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DECEMBER 15, 2009

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They call it social mix. We call it gentrification.

Planning departments, developers and many politi­cians are talking about social mix as a strategy for the redevelopment of neighbourhoods and low in­come housing projects. It sure sounds like a good idea(!), the living together of people from different income levels and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Democracy could be like that, especially if the gap between rich and poor were small.

Well, Martine August from the Department of Ge­ography, University o fToronto, has written an arti­cle warning us that the recent use of the expression "social mix" is more in line with neoliberal ideology than it is with the progressive principles behind the history of that idea. (I) The idea o f social mix has a long history. It ap­

peared in 19th century British utopian visions. and gained renewed interest after World War Two when returning veterans dreamt o f a Canada based on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the 1970's Jane Jacobs promoted social mix through her vision o f mixed land use and diver­sity, informed by her compassionate understanding that the free market (private power) needed to be regulated by intelligent social planning.

Martine August te lls us that today the corporate elite in Canada has returned to the classical princi­ples of the free market in which individual freedom is a higher priority than collec tive responsibility, and where public welfare spending is seen as an im­pediment to competitiveness. Social mix, as it is

I talked about now, must be understood in this neolib­eral context.

HO\\, then, are we to understand social mix in the context of free market ideology where Vancouver

# , "is not so much a place for peop le to live in and call their own, as it is a machine rationally and effec­tively designed for making money.'' (2) Developers have a dream alright. The Executive City, the World Class C ity with a downtown that attracts the c reative professionals, the vibrant, bohemian, safe street life, the high density, the tall buildings, the soaring rents, the huge profits . Look at Yaletow n. No, look at the entire downtown peninsula with English Bay and False Creek on one side, and Burrard Inlet on the other. The entire peninsula has gone skyward in concrete, glass and steel, except for the Downtown Eastside, a small, low income community sur­rounded by the Executive City. The low income residents in our community are living on land that

the Ueve top111CIIl IIIUUOUJ v~ •• ···-· ~ of money from, and the Downtown Eastside is under siege.

Social mix is one strategy that's used to j ustifY the takeover of the Downtown Eastside. Increase den­sity, build condos, the argument goes. Bring in mid­dle class people, and you will have more money in the community. I have a more democratic idea. Raise welfare rates and the m inimum wage. In that • way you will have more money in the community, and residents won't be pushed out. Social mix, it is said, will bring middle class people tnto the commu­nity who can act as ro le models, and the} will make the community more stable. But the Downtown Eaststde is one of the most stable communities in Vancouver right now. Most residents have a strong sense of community respons ibility. They cou ld act as role models for people who think that the most important th ing in life is getting rich. Social mix, we are told, will bring culture and diversity to the Downtown Eastside. But the Downtown Eastside is one of the most culturally diverse communities in Vancouver, and the powerful creativity in the com­munity is reflected in the artists who live here, the annual Heart o f the City Festival, the music of the community, and the many hundreds of volunteers \\ho work creatively to make our community a bet-ter place.

In her article Martine August makes it quite c lear that the idea of social m ix is being used by the De­velopment Industry to j ustifY gentrification. When wealthy people move into a low income neighbour­hood, land values go up. Rents go up. Poor people who can't afford higher rents move out, or become homeless. Stores that can't afford higher rents move out. Stores that cater to wealthier people move in. Some middle c lass people who move into a low in­come community begin to lobby to push out poor people who make them feel uncomfortable or unsaf -people who might lower the value of their prop­erty. These new, well-to-do residents also lobby to push out the services that cater to IO\\ income peo­ple. The lobby to eradicate the Dugout in the Dowr town Eastside is just one example of this. Local governments assist in this process of exclusion by passing regulations that criminalize poor people. Issuing fines for minor infractions of the law is on example. Anti-panhandling bylaws is another. Wit gentrification the pressure to remove so-called unc s irable people from the Downtown Eastside grow~ so that the neighbourhood can be seen as a safe zc

for commerce. ·ty • 8 b R · 8 1 f · 1 t' h. bet . . . . . 111 . o enn1e. a ance o power m re a 1ons 1ps ween It IS pleasant to t~mk that s~clal mix might mean people demands a more equitable distribution of income and

that lngh and low mcome c1t1zens would walk hand-~ wealth than we have in Canada. in hand down the street, as Bob Rennie has sug- ~- (4) ' Seeing It Our Way- Vision of the Downtown Eastside," gested. (3) The reality is qu ite different. Take the by Wendy Pedersen and Jean Swanson, pub. by the Carne-Woodward's Development for example. The condo gie Community Action Project, page 6. Draft Report, 20~ owners have a magnificent recreation area on the top (5) ' Our Place & Our Words- Mapping Downtown East-of the build ing, but those who live in social housing side community assets and challenges,' by Wendy at Woodward's are not allowed in. Pedersen and Jean Swanson, pub. by the Carnegie Com-If politicians and planners took the term social mix munity Action Project, 2009.

seriously, they would work hard to reduce the huge • r:'!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!!'!!'!!~ gap between rich and poor in our country. Also, they would strive for a national housing strategy so that •• Snowflakes are one of everyone would have a home. Our Member of Par- -Jiament, Libby Davies, has a bil l that moves in this nature's most fragile direction, and we hope it meets with success. With real soc ial mix there has to be a balance of power in relationships. More equity is one way to achieve this. More respect is another. Low income people have to be listened to. ln order for democratic plan­ning to take place in the Downtown Easts ide, the residents must be consulted - "Nothing about us without us," as the motto of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users says. The Carnegie Com­llllJnity Action Project is thinking about a ten year Stabilization Plan to give ti me for more harm reduc­tion and social housing in order to improve condi­tions for low income residents in the Downtown Eastside. ( 4) The Downtown Eastside has a long history of

struggle for dignity and human rights. It is an endur­ing, multicultural, community in which the residents support each other. As one resident said, "It's the fiirst place I've ever found with people who are com­fortable with who I am. A lot of acceptance here." And another person said, "Here people stick up for each other and care for each other ... lt's not going to feel safe if the neighbourhood is taken over." (5) Yes, the community ofthe Downtown Eastside is worth fighting for .

