August 15, 1998, carnegie newsletter by Carnegie Newsletter

NEWSLETTER

AUGUST

401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604) 665-2289

Downtown Eastside Residents Association We would like to invite you to join with us in celebrating our 25th Anniversary. In honour of this special occasion, we have organized a street fair. We are taking this opportunity to reflect on DERA's many successes, to thank all those who have worked and volunteered with DERA over the many years and to celebrate the richness and diversity of our home, the Downtown Eastside. Please join us for a celebration of local artist's display's, performances by local musicians and family-oriented fun on Saturday, August 29th, 1998. Centre Stage: Hastings and Columbia Street For more information and to RSVR please call Terry at 682 - 0931 or Fax: 669 - 5499

15,1998.

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DERA!S..'~S .& ..BIRTHDAI<t..."..'.

I.......... I .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . ..... ...... ..... ... . . . . .. . . ... . . . ... . .... . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. ... ... ... .. . .. . .. . .. .... .... ... .. . ..:..&..;...I. . . . ............................................................................................................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Early Years On August 29th, 1998, DERA will be hosting a large celebration to mark its 25th year in the Downtown Eastside. On April 18, 1973, the ten residents of the Dowr~townEastside who liad been hired for the People's Aid Progam, held their first public meeting to form a citi~ens'group. This was the beginning of the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association (DERA), although the organization was not registered as a non-profit society until August 29, 1973. The forty residents who gathered together on April 18. 1973. were detennined to act together as a citizens' organization "to bring about the changes necessary for irrlproving the life of our community." (Bruce Eriksen) Many conimitted people worked or volunteered with DERA over the years. Bruce Eriksen was DERA's first president, Libby Davies was treasurer, Jean Swanson was secretary, and Anna Wong was the Chinese Seniors' organizer. They were committed to justice in the Downtown Eastside, and they expected others to be as committed as they were. It was a bond that held them. and rnany other DERA workers. together, even when the organization had no money. Solidly behind them was the DERA nlealbership which included over 3000 Downtown Eastside residents before the 1970's were over. Nothing would have been accomplished without the support of the DERA membership. Winning the Carnegie Community Centre for the Downtown Eastside was one of DERA's many achievements. The struggle began in 1974, and continued until January 20. 1980. when the Carnegie Centre officially opened. DERA, along with other cotn~nunityorganizations in the Downtown Eastside, is living proof that this neighbourhood has a strong history and identity. The Downtown Eastside is not expendable and it is not skid road. In 1983, a civic award

Established on August 29, 1973.

presented by Mayor Harcourt declared that DERA had, in fact, helped to change the perception of part of Vancouver, fonnerly known as skid road, to the Downtown Eastside. "The people who live here. they call it the Downtown Eastside," Bruce Eriksen said. While Jim Green was manager at DERA in the 1 980's. this citizens' organization addressed the right to housing in the Downtown Eastside by building low income housing. For example, the DERA Housing Co-op was completed in 1985 and the Four Sisters Co-op was tinished in 1987. Today DERA continues to fight for the rights of Downtown Eastside residents, for low income housing, and for the respect that the City of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood deserves. May residents and fiiends come together to celebrate DERA's 25th birthday on August 29th. Congratulations.

sand^ Cameron

Moving Picture Plays - Smoke Signals

This is a first - plugging a movie in the Carnegie Newsletter - but it's well-deserved. It's playing at Fifth Avenue Cinemas on Burrard in Kitsilano and is worth seeing. The story is based on a book written by Sherman Alexie called The Lone Ranger and Tonto fistfight in heaven. The movie itself is a wide-open view of modem Native life; the ending is eternal. The Carnegie Reading Room has access to seven books by Sherman Alexie. With Smoke Signals as an example of the work, they should be well worth reading!

I VOLUN'L'EEK COMMI'I"1'EEMEETING ( July's Volunteer Committee Meeting decided to move the meeting date to the Wednesday one week before the Volunteer Dinner; the start time remains at 2PM. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 9. See you there!

