Vancouver spent $300K on designer furniture and complained city was ‘bleeding money’

In a statement, the City said that the budget for this was set in December, before COVID. Some of the chairs are from Eames by Herman Miller, and retail for up to $650 each. The desks are also by Herman Miller, and retail up to $1,500 each.

Stewart also asked the Provincial Government for a $200 million dollar bailout. This led to harsh criticism, against which the Vancouver Mayor defended himself by stating he was unaware of these purchases.

"I was disappointed, like others yesterday, to see that this purchase had been made when we were in really quite tough financial times," stated Mayor Kennedy on Thursday.

Stewart also passed the blame to the City Manager, since City Council approves budgets and the Manager supposedly allocates funds accordingly. The only issue is that City Manager, Sadhu Johnston, coincidentally resigned from his position on Tuesday.

"To see the City spend this kind of money in the middle of a Pandemic, when we are all freaking out, is so embarrassing and inappropriate," states former Councillor, George Affleck.