By Sandy Cameron

(1) ' Social Mix and Canadian Public Housing Redevel­opment: Experiences in Toronto ,' by Martine August, Pro­gram in Planning, Department of Geography, Universiity of Toronto. In the Canadian Joumal of Urban Research, Vol­ume 17, Issue 1, Supplement pages 82-100:2008. (2) ' The Developers,' by James Lorimer, pub. by James Lorimer & Co., page 79: 1978 .. (3) 'My goal is to have the less fortunate walking down the street with the fortunate, and bring balance to the commu-

** things, but just look

what they do when they

*0

. ll;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisiiiiitiiiiiickiiiiiiiiiitoiiiiiW'iiiiiethiiiiiiiiiier.iiiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~ Vema M. Kelly (llmcJir;UJ l¥1-itcJ:)

Carnegie Theatre Workshop

New Year's program

lmprov, Directing, Street Theatre, One Acts

Everyone welcome!

New dates for classes

Fridays, 3pm-Spm

Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 Led by Teresa Vandertu in

For more info call 604-255-9401 emai l: thirteenofhearts@hotmail.com

3

ACUPUNCTURE, GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YA' The Dec.4 Courier outlines the latest top-down Planning Dept. brainstorm to "fix" the Downtown Eastside .This latest intervention, under the tutelage of a planner extraord inaire from Brazil who has never been to Vancouver involves something called urban acupuncture.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent in an ultra tight budget cycle as financial rewards to all those property owners who left their properties go derelict over the last 15 or 20 years making our neighbourhood look like slum central while waiting for the go ld rush to begin so they could flip their properties to rich developers. Now it's here in the form of Woodwards, and, sure enough, look what's happening across the street--and elsewhere. Now the city deems these people worthy of cash incentives? The only thing missing here is input from local

residents. No open houses, no townhall meetings, no notification. Troub lesome details one can easily do without presumably--especially s ince this is so obvi­ously the right way to go.

As the si lky-smooth "acupuncture" treatment known as The Carrall St. Greenway nears comple­tion, one may easily lose sight of what the commu­nity has lost there. (Like acupuncture, if it's done right, you hard ly notice.)The first to go were the murals against the West wall in Pigeon Park--or is that Pioneer Square?. A few days ago, 1 went by the B.C. Electric building and noticed that the colourfu mu ral on the wall had been painted over with bland tan paint. Gerry Whitehead. a widely acclaimed city artist was commissioned nearly ten years ago with the efforts of DERA and the then building owner., who was persuaded he could reach out to the community with a welcoming cheery asset--a stylized first nations depiction, while at the same time keeping his other­wise whitewashed wall graffiti free. It worked for everyone. Nobody ever tried to deface the mural-­unti l now. Imagine the irony: a marvellous mural on the wall of an art gallery destroyed--or acupunc­tured. One hopes graffiti artists out there will treat it with the respect it deserves. A little further South, a bench with a memorial plaque dedicated to Bruce Eriksen has a lso disappeared, only to be replaced by a c lunky metal Home Hardware type bench.

This is how the Downtown Eastside will go: not under the blades of a roaring bulldozer, but with creeping steafth like this--like the tide gradua lly roll­ing in so that you won't notice until it's waist lugh

and there's nowhere to move fast enough to evade it. The only thing missing for that strip now is Ambas­sadors--walking breathing acupuncture kits.

Ian MacRae.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society­WAHRS - will be holding its Annual General Meet­ing on Friday, Jan 8, 2010 at 1:30pm in the VANDU Centre- 380 East Hastings. All members welcome!!

Dear Mayor and Council,

I am writing to support Councillor E llen Woods­worth's motion on the Assistance to Shelter act to be debated by Counc il today.

Many people have expressed their opposition and concerns to me about this Act passed by the BC leg­islature. It is a heavy handed and blunt legislative response to an issue of human dignity and rights concerning homelessness and hous ing.

I have been working as hard as l can in Ottawa to pass Bill C304 for a National Housing Strategy. It has passed 2nd reading and is now under considera­tion in Committee. The C ity of Vancouver has shown wonderful leader­ship on this issue, and I fully appreciate how hard it is for the City, with limited resources, to respond holistically to homelessness and the need for safe, affordable, and accessible housing. I believe that implementing th~ Assistance to Shelter Act, will not resolve homelessness, and indeed will only set up an environment of conflict that creates possible harm and lack of choice. Therefore, I hope C ity Council will support the mo­

tion on the basis it is a wise arid prudent response to this legislation.

Sincerely, Libby Davies, MP Vancouver East

Subject: Assistance to Shelter Motion MOVED by Counc illor Woodsworth

THAT the Committee recommend to Council WHEREAS: I . T he Provincial government has passed Bill 18 the Assistance to Shelter Act that allows police officers to use reasonable fo rce to transport a person at risk to an emergency shelter under extreme weather con­ditions as declared by the Minister of Housing and Social Development; 2. T he City of Vancouver, police, other levels of government and local service providers arc man­dated to ensure the health and safety of all of our res idents, includ ing our homeless population; 3. Many of the existing shelters are at or nearing capacity during extreme weather events; 4. Many homeless ind ividuals consciously choose not to access shelters for fear o f los ing their belong­ings, and as a result may seek to actively avoid po­lice making them more difficult for outreach and health workers to find thus increasing risks to life and limb during extreme weather events; 5. Homeless ind ividuals, in particular women, Abo­riginals, youth and members of the gay community have expressed concerns about personal safety enter­ing group shelters composed of mixed popu lations. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED l . That Council ask the VPD to work with the City to ensure that protoco ls arc developed that will en­sure the rights of the homeless are protected should the Assistance to She lter Act be enforced; 2 . That Council ask the Minister fo r Housing and Community Development to work with the City to ensure that there is add itional overn ight shelter ca­pacity; warm ing centers and other forms of emer­gency response during extreme weather events and that best efforts be made to encourage homeless people to seek shelter rather thancoercion; 3. Reiterate Council's commitment to working co­operatively with the Provincial Government to ad­dress the high rate of homelessness in Vancouver. 4. Call upon the federal Government to increase fundi ng for social hous ing to address the problem of homelessness in Vancouver.