Just a c o u ~ l eof Questions. Why aren't hemorhoids also called atroids? I'd also like to know if you are still the Downtown Eastside Pope? Footsoldier I'm proud to be a patron of the Carnegie where membership only costs a buck. There's always carnage out on the comer and Shitty Hall sure knows how to suck. Dick Wad

End Legislated Poverty's

Vancouver 1 Fraser Valley Regional Organizer's Training School September 25,26,27 in Langley, BC Be a part of the movement of low-income people active wainst povertv and unemplovment. If you are new to the anti-poverty movement or a seasoned anti-poverty activist, End Legislated Poverty's thirteenth regional organizer's training school may be for you. Are you a person living on a low income who wants to: Connect your personal experiences of living in poverty with political action?

Talk with others about the causes of poverty & joblessness and who benefits from them? Discuss the power imbalances that exist in evexy area of our lives from corporate power over governments to our own working and persond relationships? Share ways to cope with homelessness, despair, anger and fear? Learn skills to help you with political organizing? To register or for further details call Terrie, Linda or Michelle at End Legislated Poverty (604) 879-1209 (collect) This training is free to low-income people.. meals, child care, accommodation and transportation included. The site is wheelchair accessihlr

One L o s t

Soul

I was lost, nowhere to go 1 found a light in the dark This must be the way So I wonder, on and on Soon I became happy All the pain left behind Now 1 see blue skies again It's life once more

I L-

1 was a lost and lonely soul But I found my way home With hearts that were there for me. Love blooms, like a bird spreading its wings Feeling happy now All the pain is gone...

Another back alley day ... Here we go again, Sick, hung over, feeling bl Needing another bottle to carry on.. What happened to the goo Somehow we find ourselves in a bottle of rice. We let our sorrow disappear, For now we enjoy each other' Bonding, laughing, feeling fi Living through another day. Oh, I am in need of a drink... My foot is killing me. Pass it on brothers, One sip, two sips, three sips. Oh dear! another one gone. Time for another one to c

we are killing ourselves in these streets where I am home and you are my family the very ground draws blood from the foreheads of fallen fathers from the feet of shoeless sisters and we are killing each other we are killing ourselves driven to feed our shame left exposed in pain the city shakes our cage then sits back watching the mayhem who we are here in this ghetto I am not my drugs my disease my sores my smelly clothes dirty skin my smash 'nd grab pursesnatch blowjob foodline 1 am a little prince the kingdom is invaded by stylish job-fed demons there can be no peace no ecstasy rising fiom scarred out depths the day leaves me disfigured i've not the spirit to disco rupert b.

( ...that's what liquour stores are for

My name is Margaret. I reside in Vancouver, Canada. I am involved in community issues in the Downtown Eastside and work with the following groups: Vancouver Native Health Society - here I am the president of the society DERA (Downtown Eastside Residents' Association) - vice-president Carnegie Community Centre Association member of the board and chair of the Community Relations Committee D.E. Local 133 - I'm the acting president of this group of community residents who have disabilities Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society - member of the board Most people recognise me as a community activist

- I try to help people with issues relating to disabil-

ities, in particular First Nations or Aboriginal persons. This has brought me into contact again and again with the misuse of Rice Wine in our community. This poison has been killing a lot of our people. It has a very high salt content and is up to 40% alcohol. Drinking it leads to loss of control over one's body, breakdown of basic bodily functions, dementia coma and death. A majority of people running corner stores and 24-hour stores sell this stuff to make a profit off alcoholics. It is generally kept by the case in the back rooms and is sold for between $1.39 and $6.00 a bottle, depending on the time of month. Those who work with alcoholics see their 'clients' being sold this stuff every day and are in agreement about this product: it is poison and its sale in this way must be stopped.

The Mayor said, on his monthly TV special, that this is a ctrllural thing! It is not The AttorneyGeneral was asked about it and.he gave the same answer as the mayor. More people have died from drinking Rice Wine than have d ied from heroin overdows. Penple are being crippled and permanently damaged by drinking this stuff and these politicians are hiding behind their spuriol.is "cultura!"argument Their inaction results in disability and death for our people The TV's, newspapers and some radio stati~ns have reported on this but seem to sensationalise it with few calls for action. The cost in lives and the quality of life is horrible. Many people who have

