Town hall on “uplifting” motion and the Mayor’s Rogue move

by Devin O’Leary

The house was packed on the night of January 30th. Passionate DTES residents and allies from around the city filtered into the Carnegie Theatre in a line that stretched out of the building. Volunteers and staff scrambled to gather additional chairs from around the centre to seat the 150-strong town hall crowd. Wendy Gaspard, a neighbourhood musician, activist, and Winter’s hotel fire survivor kept the room entertained and calm with 70’s folk ballads. She was accompanied by guitarist Sean Farrell.

Everyone was there to share their frustrations with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s announcement at the January 23rd “Save Our Streets Forum”, where he announced plans to “Revitalize the DTES.” This is in slight contrast to Councilor Rebecca Bligh’s effort to “Uplift the DTES,” which we’ve been talking about a lot over the last year and this town hall was originally planned to discuss.

Makeda Martin, aka “Momma Bear”, opened the event with a passionate and rhythmic land acknowledgement. I read out a speech that was shared by Jean Swanson that explained the situation we find ourselves in, with a mayor who wants to pause new supportive housing development, break up the DTES, and address certain crime with not housing and regulated drugs, but more police. In her absence, the audience sustained a long applause of gratitude for her unwavering work and leadership for housing justice.

CHP member Lavern Kelly MC’ed the event and introduced the 3 panelists:

• City Councilor Pete Fry who spoke about the potential type of buildings city hall is pushing for the DTES; 20-30 storey towers renting at mostly market rate. He acknowledged that the province wants to work with the city to build deeply affordable housing and improve health services, so he doesn’t understand why the mayor would want to reject that.

• UBC Professor Kuni Kamizaki who spoke about research he has done that shows how the Oppenheimer District zoning has kept land values steady in the neighbourhood while the surrounding area has skyrocketed in value. This is because the Oppenheimer District essentially doesn’t allow condos and requires new buildings to be at least 60% social housing, reducing the amount a landlord can charge tenants and the amount they can afford to then pay for the land. This has stalled the wave of gentrification that is currently swirling around Woodwards. Kuni also showed that there is a pretty balanced mix of incomes in the buildings built in the last decade with a slant toward the people who need housing most. 44% of units are shelter rate, 28% are HILs (renting to households making $40k-$107k/year), and 28% at low-end of market (about $1500 for a one bedroom place).

• Bev Ho, a Chinatown organizer who works with Yarrow, wrapped up the panel by talking about how expensive condo developments in Chinatown have increased property values and rents so much that Chinese seniors feel less and less welcome in the neighbourhood. They are rapidly losing community spaces that are affordable on a senior’s basic-pension. She talked about how government used to build affordable public housing before the ‘90s, and needs to return to that with a focus on intergenerational, culturally appropriate housing.

Following this was a raucous rendition of the Trojan Horse story, written and directed by Max Campbell, that depicted the developers and their political friends planning a deceptive siege on the DTES. A large cardboard horse was rolled onto the stage and “Odysseus”, played by Max, handpicked “brave warriors” from the audience to enter the horse, including Westbank, Holburn, and Low Tide Properties, son of Chip Wilson.

When confronted with the choice to let this speculative horse past the walls and into the neighbourhood, the audience shouted “NO!”, forcing the horse to retreat with its tail between its legs.

We finished the event by opening up to the audience and asked:

“What is something special about the DTES?”

“Community that takes care of each other”

“All kinds of people, young and old, families and seniors from all kinds of social and cultural backgrounds bringing their cultural practices with them.”

“Supportive”

“The spirit of the people. Best community for caring.”

“Lots of love”

“Community unity, positive like minded goals, consistency”

“How generous people are”

“Hidden gems/diamond in the rough”

“The socially aware community”

“People don’t leave each other behind. They help. They organize. DULF, VANDU etc.”

“The resources are stretched thin but community never withholds from each other”

“Resilience and community”

“The people! Community! This is our home. We live here!”“People are received as just who they are at that moment”

“Rich history of community building and action by the people”

“Strong sense of community and kind care”

“Its a great community. No one goes hungry. People care about each other”

“Get food and help for needed items”

“That we are one big family that watch over each other”

“The vibrant community! Kind, smart caring people everywhere”

“What I love: we look after each other”

“Its affordable”

“What is a change that would improve the DTES?

“More housing”

“Community safety starts with dignified and affordable housing”

“Getting rid of police”

“No more homelessness; safe supply”

“Housing, harm reduction, more help for the poor, less gentrification, community centres”

“An actual universal income and proper liveable housing; mental health support”

“Listening to people and getting feedback every once in a while”

“Stop city hall from sabotaging affordable housing; real help needed”

“More accessible housing now. Can’t wait; recreational programs for the diverse residents here that are sustainable”

“Keep the DEOD plan. We need more supportive housing, not less”

“Compassion and dignity for my fellow kin, housed and unhoused; less money for police harassment and more housing stock”

“Social housing for all”

“Safety structural building codes on the existing buildings (enforce, implement, mandate)”

“More affordable housing and food/shelter options for unhoused people”

“Everyone being able to have a home; a specific plan to protest this change; supportive and social housing”

“Self contained housing for all in the DTES at rates each can afford; more trees and birds; treatment on demand for all who need it; healing centre and canoe landing at CRAB park; space for Indigenous and other cultural practices”

“Stop trying to profit off the land; help people remain in their community and keep their stuff.”