/

5._ That Council write to the Minister ofl-lousing, /.J Rtch Coleman, expressing concerns about the harm-fu l effects of enforc ing the Assistance to Shelter Act in Vancouver, and requesting he convene consulta­tions between the Minster, City Council and com­munity representati ves, including she lter providers and housing advocates, to address problems with the Assistance to Shelter Act and provide alternatives.

FYI- with some hassle this passed yesterday. Thanks everyone Councillor E llen Woodsworth 604-873-7240

Don't cry because it 's over Smile because it's happened!

We begin here With the end

Like so many endings before Sta rting with life in the womb

Through each phase of childhood lening go ---:::. A b it more of our innocence

Everything we get now Will be transitory

The trick in the mirror says This is Me confusing

Image with reality The illusion of permanence

Of habit Of need

Life is a great Transition we are never

Fi nished until we a re Released into the next phase

Of disintegration Of return to the elements

Out o f time T here is no movement yet

Time slips throug h our hands Nothi ng is permanent Everything is a lways

Mutating and we are part O f the transformation we are

Always in transition

In Memory of Late Uncle Bing. When my son and I were in and out of shelters in '97 this uncle would take my son into the Carnegie Community Centre gym, while I would do my homework or take a break. My heart and prayers go to Uncle Bing's Family and Friends.

Stay beautiful a t heart.

Priscillia Mays

P.S. Uncle Bing, I would like to thank you for your support.

,., ,., ~~~~: So this is Christmas. How is your stocking? Is it ,w, empty, like those of so many unfortunate people in ~~•:1 this world? ~~,',~ 1 I'm thankful for a ll the free food that is provided ~~;; downtown. Without these organizations, people ~· would give up hope. I hope that everyone is going to

have a Good Christmas. Tell someone that's it great to be alive today! Once

in awhile you find a friend who'll be a fr iend forever so treasure every moment of your times together and share all your values & efforts. Look deep down in your heart - find the 'merries' in your holidays. Hope the Creator takes care of you and your family. Happy and Good Ho lidays.

All my re lations, Bonnie E Stevens

Vancouver's Small Arts Grants first round just en­joyed a wind up gala at the Carnegie Community Centre Dec 9th.

First we were all treated to a wonderful art show on the third noor and speeches all round from the major players making the whole thing possible. Meriko Kubota of the Vancouver Foundation met the artist and told us how the grants came about. Jason Bouchard, having done a great job of organiz­ing the grants committee and the evening, intro­duced the committee and artist receiving grants. Ethel Whitty welcomed everyone as well, modestly

as usual, not mentioning the fact that the Carnegie staff worked hard at obtain ing the grant in the first place for the benefit of the community.

Sean *enveloped the room with beautiful music and everyone was able to enjoy the art show and the wonderful refreshments served up by the Carnegie kitchen. The c ider- just right on such a cold night.

. . . ~

. . . . ..... 'PRINCE GEO"RGE 'POEM

We all later met in the theatre to enjoy a puppet and 1 clown show Just Enough, a lively performance put on by**. This was followed with mus ic and a s ing-ing performance by .. , accompanied by ** on the violin. While Mom, Joyce* proudly sat in the audi­ence. The evening was a wonderful celebration of all the hard work and talent of many in our commu­nity. Thanks to a community effort making wonder-fu l things happen, we really rock here in the DTES!

Photos submitted by seecee

. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It was the night before Xmas when all hell broke loose They were thinking about fishing and hunting for moose

All of a sudden there was a clang and a roar When five thi rsty loggers came crashing through the door!

The people were so happy they were almost in tears When they spotted those roughnecks carrying a case of Xmas cheer!!

To all a case of Xmas Cheer and a case of Xmas cheer to all. (Or at least enough that is © )

Ben

CCAP just put together a great report; Seeing it our Way. Naturally it is from the perspective of the people living down here. However there are many small businesses down here as well and the report I believe could be as representative of them as the people down here, as we have all managed to build this community together and all have a great vested interest in seeing it remain a great community for all including and especially the small businesses who have struggled here for years. Yes we are a strong community but also one of a

variety of well established businesses and services in Gastown, China Town, Victory Square, the Oppen­heimer District, Hast ings Corridor and Strathcona. We need a variety of businesses in our neighbour­hood and not just one or two big players like Nestors and London Drugs. We also need to protect the small businessmen in this community as well as the poor in need of affordable housing. Small busi­nesses and residents al ike have a stake in maintain­ing the status quo down here.

Failure to go to bat for our small businesses will prove detrimental to the whole community. Just as important is it that small businesses unite behind the community on maintaining affordable housing in the neighbourhood. United we win divided we all lose. Today due to sweetheart deals made at city hall

allowing Nestors and London Drugs to operate for ten years not paying city taxes, our small businesses are being put out of business by the big players who are not made to do business on a level playing field with our small faithful community merchants.

Rent is high and a large portion of the rent charges are due to high city taxes. The result is we sec many businesses today folded as making the rent is not in the cards. Meanwhile the city gives busi­nesses go ing into W2 tax breaks. None of those businesses are offering anything our existing busi­nesses don't already offer.

