The Tyee talks with former Vancouver Mayor and British Columbia Premier Mike Harcourt, who argues that the investment to host the 2010 Winter Olympics are worthwhile.
"The city gained critical infrastructure that laid the groundwork for prosperous years to come, claims Harcourt, and he reads the balance sheet for the Olympics the same way.
In fact the billions of dollars spent are so clearly worth it, he has "nothing to say" to people who claim the Games are a tax payer rip-off. But please, Harcourt says, don't call Vancouver a world class city."
Harcourt was mayor during Expo '86, the last major international spectacle hosted by the city, which many say was instrumental in making Vancouver one of North America's most livable cities.
FULL STORY: Olympics Well Worth It: Harcourt

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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