lost a family member or friend to this poison have stopped me on the street and asked almost without hope what I can do. They feel that I am the only one hearing them. A few members of the DERA board have met with organizations which represent people selling rice wine or cooking wine. Their demands have been clear - the selling of rice wine & cooking wine will be stopped. The fight will not be over until we do put a stop to it. This Community cares about the people who are being abused by the store owners. To us it means stopping people who sell a highly addictive substance to addxts. This needs to STOP immediately. If you have a personal story to tell about yourself, or a family member or friend who has lost their life due to this poison, please send it to Margaret care of Carnegie Centre. I am seeking letters of support from individuals and organisations on this crucial issue. If you have access to a fax, send it to 606-2736 All of these support letters wiU be sent to Libby Davies (MP for Vancouver East), Jenny Kwan (MLA for Vancouver/Mt.Pleasant), the AttorneyGeneral, the Liquor Control Board, the Board of Trade, the Chinese Merchants Association, and Constable Dave Dickson.

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DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE WOMEN 12 -- N M l S

Break the Silence Against Violence!! Join us in a campaign to fight violence against women in the Downtown Eastside!! ' Workshops, Speak-outs, Events A three-day Women's Retreat Do you want to be involved? Call 682-3269 Mailbox #a319

Government Oh! What bullshit government is. It is the rich parasite sucking money from poor people. When will it end? The rich stick their misfits in our backyard; drug dealers use our children to sell drugs and sell themselves for and to the rich. We have no justice for our people. Now they're talking more cuts for the poor while the rich feast on tax breaks they get from the government. Are we all just pawns for the government to use as write-offs at the end of a fiscal year? We all suffer with the poverty that increases with cuts to social programs. When any restrictive adjustments happen it is the poor who are hurt. It's single parents and children whom the government chooses to hurt the most. It's so unfair. We are one more nation fighting for land rights; the government still treats our people like dirt. I say fuck you money-hungry leeches. Just look what you did to our country and its many nations. You, the rich and your government, bash us for being poor, squeezing the last ounce of pride from our bodies, sticking us in housing that can't afford repairs for anyone on welfare. It's enough to make you mad and crazy. Only the poor care. Marie Lands

The Calg -

"They'llget you forjaywalking,spittingonthesick walk,sleep& on the shwt. You can't even breathe anv more. " Toronto squeegee kid

War on s~urreyei%~" Federal Transport Minister David Collenette has joined the campaign to get rid of squeegee kids. "Theseparticular people constitute a hazard,"Cdlenette said yesterday of the controversial windshieldwashers working intersections in Canadakmajor cities Collenette, the minister responsible for federal issues in the Greater Toronto Area, plans to talk to his cabinet colleagues in Ottawa about making amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada "if that's what's required "It's something that I think has to be addressed," Collenette said

"War on Squeegees" - why not war on having too much? Collenette hopefully speaks from the heart when he says "it's something that I thmk has to be addressed." Freedom of work should rank right up there with freedom of religion. These are people with little money or possessions; will this be another war on poor people? I have seen these changes in Canada over the past 30 years: excessive policing, overregulation, loss of privacy and more oppression of low income people by the wealthy than ever before. Each country's standard of living defines poverty. When the federal Transport Minister looks at this issue 1 wonder if he'll be able to understand the level of poverty of people living in Canada. There are "squeegees" working in Vancouver; there also is a continued effort to rid the city of beggars, panhandlers and others who remind the wealthy that poor people do exist. Federal Members of Parliament make in excess of one hundred thousand dollars a year; they are not known for handling an individual citizen's problems. How do the poor have a voice in Ottawa? Mike Bohnert

Drugs, Health and Carnegie

At the meeting of the Board of Directors in July, there was discussion on the nature and mandate of Carnegie as a community centre. The focus was on drugs and drug users, given the daily scenario of an open-air drug market on the steps and sidewalk at both entrances. The direction taken was to hold a special meeting of the Board on Saturday afternoon, August 8, give it a name sane as the title of his attick, at~dopw it to tlie public to come and give input. There is an organization called VANDU - the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. They have regular meetings at the same time of day at the Foursquare Church across the street. They had had one meeting in Carnegie but it turned out that several, if not most of the people attending were barred from Cmegie. It was a cenhd issue, both with security personnel and security policies in the community centre, as many speakers identified themselves as members of VANDU. Work has been and is being done on establishing a resource centre for drug users, a place to go where one can fix safely, with showers, laundry, lockers, food service, health services, counselling, perhaps some advocacy... The idea is there and Health Canada and the provincial government have committed over a million dollars towards this as par2 of the "solution" to the drug use situation. In the meantime, Catnegie... The basic sights of people were talked about at the Saturday meeting, and some of it was Mom & apple pie stuff - Carnegie is the living room, the corner is like the backyard, evelyone needs access to a library, washrooms, food, gym activities, a