Unless tax breaks equal to those given to Nestors and London Drugs are also offered to our existing merchants many will go under. City Hall through their tax breaks are selling the community we love

up for failure. Visualize a future in ten years where the only businesses are Nestors and London Drugs, the rest are closed down and large swaths of our community are up for sale to developers at bargain basement prices. Expect the businesses we know today to be replaced by 40 story condos and high end chain stores, as no small mom and pop businesses will be ab le to pay the rent. More than likely vision the West End where there are few shopping choices at alland eve­ryone must walk quite a ways to do their shopping. I do not want to have to go five blocks to do my

shopping in the future and I like having my needs met locally. If bus inesses and residents alike don't stick together with a common vision of keeping our community we will all fade into history very soon.

Our businesses today sell what we need and at af­fordable prices, hire locally and train workers. We don't need chain and upscale stores or franchises here. We can all stick together boycotting stores getting tax breaks our loyal businesses don't get.

If we do not take action to demand tax breaks for our local merchants EQUAL to those given in W2 we will lose the historical neighbourhood we enjoy with it's human sca le. We will lose our sense of community and we will eventually lose much of our affordable housing. As many small businesses have affordable apartments above them.

Criminalization of the poor is most common at city hall. Fines are handed out at their request all the time for selling on the side walk without a license. While in the New York Times we read of the real crime, the crime of letting some of the richest mer­chants in the city of Vancouver do business without paying taxes for ten full years. We cannot expect a ten year Stabilization Plan to work for the DTES unless we see the city's ten year plan not to tax Lon­don Drugs and Nestors scrapped.

Everyone can get together and do something about this. Start by supporting only our local mom and pop businesses. Complain to city hall and tell your neighbours they have the power to help maintain the neighbourhood as well just by buying locally and demanding local merchants pay no more in taxes than any other business in the hood. Our small businesses keep their money in our community and keep our economy stronger. Upscale chains siphon much money out of the local economy and back to Wall St. Jane Jacobs once said that a strong middle class grows from its community. Many of us in our

community today can very well st ill hope to evolve from poverty to midd le c lass by starting a small business in our neighbourhood. That is as long as affordable storefront space is still allowed. It is sad to see that our local med ia would not cover

a story the New York Times covered. Doing so would have alerted too many in Vancouver to the C ity's sweet deal and may have cost some advertis­ing revenue for the media. Knowing what is hon­estly happening in our community is as important as taking united collective action. Both residents and businesses alike depend on united action in order to preserve our community. Let's go together with a united ITont demanding a level p laying field for our

loo•l~.·e .• ~~·h.ants. ~~ ~ ~ ColloooC'" ' "

REMEMBER OU R SISTERS EVER YWHE RE

ln commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the massacre o f fourteen women at L'Ecole Polytech­nique, University of Montreal, Remember Our Sis­ters Everywhere (ROSE) invited the public to a community event to remember women and girls who have been murdered here and around the world.

Like other vigils which took place across the coun­try, th is event was intended to contribute to a sh ift in Canadian consciousness, helping people move !Tom denial to healing to societal change. The ceremony was for us to express our grief and honour the sisters we have lost to violence. We wish to bring to consciousness o ur society's destructive patterns of denial and "forgetting" through these symbolic acts, performance and installations.

Aboriginal Wellness Program 9 Women's Information Group

Day: Monday, January 11 Time: 1:00 to 3:00

Room: Classroom II, 3rd floor

Are you an Aboriginal woman who has been hurt by violence or crime? Are you unsure about what your rights are and what he lp is available?

If so, we can help you. Join us at our Women's Information Group to learn more about what resources and help are avai lable to you and what your rights are.

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information please call the Aborigina l Wellness P rog,·am 604-875-6601.

' ........... . .............. . The ROSE website D-ialogue Forum is being used to facilitate the ~xchange of ideas, information and cultural expressiOn concerning the December 6th event and the loss we experience when a woman is murdered.

T ogether we honour the women we have lost and express our collecti ve des ire to end violence on Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on V1olence Against Women.

Photos by Sharon Burns

Nowhere Man Christmas Eve Deep freeze frenzy. Feelin' cool, for now with cold wind to come, so I brace myself. slicing through my being. Alongside rundown bars, amidst a wall of humming cars honk and rum ble, where the heck to they know. So I trudge the icing slush and slog, through mounting drifts of soggy snow. Nothin' to do but to soldier on. Hey, wait! Where in the hell am I going on this tedious, long and lonely Christmas Eve? Quickly winding down to often saddening hour. Don't quite know where for sure, the place that I am headed, and yet 1 am quickly running out of any remaining energetic power. Are you also solitary, sad, isolated and blue? What are your plans, maybe got a list made out? Seems the same every winter, huh. Oh, yeah, you know the drill, lining up in a brutal early morning for another rubber turkey dinner. Why do this place. I wonder, what's the point, what is the message. my mind is racing, can't think straight no more. Faint Christmas carols, I hear, I surmise, can' t get down. no party pooping, me. I pretend upbeat, uh huh. I wear my face like a mask. I'm getting so sleepy, so tired, so weak. I'm lost, about ready to hit the hay, wherever that is tonight. I am hardly quite sure, spinning places in huddles mind, somewhere that I so wish, under a warm blanket of sparkli ng stars' presence. A llhough it's deathly cold, and I am stiff as a board , I don't want to be locked inside, in an out-of-control shelter. And so kindly leave me be, all alone. Like, do not disturb, whoever you are. So hands off, don't touch me. I know my rights, I gotta choice, doncha know, for your naive, twisted, information. These are facts, forever etched in stone, can you spell alienation? I am me, I am a person, it is my life to life; solely. So back off, and I will talk to you, if I so please. And I've got a history too, is that so hard for you to believe? I've also got a life, just like everyone else, and real feelings too, oh, yeah! All true. I can laugh, and I can grieve. Ya know, understand­ing, are very special virtues. to have indeed, to recognize thi s, and to believe in me. For that I wish, and qo no one no hann. I'm just going through a rough patch at this time. Yeah, a huge run of bad luck. I'll get trhough it, somehow, I sense it. I know it. Can' t miss. That's why I so desperate ly hang on. Sometimes, just only the skin

of my teeth. See that door over there. I feel like that holly decked out wreath, nailed there. sus­pended in animation by only. a taut drilling wire, in my case a mortal coi l. I may be now, the stereo­typical, posterboy and the current face of poverty, and of desperate want, and stark need. I may be down and out of the picture now. However, in the long, I will never, ever give up. Oh, yeah, thanks brother, same to you. Merry Christmas, for sure. Hmm, that's a laugh ... Merry Christmas indeed!

