May 1, 1992, carnegie newsletter

401 laair! SI..,

--Vancouver,

$ $ Walk

n.C.

(604)665-2209

1 -

on t h e Rich S S

Fair taxes for fair incomes

'

The f i r s t e v e r Walk on t h e Rich was sponsored by End Legislated Poverty, a c o a l i t i o n of 27 groups t h a t want governments t o end poverty. ELP wants t h e walk t o show t h a t governments a r e l e t t i n g c o r p o r a t i o n s o f f t h e hook o f s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . I f c o r p o r a t i o n s paid higher wages and more t a s e x , , t h e r e would be fewer poor people i n Canada.

People assembled a t C h r i s t Church Cathed r a l a t t h e corner of Georgia & Burrard t o s e e each o t h e r E s t a r t t h e walk. Planned were t h r e e s k i t s , each showing how r i c h c o r p o r a t i o n s E i n d i v i d u a l s g e t t o pay no income t a x e s , i n c e n t i v e s & loopholes t h a t no one e l s e has access t o . People were bedecked i n costumes with props and so on, + .I CL -1 -t -~-3- 3- -d g ~i Sn e a ~ hskii ware c ' n i i i LIE i n g l y focused..

UUL

.

#I. Mulroney t a k e s money from t h e poor t o -------p-----------------------------

give t o t h e r i c h . . a t Royal Centre ,own---------------ed by Trizec, which i s "the l a r g e s t p u b l i c l y held r e a l e s t a t e company i n North Am."l) T r i z e c l s p r o f i t s & d e f e r r e d income t a x e s f o r t h e y e a r s 1991 through 1988 a r e : (2) Yr. p r o f i t s Deferred Income Taxes '91 '90 '89 '88

62.1 49.4 112.2 101.2

M M M M

21.3 M 66.9 M 75.8 M 68.4 M

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Deferred income t a x e s a r e t a x e s t h a t a r e I not paid i n t h a t y e a r & may not ever be. *In '91 T r i z e c had $11.9 b i l l i o n i n a s s e t s .

The s k i t f o r t h i s s i t e was based on the3) t a x p a i d by a person who makes $45,000 a year, a person on "I, a minimum wage worke r a a domestic worker, E a person on GAIN. 1 , How many of each of t h e s e workers w i l l have t o pay t h e i r f u l l amount of t a x e s f o r a whole year j u s t t o make up f o r t h e $21.3 m i l l i o n t h a t Trizec d e f e r r e d i n l g g l ? (4)

/

Relation t o poverty l i n e

# of peaple r e q u i r e d pay o f f T r i z e c ' s $21.3 million i n 1 year 1,913

Type o f worker

Monthly wage

Yearly inc. taxes

teacher G-3;;-75) pET e r s o n-a on ;

$3,750

$11,136

1,500

2,709

-

2,036

7,863

953

1,039

-

8,596

20,500

620

228

-

7,342

93,421

--

--

min wage -------2 dep d o m e s t i c wkr -----------n o dep p--------e r s o n on welfare

--------

525

+$15,677

-

GST,PST,land8,490 l o r d ' s property t a x

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

Notice t h a t people who a r e working and s t r u g g l i n g , a s well a s l i v i n g i n d i r e pove r t y , a r e a l l being forced t o pay t a x e s , while Trizec, which had over $62 Million i n p r o f i t s 6 a s s e t s worth $11.9 b i l l i o n , got t o d e f e r $21.3 Million i n t a x e s . Can domestic workers d e f e r taxes? Can niinimum wage workers d e f e r t a x e s ? Can t e a c h e r s o r people on U I d e f e r taxes? The GST has t r a n s f e r r e d $4 b i l l i o n i n t a x e s from corpo r a t i o n s t o i n d i v i d u a l s l i k e people on w e l f a r e . ( 6 ) Who needs t h e money t h e most, T r i z e c o r t h e s e people?

#2. Tax S h e l t e r o r Bus S h e l t e r .

~fie-i;f;-~or-f~;;-;i;ifE;;i

the bus

s h e l t e r j u s t south of t h e A r t Gallery. I t s t a r t e d with t h e statement t h a t it i s oper s t e d by Transad v&ich, u n t i l F&rr;ary, was owned by Jimmy P a t t i s o n , BCf s own B i l l i o n a i r e . According t o t h e 1991 Report on Business, P a t t i s o n had a s s e t s worth $1.15 1 B i l l i o n . But e v i d e n t l y , a s "Media Man" Pam Fleming announced, t h i s i s n ' t enough f o r P a t t i s o n . In February he s o l d Transad and announced t h a t , because t a x e s & labour c o s t s i n BC were t o o high, he was going t o t h e USA t o make more money.

While P a t t i s o n has p l e n t y of money t o buy accomodation t o l i v e i n , t h e f e d e r a l g o v l t has j u s t used t h e d e f i c i t a s an excuse t o s l a s h housing programs f o r Canadians. In BC, 6100 u n i t s of low c o s t housing t h a t were planned have been scrapped by a f e d e r a l g o v l t t h a t r e f u s e s t o t a x people

who can a f f o r d t o pay, l i k e P a t t i s o n . 3*

1 I

-

m@@====

-WHERE THERE'S

NO EUSlNESS T W s .

N AND OR TME ~ PEOPLE G ~ L ~W~ OOWN S . N O U ~ ~ N NEXY TO NOTHING.!,,,

#3. Banks r o l l i n dough $ give crumbs t~ .................................... t-------h e poor.. . a t S c o t i a Bank.- A t t h i s s i t e t h e s k i t included a demonstration of t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of wealth i n Canada. The demonstration used a 100 f o o t l e n g t h of rope c u t i n f i v e pieces t o r e p r e s e n t t h e poorest f i f t h , second p o o r e s t f i f t h , midd l e income, second r i c h e s t f i f t h 4 r i c h e s t f i f t h of Canadians. Each f o o t r e p r e s ented 1 percent of a l l t h e wealth

.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of wealth i n Canada poorest 20% 2nd poorest 20% middle 20% 2nd r i c h e s t 20% r i c h e s t 20% r i c h e s t 10%

minus. 3% 2.4% 9.3% 19.8% 68.8% 51.3% (7)

C e c i l i a Diocson of t h e Vancouver S t a t u s of Women gave a s h o r t t a l k about t h e r o l e of banks i n t h e g l o b a l i z a t i o n of poverty.

The S c o t i a Bank, with $88.7 B i l l i o n i n a s s e t s i n 1991 and $663 m i l l i o n i n profi t s , f i t s i n t o t h e wealthy category. In t h e l a s t f o u r years t h i s bank has taken i n almost $2 B i l l i o n i n p r o f i t s . In addit i o n , i t s a s s e t s have increased by about $14 B i l l i o n . (8) In s p i t e of i t s f a t . c a t s t a t u s , t h e bank - a p t l y portrayed by Linda Marcotte & h e r half-mustache - brags i n i t s 1991 annual r e p o r t t h a t "our notion of s e r v i c e has always reached f a r beyond o u r o f f i c e doors. In 1991 S c o t i a Bank gave more than $4.1 Million t o " v e r 1,200 c h a r i t a b l e 4 non-profit o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e wor1d.V The $4.1 m i l l i o n r e p r e s e n t s a mere .6% of S c o t i a ' s p r o f i t s f o r 1991.

Notes 1) T r i z e c ' s 1991 Annual Repart, pg. 1 (2) Financial Post company card on Trizec a t Burrard S t . Library.

(3) Financial Post company card on T r i z e c a t Burrard S t . Library.

(4) Calculations by ELP based on S t a t s Canada low income c u t o f f l i n e s & Government source deduction t a b l e s .

(5) Dep means dependents. ( 6 ) ~ i n d a~ c ~ u a i gThe , Quick 4 t h e Dead, Viking, 1991, pg.17 (7) S t a t i s t i c s ~ a n a d aCat 13-588, G.Oja, Changes i n t h e D i s t r i b u t i o n of Wealth i n Canada, 1970- 1984. June 1987.

(8) Financial Post company card on S c o t i a Bank a t Burrard S t . Library. , The research, networking, i d e a s , planning, t h e Energy committed t o t h i s event speak volumes about t h e awareness t h a t ' s growing among people everywhere.

ELP has a committee working on t h e long term goals of r a i s i n g welfare r a t e s t o t h e poverty l i n e & minimum wage t o a t l e a s t i t s l e v e l of purchasing c a p a c i t y t h a t it had i n 1975. Anyone/everyone who wants t o g e t involved with t h i s can c a l l ELP a t 879-1209 4 ask f o r Pam o r Linda.

...

