SAME IRRESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL PATH

Underbelly News
Downtown Eastside

SAME IRRESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL PATH

Today I attended the second meeting of Vancouver's new City Council. The NPA seems to be following along the same irresponsible financial path as the last COPE dominated council regarding the funneling of millions of taypayer dollars into the DTES.

Today, Council debated the merits of funding a request from United We Can for a grant of $75,000. This money is requested in order to clean up the litter problem in the Downtown Eastside. Remarkably this group, UWC, could not provide any documented evidence of the usefulness of its cleaning program. In fact, the organization articulated that the litter problem is getting worse but the grant money provides benefit because it keeps the streets and alleyways of the Downtown Eastside clean for 2 hours a day. Moreover, it creates a few jobs for residents of the low income neighborhood.

Council was requested not to approve the request since it would be sending the wrong message of providing cash incentive for bad behavior. According to the UWC group, the litter is being created mainly by discarded needles, condoms and garbage from scavengers looking through the garbage dumpsters for discarded stuff which may have some monetary value, of which they can exchange, and put toward their purchasing power for their illicit drugs.

Even though one new Councillor, Kim Capri expressed concern that there was no evidence to back up whether the program is a success, the council by unanimous vote, nevertheless approved the grant of $75,000.00 for one year. Even Mayor Sam Sullivan, who consistantly claimed during the campaign how his party, the NPA, would be more prudent with the public's finances, appeared asleep at the wheel. In fact, he said nothing.

Citizens, if the Downtown Eastside is ever to have any hope of re-establishing itself as a functioning, safe, secure and financially stable neighborhood, it will need many voices to clamour for fundamental change. Throwing millions of dollars into a community has exacerbated the problems down here. Our municipal politicians today demonstrated there doesn't appear the political will to address the worsening problems of the Downtown Eastside. Simply put, Council lacked the balls to do anything. Instead they positioned themselves as supporting the status quo.

Former City Councillor Jennifer Clarke said during her campaign for Mayor in 2002 that she wasn't willing to be Mayor of a City with a Ghetto. By the Council's inaction today, new Mayor Sam Sullivan and his NPA team appear indifferent to this reality. Sad isn't it?

Please citizens voice your displeasure to council. All you need to do is send an email message to council at mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca

Thank You

Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.ca

LIBBY HAS COMPETITION

Underbelly News
Downtown Eastside

LIBBY HAS COMPETITION

Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver-East has moved on from the Lady-In-Waiting role and now has competition in the form of one burly, outspoken yet compassionate working stiff named Dave Haggard. Mr Haggard was formerly the IWA President and he know what it means to work hard, pay bills, put food on the table and support a family.

It should be a very interesting race since both Ms Davies and Mr. Haggard are both equally worthy individuals deserving to represent constituents of Van-East.

The defining issue between the two will come down to Van-East either having a passionate opposition voice in parliament vs a compassionate action oriented leader in government.

Ms Davies no doubt really cares for the downtrodden in her riding and the same goes for Mr. Haggard. Where these two leaders will probably differ is on the best method to create real change which will ultimately provide benefit to the citizens of Van-East. Ms Davies has become extremely popular due to her passion concerning poverty in her riding. The looming question is whether this passion results in any fundamental change for the poorer inhabitants of Van-East.

This blogwriter happens to believe that positive change will come for Van-East by electing a political representative who is actively involved in government. Government representatives hold the reins of power and it is them who implement policies which rule our lives.

The NDP, at least federally has always played the third party role in Canada's political system. A strong majority of Canadians do not prefer the NDP to be the governing party and this means, citizens of Van-East who desire change will probably desire change on who represents them.

This desire for change will obviously favour Mr. Haggard who has a real chance of affecting social change since the Liberal party of which he belongs has been for most of Canada's history, the natural governing party. Citizens of Canada seem to trust the Liberals the most when it comes to making political decisions on behalf of the people.

Good luck to both Ms Davies and Mr. Haggard in what will be a closely fought election for the votes of Van-East.

Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.com