When Cities Stop Waiting - with Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto

"Send us a text about this episode!"What happens when the province can't move fast enough and people in your city need help now? In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Marianne Alto, Mayor of the City of Victoria, recorded live at the AVICC convention.Victoria is BC's capital city - a mid-sized municipality shouldering an outsized share of the region's housing pressures, homelessness, and mental health and addiction challenges. Mayor Alto talks candidly about what it looks like when a city decides to stop waiting: building 97 new shelter and transitional housing spaces, creating a first-of-its-kind Community Safety, Wellbeing, and Partnerships department, and funding nonprofit service providers when senior governments can't or won't.She also shares what she's learned about courage, accountability, and adaptability - and why standing in a room full of people yelling at you is sometimes just part of the job.Listen for:• How Victoria exceeded its provincial housing targets - and why Mayor Alto was eager to be picked first• Why Victoria carries more than 80% of the region's social services - and what she's doing about it• The story behind the Dollar Place facility: two public meetings, hundreds of angry residents, and a decision she'd make again• How the city's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan is funding nonprofits to do what the province hasn't• What she told her council on inauguration day: "Listen, think, and then do good work"• Advice for elected officials deciding whether to run again - including a frank conversation about vitriol in public lifeText us about this episode: Send us a textVisit the NonPartisan Hacks website: nonpartisanhacks.comVoice message: https://thepulsecommunity.ca/contact/You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, YouTube Podcasts, TikTok, and PULSECommunity.caSpecial Thanks to our Sponsor Ian Lindsay & Associates for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.Check out Skookum Kid's Stories on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, YouTube Podcasts, and SkookumKids.comSign up for our weekly newsletter at https://bit.ly/PulseNewsletterSignupClick here to learn how to Support the showLike, Share & Listen!#NonPartisanHacks #VancouverIslandPodcasts #LocalGovernment #BCPolitics #MunicipalGovernance #VancouverIsland #VictoriaBC #HousingCrisis #Homelessness #CivicEngagement #PULSECommunitySupport the show