NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
(604) 665-2289
There is no February 15, 201 2 edition of the Newsletter. The Carnegie Newsletter has been published twice a month (with rare exceptions), 23 times a year since August 15, 1986. That's 25 12 years. Its little sister publication, Help in the Downtown
Eastside, has come out twice a year since 1991 , with money to pay for printing that raised separately every year for those 21 years. The Carnegie Newsletter started with 12 pages in 60 copies, the first issue being run off on an old photocopier at Carnegie Community Centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. It had been typed up and laid out in a basement storage room, converted to an "office." The seed of a kernel of an idea was planted, small yet untested against the storms of the time. The first attempts to stifle, then kill the fledgling paper came from the 1-person majority on the Board of Directors in the community centre. We were fearless, exposing unwelcome manipulations by this group of eight people, yet they were a microcosm of such spiderweb-like disdain and greed found everywhere. The connections a few had to like-minded politicians on City Council were also brought to light and exposure of such "running sores" and their political machinations became the push behind coverage of how such were affecting life among the poor and marginalised people of our area. The years between then and now have seen the Carnegie Newsletter grow to 1200 copies per issue, and into a 16-28 page forum for our voices on matters of poverty, housing & homelessness, violence against women- the murders and still-missing status of over one hundred and twenty women, the drug trade, the sex trade, "free" trade, development & gentrification, the marginali sati on and stifled reactions/responses to the stereotyping of low-income residents, community events, cultural festivals, art, sporis and other aspects of living in and among all thi s stuff. Everything except the actual printing - writing articles, poetry, locally created graphic art, input, editing, layout, collation/stapling/folding and distribution is and has always been done by people volunteering. No one from the editor to someone taking dishes to the kitchen has ever received any money for their work.
The money to pay for printing the Newsletter has come, mostly at first then completely for the last several years, from funds raised through gaming - specifically the license the Carnegie Community Centre Association (CCCA) has to benefit from Bingo revenues and, over the last decade or so, casino revenues for charities. Since the backers of Gordon Campbell got him into government they have had their eyes and greed focused on the enormous amounts of money to be made through gambling. They - the Fraser Institute et al- told him to instruct his government to start laying claim to the 40% of gaming income that was then legally the charities. Restructuring of the Gaming Commission (GC) has been ongoing for over a decade, with each change in favour of limiting the amounts of money that actually go to the charities and how much the government just keeps. All organisations with licenses have to be more specific and now apply for funds , with the criteria and regulations narrowing eligibility to the point that many programs and funded services are axed. It seems that not a few of the things cut have political overtones .. [or maybe I'm just being paranoid(?!)]
For over two decades the Carnegie Newsletter has ' qualified' for gaming funds. It's sti ll remote and dark as to why but someone or something somewhere in the bowels of the GC caused the CCCA's application for the Newsletter funding to be rejected. The written reason points to their redefinition of the parameters and the conclusion that "The Carnegie Newsletter is not a P-R-0-G-R-A-M.'. Ok. The staff people here are appealing this decision, making a benign but (hopefully) convincing argument in favour of reversing or overturning it. On the plus side it may just require more detail s on the actual function and purpose of our paper; on the negative side it will only be a delay until 'someone/something/somewhere' says that Hell will freeze over first(! ?). Either way, it will take several months to go through whatever processes are in place to vet our appeal. Right now, and retroactive to January 1, 2012, gaming funds cannot be spent on the Carnegie Newsletter.
What to do? The CCCA has no extra money. Budgeting already must be limited in essential areas of need, like paying for Volw1teer tickets, contributing to neighbourhood events and spending on essential services for members. Donations are always welcome, while a percentage of each often goes to paying for postage to mail copies of each issue. Grants and one-time gifts are being sought, but there can be few strings attached.
The Carnegie Newsletter has always been and, with your financial assistance, will continue to
e an independent publication showcasing all manner of writing, poetry and art derived from our lives
nd struggles in this comer of the universe. Now we come to it: the cost for the Newsletter operation is $900 - $1000 a month. This
1cludes printing, office supplies and some postage; the cost of Volunteer tickets (each worth SOc at the
nd -floor
concession, two per hour, given for time and subm issions) is between $50 & $75 a month.
It cannot deteriorate into panhandling to pay for ' the next issue' : it' s been a solidly reliable
ublication for its entire existence, always coming out on time. The Carnegie Newsletter is a vital and
ecessary aspect of this community, and your help is really needed. Donations are tax-deductible and
:1n be accredited in print, if there ' s no objection. Make any cheques or money orders or ' who to' for
our carrier pigeon to The Carnegie Newsletter. As matters stand right now there will be an edition on March 1 and April 1 of just three sheets-
2 pages - each. If anyone reading this has ideas on how to secure annual funding, please call Paul aylor at 604-665-2289. This is just the beginning.
Respectfully submitted,
Vol~::::since ~~L+