APRIL I,2001
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Attention: A rotating camera is being installed on the northeast comer of Hastings strcet at Gore. It is aimed at the comer of Main and Hastings strcet When this camera is fully operational it will be able to focus in on all of Hastings street from Princess St all the way down the 100 block to Columbia street and down Gore street into Chinatown.
Private or Public??? On the one hand, arguments in favour of such devices come right out of the manual - recording activities on the street will curtail crime, will help police identify fugitives and those conunitting acts of violence, will serve as a deterrent to predators who exploit women, children and the vulnerable, will restore safety to our streets!. . . There is little dispute with such Mom & apple pie promises. On the other hand, arguments against such constant surveillance begin with the inhngement to civil liberties, concerns of who would have access, to what extent and for what uses would recordings be available, and once cameras are in it will be almost impossible to have them removed. If the use of recordings is clearly (or even perceived as) abusive then what can be done'? If thc use of recordings is just not disclosed then fear grows. Sandy Cameron got this report G.om the European Union on the wcapons, sprays. gases, tools and datagathering techniques that virtually every nation is stocking up on. And the methods of crowd control and tactics to quell disscnt employ a sophistication best lelt to the movies. The report is mentioned in the context of the EU's governing body being urged to &an and implement laws as soon as possible to curtail the implied power of local and national police forces. Yes, boys and girls. all the riot gear, teargas, sprays, massive databases and more are for the local constabulary. Kind of makes you wonder what they expect, given that buying nd deploying such boys' toys isn't cheap or easy. One new face asked if the camera at Gore and Hast ings was a police thing - and no one knows.. .
TO CATCH A STAR Cameras on jagged hot comers Llke, for instance, at Hastings & Gore Rolling over reams of celluloid film To be examined, and filed, forevern~ore. Spying and prying into private affairs Human rights - what do they care? It's everyone's space, to freely associate and nobody's business, to preserve us on tape. Who asked us what we prefer'? Don't we havc a say, what we can offer? The talking heads behind closed doors at City Hall, they only always hit the floor Big Brother is watching you clandestinely And you may not realize it with certainty But beware, thc big Eye could be anywhere To glare, frame by frame, to check and compare. You can bet they don't buy a ticket to catch this sprawling yet contained movie, They just push play and tape spindles around to pan an innocent person, to track a star to focus in the near and to zoom to the far So the next time you approach the comer of Gore Ren~emberto t ~ u n3 our back. DO not face the warped wide-angle lens It could be fun.. the cops will get sore.. So cover your face and try to block the scene Those anonymous ciphers won't get the picture They'll blow the score Keep on truckin' On your merry way Keep those bureaucratic busybody minions at bav For once and for all! Robyn
CARNEGIE CENTRE PRESENTS OIJTTRIPS FOR 2001
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GLEN VALLEY ORGANIC FARM Third Sunday of Each Month! *April 15 *May 20 *June 17 *July 15 *Aug 19 *Sept 16 *Oct 21 Come join shareholders & other friends of the farm for work, play & celebration. Lunch provided for Carnegie patrons. For more details see Catriona in the Carnegie kitchen (604) 665-3349 Sign up in the program o f i c e prior to trip day!
