Comments on: To the Anti-Poverty Committee http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/ Now With 100% More Rant! Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:46:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: putyourendtowar http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-29705 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:22:56 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-29705 How VANOC and the 2010 Olympics is Working to Help Poverty in Vancouver Overshadowed by the Displacement of Low Cost Housing Refugees Over Corporate Re-Development (Again, Corporations Are Raping the Profits!) Whenever we try as citizens to build for a future, there is always some money-grubbing re-developer ready and willing to take it away. Who will replace our infrastructure once that infrastructure becomes displaced? Regardless of how meager it may be to the well-to-do. . . And then there are always the restless who are simply looking to create anarchy. No healing here. . . How VANOC and the 2010 Olympics is Working to Help Poverty in Vancouver Overshadowed by the Displacement of Low Cost Housing Refugees Over Corporate Re-Development (Again, Corporations Are Raping the Profits!) Whenever we try as citizens to build for a future, there is always some money-grubbing re-developer ready and willing to take it away. Who will replace our infrastructure once that infrastructure becomes displaced? Regardless of how meager it may be to the well-to-do. . .

And then there are always the restless who are simply looking to create anarchy. No healing here. . .

]]> by: cjm http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-28658 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:23:09 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-28658 I'm right with 'spoiled brats' as that mob is not only giving a back eye on Vancouver but also on the people they say they are 'fighting' for. They also make the real workers that really work the help the homeless and low income people look at as they are apart of this mob. As for Stephanie Smith - just what is your job? What form of education do you have? And how long have you been employed? I don't think that you have a real job. I have a disability and fought blood, sweat, and tears to get what Ineed and deserve. I wouldn't any members of this mob have any part in it, nor let them try. I’m right with ’spoiled brats’ as that mob is not only giving a back eye on Vancouver but also on the people they say they are ‘fighting’ for. They also make the real workers that really work the help the homeless and low income people look at as they are apart of this mob.

As for Stephanie Smith - just what is your job? What form of education do you have? And how long have you been employed? I don’t think that you have a real job.

I have a disability and fought blood, sweat, and tears to get what Ineed and deserve. I wouldn’t any members of this mob have any part in it, nor let them try.

]]> by: spoiled brats http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-27129 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:25:33 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-27129 Honestly, the Anti Poverty committee is embarassing!!! Truly they seem like a bunch of spoiled little brats... do you really think that you can get sympathy and acceptance by trashing the Priemiers office or throwing tantrums at the Olympic clock?? really? I do feel for your cause... but get a grip... swearing and throwing things because your 'frustrated' and 'trying to make a point' is something that I would never let my child do and can't understnad why people think this is ok Honestly, the Anti Poverty committee is embarassing!!! Truly they seem like a bunch of spoiled little brats… do you really think that you can get sympathy and acceptance by trashing the Priemiers office or throwing tantrums at the Olympic clock?? really? I do feel for your cause… but get a grip… swearing and throwing things because your ‘frustrated’ and ‘trying to make a point’ is something that I would never let my child do and can’t understnad why people think this is ok

]]> by: Rant!Vancouver » Blog Archive » Olympic Protests http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4691 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:53:35 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4691 [...] If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!This comment showed up from a Rant to the Anti-poverty Committee and I thought everyone would want to have a look. [...] […] If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!This comment showed up from a Rant to the Anti-poverty Committee and I thought everyone would want to have a look. […]

]]> by: Damn Protesters http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4668 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:56:16 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4668 More protesting....When will it end! Keep Betty in jail, thats where she belongs anyway! But all it is doing is giving something more for these lowlifes to protest about, and more reasons to vandalise our beautiful city. Yes, drowning out a childrens choir is going to make VANOC all of the sudden realize that the olympics are wrong here and that we should spend all of our money on the homeless. F*** That! Spend the money on the olympics! I would rather have my tax dollars go to the olympics, then to go to helping some drug addicts who can't even do anything about there own situation besides blame other people for their misfortunes. Get a job, and if you already have one...Get a second one....You might have a little less time to smoke that joint or to go to your protest rally, but you will have a roof over your head!!! More protesting….When will it end! Keep Betty in jail, thats where she belongs anyway! But all it is doing is giving something more for these lowlifes to protest about, and more reasons to vandalise our beautiful city. Yes, drowning out a childrens choir is going to make VANOC all of the sudden realize that the olympics are wrong here and that we should spend all of our money on the homeless. F*** That! Spend the money on the olympics! I would rather have my tax dollars go to the olympics, then to go to helping some drug addicts who can’t even do anything about there own situation besides blame other people for their misfortunes.

Get a job, and if you already have one…Get a second one….You might have a little less time to smoke that joint or to go to your protest rally, but you will have a roof over your head!!!

