“The emergence of a global property market and urbanization as an expanding conduit for capital accumulation has allowed certain dynamic centres of capitalism, such as Hong Kong, to survive as much on the basis of property development and rent extractions (both monopoly and differentia) as anything else. The incredible burst of interest in cultural activities (including the selling of cities as unique and authentic commodities for tourism), the emphasis upon knowledge and information industries, the organization of spectacular events like the Olympics (to say nothing of the role of signature architecture like Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum) all fall within the purview of contemporary forms of monopoly rent-seeking (see my essay on “The Art of Rent”).”
- David Harvey, Limits to Capital, 2006
“But, as Florinsky says, the revolution as yet “had no organization, no leaders, and in the beginning, it would seem, even no definite purpose. Like a snowball rolling down the slope of a steep hill it grew in size and gathered strength on its way.” They had escaped Czardom and that for the moment was all they really knew. Probably the best assessment of the situation is that attributed to an unknown Siberian peasant: “We feel,” he said, “that we have escaped from a dark cave into the bright daylight. And here we stand not knowing where to go or what to do.”
- Alan Moorehead, The Russian Revolution, 1958
“Who owns Vancouver? Who runs the city? How do the developers, the corporate businessmen, the lawyers and the politicians relate to each other?
This book carefully describes the power structure which makes most of the decisions about what happens in Vancouver. Donald Gutstein reveals the tangled web of corporate ownership and influence, family relationships and social contacts which hold the Vancouver business establishment together.
Included are:
- A brief history of the CPR’s long and intimate association with Vancouver
- The Royal Bank’s Vancouver connection which help make it the single most powerful Canadian financial institution
- The inside story of the complicated land deals behind the Four Seasons controversy
- The first detailed account of how TEAM has taken over the job of running city hall for the business establishment
- Details of how citizen groups have successfully fought off city hall on many issues
- Suggestions for strengthening the opposition to Vancouver’s corporate owners
Vancouver Ltd. shows economic power at work in Canada in a away that no other book has ever done before. It offers a clear picture of the forces which are determining the kind of city we have to live and work in.
Donald Gutstein is a graduate architect who specializes in urban research and community organizing in Vancouver. He was the co-author of the 1972 booklet ‘Forever Deceiving You’, and writes regularly for CityMagazine. He is active in the community group in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver where he lives.”
- Donald Gutstein, Vancouver Ltd., 1975
