Wednesday, March 11, 2009

KIM KERR MUST RESIGN from DERA

Oldtown News
Vancouver, BC


KIM KERR MUST RESIGN from DERA

Today, a Judge's ruling was released regarding a libel action brought by the Executive Director of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association (DERA), Kim Kerr, that he had initiated against former Councillor Peter Ladner.

Mr Ladner had made a statement two years ago in Council chambers regarding a threat that Mr Kerr had made against at that time Councillors Elizabeth Ball and B.C. Lee. Ms Ball had even gone to the Chief of Police who at that time was Jamie Graham regarding what she and many others considered a death threat.

Madam Justice B Brown ruled in favour of Mr. Ladner and in written reasons the Judge accepted the testimony of Ms Ball and Mr Lee's and their version of events rather than Mr. Kerr's.

In light of continuing problems at DERA pertaining to poor management and especially in light of today's court ruling, Mr. Kerr needs to immediately resign from DERA.

I hope those with close connections to Mr. Kerr including MLA Jenny Kwan, MP for Van-East Libby Davies and BC Civil Liberties head David Eby encourage Mr Kerr for the sake of the Downtown Eastside to resign from DERA.


Jamie Lee Hamilton
tricia_foxx@yahoo.com

10 Comments:

At 2:21 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is yet another excellent posting by you JLH.

Your call for Kerr to resign is timely and appropriate.

He should be ashamed of himself.

Well done.

 
At 3:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bruce Eriksen must be rolling in his grave.

What ever happened to the DERA we had known and loved?

I hope DERA can redeem itself by giving Kerr his walking papers.

The shame he has given to all of us.

 
At 6:16 PM, Blogger Jamie Lee Hamilton said...

Thanks TTIN and David!

 
At 4:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If Mr. Kerr made such a threat I was sitting in the front of the chamber in City Hall and I could not hear it so the threat if there was one must have been whispered.
audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca

 
At 8:15 AM, Blogger Jamie Lee Hamilton said...

Audrey

Even Sister Kelleher who is the President of DERA testified under oath that Mr Kerr was yelling. You must have a hearing problem.

Moreover, both former Councillors Ball and Lee said he was yelling and the tape recording previous to the Council meeting (committee mtg) even shows he was yelling.

Perhaps because Mr Kerr is now supporting your idea for Storyeum as a shelter that you are saying this. Sad very sad.

 
At 12:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was also at the meeting. He said it. But I was fortunate to have been just behind Elizabeth Ball as they were leaving, Peter just over from her.

Anyone who could not see Kim Kerr, fangs at the ready, yelling at the top of his lungs, is/was either a blind apologist for someone who uttered a threat or is a liar for Mr. Kerr.

So Audrey, which one are you?

That's quite a 'story..um..'

 
At 11:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

so sad to see DERA reduced to personal agendas/vendettas and not the proud voice for the voiceless it was 20 years ago

 
At 1:25 PM, Blogger Rob said...

You can't believe the word of an idiot who wants to make storyeum a homeless shelter. This would ruin the businesses of a lot of hardworking people who have made an effort restoring Water Street the last few years.

 
At 2:26 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah, Kerr is probably fulminating over this latest loss, but whether it will be to any avail is questionable.

Was he speaking as an individual, or as a representative of DERA? Because someone has to pay the lawyers, and it seems a shame to take the money from DERA's operating funds to save Kerr's bacon.

DERA, like so many organizations, loses sight of its mandate when its volunteers become, or are replace by, paid employees. And it is not because I think people should do 'the good work' for free, but given an economic opportunity, how many have remained 'housed' and 'employed' in the DES?

And, while I must admit that I always clean my shoes after dealing with Mr. Kerr, his observation that 'Viagra is the worst thing that ever hit the DES' gave me an odd opportunity to re-frame some (not all) of my concerns and positions about the part of town I've lived in for decades. Well, decades, on and off, but mostly on.

You'll say 'why Viagra?' Look at the statistical rise in the number of 'old guys' getting HIV/AIDS...

And, on David Wong's comment about Bruce Eriksen. I think Eriksen would be rolling for about a dozen reasons, Kim Kerr only being the latest, or the newest. But I appreciate the observation nonetheless.

 
At 11:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is the story that keeps on giving!

Urb, Viagra for the addicts? God, almighty...do they get this on free prescriptions? Just what is needed down there---priapisms for the poor.

And speaking of Storyeum, the current Queen of the Parks (sorry Jamie Lee!), the barking mad Constance ('Emery Barnes Was My Father', blah, blah blah, ad nauseum) Barnes was also promoting its use as a homeless shelter. And proud as punch to tell all that she used to run the joint. Ah, yes, you can see the economic wonders of the place, wrought by her very own hands.

The other "usual suspect" in this play is the storied Mr. David Eby who, according to transcripts, rushed over to the videographer to make sure he had Mr. Kerr's pearls of wisdom on tape (not the uttered threat, though). I wonder if Mr. E. had anything to do with egging Mr. Kerr on in his nonsensical suit against Ladner?

Mr. Eby's fascination with video-tape is currently on demonstration at YouTube, where he has made several posts. But alas, he has dismantled the comments section of one or two of them. Seems not everyone appreciates his stylin's.

 

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