place to be safe, to just be. Of course everyone agreed. This, in the context of drug use & users, gets a certain spin on it. The tightness of security was repeatedly criticized, with the lack of expertise on the part of individual staff being the main problem in users' eyes. The absence of any Security personnel at the meeting was portrayed as evidence of complicity in this practiced unequal treahnent of users or suspected buyers or sellers of the drugs being peddled on the comer. In the eyes of non-users, the fiont door secmity thing is only one small aspect. Positive suggestions included having staff get some kind of training around drug use and effects and to have Carnegie's policies clearly written out and available to patrons. The need for strategies of hann reduction have to include counselling, safe rooms, needle exchange... the general idea was that Carnegie opt in to this. There was an attempt to dispel various myths - no one makes $10,000 a day outside peddling pills; the label of "scum" gets attached to virtually everyone who uses and it's a stereotype; the resource centre won't 'solve' anything but will be what it's name implies, and few people see Carnegie as solid gold in terms of one huge shooting gallery if users are allowed in while they're stoned. Most of the counter viewpoints weren't raised at the meeting - not so much intimidation as it was a forum for the users and for constructive criticism. Counter? Carnegie says no to anyone who's been drinking with "come back tomorrow" - the same is supposed to be applied to anyone who is stoned; if you've been caught using inside you're barred

until you talk to the head of security.. if you're caught dealing inside it can get serious. Once identified seems to translate into eternal damnation (according to people who've been refused entry or escorted out), but the counter arguments see some people as just trying to find a safe place to use or deal where cops won't get at them. Counter views took all people now inside Carnegie as the litmus test. but seemed to be nervous - 'what will happen to the volunteer program', the Learning Centre equipment has been stolen already, books from the Library get pawned; how will Security hction??? There is a long way to go, but it was a beginning of a discussion and exchange that has to happen. By PAULR TAYLOR f I

.2 I* .

++...

-1m

long low sink

Pigeon Housing Crisis Pigeon Raven Gull fly-by memorial to the living cage the outrage if you can take out 3 you can take out 4 Endangerment to all the rats and spiders Liberate This Space! Being brought down under anned guard Vote Hope! Elect Change! Pigeons eating seeds ..now just a Martian minute What happened to the hatchlings? Relocated. Taum

where ya gonna go... where ya gonha go sinking, I am sinking there's no-one to tell who's gonna kill my eyes? there is no love there's no one to tell a face only a mother could punch death here is not graceful it's mean and long drawn out kicking in your teeth blackening your eyes getting to the grave requires a lot of limping and i've one leg shorter than the other sat down at the soupline two hundred men strong matron sister of the sally-ann whippin' us into song when the song was over we all began to eat as sally-am sisters oiled our hair and tenderly bathed our feet rupert b.

Newsletter of the Carnegie

Community Action Project August 15,1998 Want to qet involved ! Call 689-0397 or come see us at Carneaie (2ndflr.1

For Your Mid-Summer Reading City of Vancover Reports for Public Discussion I'LL B E BACK iN SEPTEMBER, LET ME KNOW WUAT YOU TUiNK.

240 PACE5 WORTH

The c i t y r e l e a s e 6 r e u o r t s on t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d

Before going on to briefly review some of the other reports it would be useful put these dmling with community development in the Downtown Eastside. Totaling 240 pages, these Principals through the CCAP~ecoderand repoh cover a host of topics including drug see what we get. + issues, market housing and the future of the in the Community Housing Plan we residential hotels. Some of the reports, like the talked about the promotion of Eastside Housing Plan. you may have seen earlier Pride including a policy of NO NET LOSS to versions. the existing stock of low-income housing units. This is a much stronger statement of Compiled in a large binder, the introductory support towards maintaining the existing report Building a Common Future, by the low-income neighbourhood within the General Manager of Community Services, DowntownEastside. outlined the following principles that the Cily believes should provide general guidance to It also avoids any division between Downtown Eastside Actions and planning. "desirable" and "undesirable" lowincome residents, whic has been used to argue for a reductio$0the total low4 ' Housing for existin residents incomehousing stock.