WASHINGTOWN F O R LYNNE YU KNOW YU WERE HELD SO LONG AGO STINKY WASHING HEAVY & HUMILIATING TO HAUL UP HEAVENS STAIRS OR FLY OUT OVER THE LAKE YU KNOW YU WERE HELD OVER THE LAKE L E T DROP AND SWAM L I K E A SALMON

I

YU KNOW YU LAUGHED AND LAUGHED THEN SPUTTERED FRANTICALLY GOTN'G UNDER FOR THE SEVENTH

TIME

I

I I

do you remember who t h r e w yu i n ?

Maxine Gadd

P a t t y Harding, Regional Manager, Vancouver P u b l i c L i b r a r y .

(

Dear P a t t y :

I

J u s t a b r i e f n o t e t o inform you i t h a t we a t C a r n e g i e i n t e n d t o h o l d L i b r a r i a n E l e a n o r K e l l y as h o s t a g e once h e r term o f o f f i c e f i n i s h e s i n mid-June E l e a n o r h a s f i t i n s o w e l l and done such a f i n e hob h e r e a t 401 Main S t . t h a t we simply won't l e t h e r go.

O f f e r a l l t h e ransom and g o o d i e s t h a t you want no d e a l s w i l l b e accepted!

E l e a n o r ' s o n l y weakness i s t h a t s h e h a s n o f o u r - l e t t e r wdrrds i n h e r vocab u l a r y . However, we l r e working on t h a t and when w e ' r e r e a d y t o r e l e a s e h e r 20 o r 30 y e a r s from now, s h e may have l e a r n e d t o u t t e r a lldamnll o r llhellll.

So, P a t t y , p l a n a c c o r d i n g l y .

Eleanor i s f o r e v e r ours!

I n t i m i d a t i n g l y yours, I

.

-

Diane MacKenzie

Autobiography of J i m Cheng My name i s J i m Cheng. I was born i n Hong Kong. I got my high school diploma t h e r e , but I d i d n ' t l i k e Hong Kong because i t i s crowded and noisy. The people i n Hong Kong a r e impolite and t h e a i r i s s t u f f y . Furthermore, it i s a criminal c i t y . I f I l i v e d t h e r e a l l my l i f e it would d r i v e me crazy.

When I f i n i s h e d high school, I got a job i n t h e Hong Kong McDonald1s. I t was a bad experience f o r me t o work t h e r e . The manag e r always s e n t me t o t h e lobby t o clean up a l l t h e t a b l e s , mop t h e f l o o r and wipe t h e windows but t h e thing I d i s l i k e d t h e most was cleaning t h e washrooms. A t f i r s t i t was reasonable f o r me t o do t h i s a s it was my job, but t h e customers were not n i c e . They passed t h e i r u r i n e beside t h e t o i l e t s . Sometimes they had t h e i r bowel movements on t h e f l o o r , not i n t h e t o i l e t .

I almost had t o clean it evei.y hour., Secmd, t h e fe??svs T worked vit:i W = L C not n i c e guys. One day I changed i n t o my uniform when I s t a r t e d . I l e f t my s h i r t with my wallet i n t h e locker. A t t h e end of t h e day I discovered t h a t my w a l l e t had disappeared. Later I found i t i n another empty locker. Luckily I had taken out a l l t h e money except a few coins. My r a t e was $8 an hour. .very low f o r Hong Kong. I worked f o r a month and q u i t t h a t job.

Fortunately my s i s t e r sponsored me t o come t o Canada. I t i s a wonderful place.

The place i s v a s t , t h e flowers a r e beautif u l , a i r i s f r e s h , people a r e p o l i t e , environment i s q u i e t . I t ' s t h e opposite of Hong Kong.

(Jim Cheng i s a student i n t h e Learning Centre1s English c l a s s )

-

As' I s i t , looking a t nothing i n p a r t i c u l a r ' f e e l i n g s i n s i d e a r e erupting l i k e volcanoes.

A s each one b u r s t s , a t e a r t r i c k l e s .

Thinking of who I can. t e l l , who can I t r u s t . ' \ Can I r e a l l y y e l l and not be h i t f o r i t ?

The pain i s t h e r e and nowhere t o go!

Someone h e l p me, t a k e t h i s p a i n away.

So t h e volcanoes can f i n a l l y be calm.

So t h a t l i v i n g can be a happier l i f e .

Many y e a r s have passed me by, I s t i l l seek t h e calming of volcanoes.

One day soon t h e r e w i l l be no more volcanoes.

I ' m l e a r n i n g t o d e a l with my f e e l i n g s , working on my anger, lessening t h e f e a r and d e a l i n g with t h e h u r t , Each day i s a new beginning.

I t r y not t o c a r r y t h e many burdens from t h e p a s t .

Today I t a l k about why those volcanoes e r u p t , -- ulur?r Lc--.

LLUL LIGIII i.0 Lt: c a h .

I speak of my h u r t , f e e l i n g s and anger t h a t have kept my shoulders broad, and my h e a r t i n so many-,pieces.

Many times I have almost died n e e d l e s s l y .

A s I l e t t h a t l i t t l e g i r l f r e e from p a i n , h u r t and anger.

Tears no longer t r i c k l e with p a i n , e r u p t i n g volcanoes no longer b u r s t .

The l i t t l e g i r l w i l l always be t h e r e f o r me t o t a k e c a r e o f h e r and myself.

She's become a b e a u t i f u l and loving person.

No more phoney smiles o r l a u g h t e r .

Her body glows with happiness, sunshine and much much more.

Growing i s such a b e a u t i f u l t h i n g t o experience.

To have t h e love and c a r i n g o f a l l , b r i n g s such joy within.

One day I w i l l y e l l t o t h e world "1 ,am b e a u t i f u l " , and no, one w i l l . h u r t me anymore.

When l i f e g e t s t o a p o i n t o f no r e t u r n , only then w i l l I know I ' v e done my b i t .

I s e e t h e path b e f o r e me, goes on f o r miles and miles, my journey has not y e t ended. i . 1

M. Prevost

!

I

!

1,I

q =4-j/= . Victim on road again

E d i t o r (The Province) My l e t t e r r e f e r s t o your a r t i c l e "New S e r v i c e Feeds Poor From Tables Of The Rich" (April 5/92).

Food Banks and Food Runners a r e s i g n s t h a t something i s d e s p e r a t e l y wrong with o u r s o c i e t y . Over one m i l l i o n Canadians r e l y on food handouts of one kind o r a n o t h e r , and n e i t h e r Food Banks n o r r e f r i g e r a t e d t r u c k s c a r r y i n g l e f t - o v e r s from t h e t a b l e s of t h e r i c h t o t h e poor w i l l s o l v e t h e shameful c r i s i s of hunger h e r e .

To promote a g a l a , c h a r i t a b l e event such a s t h e T a s t e of Nations without s t r i v i n g t o e3iminate p o v e r t y a t t h e same time i s misguided, f o r t h e economic s t r u c t u r e s t h a t c r e a t e g r e a t p o v e r t y a s w e l l a s g r e a t wealth a r e n o t addressed. I t i s j u s t i c e people want, n o t c h a r i t y .

Sandy Cameron

Editor, In e a r l y A p r i l Advanced Education M i n i s t e r Tom P e r r y announced t h a t t h e .maximum s t u d e n t weekly loan E g r a n t will increase '3% to $216 f o r -silppc~-t a s t u d e n t without dependents.

What s u p r i s e d me about t h i s announcement i s t h a t post-secondary s t u d e n t s a r e p a i d l o a n s E g r a n t s on a weekly c a l c u l a t i o n . Why a r e n ' t people on welfare? Why does t h e NDP go+'t 6 t h e socreds b e f o r e them expect someone on w e l f a r e t o l i v e on t h e same amount of money i n t h e f o u r weeks between Feb.26th 6 Mar.25th a s t h e y do i n t h e f i v e week p e r i o d between Mar. 25 E Apr.29th?

What1s good f o r t h e goose (students) should be good f o r t h e gander (the people on w e l f a r e ) .

Darren Lowe

Alfred Breslauer is on the road again. The Vancouver stroke victim's blue scooter was stolen on Saturday outside a Hastings Street second-hand shop. But a generous donor replaced the $3,362 machine, which was delivered yesterday,. after Breslauer's sad tale was reported. . b

Editor, The N e w s l e t t e r could h e l p t h e revenue generating s e c t i o n s of t h e c e n t r e with s p e c i f i c a d v e r t i s i n g promoting them. The A p r i l 15 e d i t i o n o f t h e n e w s l e t t e r cont a i n e d a d v e r t i s i n g f o r t h e Garden Bingo (PNE) & Mandarin Casino e v e n t s . There were no a r t i c l e s promoting t h e k i t c h e n , pool room, Carnegie bingo o r t h e weight room, a l l of which e x i s t w i t h i n t h e b u i l d ing. I must concede t h e weight o f t h e PNE bingo and c a s i n o e v e n t s w i t h r e g a r d t o revenue g e n e r a t i o n , b u t I a l s o f e e l we a r e l o s i n g s i g h t o f o u r i n t e r n a l programming c a p a b i l i t i e s .