By Robyn Livingstone

C(o'\ .

On Smoking By Robert R Rich

One day, while I was over by the bus stop, I noticed a guy sitting there with a li ttle hat in front of him. I quite often see him there, and usually he says hello to me. On that day I gave him $2. I thi nk it was New Year's Day or shortly thereafter.

I went over to the same bus s top a day or a week later and noticed him again but also that he seemed to keep looking up at me. I sort of thought - ·What does he wan/, some more money?' Not long after that l was sitting outside a restaurant,

drinking a cup of coffee and smoking a cigarette. l noticed there was a little dog there, tied to a post. This

._, ---r· ·~v·""o ... , '"'-· 111t:11 1 tnougnt -·What does he want? Maybe he wants the smoke.' (Ha ha! that's a joke.)

Maybe he thought that 1 am a human, and humans can set you free. Suddenly it dawned on me. Maybe that's why the guy on the sidewalk kept looking up: he did not want to be left alone.

Another time 1 was walking along the sidewalk downtown and there was another guy sitting on there. 1 sort of thought - ' He probably wants money.· Well, he got up and said something like "How are you today?" 1 mumbled something like "Fine. Yourself?" lle said, ·Tour collar 's crooked," and he straightened it out! 1 said, "Thank you for straightening out my collar," and away I went.

Suddenly it dawned on me (yeah, again):He did not acrually ask me for any money. Maybe he was just lonely and wanted someone to talk to.

I try to help people if I can. There arc other ways of helping people than just giving them money. Sometimes people just need someone to stop and

give them a kind word, or to say" How are you today? How are you doing?" Sometimes I do give money to people. but I cannot

help every person in Vancouver that needs some money. Somet imes the amounts I give are so small it seems hardly worth it, probably helping me more than the other person, but that's what I Jive by. I try ti do something for other people.

Sometimes I forget my own rule .. and sometimes I remember.

Some of the things I do are so small they seem to be a lmost trivial, but at least pan of the time l make some effort to try to be helpful. When 1 help someone else it helps me; that way I am able to keep going for~

~a;~w~~~~~ Routines

We are all creatures of habit; our habits turn into patterns. The patterns of our lives intersect with each other every day. From the front-desk clerk who, bleary-eyed rrom being up all night, offers a weak good morning to the guy selling c igarettes in his can under an awning on llastings to the cheerful greeting of the pharmacist doling out today's dose of 'steady as she goes ' to each moving like the one before and close to the one after.

I

\...ernncate ot Appreciation Carnegie Community Centre and Oppenheimer Park

presented a certificate of appreciation for 14 years of service to the Lorus Light Charity Society. The award was presented at their annual fund raiser dinner in Richmond on December II , 2009. The society has given out food packages, clothing and personal care items to homeless people in Oppen­heimer Park. Other good works in the Downtown East side include Strathcona Community Children's Dental Clinic, annual income tax preparation service f?r low­income residents, ESL classes; they also established a computer training facility at the Downtown East Edu­cation Centre. They also donated over 150,000 pounds of rice to food banks while we had them in our com­munity. They also support in part SUCCESS, Walk with the

Dragon both cultural awareness events. The only thing that will prove to be better than the help they have provided in our community will be the day no further help is needed; when poverty is eradicated.

Submitted by Colleen Carroll

I'm struck this morning by the 8:55 walk Grandma takes with her daughter and her daughter's daughter. The little one is bund led up for school in almost new bright clothes. She leans into the protective embrace of Mama and Mama takes comfort in her Mama. They' re all walking to schoo l, just as Mama walked beside her Mama to be protected and shielded from the rain and all unseen, unknown troubles out there in the world. And so it goes most mornings: the pattern of my

life is interlocked with the patterns of all the people I meet, all taken up with the task of staying alive here in the poorest postal code in Canada. And while some folks focus in on the negative, I

choose to see the simple beauty of this schoolyard procession. Sure. I could go off in the cadre of the crack heads outside the grocery store .. sure, they are always there .. but pardon me if I turn a blind eye to what brings me no joy, no hope.

I choose to see the little scraps of normalcy that I find here and there, interspersed with a ll the garbage I see all that's wrong on my morning walk, yet what brings me hope, offers me a tidbit of hope, is the little girl in her innocence going off to school, safe in the protective grasp of her family. This is the picture I carry with me as I challenge

the day. These are the images I will remember.

R Loewen

\

PROOF of PURPOSE Like dishing out the discipline in a very loving man­ner or negotiating a hundred million$ contract with someone who thinks the un iverse revo lves around their b'day number, ya know I've never been much of a future planner like observing 2 minutes of si­lence followed by 2 thousand years of violence, 2.2 billion & counting bodycounts mounting Mom&Dad this is what THAT used to look like; the latest ex­ploiters saw what they liked told the people there to take a hike & that shade of colour just isn't right [wrong] now did you know Iran has the highest self­immolation rate in the world?! Ironically its 100% forced marriages now light that match little girl and dance in your fiery world, like trying in va in to try to find the cure to all pain with consequences so hor­rific scientists not even born are trying to prevent it again like proof of purpose before any purchase. I'll take the exit to the left I 've never wanted to be right (so far so good) like an army of gods on guard for thee, sadness breeds madness, I refuse to listen to your BFFgods unstoppable screams like sustainabil­ity mixed with nobility whatever flag fits your scheme, from guitar zeroes to gutter heroes where's the proof of purpose before any purchase where's our exit for me & you & you don't know 'bout YOU In one of my dreammares I'm requesting parole for

