Tea & Two Slices is a long-running local news round-up by NEEDS frontman and veteran restaurant dishwasher Sean Orr, who lives and works in Gastown. He is very aware of his privilege, so there’s really no need to remind him of it.

Haunted from beyond the grave: BC Hydro forced to misspend billions on private energy contracts, report says. God, I hate to borrow a euphemism from the basket of deplorables but, lock her up: “The report, written by former B.C. Treasury Board director Ken Davidson, says the Christy Clark government fabricated an urgent need for electricity, but would not allow the utility to produce it, and forcing it to buy the wrong type of power from private producers at much higher prices.”

Ten years ago, the late Rafe Mair warned us: Gordon Campbell government’s non sequitor on run-of-river power.

House of Cards: Another media barrage about money laundering in B.C. but again, no mention of Business Corporations Act. “But this changed when Gordon Campbell’s first B.C. Liberal government overhauled the old Company Act in 2002 to encourage more investment and more secrecy”. It’s crazy how we’re still uncovering the damage that this guy did. It’s like when you go to therapy and find you’re still digging up stuff your ex did 10 years later…

Related? ‘Non-individuals’ own 10% of B.C. residential property: CMHC. “Instead, the CMHC found that non-individual owners are more prevalent on vacant land, owning 64 per cent of these properties in B.C.”. Hey, you spelled squatter wrong.

City of Vancouver says 2018 empty homes tax eased tight rental market. Oh wow, would you look at that! Taxation fucking works. Mind=blown.

Douglas Todd: Why the excitement over the speculation-tax form? I’m looking at you, Michael “someone should pick her clothes” Geller. Too bad you deleted the tweet where you complained about having to fill out this form and got absolutely ratio’d. Because when we really start to redistribute wealth you’re going to dream of filling out forms.

Attention YIMBYs: Does Upzoning Boost the Housing Supply and Lower Prices? Maybe Not.

Parents concerned who will pay for school lunches after Vancouver slashes spending. Too bad the Black Panthers’ Free Breakfast for Children isn’t around anymore.

Good praxis: Vancouver artists stage protest, art show as tribute to disappearing gallery space.

Honour Bound: Sales of Surrey-brewed beer help bar/restaurant employees deal with mental health issues.

RIP: Friends and fans remember Vancouver electronic musician and producer Phil Western.