IN '1'1 I k: 1) 17 h4 PSrI'EK binner0vcn.bc.ca Greetings fellow binners & binnerettes: Wcrrning! The A m y It. N a ? ; store have raised their prices at lcast 20-30%. 1 \bas in there the other day and found a bag of fro~enfrcnch fries were $3.19. up from $2.89. A package of spicy noodles used to cost .79 now cost $1.00. You can do a lot better shopping at Bill's Confectionery at 200 Carrall St. The store next door, Glory Foods, has new owners and their prices are worse than A&N. It seems the buses might bug out. All we can do is go after Shitty Hall and demand they get rid of Puil. "Hig Hrolher is Wirtch~ng." .4rotating canera is being installed on the northeast. comer of Hastings It. Gore . I guess the ma\,or finally got his kick-back from the funeral parlours on people who died helplessly in o w DE. Also Abbott street has been changed to Hohrl Strec>l. Keep the faith. May the bins be with you. And h ~ ' Let's bc careful out there. By Mr.McBinner
HEY EVERYBODY: The 15"' of A ~ r i is l Easter Sunday. Print shops are closed on the 131h,Good Friday, and on Monday the 16'" .hi's means that a ~ e w i l e t t e rhas to go to press on the morning of the 1 lth,to get it back on the 121h.or on the morning of the 121hto get it back for the 17Ih. So? So IF there is a Newsletter it will be very small and late. If not, so it goes. Ed. -
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The three history chapters in the book show that the oppression of poor people has a long history in an exploitive s?.stem of winners and losers. The old poor laws that stercohpcd the poor as lazy and irresponsible, and punishcd them for being unemployed. arc reflected in the new poor lavs of the 1990's. Jean talks about the new poor laws in chapter 7. Chapter 5, "Using Language To Corrupt Thought,'. Jean dcmolishcs the sleaea vocabulary of the neoconsenative think tanks like the Fraser Institute. The u - a she turns poor-bashing phrases like "dependency", '*incentives to work.', and "chronic users" against thc wealthy kvill amuse you. She
Pour-Bashinz: The Politics of Exclusion by Jean Swanson, published by Between the Lines, 200 1. We in the Downtown Eastsidc know in our bones what Jean's book, Poor-Bashing: The Politics of Exclusion, is about. We have experienced the hateful attacks of the media, politicians, and business spcculators on ourselves and our community for many years. Jean's book helps us understand the history of blaming the po\verlcss, and it encourages us to continue the fight for justice. Jean dedicates her book "To pcople who are poor and keep fighting for justice despite the discrimination, the hate, and hardships," and she says, "This book is about the war of exclusion, prejudice and hate against the poor in Canada..' The voices in the book are the voices of poor people themselves, including residents of the Downtown Eastsidc. The book is for people who are poorbashed. It is also for working pcople who feel frightened and angry as they see decent jobs and decent wages disappearing. The book will help them understand that bashing poor people and slashing social programs undernlines their jobs. wages and security. Lastly, the book is for all citizens who want to live in a fair and just society, and have the courage to face the systematic. deliberate oppression of poor people in Canada and in the world.
imagines a training program called "Helping the Rich" that will exanline the dependenc~,of the rich on tax loopholes and inheritances. In chapter 6 . "The media and politicians: Poorbashing today". Jean gives a devastating account of poor-bashing in the media, and her analysis will help us resist the constant abuse we face from those with wealth and po\ver. Chapter 7 is called "The new poor laws: Helping employers and cheapening labour." This chapter contains the most powerf~~l analysis of the p'rovincial B.C. Benefits. the B.C. Family Bonus, the infamous consent form of 1998, the federal Child Benefit, the notorious Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST), the gutting of Unemplo~mcntInsurance, the slashing of ~vcllare,and the implementation of workfare that 1 have ever scen. Jean clcarlj. shows the connection between the above poor-bashing legislation and a corporate cheap labour strategy in
Hard Man to Kill but Easy to Love 1 pray a lot about eventhing /even bod? Pray that somehow it all works out not perfect.. just to conclusion, that's all