One example i s o u r 'new' Pool Room. We have two t a b l e s ; one a 6'x12' on which snooker o r '101' a r e played, and a 5 ' x 1 0 t on which 8 - b a l l i s played. The l e v e l o f c o m p e t i t i o n t h a t e x i s t s i n t h e room i s o f good q u a l i t y and y e t r e l a x e d . P l a y e r s a r e f r i e n d l y and h e l p f u l . There i s a good s e l e c t i o n o f c u e weights & o t h e r a p p a r a t u s .

Upgrading erp~-i?mmt is 5 rn--~ nt~ szggcstion from members o f t h e s u p p o r t group. S t a f f have been a v a i l a b l e f o r h e l p a s well.

The membership c o s t f o r p a t r o n s i s l o w .

We o f f e r p a s s e s f o r 6 month p e r i o d s (MayOct.31 6 Nov.1-Apr.30) f o r $5.00. There a r e day p a s s e s a v a i l a b l e f o r c a s u a l p l a y e r s f o r $1, b u t t h e s e a r e good f o r 1 day.

Any p e r s o n s who might: b e i n t e r e s t e d a r e welcome t o view t h e new premises l o c a t e d on t h e l a n e l e v e l o f t h e b u i l d i n g . ~f you have any q u e r i e s , ask f o r mYselr o r Mike Whitehead o r P e t e r Eastman o r any of t h e v o l u n t e e r members i n t h e room. We would b e happy t o f i e l d your q u e s t i o n s 6 suggest h e l p . Enjoy y o u r s e l f !

R e s p e c t f u l l y yours, Wayne Kelland

l x l l t l l l g 01.

Lellbu~51111):

While I a p p r e c i a t e t h e p r a i s e I r e c e i v e d i n t h e l a s t i s s u e from Mr. Szekely of Ross land BC, I ' m s u r e h i s suggestion t h a t t h e government should promote my i d e a s i s tong ue-in-cheek, e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e I ' m slamming Harcourt i n t h e same i s s u e f o r d i v e r t i n g w e l f a r e r a i s e s t o l a n d l o r d s . No government i n i t s r i g h t mind would s u p p o r t someone who c r i t i c i z e d them s o d i r e c t l y .

But t h i s i s o f small consequence compared t o t h e f a c t t h a t h a l f my a r t i c l e on t h e hooker-needle-condom s i t u a t i o n i n S t r a t h cona disappeared.

The e d i t o r s a i d a f t e r w a r d s t h a t he c u t t h e f i r s t h a l f o u t because he d i d n ' t t h i n k 4 + ...,.l"*,,A *..

ALs,,sabbu c v cllr: ~ecwiicl ;lair" i h N~P W S l e t t e r review committee agreed w i t h him.

On t h e s u r f a c e c ~ f i t , t h i s would seem t o be e d i t i n g r a t h e r than c e n s o r s h i p . On c l o s e r examination, however, some s u s p i c i o u s coincidences a r i s e .

I t was i n t h e e d i t e d p o r t i o n t h a t I made f u n of t h e p r e s i d e n t of t h e Carnegie Assoc i a t i o n f o r what I f e l t was an o v e r - z e a l o u s c r u s a d i n g a t t i t u d e . I t was a l s o i n t h i s section t h a t I pointed out t h e strange a c t i o n s o f t h e e d i t o r i n accusing a person he c a l l e d a " s e l f - a p p o i n t e d spokespersonw f o r p r o s t i t u t e s of being a j e a l o u s egomaniac because she d i s a g r e e d w i t h t h e way t h e meeting was handled, advised a n o t h e r p r o s t i t u t e t o have nothing t o do with i t , & s t o o d o u t s i d e boycotting t h e event. I t seems t o me s h e must have had some r a t i o n a l e f o r h e r a c t i o n s , which she was n o t a l l owed t o express. This i s extremely s t r a n g e s i n c e t h e s t a t e d purpose of t h e meeting was t o s u p p o r t t h e r i g h t s o f p r o s t i t u t e s .

Not o n l y t h a t , b u t t h e e d i t e d p o r t i o n contained a c r i t i c i s m o f t h e meeting's org a n i z e r , f o r working under t h e d e c e p t i v e t i t l e "from t h e Longhouse Council o f Nati v e M i n i s t r i e s t 1 , which makes h e r appear t o be s a n c t i o n e d by a b o r i g i n a l people when i n r e a l i t y she i s a r i c h white C h r i s t i a n l i v i n g i n t h e B r i t i s h Propertys.

A s f o r t h e judgement t h a t t h i s e d i t e d , ~ p o r t i o n was n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e p a r t t h a t was p u b l i s h e d , I can o n l y s a y t h a t i t ' s

) a r t of my w r i t i n g s t y l e t o c r i t i c i z e 'irst E t h e n o f f e r a l t e r n a t i v e s o l u t i o n s L f I' can t h i n k o f any.

C l e a r l y , i t was t h e c r i t i c a l p a r t t h a t vas c u t , while t h e s u p p o r t i v e p a r t was run. [ s u s p e c t t h a t we have an example h e r e of j p e c i a l l y p r o t e c t e d p e r s o n s - important Eigureheads who may n o t be r i d i c u l e d o r xiticited.

The e d i t o r & t h e e d i t o r i a l committee say lo - we j u s t d i d n ' t t h i n k it was r e l e v a n t .

Obvious c e n s o r s h i p i s something most ?eople d i s l i k e , b u t i f e d i t o r i a l p o l i c y o r l e c i s i o n s conceal a c e n s o r i n g a t t i t u d e m then it is impossib&e f o r anyone t o prove anything one way o r t h e o t h e r .

Those who have t h e power t o c u t words >! sizply ill say i t i s a m a t t z r of O p i.i i i.C i i .

6 my opinion i s worth no more than t h e i r s . . except t h a t t h e y have t h e power t o e d i t .

Under t h e circumstances, I can o n l y prot e s t , & s o r i s k being thought o f a s a chron i c complainer. When I r e a d t h e somewhat u n r e a l i s t i c p r a i s e t h a t was heaped upon me i n Etienne S z e k e l y ' s l e t t e r I should have taken it a s a warning. When someone s t a r t s pinning medals on you, i t ' s a s u r e t h i n g someone e l s e w i l l s t a r t r i p p i n g them o f f .

I f we'd j u s t allow f u l l freedom of expr e s s i o n i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , a l l t h i s backt r a c k i n g & s u s p i c i o u s a n a l y s i n g would be unnecessary.

TORA

Being a b l e t o make language dance i s a t a l e n t of good w r i t e r s . It i s a l s o prone t o being usurped, t h e a u t h o r employing a word o r p h r a s e w i t h a v a r i e g a t e d theme t o permit personalized' cheap s h o t s w h i l e e v e r ready t o defend them as c o n t e x t u a l l y n a t u r a l - "making f u n of". . " c r i t i c i z i n g 1 ' .

The a r t i c l e above couches such c r u d i t y i n v e r y r e a s o n a b l e t o n e s , an o c t a v e b e t t e r than what came b e f o r e . Consider: i f Tora w a s introduced o r announced himself as "from Carnegie" would anyone be j u s t i f i e d upon l e a r n i n g t h a t h e i s n ' t on t h e C i t y ' s p a y r o l l t o l a b e l him as d e c e i t f u l . . a l i a r ?

I ' d thought s u p p o r t i n g an i d e a l o r promo t i n g s p i r i t u a l i d e a t i o n were a few of t h e a c t i v i t i e s l e f t t h a t did not require o f f i c i a l bona f i d e s . ' I t ' s u r g e n t we l i s t e n t o t h e words we u s e . ' PRT

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Dandelions I am From Dawn With

9,

walking home t o my g i r l f r i e n d t h e Welfare O f f i c e on Alexander S t r e e t t h e needy monthly cheque.

I j u s t wish t h a t t h e r e was something I could a f f o r d t o b r i n g home To t h a t g a l of mine Who t r e a t s me s o v e r y kind.

A BRIEF ART HISTORY Emil Leslie Daley 1954

P

I was b o r n i n s o u t h e r n Manitoba & l i v e d on a farm u n t i l t h e a g e of t e n . My f a t h e r Then j u s t ahead of me a t Oppenheimer Park d i e d and o u r f a m i l y moved t o Winnipeg. I a t t e n d e d a C a t h o l i c s c h o o l & i n g r a d e two Dancing i n t h e summer b r e e z e I was s e l l i n g drawings around t h e neighI s e e a b r i g h t yellow patch bourhood w i t h my f r i e n d Louis VandeVorst.