]]> by: Vikrim http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4155 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 22:46:48 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4155 I also think a distinction needs to be made: The 2010 Olympics is NOT the government. They are essentially a private company that got government support. Yes they got government funding for construction, but from my understanding they will get return on that investment by revenue generated from the games or facilities left behind that will be used by the public. Of course those claims can all be argued against, but that's a seperate debate. The point is that arguments about what the government has done such as cutting off funding or not supporting the homeless situation enough (especially with a $3B surplus) can not be lumped in with the Olympics. It's a totally loose argument. And last time I checked no Olympic projects are being built in the DTES so no one is being directly displaced by them. Also last time I checked any neighborhood within the vicinity of downtown Vancouver is prime real estate. The reduction in low cost housing and SRO's on the DTES is a symptom of urban revitalization not the Olympics. It's the reality of economics, and again, an issue for the GOVERNMENT to fix. I also think a distinction needs to be made: The 2010 Olympics is NOT the government. They are essentially a private company that got government support. Yes they got government funding for construction, but from my understanding they will get return on that investment by revenue generated from the games or facilities left behind that will be used by the public. Of course those claims can all be argued against, but that’s a seperate debate.

The point is that arguments about what the government has done such as cutting off funding or not supporting the homeless situation enough (especially with a $3B surplus) can not be lumped in with the Olympics. It’s a totally loose argument. And last time I checked no Olympic projects are being built in the DTES so no one is being directly displaced by them. Also last time I checked any neighborhood within the vicinity of downtown Vancouver is prime real estate. The reduction in low cost housing and SRO’s on the DTES is a symptom of urban revitalization not the Olympics. It’s the reality of economics, and again, an issue for the GOVERNMENT to fix.

]]> by: Vikrim http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4153 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 22:02:30 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-4153 Fair enough, not all activists don't have jobs (although I saw a few at that protest that I see loitering on the art gallery steps every day on my walk to work). I was more or less demonstrating absurdity by being absurd (plus I wanted to spark debate). I think the main point is that activism and anarchy (especially that displayed and encouraged by the APC) is wasted on protesting the Olympics. There is no doubt, and you won't hear argument from me to the contrary, that the government needs to step up to the plate with regard to the homeless situation in Vancouver. With today's thriving economy it doesn't make sense in a civilized nation to have the problems we do in the DTES. With that I ask one question: What's the net loss/gain concerning Vancouver hosting the Olympics? If they were gone tomorrow or never happened in the first place would these issues still exist to the same degree as they do now or will by 2010? Yes or no? That is the true question to ask when attempting to tie the Olympics to any issues concerning the homeless situation. Reading the news today the way I see it VANOC is stepping up to the plate with clout that no one else has had previously (http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c020edd2-cf29-4b26-8007-c60ab5f46360). I can tell you for certain that the BC government isn't happy with VANOC and feels they've pushed them into a corner. It's biting the hand that feeds them to a degree, but they're stepping up anyway. So again I ask: what's the net loss/gain? VANOC is providing resources internally (a sustainability department) and is pushing to help solve this problem as part of their mandate to be a good corporate citizen. What other for-profit organization is doing that (again - with as much clout as they have)? This doesn't even take into consideration the tangible housing projects they've committed to. Yes you can argue that it's not enough, but honestly it's not their job - it's the governments. They don't have to do it they just are. Again - what's the net loss/gain? If the Olympics weren't happening would there be this sense of urgency to solve the DTES problem in such a short time span (even if it is unrealistic)? Would any other private organization have committed the amount of resources and actual housing they are promising. You can be mad at the government all you want and to me that's justified, but the way I see it 2010 as an organization is doing their part to improve our community and improve upon successes and avoid mistakes of past Olympics. Yes hold them to their promises, but we're far better served to research what they're actually DOING to improve the situation and work with them, as opposed to just creating anarchy and producing arguments void of facts or reason. In my opinion the Olympics are just being used as a punching bag which is a total waste of time as the problems for the issues people like the APC are protesting lies somewhere else. And please - they are not just "ordinary people" or the "majority" standing up for our rights. They are on the fringe of politics with absolutist views. Their actions are no different than their right-wing counterparts - skinheads. They epitomize the notion that ignorance is not only bliss, but dangerous. The majority of people are moderate and are just as angry with the government and about all kinds of issues that concern them and their community, they just go about change in different ways. You don't have to pick up a picket sign, or march, or protest, or create anarchy to be an activist. Fair enough, not all activists don’t have jobs (although I saw a few at that protest that I see loitering on the art gallery steps every day on my walk to work). I was more or less demonstrating absurdity by being absurd (plus I wanted to spark debate).

I think the main point is that activism and anarchy (especially that displayed and encouraged by the APC) is wasted on protesting the Olympics. There is no doubt, and you won’t hear argument from me to the contrary, that the government needs to step up to the plate with regard to the homeless situation in Vancouver. With today’s thriving economy it doesn’t make sense in a civilized nation to have the problems we do in the DTES. With that I ask one question: What’s the net loss/gain concerning Vancouver hosting the Olympics? If they were gone tomorrow or never happened in the first place would these issues still exist to the same degree as they do now or will by 2010? Yes or no? That is the true question to ask when attempting to tie the Olympics to any issues concerning the homeless situation.