Earv this month city staff released six reports

will be maintaine and upgraded; b Diversity of housing will be encouraged; b Adequate services for treatment of addiction must be provided;

'-4

term "treatment" needs to be broadly

b Legitimate commercial activity will be encouraged; We must be careful to ensure this principal is not the same as advocating Zero Tolerance b Criminal activity will not be measures or based on the Broken Windows tolerated; and, Ftheory. Both are moralistic, drift-net b The entire community will be approaches to crime prevention that encouraged to be part of the revitalizat~onof the area.

ultimately lead to the dispersion of lowincome residents. The anti-panhandlingbylaw is a good exampleof this approach. / we all just get along" . . . Maybe not. ) \\,("can't 1 Conflicting opinions on is best for the 1

Before Council went on their August break, they adopted these principals. So these are the principals which staff and Council will now refer to when asked, "what do you think all these reports will accomplish?"

own town Eastside is no excuse for Council not make decisions about this Community. Council routinely makes decisions affecting other neighbourhoods in the City even though there is not completeconsensus.

*encouragednis a concern if development guidelines are a market projection that guidelines. Diversity of housing also implys the City's intention to build small suites and micro suites. Self-contained units as small as 180 sq/ft. The Community Housing Plan was quite specific on the role of small suites in the Downtown Eastiside. Yes, but lets make sure that commercial activity includes the consumer needs of low-incomeresidents. <;econd report A

Program of Strategic Actions, which city staff believe can b6 implemented immediately, deals largely with the impacts of drug trade and the sociaVphysical conditions both at the street level and within the residential hotels. The plan is for the community to review this report by September 14, 1998, so that it can be considered by Council at the October 8'1 998, Planning and Environment meeting. Of interest to the Carnegie Center Association is a recommendation that Council approve funds for Carnegie to run outdoor street programming.An initiative that has been successful at Oppenhiemer Park. However, it is important that the benefits from this kind of programming are directed at improving street life for existing residents, not tourists during the summer months.

The three last reports deal with housing and land use plans for the Downtown Eastside, including Victory Square, Chinatown, Gastown and Strathcona. A critical point is that these reports are for discussion only. City Council remains unwilling to come to any decisions over community planning processes that have been going on for years. Another critical point: N O REPORT O N CREATING A HOTEL COWERSION CONTROL BY-LAW !.

One is expected in October, but the current language by the City is to call it a report on "Managing" the conversion and demolition of SRO hotels. We have entered the politics of semantics. The Downtown Eastside Housing Plan alone is 80 pages of data and recommendations.Most of the critical points within the plan were part of the Draft Housing Plan, released earlier this year.

Patk-up we're mov'in tart Although the housing plan reiterates the desire to maintain the existing number of low-income units throughout the Downtown Eastside, the report admits that it may prove difficult to achieve this within the Gastown and Chinatown areas. CCAP is left with a nervous feeling that the Downtown Eastside east of Main St. Is left with the responsibility of absorbing unwanted low-income housing from these two areas. A long and slow form of displacement. All the reports deserve a good read, it's obvious that a lot of work has gone into many of them. The city has schedule the following info meetings to go over these plans. (see next page)

(ity tytaff have organz ied the following pubc il n i formato in neetingr n i order to go over and anwer qunaionr relatedto al the repom.

Carnigie C a m Tuesday, August 1 8 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

The Classics at

Carnegie Hall A concert of music from the Vienness classical era (Mozart and Haydn) by HARMONIE WOODWIND ENSEMBLE

Chinese cuaural Gemre Tuesday, August 1 8 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Gastown Actors' Studio Wednesday, August 1 9 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

All Welcome

Return to Renter Help TRAC1s campaign to get securii deposits back to renters

Under the Volcano Festhral of Art & Social Change 5 stages, 70 performances

This Sunday, October 16th Cates Park, North Vancouver, Gates 1 lam

CCAP will have an info table throughout the day

Landlordsin BC routinely keep security deposits to which they're not entitled. Tenants are often forced to go through legal loops just to get back their own money and many times, landlords still refuse to return it. Let's put the $1 70 million of security deposits into a hst fund administeredby a third patiy,That way,tenants can have easier access to their own money, while landlords can still make legitimate claims againsta tenant's deposit.

