Letter to City of Vancouver: Accepting Property Use Complaints over Twitter

To:
Mayor Gregor Robertson
Connie Pavone, Executive Assistant to the Mayor’s Chief of Staff
Jessie Adcock, CTO
Kaye Krishna, General manager of Development, Buildings, and Licensing

Dear Sir and Mesdames,

I learnt yesterday that the City of Vancouver has abruptly decided to stop accepting property use bylaw infraction complaints sent to @CityofVancouver Twitter account.

A quick analysis of @CityofVancouver Twitter account’s posting history shows that the City has been accepting such complaints over Twitter for years, but decided to stop doing so once Twitter handle @VISTRO11 started reporting illegal Airbnb hotels.

It also appears that the City continues to accept reports of other bylaw violations over Twitter, but has decided to exclude just illegal Airbnb reports.

I find your decision to be arbitrary and capricious.

There would be no @VISTRO11 were it not for your nonfeasance. By wilfully deciding to ignore reports of bylaw violations in such an arbitrary and capricious manner, you seem to be pushing the needle from nofeasance to malfeasance.

I respectfully urge you to reconsider your decision, and resume accepting property use bylaw infraction complaints sent to @CityofVancouver Twitter account.

Thank you,
Rohana Rezel