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Global News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim files defamation lawsuit against 2 men
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has filed a lawsuit in civil court against two men for defamation. The suit names Kareem Allam, political strategist, former campaign manager and chief of staff following Sim's election and Alexander George Tsakumis, businessman and real estate developer. On or about Feb. 6, 2023, Allam's employment with Sim's team was terminated. The suit states that sometime around November 2023, Allam told Tsakumis that Sim had driven his car while intoxicated and had been stopped by Vancouver police officers. Allam also told Tsakumis that Vancouver police let Sim go without booking him or citing him for any offence, according to documents. 'Allam made the statements to Mr. Tsakumas, with the intent that Mr. Tsakumas would publish the statements to others, including on the internet which publication did occur on the suit states. Story continues below advertisement Then, in or about June 2024, Allam told Annie Fournier, a member of the political party, A Better City, that Allam had received a telephone call from a person in the Vancouver mayor's office stating that Sim had been pulled over by the police for driving under the influence and that the individual in the mayor's office and a VPD officer had 'taken care of it.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The suit states that Allam said that the 'DUI was not the problem. It was the cover-up that was the problem.' 4:40 Ken Sim drunk driving allegations 'unfounded,' investigation finds In late 2023, Vancouver police notified the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, which ordered an external probe into the matter. The RCMP led the investigation and the findings were reviewed by Abbotsford police. Two Mounties interviewed VPD officers, scanned police databases and listened to radio recordings. They also interviewed Tsakumis and Allam. Story continues below advertisement After nine months of investigating the DUI and VPD cover-up rumour, the Mounties concluded their probe last October. Abbotsford police Chief Colin Watson reviewed their findings and wrote, 'I consider this matter to be baseless. Mr. Tsakumis irresponsibly used 'X' to spread a rumour communicated to him by Mr. Allam.' The suit states that Allam and Tsakumis made defamatory comments about Sim 'with malice knowing them to be false, or in reckless disregard to the truth of the statements.' Sim is seeking general, aggravated and punitive damages, along with a permanent injunction restraining, enjoining and prohibiting the defendants, and each of them, from directly or indirectly making, publishing, disseminating or broadcasting the defamatory words, or words of like or similar effect.
Boston Globe
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Boston Globe
Massachusetts launches statewide e-bike incentive program
'We want this to be the decision maker and truly enable access to a transportation option that would not otherwise be available,' said Rachel Ackerman, senior program director at MassCEC. As e-bikes, which average $2,000 to purchase, have soared in popularity, discounts as a strategy to cut back on road congestion and climate-warming emissions from cars. Advertisement Massachusetts is staggering its rollout of 3,000 vouchers over a six-month period. Two tiers of rebates are determined by income, and can reach up to $1,200 in discounts at participating brick-and-mortar retailers. 'We do think it will sell out,' said Elijah Sinclair, program manager at MassCEC. 'We already are seeing a ton of demand.' Initially, about 500 vouchers will be equally distributed Advertisement 'E-bikes are magic carpets. These things flatten hills. They shorten distances. They allow you to arrive at your destination without big exertion,' making them a functional choice for performing errands or traveling to work, said Scott Mullen, transportation demand management director at the Boston-based nonprofit A Better City. 'They help people make connections where transit is lacking.' State lawmakers first Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, Most trips that people take in the state, take up far less of the road with no tailpipe emissions. 'The gridlock isn't working,' Mullen said. 'There's tremendous value there because, as we know, we're On a smaller scale, e-bike pilot programs have already proven successful in the state. In the spring of 2022, Advertisement Around 1,000 e-bikes have been deployed, and participants have logged over 300,000 miles, which were tracked on individual bikes with monitors and reported weekly. Early findings from the Greater Boston program show about In Worcester, the e-bike pilot was led by MassBike, which did outreach to marginalized populations, including immigrants, people with disabilities, and seniors on fixed income, said Galen Mook, the group's executive director. In the first phase alone, more than 1,200 people applied. There were only 100 e-bikes to give out. Two-year-old Levi was parked beside a row of e-bikes checking them out outside of Radical Adventures. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff 'So I am super excited that the state is going to scale this up ... rural, suburban, ex-urban, really, there's the opportunity for e-bikes to fit into all sorts of lifestyles,' Mook said, adding that the program should yield quick results. 'It's going to be a lot harder to retrofit all of our aging housing, but it's going to be an almost instantaneous return if we get people to think about biking instead of driving.' Emily Galante, an elementary school teacher in Worcester, received her e-bike for free in exchange for participating in the program. Having it has been 'absolutely transformative,' she said. These days, Galante, 39, regularly cycles through the hilly city to work — a 15 or so minute commute by car that now takes her maybe five minutes longer. 'I love showing up and the kids asking me about it,' she said. Advertisement In Boston, the city has been running its 'We really see distribution across all of the neighborhoods,' said Kim Foltz, program manager of Boston Bikes, noting that 510 people redeemed their vouchers during the first cycle. Bike stores that took part in Boston's program also reported an increase in sales. As of January, nearly $785,000 in e-bikes and equipment had been sold to voucher holders, according to the city. The same rang true for the state's pilot initiatives. 'All these sales were sales that they otherwise would not have made ... truly this is an additional stream of income,' Ackerman said. For the new statewide program, the agency has reached out to over 150 retailers, and many have already signed up to accept the vouchers, said Sinclair. That includes Faneuil Hall. A flier posted on the entrance advertises its participation in the city's incentive program. Inside the shop, both floors are lined with shiny, high tech-looking e-bikes. Radical Adventures co-owner Charlie Stark posed for a portrait inside the e-bike store he owns with his father. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Steve Stark, 59, who runs the business with his son, Charlie Stark, 21, said they have been able to serve a new demographic of customers — no longer just the older crowd and typical 'weekend warrior' — and are excited about expanding that reach to residents across Massachusetts. Advertisement 'We think it's fantastic,' he said. 'It gets people outside and moving. It's a great transportation alternative.' In Colorado, the early leader on e-bike rebates, the state has committed to a long-term, 'For a relatively modest expenditure of funds ... we're really able to give people new choices about how they get around,' said Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office, who encouraged similar models. But that's far away from becoming reality in Massachusetts. At least for now. Before that next step, Ackerman said they need more data — and more money. 'We want to make sure that every voucher ... truly is making a difference in somebody's life,' she said. Shannon Larson can be reached at