the global economq . In Chapter 8. "substituting charity for justice". Jean acknowledges the importance of sharing. caring. and volunteer work. She shows, however, whq, charity cannot replace human rights, and she demonstrates how corporations exploit charity to further their corporate image. It's justice people lvant. not charity. Chapter 9, "Bashing yourself*, shoivs how poor people can internalize the negative image in poorbashing. It also shows how people can resist. "What do we do to ... make us stronger?' Arlene Mantle asks. Then she answers, "....we take our own power. The last chapter (chapter 10) is a hands-on primer on how to challenge poor-bashing, and in the conclusion Jean ~vritesof the hopefid signs of struggle that she sees. More people are rccognihg poorbashing and the connections bct\vecn classism. seuism and racism . There's p o ~ v i n ganger at injustice, and Jean \uitcs, -'l'n~hopeful that learning about poor-bashing, and its role in promoting a society of p e e d and poverty, will help to keep people from turning that anger inward at themselves, or at their spouses or children, or at other oppressed people. ... I'm hoping that ice can build an anti-pobertq. movement that focuses that anger at the slstcm that causes the poverty of all people in the world..' At a time when poverty issues have almost disappeared from the media and political platlonns. this book, Poor-Bashing: Tbe Politics of Exclusion. is very important. It is \witten in clear. conlpassionate language, and it is a moral tale. for today's market gurus have lefl ethics out of their profit-making calculations. Jean spent four )cars tvriting the book. and much of her 27 years' experience as a social activist, including 7 years with DERA, is in it. Jean tells it like it is. The book can be ordered from any book store. The Carnegie Libraq. should h a w copies soon, and if you know of a libraq that doesn't ha\c it. ask the librarians to order it. By SANDY CAMERON
The e s is mot ing, disruption, springtime anarchy Obligation, duty. make me haul ass move her shit for the I I 4' time to yet another place she can't afford at least the b q Sriend gets ditched so the kids don't have to live with a hype My buddl. recovered afier havmg his throat cut 1 pray, I sure prayed for his s o q 8ass 1 love him like a brother, too good to die too much good left to do fbr h m to leave So on behalf of all of his buds Welcomc back Bert we sure are glad 1.ou're back \+alking around among us
The Adventures of Coco Coyote All's a-flutter in the hilltop houses Finally an issue 1s real Four-legged predators are running amok And Coco, the Kerrisdale Coyote Just had Fluff), for a meal. Poor Fluff>. In another part of our City Let's call it niostl> the East A young girl sells herselron the corner While the MAN cruises the street Poor Child.
DM and VN
For Tenants Only 9 Do You Live in Social/Subsidized Housing? 9 Are You Fed-Up with How it is Run?
P Want to Work with other Tenants to hlake Changes?
Come to the
Social Housing Forum
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Monday April 9,01 11:OO ,am - 2:00 pm
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Carnegie Centre (Theatre) (Snacks Provided)
Panel Discussion with:
> Tenants Rights Action Coalition (TRAC) P BC Human Rights Commission 9 Aboriginal Housing Managenlent ;Issociation 9 Tenants Association For More Infornlation cal!:
Alice Kendall 681-1786 or June Clearsky 688-1821
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The Interurban is an Idea Factory and the Downtown Eastside is filled with hard working dreamers Remember the Interurban ProjectRhc ldea Factory that was written about in the last issue'?..A place that could house, cultivate, and provide the much-needed venue for creative and cultural expression, and provide economic opportunilics for people in our conm~uni&.Well the idea for having this facility. comes from 7 years of listening to all the ideas, projects and inspirations people have shared with me about their future, and the future of our community. More inspirations and more ideas were shared and in 1998, during the Walls of Change mural project, we stumbled upon an amazing space 31 2 West Hastings - the Old BC Electric building. 24A ceilings, big open space, a place where anqthing could happen. 1 imagined swings built in the shapes of crescent moons, lotus blossonis, suns and stars, that people could swing on and fly off into a thick, cloud-like blown-up massive air cushion. We all imagined a place that would truly represent the people of the Downtown Eastside. thc rcsourcehlness. the creativity, the culture, the resilience. and the spirit, that is so abundant in our village where e\~erybodyknows your name. Ideas, inspirations, and dreams don't always blend well \kith business. although they should, and 2 W.
