A city is more than just roads and infrastructure – it is a cultural hub as well. Public art is part of that commitment to beauty and heritage.

But what happens when public art goes out of control? In the middle of busy Kingsway in east Vancouver, a new 120-foot ladder to nowhere has been built, costing $671,000, and it’s sparking questions about public art, public priorities, and the public purse.

Mike Klassen is a city columnist for the Vancouver Courier newspaper, and recently wrote about the Ladder to Nowhere. Mike joined Rick in studio.