for more into

TIW Q 255-3099

The Slave Ship In 1830, a famous English painter by the name of William Turner painted a large picture called "The Slave Ship" which now hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts ~ I Boston. I It is a picture o f a ship in a terrible stom, and the ship is in danger of sinking. To save themselves, the masters of the ship are throwing the cargo overbrjard, The cargo in this case happens to be human beings - black people brought from Afiica to work as slaves in America. You can see them bobbing around in the sea, abandoned to drown. Turner got the idea for his painting from a true story about a slave ship ravaged by plague. The captain ordered the sick and dying Africans to be thrown into the sea because he could claim insurance for them if they were lost at sea, but not if they died on his ship. When he painted this picture, Turner was not only making a statement about slavery. He was dso commenting on the relationship between the rich and poor of England in the nineteenth century. "The Slave Ship" was a powerll political, as well as artistic, creation. Turner's statement is as true today as it was in 1840. In these stormy "Scrooge-had-it-right" times of corporate mastery, governments and corporations are throwing human beings into the sea of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness so that those who have much can have even more. By SANDY CAMERON

MP Davies to Introduce Motion on Heroin Trials Libby Davies, Member of Parliament tbr Vancouver East, has announced a private member's motion calling on the federal government to immediately implement clinical, multi-centre prescription heroin trials. "The situation in the Downtown Eastside is critical," Davies said. "People are dying in the streets because we have failed to act. The mo~ion1 will be introducing when the House of Co~nruons resumes provides a rallying point for support of a medicalized approach to addiction." Davies is calling on Members of Parliament from all political parties to support this initiative. The purpose of the motion is to urge Health Canada and the federal government to treat the crisis in Vancouver as a medical emergency, rathe1 than as a criminal concern. Davies has been a long-time advocate for a more comprehensive, integrated harm reduction approach to addiction. This motion supports that conviction, as do many recent national and provincial reports from health experts. "Two hundred and twenty-five addicts have died already this year, and many estimate that another two hundred will perish before the year is over," Davies said. "These needless deaths are entirely preventable if the govemment chooses to act now, in co-operation with the provinces, to provide the proper medical and social support." "Heroin trials, and the appropriate and controlled medical care that will stem from those trials, are one step toward stemming this epidemic before more people are forced to pay with their lives." [For information, call (604) 775-5800]

The Second-class Outlaw

b QSt

A t 7:15 p.m., T i n a Wamsley l e f t h e r p l a c e o f employment o n t h e 2 0 t h f l o o r of t h e B e n t a l l b u i l d i n g and took an e l e v a t o r t o t h e parking a r e a t h r e e f l o o r s below g r o u n d l e v e l . She s t e p p e d o u t o f t h e e l e v a t o r a n d s p o t t e d h e r g r e e n honda i n t h e f a r corner. While s h e walked, Tina opened h e r p u r s e and f e l t around f o r t h e car k e y s . J u s t a s s h e r e a c h e d h e r car s h e h e a r d a growl from behind. She t u r n e d a n d saw a l a r g e man, whose p e n i s p r o t r u d e d from h i s zipper, r u s h i n g at her. T i n a screamed a t t h e t o p o f h e r l u n g s as t h e man g r a b b e d h e r n e c k a n d t r i e d t o f o r c e h e r down. Panic dissolved into terror. A planned p a t t e r n of s u r v i v a l s e n t T i n a ' s hand i n t o h e r p u r s e . She g r i p p e d t h e small c o n t a i n e r o f p e p p e r s p r a y , withdrew i t and p r e s s e d t h e t i p s o a f i n e stream of l i q u i d shot up i n t o t h e m a n ' s n o s t r i l s . He l e t g o o f T i n a ' s n e c k a n d wiped furiously a t h i s eyes. T i n a k e p t s p r a y i n g f o r some moments t h e n r a n toward a n e x i t door. A s e c u r i t y guard a r r i v e d and Tina f e l l i n t o h i s arms s o b b i n g b r e a t h less1y. The g u a r d r a d i o e d f o r t h e p o l i c e who a r r i v e d s h o r t l y . After separately questioning the l a r g e man, T i n a , a n d t h e s e c u r i t y guard, the police arrested Tina and charged h e r w i t h t h e unlawful p o s s e s s i o n and u s e o f a c o n c e a l e d weapon.

