Jeff Jiang (蒋浩) | Ep. 3: Traffic, Safety & Property Tax
https://youtu.be/LrBtRNm7fSk
(Transcript from the episode's English subtitles; speakers not labelled. Host: Sarah Yu.)

[0:00] Why he's running
Petty theft is getting more and more rampant. Some homes have been broken into four or five times. So, about this civic election, can you tell us why you're running in this civic election? It's actually quite funny. Back in February and March, a lot of people said, "You should run." I said I wasn't very keen to run, Because I asked my wife, and she asked me, "Do you have the time?" I said no. "Then why are you running?"

[0:26] Out to prove he's a good guy?
In the end, someone said, "Jeff, you want to prove you're a good person." When you run a campaign, all your strengths and flaws come out. If people can't dig up any flaws, that shows you don't really have any. I said I have flaws, lots of flaws, but not ones that affect my public image or the public interest. For example, I'm not very good at socializing. Is that a flaw? Yes, it is. I can't sing, though I ballroom dance now and then. I don't like hiking, and I don't play cards. Those are my flaws. I'm not social. But I want to ask, about your campaign, really... listening to you just now, you're not doing it for outward things. Deep down, that's how it is.

[1:06] Half of Richmond is Chinese
A misconception among Chinese Canadians: I think there's a problem here. Chinese Canadians always say, "We Chinese, Richmond is 50 or 60 percent Chinese, but really, we have no one on city council. Maybe I can get in and bring a voice for the Chinese community."

[1:21] Not just making up the numbers
I think if, in this city election, some fresh blood could get in... Fresh blood for sure: four new people this time. that leaves four seats. Right now, 55 candidates for eight seats. If those four get in, it's 51 people for four seats. Which means 47 people are also-rans. Running behind is fine. Nobody knows how it'll turn out in the end. I may be an also-ran too, but at least I don't want to be a passive also-ran. We'll work really hard.

[1:51] An engineer looks for the root cause
In his building, a job that would have cost millions, we got done for a few hundred thousand. One of the most striking parts was a $450,000 quote. We said it could be done for $1,200. We can see where the problem really is. Actually, I myself studied mechanical engineering. I have a mechanical, engineering-type background. So my approach isn't just about how to make the problem simpler. I find the root of it and solve it there. And you can see the truth behind things. You dig for the truth in everything. I can see that.

[2:23] Traffic: one fire closes the whole bridge
The most critical issue right now is that our traffic is bad. Often, when I'm driving, I see a notice pop up: "Avoid the Knight Street Bridge, there's a car on fire on the bridge." The whole bridge is shut down. I've waited an hour, even two hours. I've waited at Oak and 50-something Ave. and you can't even back out.

[2:42] Safety: cameras aren't evidence
But Richmond's biggest problem is what? Petty theft is getting more rampant. Some homes have been broken into four or five times. So over this issue, I went and talked some things over with them. Why don't the police do anything? Why don't the police act? Here's how it works. The RCMP's relationship with the City of Richmond is a hiring relationship, not a subordinate one. It's like we've hired a security company. But I believe those who signed it before weren't familiar with it and didn't know how to change it, so the contract has gaps. A lot of police resources are wasted. Not enough police, and yet they're wasted. The biggest problem with theft is that our camera footage can't be used as evidence in court. how to fix it, bit by bit. So on our team, there's someone named Bob. He was an RCMP officer for 28 years. He knows the inside. They say he knows the inside, how they talk, and what could be adjusted. If he could help write the contract, or be part of the contract, I think it would help.

[3:43] Property tax: show where the money goes
It means: if you cut property taxes, the money is limited, staff can't be cut, so services get cut. Would you want that? No park maintenance, no road repairs, less garbage pickup. Would you want that? Of course not. If not, then cutting services along with property taxes won't work. But are we being reasonable, are we staying within a range close to inflation, rather than inflation at 7% today and property tax up 20% tomorrow? Can we hold it to 2%? But once that 2% is set, you have to tell residents where that 2% went. Either way, we keep a level head. And everyone's very... We got to know each other in Vancouver, and the contributions you've made, many in the Chinese community can see them and feel them. Thank you so much.