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David Eby is the new Minister Responsible for Housing
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His years of legal advocacy at Pivot Legal Society to protect the human rights and dignity of homeless and under-housed residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside were recognized in 2011 by the UN Association in Canada and the B.C. Human Rights Coalition with their annual award. David is the author of several books and articles on legal rights. His handbook on arrest rights is now in its third printing, with more than 10,000 copies in circulation David Eby went on to be Executive Director of the BC Civil Liberties Association and, after being elected as an MLA, was most recently the Attorney General. Cautious optimism .
VTU statement on the appointment of David Eby as Minister Responsible for Housing November 26, 2020 Today, Premier John Horgan has appointed David Eby to the position of Minister Responsible for Housing. The policies of the previous year - in particular the lifting of the eviction ban and the failure to cancel rent debt during a global pandemic and economic depression - have put in jeopardy the lives and savings of renters in the province. The current situation for renters shows 15% of rental households across the province having accrued some amount of rent debt which is fueling an eviction crisis, and the demovictions and renovictions of the housing crisis are continuing full steam ahead. This appointment takes place one day after BC Federation of Labour, representing over 500,000 unionized workers across the province, voted to endorse the de- . mands of Vancouver Tenants Union's #NoRentDebt campaign to extend the eviction ban until the end of the pandemic and cancel rent debt. "We applaud the Premier for choosing a progressive voice and congratulate David Eby," said VTU spokesperson Mazdak Gharibnavaz. "However, John Horgan also stated that no one would lose their home due to COVID-19. Yet we're facing the prospect of an eviction crisis, with approximately 90,000 households -- twice as many households than the city of Victoria -- having accrued rent debt. Many of these households have been evicted or are at high risk of eviction due to the rent hikes that have been enforced by the government under its sanctioned repayment plan." A newly published paper examining U.S. cities suggests that evictions are likely to increase COVID-19 infection rates, and VTU's renter survey at NoRentDebt.ca makes clear the dire financial straits of renters in BC. "In the face of aa explosion of new infections, we're hopeful Minister Eby will demonstrate that the health and financial well-being of renters matters to him by taking immediate action to U-Turn on government policies," continued Gharibnavaz. "Thousands of renters and over 500,000 unionized workers have called for the immediate reinstatement of the eviction ban and cancellation ofrent debt. And the government must work with renters and their allies to finaIIy address the housing crisis, which is a crisis for renters, not landlords."
HEARTBREAK
She holds me in this tightest embrace feels like my entire body's caught in hangman's noose jerked awake her body twitching and tweaking as crack cocaine abandons her veins slamming doors as it goes after she's puked on my floor down sick again Clings me like life depends on ... like I'm the last connection to earth and life with some kind of desperate love predicated on need for thirty bucks to once again despite weak contradictory desire feed the raging monkey tame morning's insanity And pathetically I insite her in again and again and again and again whenever she seeks shelter for a day or three hoping one day for a change and because body beauty reigns beyond the tragedy of partially lost humanity for both of us Hers to pet monkeys Mine to fear of real intimacy Gilles Cyrenne 2nd Prize Poetry Sandy Cameron Memorial Writing Contest
Welcoming Back, FARM A cannabis industry update for the DTES community by Ashley Kizlyk There aren't enough words to acknowledge the strains of2020 ... so let's just talk weed shall we? FARM Cannabis is reopening! For a recap, in August 2019 our parent company in Victoria was raided after deciding to continue providing low barrier access to cannabis, despite not having yet received our provincial license. These raids put customers and staff at too much risk, and all of our stores had to close. Now, about a year and a halflater, we are officially receiving our license and preparing to reopen before the end of this year! Now a lot has changed, so let's start with some updates: We are now required to purchase all cannabis through the BC LCRB. Though products and producers have expanded to include edibles, concentrates, and craft growers, there are still notable differences in what was and what is now. Prices will be different. It is illegal to sell products for lower than their wholesale price, which unfortunately has led to price increases of legal product at all licensed dispensaries. There are a slew of new rules, around what we can and can't do in the shop, ID practices, purchase limits, and more. As for some good news, you'll recognize many faces! One of our first orders of business for reopening was bringing back the compassionate, capable, and dynamic team that we had formerly. We are still a community space. This means that this neighbourhood that we are in still guides as many of our decisions as we can make outside of the government's fixed rules. We will continue to do our best to offer a safe space, a place of warmth and inclusion, where stigmas and judgement are left at the door. However, we are not ignorant to the gaps that nation-wide legalization has left for various people. The medical branch is wrought with barriers for low-income or otherwise marginalized groups. The business end is stuffed with predominantly white, male suits. Then there's the retail, "recreational" end ofthings. Prices are sometimes too high, products don't take into account those who are self-medicating or using cannabis as a harm reduction tool, and rules for managing a store front are borderline-Machiavellian. Overall, the increasing commercialization running through this industry, is, like so many others, trying to put money before people. This is where we see people split into two camps. Those who work within the system, and those who say, screw the system. As a business aiming to employ staff with a stable source of income, FARM is part of the former. We will offer an inclusive space, accurate insight on the industry, as low-cost products as we can find, and warm service. We will do what we can within our confines. Those within the latter camp will carry on the torch of revolution to make cannabis even more accessible- honouring the plant-for what she deserves. The High Hopes Society and Serious Hope Society (aka the Cannabis Substitution Project), are just two groups working outside of regulations in order to serve the people. Various Indigenous groups have rallied together to push the government for a framework that offers the rightful autonomy of these groups to manage the production and sales of cannabis on their land. Various other dispensaries, both online and store front, exist unlicensed, risking charges and raids, but with the goal of continuing to offer something that the legal market hasn't carved out yet. All in all, this industry is very much a work in progress. We are optimistic and supportive of all evolution within the cannabis realm. We hope to see some very big wins in the near future that will benefit the people of the Downtown Eastside. In the meantime, go easy on our team. They've missed you and they're handcuffed to many rules they may not personally agree with. But the bottom line is: we're back! We don't have a firm open date yet, but keep an eye out for us around the end of December. We can't wait to welcome you back in our space.