Hastings did not become a reality. But there would '7 be yet another buildmg with a better address very close by. The Portland Hotel Society, who understood the vision, and have been willing to take the risks to make sure it happened, have made sure, and nladc real, the place where the ideas, the thousands of great ideas can happen. In December of 2000 a lease \vas signed for 1 East Hastings for the next 10 years. and on March the 9' the Province of British Columbia and Jenny Kwan announced heir support with operating money over the next 2 years for The Interurban. So we arc on our way! The first stage of The Interurban will be an Art Gallery /Shop and production space. The Inkrurban means connecting communities, and that is exactly what we are going to do: Connect withtn our c o n m unity, and connect to outside communities, and stand proidly and firmly in our role as the pulse of the c ~ t y There is no greater neighbourhood, no stronger neighbourhood, no place with more culture and creativity in this town than the Downtown Eastside Over the next few months, we will be worhng on how this place is going to run, and how it will work eK~ciently.organic all^^. and strongly within this community. Support, commitment, and faith is needed and desired. So please give us a call if you're interested at 719-7346. Ask for Sharon, Fred, Dan, Ruth or Hennes.
A WORLD O F WORDS We work with words Buckets of words Barrels of words Encq clopedias full of words We pull words out of computers We drain each other for the right words We work with words Always putting them down Choosing what we can out of Tonnes and tomes of words Mountains of words A world of words Dora Sanders
SUNRISE DENTAL CLINIC OPENS FOR BUSINESS Low-income people in the Downtown Eastsidc will now be able to get co~iiprehcnsivedental carc at the site of a once notorious pub. Jenny Kkvan, niinislcr of community dcvclopmcnt, coopcrati~csand voluntccrs, announced today. "We're advancing up to $1.17 million to thc Sunrisc Dcntal Clinic for the next three >cars to improve the dental health of low-income residents and to providc valuable training for dentistry students." said Kwan. MLA for Vancouver Mount-Pleasant and minister responsible for the Vancouver Agrccmcnt. "This pilot project is in the spirit ofthe Vancouver Agrcenient - a five year agreenient among the three levels of government to improve conditions in the Downtown Eastside," Kwan added. Dcntal services at the Sunrise Clinic will be provided by students from the University of B.C. faculty of dentistry, under the supervision of faculty members. The three-chair clinic is located on the ground floor of the Sunrise Hotel at 10 I East Hastings St. "This is a great opportunity to makc a dilTcrcnce in people's quality of life," said Dr. Ed Yen, dean of the faculty of dentistry. "It's also a chance for our students to get hands-on experience with a variety of dental care needs. We have learned from 32,000 patient visits to our UBC dcntal clinic and other outreach programs that experience is the bcst tcachcr for our students." The Sunrise Dental Clinic will providc comprchcnsive dental senices like cleaning, dcnture fittings, root canals, and rcconstn~ctivcsurgcp to improvc the ovcrall health and appcarancc of local residents. The clinic will supplenlent the basic dental care emergency treatment, fillings and extractions valued up to $250 cvcry year provided for adults receiving BC Bcncfits. Poor dental health has been linkcd to serious illrlcsses lihc heart disease arid strohc. A recent studj conducted by Dr. Walter Loesche at the Univcrsity of Michigan found that men with periodontal disease were four times more likely to have coronap disease or stroke than men without gum disease. Dental health is also important for pcople seeking work. especially in the hospitality industnr. "If you have even one chippcd front tooth. no
restaurant or cafc in town mill hire you.'. said local resident Andrew Sharpe. "Free, regular dental care will make it \va>.casier for people in .. this neighbour hood 10 find jobs and cscapc poverty. Thanks \vent to a scorc of pcople and quips about 'tooth cutraction during thc days of the Sunrise Pub' brought laughter. The Lowbrotvs provided music and Triagc had rcfrcshmcnts. Kudos to the Portland Hotcl Socict~,and thcir connections to govcniment support. Rcspcct is a t~vo-\vaything.
friends. I feel like the whole world hates me !
(NoirM Please ... Wait !!!
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The Learning Centre:
T H E SIMI1,ARITY
Evcn. Wcdncsday at 1 1 a n thcrc is a rcading circlc. 1 lave ?.ou seen the noticc but never read the book'? Come and do both in April! Wc'll do Stcphcn King's "Shawshanh Rcdcm~tion" and ivatch for niovic times, Look. listen and enjoy!!