Reading the news today the way I see it VANOC is stepping up to the plate with clout that no one else has had previously (http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c020edd2-cf29-4b26-8007-c60ab5f46360). I can tell you for certain that the BC government isn’t happy with VANOC and feels they’ve pushed them into a corner. It’s biting the hand that feeds them to a degree, but they’re stepping up anyway.
So again I ask: what’s the net loss/gain? VANOC is providing resources internally (a sustainability department) and is pushing to help solve this problem as part of their mandate to be a good corporate citizen. What other for-profit organization is doing that (again - with as much clout as they have)? This doesn’t even take into consideration the tangible housing projects they’ve committed to. Yes you can argue that it’s not enough, but honestly it’s not their job - it’s the governments. They don’t have to do it they just are. Again - what’s the net loss/gain? If the Olympics weren’t happening would there be this sense of urgency to solve the DTES problem in such a short time span (even if it is unrealistic)? Would any other private organization have committed the amount of resources and actual housing they are promising. You can be mad at the government all you want and to me that’s justified, but the way I see it 2010 as an organization is doing their part to improve our community and improve upon successes and avoid mistakes of past Olympics. Yes hold them to their promises, but we’re far better served to research what they’re actually DOING to improve the situation and work with them, as opposed to just creating anarchy and producing arguments void of facts or reason.

In my opinion the Olympics are just being used as a punching bag which is a total waste of time as the problems for the issues people like the APC are protesting lies somewhere else. And please - they are not just “ordinary people” or the “majority” standing up for our rights. They are on the fringe of politics with absolutist views. Their actions are no different than their right-wing counterparts - skinheads. They epitomize the notion that ignorance is not only bliss, but dangerous. The majority of people are moderate and are just as angry with the government and about all kinds of issues that concern them and their community, they just go about change in different ways. You don’t have to pick up a picket sign, or march, or protest, or create anarchy to be an activist.

]]> by: dirk http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-3553 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:24:46 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-3553 Sure you can have doubts about some of the methods used by anti-poverty activists,fair enough but the fact remains if it was not for activist,indeed ordinary people protesting,striking,demanding we would have nothing. Ever right we have is a direct result of the blood,sweat, tears and hard work of ordinary people(the majority) The powers that be do not care much for the basic needs of the working class.They sure as hell have never given anything out of concern for anyone but themselves. Sure you can have doubts about some of the methods used by anti-poverty activists,fair enough
but the fact remains if it was not for activist,indeed ordinary people protesting,striking,demanding we would have nothing.
Ever right we have is a direct result of the blood,sweat, tears and hard work of ordinary people(the majority)
The powers that be do not care much for the basic needs of the working class.They sure as hell have never given anything out of concern for anyone but themselves.

]]> by: Kurt Menzie http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-3336 Sat, 17 Feb 2007 21:53:48 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-3336 hundreds have been illegally evicted despite all the rules, "police" etc. that are supposed to enforce our most basic right. nothing is being done about this by anyone but the apc. i've been illegally evicted so many times it's a handicap. who are the anarchists???? hundreds have been illegally evicted despite all the rules, “police” etc. that are supposed to enforce our most basic right.

nothing is being done about this by anyone but the apc. i’ve been illegally evicted so many times it’s a handicap.

who are the anarchists????

]]> by: Larry D http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-3160 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:19:57 +0000 http://www.rantvancouver.com/2007/02/13/to-the-anti-poverty-committee/#comment-3160 Stephanie, your comments are disingenuous at best, since they only give part of the picture. Yes, SRAs are being converted to lofts, and yes some City housing projects were put on hold. But you're ignoring the entire picture: Other new housing projects outside of the DTES have since been started, as a means of reducing the 'ghettoization' of Vancouver's homeless. Furthermore, a new provincial program was initiated to get thousands of low-income people into 'market' housing at subsidized rates, thereby reducing wait lists for non-market housing. Among the lessons we've learned from our past experience is that we need to do a better job of integrating the homeless in the wider community - by concentrating them in the DTES, we've only made the problem worse. Stephanie, your comments are disingenuous at best, since they only give part of the picture.

Yes, SRAs are being converted to lofts, and yes some City housing projects were put on hold.

But you’re ignoring the entire picture:

Other new housing projects outside of the DTES have since been started, as a means of reducing the ‘ghettoization’ of Vancouver’s homeless.

Furthermore, a new provincial program was initiated to get thousands of low-income people into ‘market’ housing at subsidized rates, thereby reducing wait lists for non-market housing.

Among the lessons we’ve learned from our past experience is that we need to do a better job of integrating the homeless in the wider community - by concentrating them in the DTES, we’ve only made the problem worse.

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