.....

I n c o u r t t h e l a r g e man s a i d h e was i n t h e p a r k i n g a r e a b e c a u s e h e r e a l l y had t o u r i n a t e b a d l y , a n d was, w i t h o u t a n y w a r n i n g , unmerci f u l l y a t t a c k e d by t h e c r a z y b i t c h . The s e c u r i t y g u a r d s a i d t h e woman seemed t o be t r y i n g t o f l e e t h e scene. T i n a was f i n e d $500. and o b t a i n e d a c r i m i n a l r e c o r d . The j u d g e l e c t u r e d h e r a b o u t o b e y i n g t h e laws o f t h e c o u n t r y t h a t were c r e a t e d f o r t h e sake of public s a f e t y . T i n a w a s s t i l l numb a s s h e l e f t t h e c o u r t h o u s e . She had been numb s i n c e h e r a r r e s t , a n d s h e wanted t o r e m a i n numb f o r a l o n g t i m e . She moved i n t o a c h e a p h o t e l n e a r h e r work and t o o k t a x i s a f t e r s e l l i n g t h e honda Her coworkers were supportive, b u t Tina k e p t withdrawing i n t o a p r o t e c t i v e s h e l l . A t home s h e s t u d i e d an atlas every night, searching f o r a p l a c e i n t h e w o r l d where s h e m i g h t go a n d be a l l o w e d t o f e e l safe

Y'Ihis article takes full

responsibility in )

being offered as mitigating evi*. August 6, 1998

Civil disobedience is u l t i m a t e l y necessary when g o v e r n m e n t s become s t o n e - d e a f t o t h e o u t c r y o f common c i t i z e n s a g a i n s t bad l a w s .

G.G.

words and Feelings I am an alcoholic and a drug addict and my name is Charlie Life has been hell for me and still is. 2 1 months ago my son, my beloved late Jason Kyle. was brutally murdered at the age of 18. My wo~ldhasn't been the same since. My only escape is to stay high on drugs and alcohol. I know all the tools to use for me to go clean again however I can't seem to get out of this world of heartbreak and loneliness. I have this enonnous guilt that my son would still be alive if I hadn't been using. There is always that "what iP" To me there are no such words as can't or try. .II'ST DO IT! Can I? Only time will tell.

Channaine Deschamps 4th of July weekend.

SllPPOR'I' FOR PARENTS f - PARENT SllPPORT CIRCLES

Very few parents have not at some time felt frustrated, overwhelmed, or even out of control

with the stress and demands of raising children. Isolated and without help, this can lead to excessive screaming, punishment or injuries to children. Often these situations can be alleviated with some fnendly support or a sensitive listener. Parent Support Circles are one resource available to parents during trying times. Parent Support Circles, confidential and anonymous niutual aid groups for patents, are facilitated

by carefilly selected, qualified and well-trained volunteers. Weekly Circle meetings focus on various issues, fiom current situations in parents lives to topics of interest to group members. Parents improve communication skills and learn about child development, in this way gaining new parenting skills. They benefit from problem solving with other parents and Circle facilitators, hear of resources available to them and build support networks. Many of the parents in the Circles don't have access to the kinds of informal support that many parents rely on. They find it a big relief to met someone else with the same concerns. Parents join Parent Support Circles for a variety of reasons. Some are dealing with problems such as family breakdown, alcohol dependency or poverty. Others simply feel stressed and isolated. "I felt so sick afterwards. She's only three. Thank God I didn't hit her, but I just felt so out of control. Will she grow up always remembering that look in my eye?" is how one parent described the incident that propelled her to join a Parent Support Circle. Volunteer facilitators are concerned and caring individuals whose role is to encourage the selfhelp process and take care of the Circle's organisational requirements. Volunteers are provided with training, as well as access to consultation with Parents in Crisis professional staff. Communitybased Steering Committees, consisting of individuals and representatives of family and child-sewing agencies, act as a resource for the facilitators and Circles. This helps to ensure that the program remains f m l y rooted in the community and responds to local needs. There are no waiting lists for Support Circles. New members can generally join a group the same week they call. Membership is voluntary and fiee of charge. Assistance is available to meet child care and transportation costs. Parents can attend for as long as they feel they want the support. If you are interested in attending or becoming a volunteer facilitator, call 604-669-1616.