The! sat. like bookends Bcsidc the back door In a sk?.train heading to town Each to opposite side She. white and tired He. Chincsc and tired They had thc sanie look Their e?.es revealed lack of sleep At just past the noon hour
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They sat like bookends Bcsidc the rcar door In the Jostlitig. huming train Deep in their own thoughts Each shon.ing their middle !.ears They wcrc simulations in thcir action Acting like kvins. starting alike He let out a huge ungmrded yaivn She didn't bother to coicr her large >awn. The!! 5 awned together and cndcd togethcr Dora Sanders
Street Program Expands! Thc Camcgic Strcct Program has rcntcd a space. the old Alibi Pizza located on 130 East Hastings. It is open to the pilblic fro111 10:30-5;30. Thc back is used for the "Living Footprints" Project and the front is a drop-in. The Drop-in . Wc have street program activities available insidc as well as schedulcd programs which include health workshops. basic life skills inforniation. social s e n lces connection. and a mini-street humanities course. Those under the influence can come into the centre, but using and dealing arcn't allowed insidc.
"Living Footprints"
The back space is being used to create 18 historical mosaic markers to be installed in the Doivntoin Eastside. A tour guide pamphlet Lvill also be created. Our focus is to recruit and hire local Strcct people. those with alcohol and drug dependency. and those who don't have access to any other programs or facilities. These pcoplc will be hircd to work collaborativcly with the stan'and artists in creating the 18 mosaic niarkcrs.
Funding for thc prograni has been prov~dcdb! Western Diversification. Canada. The Corner
The street program continucs \%orkingon thc corncr as usual. cxccpt expanding our hours from I0 3oatn -S:30pm. The prograni will continuc 11sregular schcdulcd activitics with the addition of cornmcncing the crcation of community banncrs. Thesc banners \vill be created again b!. local strcct pcoplc In collaboration \\ith the stanand artists and \viII be installed on lamp-posts complcrr~cntingthc h~stor~cal tour. The Camcgie Street Program has made dccp connections with thc strcet population It prov~dcsfirstaid. information and referral, drug-use cducation, recreation and cultural programming and literacy cducation. A recent surve?. of the strcct popidallon revealed that thc majority dcsirc cducation. cnlplo! ment and volunteer opportunities in ordcr to managc their lives effectively. and to contribute to thc comniuniQ.. For more information: Sandy MacKeigan (6653317) and Bob Moss (841-2501 )
Gap Between Rich And Poor Expands The latest wealth study from Statistics Canada is convincing evidence that economic growth docs not automatically help poor people. Even though the amount of personal wealth in Canada grew by 1 1 per cent to about $2.5 trillion (net) in the last 15 years, the poorest 20 per cent of Canadians lost $600 in assets. Meanwhile, the richest 20 per cent increased their net worth by 39 per cent, or about $1 12,300. This information is contained in a new Statistics Canada report called a "Sunrey Of Financial Security', released on March 15. The study also shows that the poorest half of Canadians have only 6 per cent of the personal wealth in the nation, while the richest half have 94 per cent. This is virtually unchanged since 1984 in spite of the 1 1 per cent increase in overall wealth. Other findings of the study include: * The richest 10 per cent of families have a median net worth (as many above as below) of $703,500. The poorest 10 per cent are in debt by about $2,100. * The average amount of student loan debt increased by over 6 times since 1984. The median student loan debt rose from $3,400 to $7,300. * The 10 per cent of families with the highest net worth hold 53 per cent of all personal wealth compared to 5 1 per cent in 1984. If we ever elected a government that really wanted to deal with the obscene wealth gap, it would have to change laws about welfare, minimum wage, housing affordability and speculation, student loans, interest rates, and RRSP rules that benefit the middle class and rich the most, and don't help poor people at all.
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.Homelessness is beginning to mean not even having a street to sleep in.
PROFIT DOES NOT MAKE COMMUNITIES PEOPLE DO
Where do they want the poor to go?