Of p r e t t y danddlions.

A t t h i s t i m e I was i n s p i r e d by t h e b i r d Dandelions f o r d a f f o d i l s p i c t u r e - t c a r d s t h a t came o u t of Red Rose Dandelions f o r t h a t g a l of mine Tea, p a i n t e d by Roger T. P e t e r s o n .

I s u r e hope t h a t she d o e s n ' t mind A t a g e 1 6 I was i n f l u e n c e d by t h e books Me b r i n g i n g h e r home a bunch of daatdelions, of W a l t e r T . F o s t e r . These p a i n t i n g s were shown a t a l o c a l s c h o o l w i t h some of t h e Dandelions f o r t h e one who i s o l d e r members of t h e community. My guidThe sunshine of my l i f e a n c e & i n s p i r a t i o n were from h i g h s c h o o l Dandelions f o r t h e woman who i s t e a c h e r Jill Harvey and s t u d e n t s Tony The flower i n t h e garden of my h e a r t .

Brown, Jody S e w e l l and t o u r s of t h e a r t g a l l e r i e s i n town.

Emerson Juffmon

*Samples of E m i l ' s work a r e on d i s p l a y i n t h e a r t g a l l e r y on t h e t h i r d f l o o r .

T H E ONLY POSITIVEN E W I'VE G O T T E F~ R O q T H E

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B R E A k U P O F THE SOVIET U N I O ~ IS T H A T @YPS)/ mOTHS

AREN'T

A

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Community - Kitchens won't end poverty

By Linda Marcotte and Patricia chauncb

The unspoken message of community kitchens to low income women is that we need professional A couple of years ago we started hearing about help because we can't budget for food or cook community kitchens from public health nurses. nutritious meals for our f3milies. Only experts pull They saw it as a great way to end poverty. The us together into groups because we are isolated and nurses were organizing low income women may be unco-operative with one another, together in groups to plan meals, shop and cook.

The point is that getting enough money for food is Women were savine monev buving in bulk.

In Mexico and Latin America women have used a problem. So is getting money for anything else community kitchens to organize and work for we need because welfare rates are far too low. economic justice. The kitchens were developed to Low income people usually do feel isolated save a food distribution system developed many because busfare and baby-sitters come after basic years ago as a social service. The goal had been to needs. by-pass corporate control of food distribution to Is time being taken away from organizing for the poor. justice and taking actions that end poverty by n : , , , Wr\-mnn hna trr\.rold q m ~ ~ n d f'onada wttinv working !crgether to organize community kitchens?

-----0 l l U J LIu..,A*,"I'I,PII ,,Ia,b up community kitchens. Her paper, Collective Just imagine if the women who worked to end the Kitchens and How to Set Them Up, USes a forced employment of mothers on welfare or to get pabonizing tone and exhibits classism throughout. the school lunch program had spent the last three Here are some examples: years setting up community kitchens in their "No excuses.. . absence of a babysitter is the community. Ending forced employment and classic reason for non- attendance; one must not getting school food programs made a difference to fall into the trap." thousands of low income people.

"Most conflicts in kitchens begin because some individuals do not respect the rules or because ELP believes in doing justice work. It is harder some individuals are lazy.. " and scarier to do justice work than to organize 1 "Everyone must pay, without exception. The cost community kitchens. Working for justice, you is $1 per person.. ., collected if necessary as soon must confront classism head-on, ask uncomfortable as the family allowance in the mother's name questions, and work for political change.

I arrives....be sure to be there before the dope dealer.. ."

When low income people fight for justice we need ~ oeveryone t involved in community kitchens is a to get together to: -analyse poverty and the corporate or neoclassist, but one can't help but feel insulted and conservative agenda; disempowered by these comments.

-understand our internalized classism and get 1I A large part of the neo-conservative agenda is to individualize poverty and make it seem like it's strong; -act together to change the legislation that our fault. They want us to think that we alone are responsible for getting into and out of poverty. impoverishes us.

This doesn't have to sound mean like: "You're lazy, get a job." But it could sound like: "You We should be concerned when community kitchens poor disadvantabad thing, you need help to pull are promoted as a solution to poverty. Change yourself up." Thtse comments help to take the happens when we decide to focus on ending poverty and not to learn to live with less. politics out of poverty.

Continually we are convinced by experts to reform ourselves to become better poor people. Our poverty deepens with tax increases (like the GST), job lay-offs, wage freezes, rent increases and social services cuts. We are being prepared to accept less and less. We are taught to share our crumbs. We no longer have the dignity to cook in our own kitchens like other people.

CUVulr..

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Tenants

Rights Action Coalition

Got a Problem?

Are you tired of repairs never being done?

Have you been given a rent increase without proper notice? Have you just received an eviction notice that you do not think is fair?

Are you having trouble getting your security deposit back? Not sure of what your rights are? Call the Tenants Rights Action Coalition Information Hotline at 255-0546.

What Rinhts? u 1 1984, the

Information Hotline

provincial government brought in major changes to the law covering landlord and tenant matters in British Columbia.

But despite losing rent controls and other protections, you still have rights! And there still is a government office that settles problems. It is called the Residential Tenancy Branch and it is located at 5021 Kingsway in Burnaby. Here are some of your most basic rights. Call the Tenants Rights Action Coalition for more legal information on what you can do about your problem.

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Protect Yourself!

Wherever possible, make sure that all matters having to do with your tenancy are in writing and make sure you have witnesses. Always get receipts for any money you pay to your landlord and if at all possible pay by cheque.

Have someone with you to witness the condition of your suite when you move in and when you move out in order to help you get back your security deposit later.

Right to Repairs ianciiorcis are responsiiiie for keeping their property in good repair and for making sure any serviceor facility that was originally included in the rent is continued. They also must keep the property up to standards set: by municipal by-laws. If your landlord refuses to make needed repairs, you can apply for arbitration at the Residential Tenancy Branch or if you live in Vancouver you can call a city inspector at 873-7398.

Rent Increases Rents can be raised by any amount now that there are no rent controls. But you only have to pay one rent increase every twelve months.

You must get three months notice of any rent increase in writing.

Eviction Notice Notices for eviction for any reason must be in writing and on a special government form.

Your landlord cannot verbally tell you that you are evicted or write you a letter. You must receive a legal notice before the day the rent is due. You can get a ten day notice for not paying the rent.

You can get a one month notice for causing a problem (like seriously damaging the property or disturbing other tenants). And you can get a t y o month notice if the landlord intends to use the property for some other reason or intends to move in or renovate. If you do not agree with an eviction, fight it right away at the Residential Tenancy Branch.

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Damage Deposits

Get Organized

Landlords cannot take away money from your security deposit for things that normally just wear out over time. They can only make you pay if you damage something o r if they lose money because you did not give proper notice when you moved. If you do not agree with the landlord when he has kept your money, you can take him to arbitration.

When tenants unite, landlords have to listen!

If you have a problem that you think affects other tenants in your building, you will get results quickly if you gather together and take action. There is strength in numbers!

I

Arbitration

Tenants in the Lower Mainland have come together to form tenant committees to fight for repairs, to stop unjust evictions and to fight huge rent increases. The Tenants Rights Action Coalition can help you get started.

If your landlord will not listen to reason, you may have to apply for arbitration through the Residential Tenancy Branch. It costs $35 to file a dispute, but if you win, the money may be given back to you.

You apply for arbitration at ~ T Floor, H 5021 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC Telephone: 660-3456

Form a Group!

If your building has a common problem, organize a common solution! Talk to your neighbours and see if any want to help you set up a tenants meeting. Photocopy notices of the time and place, and put them under everybody's door. At the r, -rt meeting, make a list of complaints, then try to decide what problems all the tenants have in common.

You may want to call city inspectors or phone the newspapers. Joint action brings results!

Tenants Rights Action Coalition The Tenants Rights Action Coalition was formed in June 1983 because there were some new changes to .the Residential Tenancy Act which really hurt tenants. The Coalition represents all of the major tenant organizations in the Lower Mainland. We have been fighting for full rights for tenants ever since our group was formed. We believe that tenants can win proper protections with the help of a strong crgzkzticr?.

The Coalition is a membership organization.

This means both individual tenants, and groups such as one in your building, or your community can become members if you want.

For quick information on your rights as a tenant, call the Tenants Rights Action Coalition Hotline at zjj-0546.

If you have a complicated problem and it may be better to talk to someone in person, the Tenants Rights Action Coalition has a tenant legal clinic every Thursday evening at Britannia Community Centre.

For more information, for help to organize a tenant meeting, or for someone to speak to your group about tenants' rights, call the Coalition at:

255-3099

Tenant Legal Clinic Britannia Community Centre 1661Napier Street, Vancouver, BC Thursdays 6 - g PM

Survival Guide For a more complete explanation of your rights as a tenantfihe Tenants Rights Action Coalition publishes the Tenant Survival Guide. Call us for a copy.