a killer ya just know he has unfinished business ahead once again this means punishment down the road, like a cop who gets off(pun intended) on kill­ing & now deserves top bi lling found Not Guilty!?! the value of human life just dropped another spot the thing is they get caught for naught it makes you wonder where the Missing really go? Moving along the Queen E Observatory is coming down and parts of Stanley Park wi ll be gone while we' re in the dark because we' re blacks to tear down lives to tear apart man do they have plans for you, like coroner stores replacing corner stores now I wonder how many corner stones began on some­one's lap these mega buildings are the best hiding spot on tap; they buy the building to hide their kill­ing the cop's best friend I mean they must have at least one, I ike indoor fireworks d isplays are always

fun until your hair & face melt away yet the band still plays on I think it was Peter Bhopal & Mary yes music can be scary but if you know the right slumlord by invitation only now if only that was it but no now I think you've got it. Oh Yeah don't forget your receipt you ram-bo peep a litt le machine gun fi re to he lp everyone sleep some of them fo r keeps have a pleasant sleep.

News From the LibrarY

New Librarv F loor Thanks to everyone for your patience with the work going on with the new library floor- we hope you like the end result!

Nuevos Libros Espafioles Eckhart Tolle, £1 Poder del A flora (SPA 291.4) "un recordatorio para estar verdaderamente presente en nuestras vidas y liberarnos de nuestro pasado y futuro. Puede transformar su pensamiento. E l resul­tado? Mas alegria, ahora mismo!". Roberto Saviano, Gomorra (SPA FIC) E I libro en que se basa Ia pelicula de Matteo Garrone, ganadora del Grand Prix de Cannes 2008. "La Camorra na­poli lana, el Sistema, es una organizaci6n empresarial con ramificationes por todo el planeta." Dan Brown, £ 1 Simbolo Perdido (SPA FIC) "Wash­ington. El expert en simbologia Robert Langdon es convocado inseperadamente por Peter Solomon, mason, fi lantropo y su antiguo menor, para dar una conferencia en e l Capitolio. Pero el secuestro de Peter y el hallazago de una mano tatuada con c ino enigmaticos simbolos cambian drasticamente el cur­so de los acontecimientos. "

Christmas Books We've got a whole bunch of Christmas books avail­able at the moment, from children's stories to mak­ing Christmas crafts. Come and check them out! We've also got some Christmas music books for use in the Carnegie Centre, including my personal fa­vourite Christmas song: "Grandma got run over by a reindeer".

Happy Holidays from Beth, your librarian

Dea r Readers,

I regret to inform you that my lawyer, Nina Purwell, is on holiday in December. The case whe!'f I'm seeking compensation for injuries sustained dur· ing an incident of po lice brutality will resume in January. I wi ll keep you informed.

Yours truly, Marlene Wuttanee

TMIS NEWSLETlER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

Articles represent the views of individual Contributors and not of the Association.

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry Cover art -Maximum size: 17cm(6 o/.1 wide x 15cm (6") high Subject matter relevant to issues pertaining to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered Black & White printing only Size restrictions will apply (i.e. ir your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit; All artists will receive credit ror lheir work;

• Originals will be returned to the artist after being copleo·tor pubffcaOOn; Remuneration: Carnegie Volunteer tickets.

Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

TIM STEVENSON CITY COUNCILLOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY

WITH PRIDE - - -

City Hall, 453 W 12'h Ave, V5Y 1V4 Phone: 604-873-7247

GET CLEAN! Shower up at tbe Lord's Rain

There is a shower facility at Gospel Mission, 327 Carrall Street Uust off Pigeon Park). There

are towels, soap, shampoo- the works! & Coffee

Monday 10am-3pm; Tuesday Ladies only 1-4pm

Everyone 1- 8:30am Friday 10am- 3pm; Saturday7 -lOam

lei on parle Francais; Hablamos !;spanol

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Meade

CAD :102 •. 1 Ri m-OP uom Next Issue is Friday, January 151

h, 2010

SDBMISSION DEAniJNE Tuesday, January 1 ith

We acknowledge that 2arnegie Community Centre, and this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory

Editor: PaulR Taylor; Cover art by Jim Dewar. ~on & distribution crew: Bill, Liu Lin, Harold, Mary Ann, Miriam, Kellr, Videha, Rolf, Jackie, Ida, Lisa, Robyn, Nick.

2009 DONATIONS: Barry M.-.$150, Libby 0.-$70, Rolf A.-$50, Margaret D.·S40, Jenny K.-$25, Sue K.-$30, Michael C.-S50, Jaya B.-$100, Christopher R.-$180, Mell.-$25, Greta P.-$25, Leslie S.-$25, Harvey B.-$25, Sheila B.-$100, The Edge -$200, Wilhelmina M.·$50, Glenn B.-$100, CEEDS -S60, Bob S.-$100. Vancouver Moving Theatre -$100 Anonymous $1510

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA Working for You

1070 - 1641 Commercial Dr, VSL 3Y3 Phone: 604-773-0790

Solder & Sons Used books - Coffee & Tea

Curious audio recordings & equ•pment

· 247 Main Stn:et- 3 15-7198

HO HO HO 'Tis The Season ...

Never fails, this yearly feast of masochism. We create a scenario where we all want things to be per­fect in some personal way and every year what actu­ally happens leaves most of us disappointed, if not downright miserable.

We miss long lost loved ones. We wish we had our fami lies close and near at hand while we bemoan the fact that our families are far-flung and splintered. The perfect TV Christmas is a myth we not only

perpetuate but cry about when it doesn' t pan out like it is on ABC. We gobble up the bullshit then moan when it's empty.

And that's just the adults. I shudder to think what it's all like for the thousands of children living on the pittance welfare provides.