While the study shows a huge and growing gap between the rich and poor, the real gap is probably much larger because the study is biased in a number of ways. For example, it probably doesn't include the richest families in Canada, like Ken Thomson who is worth about 20 billion. Also, the study excludes some of the very poorest people in Canada: people living on Aboriginal reserves,...people in Jail, and residents of hospitals and nursing homes. To see a copy of the study, you can go to www.statcan.ca on the Internet. By JEAN SWANSON The Long Haul, April 200 1
children of the moon (for the molested children of the world) a vision of you with perpetual smile (like mona lisa) basking in warmth of your glow in the torment of darkness
CHAOTICA March 30 - April 23 @ Gallery Gachet 88 E. Cordova St. Vancouver
featuring the works of Jadea Cooke, David McMullen, and Bruce Ray
The only true order to the Universe is disorder. What we call organized nature is actually ultimate disorder.
D.A.M.S. 167 West Pender Women's Yoga Group - free weekly gentle Every Monday: 1-2:30
Creating Community: Moving from Isolation to Connection A weekly gathering of women exploring this theme through art. Eight Tuesdays, May 15 to July 2, 12:30-3
Alcohol & Drug Harm Reduction Support Groul for Women Every Wednesday: l2:3O-3
For more information Call Donna, Kathleen or Katrina at 687-5454
they tread on you probed you tried to possess you leaving damnable scars on whitelgold of your innocence i walked through a gravqard needing the stillness we wanted to die no one believed us looked to the moon saw a tear of compassion and you then reached us reflected our sadness comforting us in our grief and our madness your phases our changes fragmented we soared to the heavens placed ourselves in your presence we are your constant committed to mending your broken heart
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O ~ ~ b ~ l O WSTD E l CLINIC 219 Main; Monday F~lday,10 a.m. 6 p.m. EASTSIDE NEEDLE EXCHANGE 221 Main; 8:30 a.m. 8 p.m. every d YOUTH NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN 3 Routes Cily 5:45 p.m. 11:45 p.m. ACTIVIT~ES Overnight 12:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. SOCIETY
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Downtown Eastslde 5:30 p.m. 1:30 a.m.
2001 DONATIONS Libby D.-$69 S;lm K.-$30 Nancy W.-$4 Eve E . 4 4 k l a r p r c t D.-$30 Shyamala G.-$2 Joy I'.-$I4 Val A.$20 Wm B-$4 Harold D.-$7 Pam-$(, Mary C-$30 Rolf A,-$75 Bruce J.-$34 Peggy -$45 Kettle -$2 Sonya S.-$120 BCTF-$9 Nancy H.-$19 Bill (3.-$130 Wcs K.-$14 DEYAS-$1 50 Raycam-$ LSS-S Wisconsin Historical Society -$ Heather S.-$2 John S-$34 Paddy -$OO Rockineyuvs . -530 Anonymous -5 103 The Edge -$NO c...
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V ~ 277 A M~.Z?IP
IHE NEWSLEIIER IS A P U B L I C A I I f f l O f 1)iE CARNEGIE COWIUJlIr C E N l R E ASSOCUIIO~(
k k r rcpcarrd Ou WM md d 01 h a Associ.)on.
ol c o n h b u a s
I 2;u bmission Deadline
A Complaint to Translink
1 wish to complain about the attitude of a c i h bus dnvcr \vho drove #50 at about 5.15 pm last Friday March 16th. I am a strong supporter of public transit and t h ~ si the first time I have had to write. I live in Fnlsc Creek area and at the moment am working in DTE' at a community centre. Last Friday 1 was standing rain at stop at Columbia between Pender & Hastir11 when I saw the bus was in centre lane I wa\ed ( I was also laden with groceries). He pulled up in middle lane and instead of apologizing he brusquel said "I personally never pull up at this stop there i! nothing but a bunch of dope fiends dow-n here" I pointed out that the stop did say 50. I'm ven. reluctant to ~ T l t cthis letter as I too am 2 public servant but then 1 feel I should respond. 0th dnvers sometimes almost miss but are al\va?.s extemely polite and explain that customers are rarely this stop so I can understand. . I know that those w promote Vancouver as a First Class City and arc responsible for transportation would want all of thc citizens to feel they have a right to the public trans we all pay for through our taxes. and RESPECT. even those of us who may have addictions of one type or another. I trust you will ensure that drivers are reminded tE they can't choose not to stop at an assigned bus stc
UrbanLegends What happens to Urban Legends found Individuals reaching some higher ground Never giving up on the Canadian dream In life thq- are the ones who are the cream To them their gold found in the mountains Are the ideas and poems filling their brains Tradii-g with the mad Mexican the pack sack And leaving EARTH with another big whack Their lives always so naked to the public eye Exploding after Fire works are over in the sky Thc monkey and the hat while losing the pants And their only firends seem to be the plants Burning like the old dead yellow cedar trees Long and hot at night eating up the centuries. Daniel Rajala
'Thank You.