The Tenants Rights Action Coalition is funded by the Law Foundation of BC, the City of Vancouver and donations.

m a t a r e people paid money f o r ? Society supporters w i l l t e l l you i t ' s a f a i r wage f o r an honest d a y ' s work. When people t a l k t h a t way you can be s u r e greed & ignorance a r e motivating them. Your own experience w i l l t e l l you t h e t r u t h - wages a r q a r e ward f o r p r a c t i c i n g t h e Ifsocial graces" ..money is a b r i b e f o r "niceness."

I f you do a job well - i f you're on time, e n t h u s i a s t i c & s k i l l f u l , you w i l l s t i l l be f i r e d i f your a t t i t u d e d i s p l a y s d i s r e s p e c t f o r management. I f you don't say t h e r i g h t things, d r e s s i n an acceptable manner, o r exchange c h e e r f u l g r e e t i n g s with your employers, . e v e n t u a l l y they w i l l weed you out & dump you.

An honest person i n a dishonest s o c i e t y who c a n ' t be converted t o "niceness" w i l l wind up on welfare o r U.I. They w i l l j o i n t h e ranks of "the poor". I t ' s not because they c a n ' t work e f f i c i e n t l y t h a t t h i s happens. I t ' s because t h e i r perception of t h e depth of hypocricy & b e t r a y a l i n s o c i e t y shows they don't worship t h e icons, E f o r t h i s s i n they a r e l a b e l l e d dysfunctional o r worse.

In o u r a f f l u e n t North American wonderland, greed i s a s wholesome & acceptable a s Mom's apple p i e . When you check out t h e f r i d g e i n some upwardly mobile middle c l a s s kitchen, you w i l l f i n d it crammed with t h e kind of gourmet food t h a t Third World people would k i l l f o r . This type of indulgence i s considered n a t u r a l .

When yen i ~ t!x t k ~ th:~~;;~ z k r c xi.:: be huge mirrors, clean t i l e s , hot showers, f l u f f y towels, shelves f u l l of p a t e n t medi c i n e s 6 brand-name shampoos. In t h e bedroom you w i l l f i n d expensive drapes, clean s h e e t s & pillowcases, h i t e c h TVs, s t e r e o s t h i c k broadloomed c a r p e t s , convenient l i g h t i n g f i x t u r e s , e x o t i c a n t i q u e s E so on.

You w i l l s e e shelves crammed with expens i v e books, n e a t garages with new c a r s i n them, landscaped back & f r o n t yards with gold f i s h ponds & t o o l sheds stocked with power t o o l s .

If you i n q u i r e of your host t h e reason f o r t h i s i n c r e d i b l e d i s p l a y of abundance, you w i l l be t o l d t h a t t h e s e a r e llnecessit i e s " 4 you w i l l soon discover t h a t he o r she intends t o add more of t h e s e "absolut-

e l y necessaryu items t o t h e p i l e a s soon a s p o s s i b l e . The evidence would seem t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h i s i s a person who knows how t o be "nice."

I f you question t h e system o r a t t i t u d e t h a t encourages t h i s , much abuse w i l l be heaped upon you. You w i l l be cursed kicked out 4 advised t o " "Get a job - you bum!" You d o n ' t have t o t r a v e l t o t h e p a l aces of r i c h p o t e n t a t e s i n e x o t i c locat i o n s t o experience t h i s s o r t of behaviour.

I t ' s a l i v e 6 well i n Kerrisdale, North Vancouver, South Van, Richmond, Dunbar, Point Grey. J u s t use your t r u s t y bus pass 6 s e e f o r yourself how we're surrounded on a l l s i d e s by acceptable greed & b r a i n l e s s over-indulgence. These a r e t h e "responsi b l e c i t i z e n s " of the g r e a t democracy o f Canada, who h a t e your g u t s & despise every t h i n g you stand f o r .

Some of then can even t a k e c r i t i c i s m G smile & be l l n i c e f lwhile you a r e l e c t u r i n g them on t h e i r s i c k behaviour - & your government i n Ottawa, & yes, even i n V i c t o r i a among your newly e l e c t e d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , t h e expensive r e a l e s t a t e stocked with luxury items i s praised & rewarded 6 held i n high esteem. Your children a r e encoura g e d . t o j o i n t h e ranks of t h e blessed & indulge themselves even f u r t h e r i n t h e p u r s u i t of ' h i c e n e s s . I t The reason we have a s t u p i d knee-jerk government i s because t h e majority of vote r s a r e s t u p i d k n e e - j e r k l c i t i z e n s . You can s e l e c t any one of a number o f "nice" b u t t o ~ l son i h e c o n t r o i panei of s o c i e t y , push i t , & b e l a v i s h l y rewarded from a jealousl y guarded storehouse of affluence. You can have l a y e r s of comfort & s e c u r i t y s u r rounding you l i k e f a t , p r o t e c t i n g your 1 1 d u l l , s e l f i s h b r a i n from the raw storms of r e a l i t y t h a t p e e r out b r i e f l y from t h e p i c t u r e t u b e i n t o your p r i v i l e g e d world of Canadian comfort.

Yes, even you - o u t c a s t honest wanderer t h a t you lare - can be remade by s o c i e t y .

Unions w i l l p r o t e c t you, employexa w i l l reward you, governments w i l l p r a i s e you; you can be healed of a l l your s o c i a l s i n s , your r a d i c a l uncooperative a t t i t u d e s , your criminal behaviours, i f you w i l l j u s t agree t i "be nice".

So you see, s o c i e t y i s easy - i t ' s a

simple game t o p l a y . They're not a s k i n g f o r anything d i f f i c u l t , l i k e honest i n t e g r i t y . They're n o t a s k i n g you t o s e a r c h f o r t r u t h o r come up w i t h any new i d e a s . . t h e y j u s t want you t o b e "nice" - always. They w i l l even p u t up with a l i t t l e screaming & c r y i n g i f y o u ' l l admit i t was y o u r f a u l t - if you j u s t went o f f your medication t e m p o r a r i l y , t h a t ' s okay, s o c i e t y i s f o r g i v i n g . A s long a s y o u ' r e t r y i n g , t h a t ' s what counts.

Watch o u t f o r f l y i n g e l e p h a n t s , dragons E dream merchants. These a r e t h e d e s i g n e r s G s u s t a i n e r s o f d e e p l y n e u r o t i c behaviour.

They a r e t h e ones who k i l l s p i r i t u a l l y E p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y . When you s e e "good" peopl e doing "good" work - examine them c l o s e l y & s t a y o u t o f t h e i r way. If you d o n ' t b e csrefal E str,- ~ n of t sigk,t, they'll t u r n your uncooperative l i t t l e h e a r t i n t o a s o u v e n i r o f Canada E s e l l i t t o r i c h t o u r i s t s , who a r e v e r y , v e r y "nice".

TRIO

t h r e e l o s t c a t s of your f o r g o t t e n realm a r e i n someone e l s e 1s backyard now i n t h i s b u i l d i n g , t h e s e y e a r s become an impossibly c a s u a l kind of calm, uncaring abeyance and t h e youth of h o r s e s , o f r e v o l u t i o n s l i k e an o l d j a c k e t , once r e d now t h e i n d i s c r i m i n a t e c o l o u r of a f r e c k l e , a p a i r of j e a n s l i k e a sky g i v i n g i n s c u f f e d white r i n n e r s a r e making d i s t a n t hay i n a misplaced f i r t u n e I love t h e c a t s you do n o t have I l i s t e n t o your sad g o l d rust:lng

Dan Feeney '

TORA

a haiku f o r k a l a n i

( i n s p i r e d by Tora)

you transcend poems, y e t , you a r e n o t beyond t h e realm of c o n t i n g e n t s anita

i"-

C t l r i s t i a n i t y and Abortion

AS a C h r i s t i a n male I f i n d t h a t I d i s a g r e e fundamentally with t r a d i t i o n a l church t e a c h i n g on t h e i s s u e of a b o r t i o n . I a l s o f e e l t h a t t h e r e a r e many i n t h i s s o c i e t y , ~ h r i s t i a n$ non-Christian a l i k e , who f e e l t h e same way t h a t I do. I p r e s e n t t~ you my views i n s o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h o s e o f you o t h e r s who s h a r e them.

T r a d i t i o n a l church t e a c h i n g would have it t h a t an a b o r t i o n i s morally wrong under and circumstances. The f e t u s , once conceived, becomes a person i n & o f i t s e l f according t o t h i s view, one t h a t i s s e p a r a t e and i n d i v i d u a l t o t h a t o f t h e mother. A t t h i s p o i n t t h e n t h e mother h a s t h e respons i b i l i t y t o carry the child f o r the f u l l l e n g t h of t h e pregnancy and t o c a r e f o r it f o r the r e s t of her l i f e .

