WEDNESDAY ALL CANDIDATE MEETING/HAMILTON WINS SUPPORT

WEDNESDAY ALL CANDIDATE MEETING/HAMILTON WINS SUPPORT

I attended the all-candidate meeting held on Wednesday November 2, 2005 at the Coast Plaza Hotel. I would like to thank the Davie Village BIA and West End Residents Association for hosting this event.

It was a great turn-out and the questions were thought provoking and considerate. It was wonderful running into old friends that I haven't seen for awhile. Blair Petrie who spearheaded the saving of Mole Hill was there with his new young son, Liam and I was really happy to speak with him and young Liam.

I was particularly pleased with the night since during the candidates 2 minute introductions, I was the only candidate to receive applause during opening remarks. After the meeting, former Councilor Alan Herbert approached me and informed me that I won his support. Alan's support is important to me since he is such a well respected elder and leader of the gay community. Thank You Alan! Sitting beside Alan is my Community Hero Jim Deva who has endorsed me. God I love this Man!

After the meeting my key campaign strategists, Ryan, Dan and Ron along with former park board Chair, Laura McDiarmid and NPA Council candidate, Colleen Hardwick, went out for a bite to eat. I even ran into Councillor Stevenson and exchanged pleasantries. A terrific ending to a Heart warming day.

Posted below is an email from someone who will remain anonymous who sent me this post regarding my performance at last night's meeting.

Cheers

Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.com

November 2/05

Hello my Dear!


THought to pass a note to you that I over heard a discussion at the
West End
Centre. I was there attending an art committe meeting and as I was
exiting
the building I over heard a conversation by a group of people who just
returned from an all canadidates meeting.
I heard a firm statement saying how much they appreciate your speech
and
that they were going to vote for you. This was from a group of six
mature
adults who was returning to the parking lot at the centre. One said
that
you will "shake" City Hall which hasn't been seen since Harry Rankin
days.

Keep up the good work.

SEX TRADE ADVOCATE SLAMS CAMPBELL'S RED-LIGHT PLAN

Vancouver Civic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2005

SEX TRADE ADVOCATE SLAMS CAMPBELL'S RED-LIGHT PLAN
Hamilton calls for civic candidates to state their position on prostitution law reform

VANCOUVER - Jamie Lee Hamilton, longtime sex trade advocate and independent council candidate, claims outgoing Mayor Larry Campbell's plan for a red-light district is disingenuous.

"Three years ago Mayor Campbell was given the opportunity to address sex trade safety issues and demonstrate vision on this issue; however, he instead chose to run from the problem. For Campbell, in the dying days of his mandate, to pretend he has concern for sex trade workers is baffling. In January 2005, Mayor Campbell wrote a letter to Pivot Legal Society stating he supported selective enforcement measures to address the need to get prostitutes out of the sex trade. Moreover, Campbell, in this same letter stated he was supportive of a Jane School (reform school) for Prostitutes", states Ms Hamilton.

Vancouver's Queen Of Hearts claims a red-light district would resemble a throwback to the bad old days - when natives, the poor, and the downtrodden were "ghettoized" in certain districts and dumped on useless land without any resources. Hamilton adds, placing everyone together in a certain area makes it easier to be targeted.To back up her claim, Hamilton highlights the horrific killings at the Pickton pig farm, as well as the stalking and torture that a serial sadist inflicted on over 50 women from the Downtown Eastside in 2003.

Ms Hamilton also questions why the leader of Vision Vancouver didn't present his opinions to the Parliamentary Committee on Solicitation when it was in Vancouver last spring.

Vancouver's Queen Of Hearts has long championed the need for safety for sex trade workers and presented her viewpoints to the Standing Committee on Solicitation on March 29, 2005. Hamilton called for the de-decriminalization of prostitution - including the elimination of sections 210 and 213 of the Criminal Code, which most experts have agreed has placed communities and prostitutes in harm's way, rather than protecting them.

"I have also lobbied heavily for the creation of a Sex Trade Advocate to be hired by the City. In fact, council endorsed in a 9 to 1 vote on February 15, 2005 to have the city manager bring forward a report on the feasibility of the City hiring a Sex Trade Advocate. This report was to come before council by September 2005 but hasn't yet seen the light of day," claims Ms Hamilton.

Hamilton wonders how sincere and committed Vision Vancouver?s candidates are on prostitution safety and reform - considering their leader's conflicting statements and the stalling of the City Hall staff report. It is time for the new leader of Vision Vancouver and mayoralty candidate, Jim Green, to address these apparent discrepancies and clearly state what Vision's position is on prostitution law reform. I further call on all council candidates to state their position on this important issue, concluded Hamilton.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Jamie Lee Hamilton, Vancouver City Council Candidate
Phone: 604-781-3361
Website: www.JamieLeeHamilton.com
Weblog: downtowneastside.blogspot.com