M a n Ann Cantill1
Dear M a p , Thank you for t h i n g the time to write in your concerns regarding the operator on the 5 0 line on March 16. From the information you provided I ui able to identify the operator and n 1 I 1 hake a discussion with him regarding this incident. We expect all of our operators to scr\ice all stops regardless of their location. I'm sorry ?,ou were treated in this manner and will take steps to ensurc that nobodq else will suffcr a similar indignity If you wish to contact me to further discuss this incident please call me at 264 5429. Scott McTavish Opcmtions Supervisor
Co-dependent No More Love 1 searched for love In many races Thinking, culture change Would find me love Smiling-pleasing-cooking and cleaning NEVER BROUGHT ME LOVE
1 tried, j,cs, 1 tricd To be what they wanted Never understanding Why it was never enough
One Day or Night I'm not sure when I stopped. No More. No Way. Not Me.
I moved on and love found me when I wasn't looking Sheila Baxter
MIRACLES OFF THE STREET At Easter, miracles are not confined to the theology of the church. One example... A man is written off, crucified by indifference, his own failures, bad luck, misfortune, addiction, sickness, given up for lost... Suddenly, through blessed intervention,(call it love, knowledge, faith, 'a helping hand') this man is resurrected, and by God now alive and up on his feet, fighting his demons, healing his wounds.. You distrust this miracle?..ok.. but please, and along with me, just look inward for one brief breathless moment. Sam Roddan.
cops, kids, community The Neighbourhood Safety Office (NSO) has been at 12 E.Hastings for about 6 years. There have been articles over the years on the work of keeping up with issues of child and youth in thc community. and most recently on the interaction with the police. There is an advisory committee, actively involved in steering stuff through the m a z of government bureaucracy. hnding sources and vested interests. Players include the Provincial Prostitution Unit, the National Centre for the Prevention of Crime, and Vancouver Policc doing thcir things with ongoing scrutiny over thcir records with Section 2 12(4) of the Criminal Code. This makes it a crime to knowingly engage the sexual services of a child.