But does t h e f e t u s become a person r i g h t from t h e moment of conception? I t h i n k not.

The f e t u s i s c e r t a i n l y a human l i f e , b u t it i s s t i l l o n l y l i f e i n i t s p o t e n t i a l s t a t e . I t cannot s u r v i v e on i t s own. I t i s n o t y e t developed enough t o do s o and w i l l " not be a b l e t o without t h e s a c r i f i c e of t h e p o t e n t i a l mother. Since t h i s i s t h e case, it i s t h e woman's r i g h t t o choose whether o r n o t t o make t h i s s a c r i f i c e .

C l e a r l y , i f l i f e h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l t o deve l o p then it should be allowed t o , b u t no one can make t h a t d e t e r m i n a t i o n o t h e r than t h e mother h e r s e l f . Not o n l y does she have t o commit h e r s e l f t o h t e nine-month g e s t a tion period but a l s o t o a l i f e t i m e of care t h z t i s nscezscry f o r G child's d e v e l u v ment. If a woman does not f e e l she i s capa b l e of o r w i l l i n g t o do t h i s then s h e should have t h e r i g h t t o d e c i d e not t o have t h e baby. The f e t u s cannot f o r c e t h e mother t o make t h i s s a c r i f i c e . N e i t h e r should o u r c o u r t s o r o u r c l e r g y be a b l e t o .

Abortion should be a guaranteed l e g a l r i g h t f o r every woman who wants i t . I t should be l e g a l , s a f e , c o n f i d e n t i a l and completly up t o h e r d i s c r e t i o n . To f i g h t f o r t h i s r i g h t , f o r me, i s t o s e r v e God. The C h r i s t i a n God i s a God o f c h o i c e . j God gave u s freedom t o choose t h e coursesj: of o u r l i v e s r i g h t from t h e beginning:iVnb a r e we t o presume t o know b e t t e r than o u r ' Creator?

Marius Soska, J r

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Kids a r e not o b j e c t s and n c i t h e r a r e women Objectivity Kids a r e n o t o b j e c t s and n e i t h e r a r e women. No human being should be t r e a t ed l i k e an o b j e c t . Human b e i n g s have f e e l i n g s , o b j e c t s do n o t . Only o b j e c t s should be t r e a t e d l i k e o b j e c t s .

What h a s gone wrong?

Why do some people t r e a t o b j e c t s b e t t e r t h a n t h e y t r e a t human beings?

Perhaps more emphasis should be p l a c ed on t h e v a l u e o f human beings r a t h e r than on t h e v a l u e of o b j e C s .

Materialism does have i t s drawbacks, e s p e c i a l l y when i t i s c h e r i s h e d r a t h e r than being n o n c h a l a n t l y accepted.

A l l l i v i n g organisms should n o t b e nonchalantly accepted but should be cherished i n s t e a d .

P . Baldassi

Don1t Kid Yourself When an a l c o h o l i c p a r e n t screams a t and b e a t s h i s c h i l d r e n , does t h i s d i s turbance h u r t t h e p e a c e f u l neighbourhood more? ~ n e k i d < s n f f e r rhe mest.

T h e i r p a r e n t s g i v e them no love o r compassion. The k i d s a r e t r e a t e d l i k e a n o t h e r burdensome expense, begrudging t h e p a r e n t s of time and money t h a t t h e y would spend on themselves.

What a shallow-minded a t t i t u d e .

Kids a r e l i k e computers t h a t have decision-making c a p a b i l i t i e s regarding i n p u t and a l s o have emotional, physica l and s p i r i t u a l requirements.

With t i m e - t e s t e d , proven, p o s i t i v e input, the c h i l d w i l l surpass the abil i t i e s o f both p a r e n t s combined.

Alcohol abuse i s d i r e c t l y respdnsibl e f o r denying t h e betterment t h a t s o c i e t y deserves.

P. Baldassi -7

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

STD C l i n i c - Monday t h r o u g h F r i d a y , 9am - 5pm.

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC - Mon, Wed, F r i d a y : 5:30-7:30pm NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; e v e r y day 9am-5pm N e e d l e Exchange v a n - on t h e s t r e e t Mon-Sat e v e n i n g s .

N.A. m e e t s e v e r y Monday n i g h t a t 223 Main S t r e e t .

Out-to-Lunch

Bunch m e e t s d a i l y a t 451 E . H a s t i n g s ,

1992 DONA'TIuNS: cement Masons-$100 Keith C. - $ 2 0 paula ~ . - $ 2 0 Nancy Colleen E.-$25 S t u a r t M. - $ l o Luba P . - $ 1 0 Robert - $ I 0 Four S i s t e r s Co-op -$SO0 DERA -$SO0 i e g a i Services -$ZOO Et i e n n e S -$4O Forest Lawn -$25 Submiss i o n ~ v o n n e c.-$10 / Deadline Keo -$5 NEXT ISSUE Tom S.-$5 Hazel M.-$25 - 1 2 MAY Tuesday The Old Sailor-$40 Cecile R.-$20 Jean F.-$15 Anonymous -$18.00

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10-2:30.

TllE NEWS1,ETI'ER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE

CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION. Articles

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City Info s t a f f can't accept donations f o r t h i s n e w s l e t t e r , s o i f you can h e l p , f i n d Paul Taylur and h e ' l l g i v e you a r e c e i p t .

Thanks everyone!

The Downtown E a s t s i d e ~ e s i d e n t s 'A s s o c i a t i o n c a n h e l p you w i t h : ;' any w e l f a r e problems i n f o r m a t i o n on l e g a l r i g h t s d i s p u t e s .with l a n d l o r d s A unsafe l i v i n g conditions income t a x A U I C problems f: f i n d i n g housing i a o p e n i n g a bank a c c b u n t f:

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Come i n t o t h e DERA o f f , i c e a t 9 E a s t N a s t i n g s S t . o r p h o n e u s .at 682-0931

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTS I D E F O R 1 9 YEARS.

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7 Vancouver Housing f o r Native Indian People

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There is very l i t t l e housing being b u i l t f o r Native a b o r i g i n a l people i n Yancouver. ~ p p a r e n t l yabout 30 u n i t s a year only a r e being b u i l t with a goal of about 100.

What i s a l s o alarming i s t h e S o c i f l planning department s l a c k of urgent conecern f o r b u i l d i n g low-income o r 100% coreneedy housing p r o j e c t s i n t h e e a s t s i d e wate r f r o n t area.

A t a meeting of Downtown E a s t s i d e groups on April 21st, a S o c i a l Planning s t a f f per' son s a i d t h a t any new, r e a l a c t i o n on housing would s t a r t t o t a k e p l a c e 10 t o 15 years down t h e l i n e .

The a r e a from Main S t r e e t t o Nanaimo S t . , from Hastings t o t h e w a t e r f r o n t , i s now i n emergency need of low-income, core-needy housing.

There a r e thousands and thousands of people on housing agencies waiting l i s t s . " The s i t u a t i o n does n o t need in-depth, longterm planning. What i s needed is a s i t e - s p e c i f i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of l o t s and p r o p e r t i e s t h a t housing can be b u i l t on.

Co-op housing has not solved t h e housing c r i s i s i n t h e e a s t s i d e area. 2/3s of such housing goes t o higher-income people who a r e parachuted i n t o t h e s t r u g g l i n g low i n came communities.

S e l e c t i o n of t e n a n t s i s t o o o f t e n not made on a i m p a r t i a l b a s i s , There must be a new way of s e l e c t i n g t e n a n t s where f r i e n d s of t h e developer d o n ' t g e t f i r s t p r i o r i t y .

P very small cmnit-terl. cf ,nxezz!e?.t bureaucrats and r e a l g r a s s r o o t s community people would provide a b e t t e r v e h i c l e t o s e e t h a t those "most-in-need" a c t u a l l y g e t i n t o new housing.

Don Larson

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SPOKANE, Wash. - A man living under a Spokane bridge has been arrested on a second-degree murder warrant in a Vancouver knife attack, police say.

Extradition proceedings were pending for Richard Jamieson, a 42-year-old transient. Vancouver police are investigating Jamieson in the death of a man whose body was found in the Columbia Hotel on April 15.

