio/video link should appear just below this paragraph)

Flashing Lights Will Illuminate Our Living Rooms

2011-10-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

This is a CBC News story that properly captures the theme of 'flashing bright lights into our homes' and also captures PavCo's very weak explanation that they have been transparent all along. In fact, PavCo management was so secretive about this that no one in the City planning office even knew about the Giant Screen until both the City and the local residents woke up one morning to find it erected. (CBC video link should appear just below this paragraph)

Thanks for working together - NEW FLYER

2011-10-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

To those False Creek and Downtown residents affected directly: This image is a copy of the Flyer we need to place on our respective lobby notice boards. Please print a copy and post it on your lobby notice board asap. Please also think of checking back every few days to make sure it's still posted. Thanks for your willingness to work together. (Simple instructions: Click the picture; a new browser window should open. Print the image from your browser, or save the image as a file so you can print it from another application.)

Please make your voice heard

2011-10-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

**Update on this previous post**: If you’re interested in contacting officials to complain about how the giant screen is disrupting your home life or that of other residents, please refer instead to the post on this blog entitled ‘PavCo Minister says that breaking Vancouver City By-laws is a successful conclusion‘ – There are new suggestions in that post which might simplify your task and also help unify our message.

(Previous post): Residents who are being visually assaulted by the screen in their homes have called, emailed and written complaints to:

- Premier Christy Clark (provincial, highest urgency)

http://www.bcliberals.com/contact/

- MLA Mary McNeil (provincial, highest urgency)
http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/39thParl/mcneilm.htm

- Minister Pat Bell (provincial, highest urgency)

http://www.gov.bc.ca/jti/contacts.html

- Mayor Gregor Robertson (municipal, medium urgency)

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/mayorrobertson.htm

- Councillor Geoff Meggs (municipal, medium urgency)

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/councillor/meggs.htm

- Chief Building Official Will Johnston (municipal, medium urgency)

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/cbofficial/aboutus/index.htm

- ‘311’ City Complaint Telephone Line (municipal, medium urgency)

call 3-1-1 or 604-873-7000

Please take 20 minutes: It is important that all concerned residents take time to write at least one letter of complaint this week (if you can, also send copies to all those others listed above). Our collective message is that they must Take the Giant Screen Down Now (along with an explanation of how it’s negatively affecting your life at home, or that of other residents). Emails and phone calls are also good, but when contacting provincial agencies, mailed letters are provided the highest level of attention. Thanks for working together and doing your part. We are all members of this community, we have a right to a peaceful and enjoyable life (even downtown!), and taking individual action as part of this collective group is a very powerful thing.

Incredible number of affected residents

2011-10-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

This is a diagram of some of the buildings/residents which have been made known to the ‘Take the Giant Screen Down Now’ organisation as being visually assaulted by High-powered Flashing Advertising in their glass homes by the Giant Video Screen at Terry Fox Plaza. This diagram really gives an incredible sense of the full impact of PavCo’s reckless actions. (please click on the image to enlarge)

What this Blog is about

2011-10-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

This Blog is an openly accessible informational bulletin board for Vancouver residents who are concerned or discontent (many are outraged) about the highly adverse impacts of the new Giant Flashing High-powered Advertisement Video Screen erected by PavCo in front of hundreds of residential glass homes at Terry Fox Plaza at BC Place Stadium.

Please consider visiting the publicly-accessible Facebook PAGE ‘Take the Giant Screen Down Now’ for more information about this unbelievable situation, or consider joining the Facebook GROUP (same name) to connect with others and contribute to the organised protest against this intolerable Giant Video Screen.

Affected by the Giant Video Screen but not on Facebook? – please send an email to take.the.giant.screen.down.now@gmail.com

Take the Giant Screen Down Now

PavCo Minister Bell admits that lack of consultation by rogue agency BC PavCo is “problematic”

PavCo Minister Bell deaf to new conciliatory request from TtGSDN group?

Minister Bell admits: Province could have done more

The BC Place giant screens debacle: City asks PavCo to do what it said it would do

PavCo admits to not owning BC Place giant screen! – points to Telus as culprit

BC PavCo attempts to stave off Freedom of Information request: illegally withholds third-party documentation

Residents rally against invasive light from digital signs outside BC Place

Vancouver requires “clear action plan” on digital signs compliance at BC Place

City Hall insists that PavCo comply with Sign By-laws

UNANIMOUS! - City backs residents in billboard battle

‘Blinded by the light’ – Take the Giant Screen Down Now group vows to protest until screen comes down

‘Signs of Trouble’ - If Telus owns screens at BC Place Stadium then City By-laws should apply – PavCo and Telus duck comments on ownership

City Hall and residents questioning leadership at BC PavCo

City Hall confirms “A lot of residents are demanding the sign be taken right down” – PavCo and Telus lock down all communications with press and public

Questions swirl around ownership of B.C. Place’s video boards

“Crown corporations usually consult with the City” says Councillor – Why not PavCo?

City Hall turns up the heat to protect local residents – PavCo to be told to deliver a sign bylaw compliance plan

PavCo Giant Billboard continues to operate in 2012 - No rest for neighbours

Mayor rings Bell with sternly worded letter about giant screen

Residents call for removal of illegal screen - Concerns rise over drop in property value

‘Vancouver's most unwanted night light’ - Provincial Officials thumb their noses at Vancouver Residents

PavCoCrime posts YouTube video showing Minister Pat Bell caught on tape covering up BC PavCo’s violation of City By-laws!

Premier Christy Clark confirms citizens want giant screen removed – Discussions imminent

Chinese language news story – Outrage spreads over giant PavCo video screen

PavCo Minister is warned: “Modifying how you break the law is still breaking the law!”

PavCo Minister says that breaking Vancouver City By-laws is a “successful conclusion”??

MLA tells Minister Pat Bell in BC Legislative Assembly that the giant screen “needs to be taken down now”!

PavCo’s shameful betrayal of public trust on display; Residents desperately seeking action from elected Provincial officials

Mayor Robertson requests compliance with City By-laws, Mayoral Candidate Anton also not happy with screen

‘B.C. Place’s bright signs could spark lawsuit’ – but we hope it doesn’t come to that

Giant advertising billboards at BC Place Stadium are by far the brightest objects in Vancouver

Reply to The Honourable MLA Mary McNeil

Telus complicit with PavCo in demonstrating contempt for Vancouver City By-laws

Telus is primary enabler of harassment through its financial support of giant video screen

Telus damaging its own brand equity by imposing harassment on community

Two important groups come together to bring down giant video screen

How would you feel if someone stuck a giant spotlight in front of your home?

Disgrace befalls hero’s memorial

PavCo's contempt for downtown residents

Why do we need a giant video screen anyways? – debunking the rhetoric

BC Place Stadium officials continue to assault residents’ health and well-being

Reasons why the Giant Video Screen must be taken down (part-1 of 2)

Reasons why the Giant Video Screen must be taken down (part-2 of 2)

Flashing Lights Will Illuminate Our Living Rooms

Thanks for working together - *NEW FLYER*

Please make your voice heard

Incredible number of affected residents

What this Blog is about

Thanks for working together - NEW FLYER