UPDATE ABOUT COVID-19 4
Carnegie Centre, Evelyne Sailer Centre, and The Gathering Place are expanding services and programs at the community centres. While we are looking forward to welcoming you back into the centres, it is important to know that the community centres will look and feel very different than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is still very important that you:
Here are some important things to know:
• Stay at least 2 metres apart from other people
• Everyone must wear a mask when visiting a City of Vancouver facility. Masks will be given to any patrons that needs one.
• Do not meet in large groups
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds on a regular basis • Stay home or connect with a health care provider if you are sick • Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
We are looking forward to seeing you again and welcoming you back into the Centres.
• Food service will move back to Centre cafeterias. • Food will be available to go, with dine-in options added. • A la carte menus and pricing will resume at Carnegi'e Centre and The Gathering Place. .•
Speak with a staff person on site or visit vancouver.ca/covid19 for more information.
• Building capacities will be monitored and enforced by staff. • Some spaces in the Centres will remain closed to the public. • Limited programming will be available. Check with each Centre for more information.
Carnegie Centre, Evelyne Sailer Centre and The Gathering Place continue to be here for you. See reverse for the services we are currently providing.
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COMMUNITY CENTRE SERVICES
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VANCOUVER
I Arts. Culture and Community Services
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Location.
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Phone Number 1604-665-2220
604-665-2391
604-665-3075
Everyday: 9am-8pm
Weekdays: 9 am -11pm Weekends: 10 am-10 pm
9 am-11am($2)
10am - 12noon ($2)
Lunch 112noon-4 pm ($2.75)
12noon - 2:30 pm ($2)
11am-3pm($2)
Dinner 15 pm-8pm ($3.50)
5 pm-7pm($2)
3 pm-5:50pm($2)
Everyday: Hours of Operation I 9 am -11am, 12noon - 4 pm, 5 pm-9 pm Breakfast 19 am -11am ($2.25)
Daily drop off: Free Laundry I not available
Free Showers 1not available Drop in Space I 9 am -11am,12noon -4 pm & 5 pm- 9 pm
Other Services Available
Public Washrooms. Community Notice Board, Mail Services. Carnegie Branch VPL services. Learning Centre support. Programming (limited)
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9 am-lO am, 12noon-1 pm & 3 pm-4 pm Daily sign' up: ., 9 am-5:30 pm 9 am-2:30pm & 3:30 pm - 7:45 pm Public Washrooms, Programming (limited)
Mon - Fri drop off: 9 am-2 pm (oruntilfull) Daily between: 10:15am - 6:30 (by appointment) 9:00 am -10:45 pm Public Washrooms
RE-OPENED HOURS Tues/Thurs: 1:00 - 1:45 PM and 2:15 - 3:00 PM • Please come 15 minutes early to check in with staff • Computers are first-come-first-serve • Computer access only, no advanced tech help or computer workshops • Face masks will be provided • For our virtual programs please go to our website at: https://Iearningexchange.ubc.calcommunity-basedprograms!event-calendar!
We look forward to seeing you again!
BOIL WATER ADVISORY Today at the Evelyn Sailer Centre, where they offer two dollar meals and where many homeless go, they are forbidding people to drink the water. Some people are water-logged because they've been sleeping out in the rain, their shopping carts parked outside like ships in drydock. One man goes to the end of the line with two coffee mugs and takes water from the dispenser. "Hey, stop that," yells the security guy beside the cashier, "that water isn't safe for you to drink." "Hey man, all I'm doin' is grabbing some water," explains the customer, looking a little high. "What's your problem?" "Hey, we care about your safety. That's why we're telling you that you can't drink the water." "Screw you," replies the man, as he stumbles to his table. Extra security is called, and very quickly the bedraggled man gets chased by three beefy guys. One large guy yells in a big, booming voice, "I'm talking to you. Quit drinking the water or get out." Now, in Vancouver at the moment, no one is allowed to drink the City water. People in SRO hotels and rooming houses are stuck with no water to wash in and no water to drink. Even though it's pouring rain and has been for days, there's no drinking water. And the ocean is just a few blocks away. All that water, and nothing to drink. "Get away from me," shrugs the man with the security guards tailfng him like flies. "Jesus Christ, enough, " he screams softly, as he leaves out the door, dressed 'in rain pants and a shirt, out onto the rain -drenched street. Good thing those workers cared so much about that homeless man. Phoenix Winter
3rd Prize Sandy Cameron Memorial Writing Contest
CARNEGIE IS CHANGING: • Entry and exit from the building will continue to be from the patio. • Take-out meal service will be moved from the patio, back to the 2nd floor Cafeteria. Check out our expanded menu and updated pricing! • Free coffee with AI & the Oppenheimer Park team will now be available in the community only (no patio service). • The Theatre drop-in space will be closed. Other spaces to rest, use the Wi-Fi etc. will be available on the main floor. • Library services will now be available from the Carnegie branch with a limited capacity. • The lane level and 3rd floor will remain closed to the public. • The building will be closed from 11 am-12 pm and 4-5 pm for cleaning.
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