C P S RUN CRAZY:

Popes made p l a n s , Columbus s a i l e d C h r i s t i a n s show how C h r i s t got n a i l e d The News announcer's masklike f a c e S p l i t s l i e s G swallows pain The salesman c o u n t s it out i n cash Who c a r e s i f h e ' s insane The t e a c h e r g r a b s t h e s t u d e n t ' s eye G twists h i s l i t t l e b r a i n Cops run c r a z y everywhere Like bugs i n broken g l a s s J e r k s with j o b s t h a t blow t h e i r b r a i n s Learn t o d i e r e a l f a s t The poor p r e t e n d t o m a t t e r The r i c h g e t even f a t t e r Drugs g e t smoked Kids g e t j a i l e d P a r e n t s wonder where t h e y f a i l e d The surgeon s l i c e s up new l i f e The p o l i t i c i a n knows The k i l l e r ' s f a c e i s h i s t o r y He t h i n k s it n e v e r shows Twisted up i n l e g a l l i e s Business has become Cold G c l e a n t h e smiling dream To s t r i k e your dead f l e s h dumb -/

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n u r e n i ~ r - r ait c p r ) p ~ k i~~ g s F a r t economic p l a n s Union hacks climb t h e i r backs G push new wage demands

Rotten l i e s p i s s s u i t s 6 t i e s Upon t h e poor man's head To make a p i t c h G f l a t t e r t h e r i c h G s h a r e t h e i r s t i n k i n g bed They From They Into

wave t h e i r f l a g s & dump t h e i r s h i t banks where r i v e r s run sharpen s p i k e s on b o o t h e l l s smashed your f a c e f o r fun

They make you pay f o r everything Where nothing r e a l g e t s done.

TORA

I ARNEGIE CENTRE: Single mother 8harba;a I _~udmundson - ,

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ROBERT SARTI Vancouver Sun

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It's called a five-week month - but don't look for it on any calendar. ', Social 'agencies throughout B.C. are reeling under a surge of demand this week for everything from free food to counsel-. ling, as the calendar plays one of its dirtiest tricks on the province's poor.

"It's really tense, people are getting really agitated because they're hungry," said Robert Begin, a member of the kitchen staff a t Carnegie Community Centre.

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The patrons try to borrow money from the staff. "They can't even afford 75 cents, ,for a sandwich." i Because welfare cheques are delivered ' on the last Wednesday of the month, it can be anwhere from 28 to 35 days between cheques. , For April, it will have be&$ full five weeks before B.C.'s 100,000-plugwelfare recipients get their monthly cheaues on Wednesday.

That's the third long month in the first , four months df 1992- placing an extraor' dinary amount of stress on families and single people trying to survive on inconles

that come to only half the officialpoverty At the Vancouver Food Bank, meanline. while, staff are experimentlng with"You borrow money, that's how you get several options, including bendlng their through, and then you have to pay it back rule against handing out food more than when you get Your cheque, and then you once a week, and trying to arrange for start out the next month even hrther in rides for seniors so they can carry more the hole, and we've still got two more long? ,[food home at one time. months this year, July and October," said ; A t Carnegie, more than 6700 f r e e

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meals w i l l go t o volunteers t h i s

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week and next everything from hamsingle mother Bharbara Gudmundson, ', burgers to roast beef - c o s t i n g who has an 18-year-old son liying a t , 'home, , ~olunteersget freechili during five- , "Have you even se& how mu& a teen- " week months #roughout the year. ager eats? It's incredible. They eat the,,.

At Ray-Cam Community Centre on East ' fwd as soon as it comes in the house." :f Hastings, the after-school program for i . Gudmundson also takes in her dadghtei*! &children includes full meals this week 'and four-year-old grandson during lqng ; .rather than snacks. jinonths to make sure they get enough to .eat. !

Her son shale,'al&udent,has tieen put-,! t ting up with the problem since he was a .baby. : "It sucks L y o u $t to'starve for a?j :'week," he said.. ' .'!

"Starve?" asked% & t h d " 0 THE WARRIOR' S SONG ;"Well, not starvc ~ uyou t try eating Gat- at; .meal for a week." , ., You a r e but a mortal being, : End Legislated Poverty has schedul;?clla: 61 .

From t h e moment of your b i r t h ; protest march Friday at 10 a.m. at Christ Soon enough you w i l l be sleeping, Church Cathedral, ~ u r r a r dand Georgia, ending with street theatre and a a l p in In a bed t h a t ' s made of e a r t h . \ Ront of the Scotia Tower at ~e&*andAs it i s and always s h a l l be, , '!Welfare r a t i s aye ,so low that%-ie Bravery's blood must run deep red; ad impossible to kudget uately ds But t o l i v e l i f e with dishonour, @ .

I t i s b e t t e r t o be dead. c -?---A;regular mdhth;let a10 You must s o a r above t h e mountain, ~.an extra week at you,

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Social Services Mi wood $aid this week she h staff for a review of the five and for a plan to average out there is extra help in the lon "I don't see any rationale that kind of suffering Smallwood.

But she rejected the idea of issuing cheques on a two-week cycle, because that . would cost an extra $3 million a year for administration, "and I would rather the money go directly to people."

Other suggested solutions by critics range from raising welfare rates to the poverty line to making it easier to get "crisis grants" from welfare when the money runs out.

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Hear t h e music i n l i f e ' s fountain, You must s i n g t h e Warrior's song.

Live Walk Know Know

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Warrior's l i f e of passion, Warrior's way through pain; power, know t h e glory, l i f e t h a t has no shame.

When Death comes G s t i l l s yoyr f o o t s t e p s , Let t h e r e be no s i g n of t e a r s ; Let them say, ''He was a Warrior, Whose song w i l l l a s t a thousand years."

Michael James McLellan

OLD AGE I S HELL

The body g e t s s t i f f you g e t cramps i n your l e g s , Corns on your f e e t as beg as hens eggs.

Gas i n your stomach, e l i m i n a t i o n i s poor.

Take Ex-Lax a t n i g h t and t h e n y o u ' r e n o t s u r e .

You soak i n t h e t u b and body w i l l s w e l l , ' It's just l i k e I said Old age i s h e l l .

The t e e t h a r e decaying, e y e s i g h t i s poor, Hair i s f a l l i n g o u t ' a l l o v e r t h e f l o o r .

Sex l i f e i s s h o t , . i t ' s a t h i n g o f t h e p a s t , Don't kid y o u r s e l f , even t h a t d o e s n ' t l a s t .

ICBIZ:t 0an- t_c p z r t i e ~ ,201;': d&-,ce hi;lylll"re, J u s t p u t t i n g it m i l d l y , you a r e one h e l l of a bore.

Liquor is o u t , c a n ' t t a k e a chance Bladder i s weak, might pee i n your p a n t s .

Nothing t o p l a n f o r , n o t h i n g t o expect, o l d pension cheque.

Attention Seniors!

The 411 S e n i o r s C e n t r e i s h o s t i n g Housing F a i r 1992, from 10 am t o 3 pm, on Tuesday 6 Wednesday, May 5 6 6, a t t h e S e n i o r s Centre (411 Dunsmuir S t . ) .

The F a i r w i l l showcase a number o f

p l o r e c u r r e n t housing i s s u e s a f f e c t i n g seniors.'

In addition t o information displays by v a r i o u s groups involved i n housing

Mainland. There w i l l b e 1 i v e . e n t e r t a i n ment, door p r i z e s E numerous d i s p l a y s

by F a i r p a r t i c i p a n t s . Admission i s f r e e s o t h i s i s an e x c e l l e n t opportun-

Coping, and Longterm Care.

Show your support and concern f o r t h e housing c h a l l e n g e s f a c i n g an i n c r e a s i n g number of S e n i o r s ti have fun doing it. See you a t t h e Housing F a i r !

PIECES OF L I F E TtlliOWN AWAY i c k i n g up b o t t l e s and boxes and o l d t o y s and c a s t - o f f s and p i e c e s o f l i f e thrown away. 'I

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from Bobby Bares' album

with money throw o u t more v a l u a b l e s t u f f .

One d a r k n i g h t , and i t i s i n t h e dark of n i g h t we d i s p o s e o f t h e evidence o f o u r shame, I was going through a number of l a r g e g r e e n garbage bags and l o & behold i n t h e f i r s t bag opened, c a r e f u l l y reaching i n , I withdrew two p a i r o f handcuffs.

Ah, you 6 . 1 s a y , some p o l i c e o f f i c e r has b u t on t h e second g r a s p o u t retired comes a whip and a wide l e a t h e r p a d d l e . . and i t comes t o me l i k e t h e crack o f t h e former whip bondage.

I have i t made, f o r now I can s e l l t h e h a n d c u f f s ; I have tomorrow's c i g a r e t t e s and c o f f e e ! Now i t i s time f o r t h e fun Delving once more i n t o t h i s P a n d o r a t s Bag, my i n t e r e s t f u l l y piqued, I withdraw a p l a s t i c bag f u l l o f bondage magazines i l l e g a l i n t h i s country (but quickly s e l l a b l e ) and some good l a t e n i t e e d u c a t i o n a l r e a d i n g f u l l of p i c t u r e s , s t o r i e s and a d s from b o t h t h o s e who,pi-efer t o p i t c h and t h o s e who would r a t h e r c a t c h . Now my c u r i o s i t y r u n s rampant. I must connect t h e a r t i c l e s w i t h t h i s unknown m u l t i g a t e d party.