All the glitz and glam and shiny stuff dangled in front of the faces of little kids who can't understand why they can't have all that stuff. They don't under­stand legislated poverty; they just want. Pity the par­ents who can ' t deliver - the look in their eyes ...

Today I was watching a couple of young s isters eating with their Mom and Auntie at the 44. Seemed sad to me, children there. But I projected - they were happy to eat; happy to be with their Mom. After that they didn't care- so sweet and simple.

Yet it hurts me to see children in our neighbour­hood growing up in poverty amid the discarded nee­dles and used condoms on the littered streets.

We, as adults, created this mess. They, as innocent children, never created, wanted or deserved this mess we all live in.

Maybe in the suburbs Christmas is a jolly good time. Around here it is a painful reminder of what we are not, what we don't have and the guilt of tears that come from not living up to the Canadian Dream where we all have (or are supposed to have) lotsa lotsa at this time of year. So I feel it for the kids out on the streets of Strath­

cona and the shattered children of the DTES. Iff could I'd wave my magic wand and make Christmas just perfect fo r them. As it is I'll be lucky to make it thru the season of suicide intact.

My Christmas wish s imply is one day when all the kids' faces shine with happiness and no-one feels bad that there wasn't enough of whatever.

Maybe I'm dreaming but I'll hold onto my dream. It's really all I got this Christmas.

AI

Another Censored Story

l travelled to Cornwall this past summer to support our brothers and sisters in Akwasasne on the arming of the border patrols. New legislation passed earlier this year in Ottawa to

arm the border guards against terrorists. This's done without consulting first nation communities where the international border crosses. The Mohawks of Akwasasne, led by the community elders, chased out the guards on their territories and are against the arming of the guards.

I hitchhiked over there to support the cause of "no more guns" on their territories as the sad history be­tween first nations and the colon izers goes back over three centuries of genocide and oppression.

My late s ister was murdered by guns and the drug trade here in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver where people's lives are expendable. The peaceful takeover by Akwasasne residents of

the international border has prompted the govern­ment to move that border elsewhere. The CBSA and federal government had not made any moves on the Mohawks as this occupation was a non vio lent take­over of the border on their territory. This story of their occupation was not printed in any

newspaper as the government did not want to show the world their ineffectiveness when having to deal with first nations matters. The media was not there as this story was kept ourta the public eye; the taking over of a international border from unarmed first nations cou ld cause a panic and concern from first nations members across kkkanada. I was well treated and respected by the Mohawk

community of Akwasasne and allowed to speak sev­eral times to the community members of my in­volvement with resistance down here in the DTES of Vancouver. I stated my late sister Mona Wilson was killed by guns and this threat of arming the border guards posed the same threat of hostility. I joined them to show solidarity and concern for our brothers and sisters on this gun issue and felt that the media had to be alerted in case of any hostile takeover by the government. This border dispute is ongoing and most likely the main crossing wi ll be rebui lt off their terr itories. The government has no choice but to settle this matter in a peaceful way as our action was done in a peaceful manner by the warrior society of Akwasasne. l am honoured to be welcomed there and accepted

by the elders and to advocate changes for our dis­placed people.

By Jayson Fleury

><XXXXXXXXXX ~~. ··-. .'

This artwork by Priscillia Tait is beautiful in colour; reproduction in black& white doesn ' t do it justice!

In Memory of Bingo

Heaven took him away Bingo asserted, "That's where I'll stay!" "You British monsters stole mine heart ­You broke it apart, left it in destitution ­But you'll never win- Spirit is strong, My heart will always survive indecisively­Yet you almost won. l'm a soul survivor I lived life for people's safetyhood-But you stole my dignity - shattered it astray and left me a lone in the shadow of demise. I'm still alive in the Universal Realm." Collision of hatreds. War and condemnations con­

tinue In this uncaring world you may not survive. " I walked a good life and did my best. What wi ll you do without my faithfulness of a desirable sound 'n good soul? What can I say in the aftermath of li fe? Let live - let live let live - do your best, Spiritual connection - spiritual connection ­I'm there with you a lways!"

All my relations, William Arnold Combes

Sec yo urself? I've been seeing th is gal for about two years in

August. We've been liv ing together for six months now, and it's been really bumpy. We fight a lot and it just gets really messy. To tell you the truth, I'm tired of it.

I work two j obs, and I never get any time to myself because she's moody and insecure. She always wants to know where I'm going or who I'm with. She doesn't like to do the same things I do, and I'm be­ginn ing to think this is all one big mistake. The problem is, every time I try to leave, it always gets ugly, ugly to the point that she's thrown my stuff in the front yard, broken things of mine, and even called me names. She's abusive.

As sad as this sounds, and as ridiculous as I feel, I want to make this work. I want us to be happy. And the thing is, 1 know that we can be. When we're mad, it's like World War Ill over here. But when we're happy, it's so blissful that I know in my heart with her is the only place I want to be. What can I do? People tell me it's time to sever ties, but the people who usually tell me th is are the ones who can't stand her. How can I make a completely unbiased deci­sion? Am I stupid for believing in a love that feels destined to fail?

J.Smith

ROCK

every toke you take brings you closer to madness, dementia already those close to you see the irrational temper the greed in every detail how it all comes to you and no one else matters nothing e lse matters but the crack like it's eating you alive from the inside out ce ll by cell it takes over till your only purpose is to inhale more smoke you've seen 'em mining the sidewalks soon it'll be you

AI

.This is not a relationsh ip, J .S., it's a hostage situa­tiOn. She's a controlling, abusive piece of shit - lisle to your .fucking friends. When your g irlfriend breaks your shrt, she's making an impl icit threat: ' I can br~ak your face j ust as easily as I' m breaking your shrt, bastard, so don' t even think about leaving me.' And of course th ings are great when they're great--­that's part of an abuser's method of operation.