Thc lid was jarred loose recently when a 12 or 13 year-old girl was put on the street by three oldcr youths who had brought her from Washington. The media squeaked in a short sound byte from a Youth Worker, saying that child prostitution is a major industry with kiddie strolls and hundreds of kids being sexually exploited by adults every day. The unmentioned shame is that maybe I 0 charges get laid ovcr the course of a year when the crime gets committed that many times an hour everq night. There was an article a few months ago about an
application for funding to NCPC. Reps from thc NSO, Kay-Cam, Watari, SFU and SOS had been developing a ChildRouth Protection Strategy to involve community members in identifying and reporting sexual predators, adults buying kids, and holding training workshops on what's legal, ivhat's necessary, what "you" can do. It gets enthusiastic support, the idea gets purloined by someone from the PPU and is an instant program to justify furthcr funding for the PPU.. . and after doing all thc work the NSO gets turned down by NCPC - or rather by Wendy Taylor. There is a meeting ncxt week to gct this back on track. DEYAS - the Youth Activities Society - is an intcgral part of the network. The Needle Exchange is one of the largest and most health-orientcd in thc world, the Health Van is crucial to street people, there is the Youth Detox and halfway house. and thc Youth Action Coalition for spacc. meals, outtrips and connections for youth under 25. SOS ~vorkswith the Latin American and immigrant communitics; Watari is family and peer counselling, drug&alcohol outreach. DERA. the Portland Hotcl Societ>,. Tradeworks. Carnegie... okay, >.ouget thc idea. All the above was a backdrop for the most recent issue over the Vancouver Police tving to .take ovcr' and make the NSO into a Community Policc Office. A meeting with Ken Doern and another officcr finallj. got our point across that the NSO is not and never has bccn what thc policc had in mind And it wasn't about to change things just to fit into a uniform or model from somewhere clsc. This led to the Advisory Committee mceting with two scnior ofiiccrs. two beat cops and Dave Dixon (who is a constable but escapes regularly) and talking about the work in the Downtown Eastsidc. The "work" - Hard-Targeting of kids i\ho fall through cracks in Social Services. ~ v h oarc rcpeatcdly coming to the DE and at the most risk of getting addicted, used as drug mules by dcalcrs. put out for sexual exploitation or all of the above. Dctox is v e v limited, with 33 kids being turned away for cw-y one who gets in (and it's only a spacc issue.. the numbcr of beds available). - Community Alert Teams and the involvcmcnt of residents, parents, neighbourhood mcrchants. adult
sex trade workers, all wanting to do what's necessaprostitution. - Safe Havens is to involve open stores, con~tnunit~. facilities, drop-ins and others who will provide temporary safety to an;\.one in a potentially violent situation. - the Health van provides first-aid, some treatments and massive referrals to appropriate services. Relative assistance is provided with Bad Date shcca, discouraging dealers targeting people congregating for exchange and safety concerns. There is much more. with the adults and police equally concerned over safety, racism, conunercial establishments being used as blatant fronts for dealing narcotics. the involven~ent(forced* or not) of kids by dealers and pimps and how to treat them. I *Since the federal government imposed a $950 head tax on immigrants. low-income people must borrow the money to pay. This has led to the lenders forcing children of these people to prostitute themselves and cany drugs as the only way to forestall the violence they threaten to coerce inm~ediate repayment. j I),to stop child
It was a productive exchange of ideas and info on practices that both the police and agencies use in the community. Arrest is one option; it is not a solution. The cops learned of regular meetings near or in Oppenheinier Park around immigrant issues and hope to connect; there was enthusiasm for an InService Day in which people from the many agencies and groups working on safety, youth, treatment and alternatives can meet with as many cops and prosecutors as possible to get both sides talking and avoid the inevitable mistakes. Part of the talk of course focused on the appeals being made to the Development Permit Board's unanimous approval of the 5-prong initiative re drug treatment and crucial seniccs. The police get both sides, and have been caught out seemingly dancing to the moneyed interests. People on the Advisory Committee aired concerns over the 'done-deal' approach of both the original Resource Centre and specifics on the 5 projects. Most have to do with the operational aspects of each, and the lack of meaningful input either acknowledged or even solicited. The experience of people at the table would be cxtremel~~ helpful in designing the day-to-day operations of the pro.jects. but the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board seems to be emboldened by control of purse strings and hasn't bothered to ask. It is alnlost a recipe for failure.. . but maybe the first point is a simple recognition that this is not a blank slate. There are drug & alcohol services being offered in the comn~unityand elsewhere; there are several agencies, named above but b!, no nleans exhaustively, that have expertise and experience that is invaluable to these initiatives. Right now it seems to be the so-called Community Alliance and SAMS and the gasbags and a just-created Strathcona Safety Society and the Dick,Janc&Spot association are the righteous "over my dead body" types..the supporters of harm reduction are just right.. . and in between are a large number of people \she want these initiatives to work and not fall flat due to ignorant planning. Get info on the Board of Variance (the first batch appealed, of course, on the last day... ) and kvhat happens next in the CCAP insert. By PAULR TAYLOR