BeatRoute Magazine BC Edition October 2018

CITY
GET THE FUCK OUT AND VOTE
A BRIEFING ON CIVIC DEMOCRACY
PEACH COBBLAH
October 20. It’s a vital day in this city. Not just
because my homo hip-hop party, Hustla, will be
happening at The Emerald, though that can be
where you come celebrate once you’ve done your
job as a Vancouverite. Your job isn’t going to work,
paying your terrifyingly high rent bill, then getting
black out drunk to cope. I’m not saying that’s not
what you do, you do you however you want to do
it, but the job I’m talking about involves showing
up at a polling station and giving yourself the time
to read through all the candidates and vote.
Don’t let the numbers deter you: on October
20, you will sift through the 21 mayoral candidates,
71 city council candidates, 33 parks board
candidates and (perhaps most importantly, in
my humble opinion) 34 school board trustee
candidates. So make decisions that will shape our
Vancouver today, and the Vancouver of the next
generation. Maybe I’ve gone soft because this
sweaty monstrosity of a drag queen became a dad
in January, but the kind of future we start shaping
now is at the forefront of my wig, uh, I mean mind.
So how do you prepare? Don’t worry it’s not a
test, you won’t fail and there isn’t a wrong answer
but do follow these easy steps.
Step One: Figure out what matters to you.
Step Two: Spend some time on the Election 2018
page of City of Vancouver’s website to see each
candidate and whose politics and priorities align
with your own. The website lists their three top
priorities very clearly as well as their platform and
a bio.
Step Three: Some of these candidates are
connected to civic parties that have a shared
platform and you can consult those parties’
websites for a more detailed understanding of how
those candidates could work together to help shift
our city for the better.
Step Four: I know a lot of you don’t have kids
in your lives, however I’m not kidding when I talk
about how important voting for School Board
Trustees is. Because this is how we shape the future
of our city. So don’t skip that category because the
younger generation of changemakers need vibrant
and safe environments in which to thrive and
grow into our future leaders and voters. Particular
shout out to the huge importance of making
schools inclusive and safe for students of all sexual
orientations and gender identities (SOGI).
Step Five: Make it fun! Voting is serious business,
but don’t let it feel like a chore. Celebrate that
you’re doing something for your city and one
another. Organize a voting party – you can all go to
the polling station together and then sip bubbles
and talk about the sophisticated civic-minded allstar
you are.
In fact, come join me at the Emerald and we will
raise a glass together and celebrate the fact that
whether we agree on everything or not, regardless
of who we voted for, we used the power of our
voice. Something not everyone on this planet has.
So let’s not be dicks who take it for granted and
just say “oh, shit, was that today?” or “I just want
to finish the new season of Ozark instead.” Because
you know what doesn’t get you laid? Apathy.
Peach Cobblah is hosting Hustla at the Emerald on
Oct. 20. Make sure you vote first!
The baddest bitch, Peach Cobblah, wants you to hustle your booty to a polling station on Oct. 20.
October 2018 9