If abusers were abus ive 24/7 - if they weren't capa·

ble of doling out a little bliss now and then - no ab­u~ ive re lationship would last longer than one date. Lrk~ all abusers, she parcels out the good times, dopmg you up with a little bliss now and then be­cause she knows that these glimpses of how g~eat thrngs cou ld be convince you to stick around against your better j udgment. .· The bliss is a con, J.S., a weapon that she uses

against you, just as much a part of the cycle of abuse as are tantrums, fits, and threats of violence. Think of the good ~ imes as rainbow sprinkles on a dog-shit sundae- sprrnkles or no sprinkles, you're still stand­ing there with a bowlful of dog shit in your hands. Get a coup le of friends to come over when she's at

work or out of town, box up your shit, and leave. You can't change her. Go.

By Lynn Savage

Dear Mayor Robertson, Deputy Minister Steen­kamp, Assistant Cor_nmissioner Mercer:

I am writing to you to express the Impact on Com­munities Coalition's full support for an independent fact-finding miss ion to be conducted during the 20 I 0 Olympics which would focus on housing and civil liberties. These two areas have been areas of ongoing concern not only for the Impact on Com­munities Coalition but many civil society organiza­tions in the Lower Mainland. As well, the Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, a Geneva based NGO has also cited these areas of particular concern in their 2007 report on mega-events. This fact-finding mission cou ld also serve as a basis

point for reforming the Olympic bid process - one of the root causes behind some of the regu lar impacts it has on cities around the world. Certainly, as a repre­sentative of the Impact on Communities Coalition, I would public support any steps to establish such a

A ngels' H ell?

A beatitude within one's self

mission as a pre-emptive and preventative approach prior to the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics.

During the recent visit of Miloon Kothari, the for­mer VN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Ade­quate Housing, I raised the idea of him possibly leading such a mission . Mr. Kothari has met with the International Olympic Committee, is linked with the international human rights system and is knowl­edgeable of the situation in Vancouver. In my view, he wou ld be ideally suited to carry out the kind of credible and rigorous work that is necessary to document the s ituation on the ground while we host the 2010 Olympics. It would also be a proactive way for governments to meet some of their require­ments under the Inner City Inclusive Commitment Statement.

Patsy George, the local president of the United Na­tions Association chapter in Vancouver, has already agreed to vo luntari ly host Mr. Kothari if either the City of Vancouver or the Province of BC would agree to cover the costs of his time here. Whi le Mr. Kothari is extremely busy, he did express an interest

Are you mine, friend? J ask ~ .. , 'Cause death is never over , It's not the end -Angels sing to mine heart Nothing can tear it apart. 'Cause angels continue to sing With me immaculately

to me in making time to do this work from February 12th to 28th . Furthermore, the new Special Rapporteur on the

Right to Adequate Housing is going to be rel~asing a report on the impact of mega-events from an mterna­tional human rights perspective in March 20 I 0. A report by Mr. Kothari wou ld be helpful in providing info rmation fo r that document.

For their immaculate souls linger on eternally? Not in space - not there but here

If there is anything that I can do to help facilitate this moving forward, contact me (778-895-5640).

Where mine puctured wisdom Of the world began Will it never let go of simple real ities Sin -That's where the ind ignities begin, With a war soldiers' souls lost With weapons of fury - at what cost?

Sincerely, Am Johal

Ch,ir, Impact on Communities Coalition

~· l ~t

Spirit World- Spirit World why are you lost? ''~ .. ,,l:t~~ •• ~J. Still the angels sing- in harmony of everything, Angels sing- Listen Angels sing- ~·~ All my relation Angles sing will All our Relations,

William Arno ld Combes

CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION The Community Rela tions Committee will ~e~t on Thursd~, December 24 (Christmas Eve) at 4pm, AssoctatiOn Office (2 floor) P rogram Committee - Tuesday, January 5th at 4pm (Assoc. O ffice) Volunteer Committee- Wednesday, January 61

h, I pm (Classroom II) F inance Committee - Wednesday, January 6th a t 4 pm (Assoc. Office)

CCCA Board Meeting - Thursday, January 7th at 5:30pm (Theatre)

A nd..,fJY IIIIUVu ''"""""' -····- 4

T'was the nrght before Christmas, And throughout the hotel, You could hear some guy sweanng, You can all go to bed.

Up and down the halls, Somebody's stockings were flung , Like Santa needs to know, You've got your w~slling done

The tenants were nestled All snug in their beds, Their T.V. sets glowing, With ads for Club Med.

The night clerk in the office, Having just done the rounds, Setued back in a chair, And made not a sound.

When out in the parking lot, There arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed, To see what was the matter.

Away to the lobby, I flew like a flaxh, As the night clerk was going, To investigate the crash.

We went out the front, And down past the bar, Out into the parking lot, But, nay, not even a car.

When what to my wondering, Eyes should appear, A dinged up old shopping can Filled with cold beer.

With a little old driver, So lively and quick, 1 knew in a moment, It sure wasn't St. Nick.

To the top of the building, To the top of the wall, He then toasted us both, And proceeded to fall.

So up to the office, We carried the old tart, Along with the beer, In his old shopping cart.

And then in a twinkling, He quickly awoke, And proceeded to tell us, A really bad joke.

He was dressed all in fur, From his head to his foot, He could've been a mascot 'cept for the ashes and soot.

His eyes how the twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, His nose like a cherry!

He was chubby and plump, A right jolly old elf, And I laughed at his job, In spite of myself.

The cases of beer, He flung on his back, Having placed them carefully, Inside an old sack.

He spoke not a word, But went straight to his room,

More drunken and wasted, Taking the elevator, Than I'd ever seen, Which arrived none to soon. He whistled and shouted, . . "Here I've got Bailey's ·n Cream' Then I heard h1m excl~1m

' As he stepped out of s1gh· Now dashing 'n dancing, 'Happy Christmas to all, Then prancing, he veered, And to all a good night." 'Oh, come on there stupid,' As he drooled on his beard. Adaptation by ... my dog jim

JtJ