DOWNTOWN STD CLINIC 219 Main; Monday Friday, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. EASTSIDE NEEDLE EXCHANGE 221 Main; 8:30 a.m. 8 p.m. every day YOUTH NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN 3 Routes City 5:45 p.m. 11:45 p.m. ACTIVITIES Overnight 12:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. SOCIETY Downtown Eastside 5:30 p.m. 1:30 a.m

n p,

& W

L i t ~ b y0 . - $ 5 0

Sam R.-$40 R i c k Y.-$45 Sharon 5 . - $ 3 0 BCCW - $ 2 5 Ray-Cam-$10 Harold 0 . - $ 2 0 Sonya s . - $ ~ o Vnncy 11.-$35 J e r ~ n l f e rM.-$15 Srenda l J . $ 1 0

Bill G.-$100 I Rolf A.-$25 Bruce 5 . - $ 1 4 BCTF - $ 1 2 S a b l t r a -$15 Susan S . - $ 7 Margaret D . - $ 2 0 DEYAS - $ ! s o PRIDE - $ 5 0 pam 0 .

THE NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of contributors and not of the Association.

for next issue Friday, August 28.

WHO'S THE BOSS NOW?

DESPECJ,4L MEMBERSHIP MEETJNG Place PENDERA - 133 W.Pender (main fl) Date. Saturday, 15 August 1998 Time: 1O:OO a.m. AGENDA

To d~scussand vote on the following motion passed by the Board of Directors on 28/7/98: THAT Dera approve the establishment of a Dera Real Estate Holding Company, a Dera Enterprise rompany and the expenditure of the required fees to set up these companies. This is a Dera Members Only meeting. Proof of membership is required.

So you think you're big eh? Well, I think the table has turned. I don't like squashed peas, strained carrots, flat fruit. How do you like that chair? How do you like a bib? And 1 don't like wet diapers. So, what are you gonna do? O.K. Let's get it together now: I'll be the baby, But you start treating me More like a better kid. Oh yeah, and I want an allowance. Not just those loose pennies, But twoonies or at least loonies, Well, you sit in the chair in the corner And think about what I said. And don't suck your thumb! Grace Edge

99 chickens and

ill have

loo

c,hicKens ! -

firebell

the firebell again middle of the night i'll get up if I smell smoke r.bear

City of Vancouver

Public Information Meetings on the Downtown Eastside Tuesday, August 18

12:30 p.m.

- Carnegie Centre, 401 Main Street Tuesday, August 18

7:00 p.m.

- Chinese Cultural Centre. 50 East Pender Wednesday, August 19

7:00 p.m.

- Gastown Actors' Studio, 138 E. Cordova

This is the anniversary issue of the Carnegie NewsIrtter The first one came out on August 15, 1986. It was 12 pages long and there were sixty copies made on an old xerox machine upstairs. Over the years it's been called a s c u m y , yellow rag and a g m , a jewel of the Downtown Eastside. It gets referred to with less polite terms than the fo~mer("rag") by people who continuously get caught with their feet in their mouth or their head up then o m ass and written ahout without all the nice hullshit you find in 'normal' press The odd decent comment and a few compliments

Six reports were released a couple of weeks ago on the future of the Downtown Eastside, including Gastown, Chinatown, Strathcona and the Victory Square area. Each report included proposals for strategies to improve conditions. 'l'he Into sheet fiom the City lists drug addiction, conditions on the streets, crime, SROs and condos as discussion topics at these meetings. Refreshments and Chinese translation are provided

now and then help with morale, but it'd probably Come out anyway Just to k e g the Pot b o i b ? . It's nice to hear that "it's the only thing I get that I read fiom cover to cover every time," from lots nf 1 0 d revolutionaries It's still and always has been done by volunteers - Writing, typing, editing, art & graphic contribution, poetty, cut&paste layout, collation/stapling/foldingand distribution. 'Awesome' is worn-out, especially when the pow& to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force, You can say "amazingnPAULR TAYLOR, Volunteer Editor.