Here's the official media release for Meena Wong:
Media
Release: June 18, 2008
Meena
Wong to seek COPE nomination for Vancouver
city council
Community activist and outreach consultant
Meena Wong announced today that she will be seeking a COPE nomination for
Vancouver city council in
this November's civic election.
“Vancouver is facing serious
challenges in increasing homelessness, the lack of affordable housing, the need
for more transit, and developing a real plan for sustainable development that
takes into account the environment while respecting the needs of all residents
and neighbourhoods,” said Wong.
“Over the past three years we
have watched Vancouver
slide backwards. Peter Ladner, along with Sam Sullivan and his NPA colleagues
cut affordable housing at South East False Creek as the homeless population
increased by almost 20 per cent since they took office in 2005.
“The NPA stood by and did
little to get more buses on the road while working people, the elderly and
students pay higher fares to cram into too few buses.
“Peter Ladner and the NPA are
prepared to waste tax dollars on private security, while ordinary homeowners
have seen their taxes jump by 15 percent.
“And the NPA have divided
communities and neighbourhoods as they bungled and mishandled their eco-density
scheme.”
“I believe that we can do
better for Vancouver ,”
said Wong.
Wong is a Chinese community outreach
and media liaison coordinator with environmental and other non-profit
organizations. She is on the board of the Civic Education Society, the
Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE), and the Little Pear Garden
Collective.
Wong also works with the Chinese
Head Tax Families Society, the Formosa Organic Blueberry Farm campaign to
protect farmland from Gateway highway expansion, and the Save Our Rivers
Society where she raises awareness within the Chinese speaking community about
plans to sell BC’s rivers to private for-profit power developers.
As a founder of the Chinese Action
Committee, Wong works to increase social activism within the Chinese Canadian
community. Over the past three years, she has hosted a monthly Dim Sum luncheon
that brings together members of the immigrant and mainstream Canadian
communities.
Wong writes a weekly column for the
Chinese language paper Dawa Business Press, is
a public affairs commentator on local Mandarin and Cantonese TV and radio talk
shows, and will soon be hosting a bi-lingual morning talk show on a local
community radio station.
Having lived in
Beijing , Hong Kong, Toronto
and Vancouver ,
Wong is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. She has diverse experience
in community outreach, media relations, education, arts, business, and in IT
sectors.
“I believe in
building a city where everyone matters,” said Wong. “I believe that
Vancouver should be
measured not by the height of its buildings, but by how it takes care of all
its residents – especially those who are homeless, or who are new to this city,
or whose voices have been ignored by city hall.”
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For more information: Meena Wong,
604-603-7447 or meenawong@yahoo.ca
Endorsements for Meena Wong for Vancouver City Council:
“I think Meena will be an outstanding City Councillor. She has had wide civic experience in Toronto and Vancouver, has worked with different levels of government, with the Chinese Canadian National Council and is fluent in three languages.
Her goals include :
1Supporting Vancouver's diversity and promoting unity at City Hall.
2 Developing more affordable housing for people who have the right to decent shelter.
3.Developing better public transportation.”
– Margaret Mitchell, Former MP, Vancouver East
“For all the years I have known Meena she has devoted herself to the betterment of Vancouver. She is a strong progressive candidate that brings conviction and new ideas to the table. She is a focused individual and stands up for what she believes in. I have seen her work well in bringing diverse groups together to reach commonality and consensus. I gladly support Meena for Vancouver City Council.”
– Allan Wong, Vancouver School Trustee
“Meena Wong is the rarest of politicians: completely passionate about her community and 100% dedicated to our citizens. Honest, hard-working and informed on the issues, she is the complete package. Her many years of service to our city will make her an outstanding councillor. She has my complete support.”
– Don Davies, federal NDP candidate for Vancouver Kingsway
“I congratulate Meena for deciding to run for City Council. Her dynamic personality, her years of experience in community activism and political organization, and her bilingual fluency will make her a very winnable candidate and effective Council member.”
– Tommy W.K. Tao, Tao & Company, Barristers & Solicitors
“Meena has a firm grasp of the urgent issues that confront Vancouver and the diverse communities that comprise it. No less importantly, she has the courage, dedication, and skills to be an effective representative.
Meena Wong is just the kind of person we need on City Council.”
– Dr. Stephen Phillips, Department of Political Science, Langara College