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No, no l o n g e r i s it t h e image o f t h e d e r e l i c t bagman o r lady, though some few might q u a l i f y . . c e r t a i n l y t h e r e a r e t h o s e who o n l y c o l l e c t enough f o r Chinese g i n seng wine o r l y s o l who u s u a l l y l e a v e a mess b e h i n d . . b u t t h e r e a r e a number o f dumpster d i v e r s who s e r i o u s l y woak s a l v a g i n g , renewing and s e l l i n g a r t i c l e s .

The f r o n t page s t o r y on C a r l McIJonald, who i s a p e r s o n a l f r i e n d o f mine and a l s o an e x c e l l e n t l e a d c o u n t r y music p l a y e r (we p l a y t o g e t h e r a t s e n i o r c i t i z e n s and i n t e r m e d i a t e c a r e homes) caused me g r e a t concern f o r I t o o i n d u l g e i n t h i s s a l v a g e b u s i n e s s , and a b u s i n e s s i t r e a l l y i s . I d o n ' t mind i n d i v i d u a l c o m p e t i t i o n , b u t i f a main s a l v a g e d e p o t i s s t a r t e d t h e n you can be a s s u r e d t h a t e v e n t u a l l y some o r g a n i z n t i o n wi 11 t a k e o v e r , h i r e some few In one bag I f i n d a group o f p o l a r o i t l s peoplc, l o s e money and l i t c r n l l y wrest t a k e n i n a motel room o f a woman head down away t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e poor t o make on t h e f l o o r i n a k n e e l i n g p o s i t i o n a s some l i t t l e e x t r a money, f o r t h e r e w i l l though a w a i t i n g c h a s t i s e m e n t , s e v e r a l lime be t r u c k s t o p i c k up t h e goodies I now s h o t s , and a f i n a l one o f a man and t h e f i n d from an even more e c o l o g i c a l l y aware woman i n bed t o g e t h e r . .and i r b t h b same bag t h e man's b u s i n e s s c a r d s . Ah, t h e man i s a populace. l a b o u r n e g o t i a t o r f o r some p r o v i n c i a l govI f you should c o n s i d e r t h e goods g i v e n ernment. Like any human, t h o u g h t s o f blackt o e x i s t i n g c h a r i t a b l e o r g a n i z a t i o n s you w i l l fi:d , t h a t , r a t h z r than b e i n g i-eligi- iiiail enter. my n ~ i n d , but t i i a t : s r e a i i y not my bag. .garbage i s . o u s l y - o r i e n t e d groups, t h a t s e c t o r o f L a t e r t h a t n i g h t I took t h e handcuffs, a them t h a t c o l l e c t f o r n o t h i n g and r e s e l l whip and a l e a t h e r r e s t r a i n t a r t i c l e t o have become l a r g e b u s i n e s s c o r p o r a t i o n s , C t h e i r o t h e r c h a r i t a b l e h o s t e l s f o r i n d i - t h e Regent Hotel and s a t down w i t h a hookg e n t s a r e almost wholly s u p p o r t e d by wel- e r I know. I p l a c e d them on t h e t a b l e . She g o t v e r y i n d i g n a n t and s t u f f e d them a l l i n f a r e money), and t h e moneys gained by h e r p u r s e , o u t o f s i g h t . Well, d i f f e r e n t t h e i r s t o r e s a r e f o r t h e main r e i n v e s t e d strokes... i n t h e growth o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .

Another n i g h t , a n o t h e r a l l e y , I n o t i c e There now, having g o t t h a t l i t t l e g r i p e a c a r f l a s h i n g i t s h e a d l i g h t s . The d r i v e r o f f my c h e s t , I w i l l t e l l you some amusing and some not-so-amusing s t o r i e s o f my g o t o u t , p l a c e d something on t o p o f t h e dumpster, and drove away. I approached t h e a d v e n t u r e s i n t h e Trash Trade. ' dumpster, c u r i o u s a s t o what he had l e f t .

You would n o t b e l i e v e t h e t h i n g s one f i n d s on a run (most tlrl~npsterd i v e r s have Now I s i n g a l i t t l e c o u n t r y music now and a r o u t e o r a ' r u n ' ) . I myself run a r o u t e t h e n , and what could warm t h e c o c k l e s o f a make-believe good 01' hoy than t h a t box I i n an a f f l u e n t neighbourhood, a s people

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found which c o n t a i n e d a b o t t l e o f Jim Beam ( t h e c o l l e c t o r ' s i s s u c - hcing n glol)c? o f t h e world). 'She n e x t day l' was p l a y i n g mus i c on t h e s t r e e t i n Gastown and I took t h e g l o b e s o I wouldn't l o s e my way home.

I s a t t h a t b o t t l e i n my g u i t a r c a s e , s i n g ing and s i p p i n g h a p p i l y , n o t c a r i n g whethe r I made money o r n o t . Only a few American t o u r i s t s r e c o g n i z e d what i t was and t h e y would p u t i n a Yankee buck o r s o .

That Jack D a n i e l s i s a good man, n e v e r s a y i n g a bad t h i n g a b o u t anybody, b u t t h e r e ' s a l s o t h o s e c o l d , damp n i g h t s . when f i n g e r s a c t u a l l y f r e e z e up and you d o n ' t have enough f u r f o r a c i g a r e t t e and a cup of hot coffee. I ' l l never ever forget the n i g h t I jumped e a g e r l y i n t o a dumpster, - l a n d i n g w i t h my r i g h t f o o t i n a 5 - g a l l o n can of w h i t e p a i n t and f a l l i n g sideways, o n l y t o c a t c h my b a l a n c e by punching my hand i n t o a r e c e n t l y d e p o s i t e d bag o f d i a p e r s . Every j o b h a s i t s l i t t l e i r r i t a t i o n s One n i g h t I d i d a formal r u n . I c l o s e d t h e h o t e l on s k i d row and d r e s s e d i n a b l u e b a n k e r ' s i n s t r i p e frols "llnrry Rosens" ($800 o f f t..e r a c k ) , a s i n g l e - s t i t c h puff s h i r t ( $ l o o ) , Gucci l o a f e r s and a Bentley r a i n c o a t which 1 b e l i e v e came from S a v i l l e Row...dressed t o t h e n i n e s I d i d a l a t e n i t e run, completely ruined those c l o t h e s and made n o t h i n g , n o t one f a r t h i n g But t h e r e was t h e p l e a s u r e o f t h e c u r i o u s looks I g o t from l a t e - n i t e r s watching a w e l l - d r e s s e d nab l e a p i n g i n and o u t o f l I dumpsters. The c l o t h i n p was r l ~ i n ~ rhnt got f t a i i from t h e garbage anyway.

I n ending l e t me s a y w e ' r e o u t h e r e by c h o i c e , t o be a l o n e with o u r s e l v e s , s o l e t u s have no o r g a n i z a t i o n s . But, i f s o , l e t it h e u n l i c e n s e d . Inclivitluals o f my youth with horse-drawn wagons buying s c r a p s o f c l o t h i n g , o l d i r o n and p a p e r f i r p e n n i e s , announcing h i s c a l l i n g , c r y i n g "Rags and Bones", "Rags and Bones". .which q u i c k l y d e g e n e r a t e d t o r a g s o n e . . . t h e p r o p h e t o f my youth and t h i t h e r we a l l must go - ''Rags and Bones". ' r a g s ' n b o n e s ' .

A

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By TOM LEWIS

DONUTS Donuts a r e grown i n gardens.

And watered with c o l d doffee.

Donut t r e e s a r e pruned y e a r l y .

To s t o p i n f e s t a t i o n s of day o l d s .

How d i d t h e donut g e t i t s hole.

S c i e n t i s t s have asked fo+ y e a r s .

I t ' s an ongoing d e b a t e .

Did donuts evolve from wheat ?4illisns =f y e s r s ag=Y Donuts g a t h e r i n donut shops.

Tim Horton f i r s t h i r e d them f o r s a l e .

Now donuts d o n ' t go i n w i l l i n g l y .

Many a customer has t o w r e s t l e With t h e i r chewy e x t e r i o r .

Donuts a r e a l s o v a l i a n t d e f e n d e r s Of t h e i r homes.

I f a Kentucky F r i e d Chicken .

Even s t e p s on a d o n u t ' s t e r r i t o r y , There's a vicious f i g h t .

Yes. d o n u t s , one of l i f e ' s ongoing mysterys.

Michael D.