July 1, 1994, carnegie newsletter

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FREE donations accepted.

(Graphic courtesy ELP)

"Everyone wants to revitalize our area. But they don't consider what the people living here need or want.

"Revitalization is another word for kicking poor people out. Where are the people supposed to go - to Surrey? You cannot do that to them at their age. There are no services for them there, no community that they know."

Jim Green (1 991, Vancouver Sun) "I am in front of the altar every night praying they will open the casino."

"When people lose money at casinos, they pawn whatever they can. That is the way it goes, so our business will only go up."

Downtown Eastside pawnbrokers (1 994, Province)

A LETTER OF THANKS

I would like to thank all the good people out there that reach out with a helping hand to anyone who needs it. No matter what they look like or how badly they smell, or if they are dressed in rags, or not, No matter what their religion or beliefs are, or what nationality they are, or the differences in the shapes of the their faces like the slanting of the eyes, or the color of the skin, it does not make a difference as long as they are in need of some sort of help.

They are called do-gooders or people who stick their noses where it does not belong. O r a few other not so flattering names that some people call them. But 1 do not care what they call them, because they are all wrong. I may sound corny but I think of them as good people. People with a consciences, people with feelings, people with hearts, people that are willing to reach out and help.

There are some people who are out there,

fighting forrights of the poor unfortunate people in this city that can not fight for themselves who do not have anything or anybody, just the clothing on their backs.

These are the people who fight against the politicians who would sweep the matter under the rug if someone was not watching them. Yes 1give my thanks to these people.

If I had a glass in my hand right now I would raise it to the sky in a salute to their good health and their good work, and say thank GOD there are some good people with big hearts out there in this big city of ours.

These thanks are from someone who know what a helping hand can do for someone who is down and out.

Thank you for the helping hands that you have given me, and if I can help someone, some day I will do it without a thought.

So keep up the good work and once again thank you for being out there and just remember, there are people out there that appreciate what you are doing for us.

HARVEY DUCEDRE

LOWER MAINLAND

ACTION CANADA NETWORK TUESDAY, J U L Y 12th FOUR SISTERS' CO-OP 153 POWELL STREET 7:30 P.hl.

Agenda to include reports from: 1.

Tri-National Convention on where d o we g o after NAFTA.

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ACN National Assembly meetinq held in June.

Much has been going on in the Downtown-.

Eastside.

You walk down Hastings, a middleman/wom~ an asks if you're looking or do you want some ups or downs or what about skunk weed? I'm getting sick and tired of this particular issue, and something needs to be done.

We (the people) of the Downtown Eastside need to take back our community, get rid of the people drugging and/or dealing outside of Carnegje Centre, in front of the bars and most of all the 24-hour stores downtown.

The burning question is 'What can we do?'

We can let the police know we want them to start taking CONTROL. We need to let the Community Health people know that this is a problem on which we, as the PEOPLE, have to get together and take back what we have worked so hard to create.

I hate to see good work go down the tube just because of a few rotten apples.

Our concerns need to be- brought forward to the bar owners, by letting them know that what happens inside of (as well as in front of) 3

their bars is their responsibility. They can help by not allowing crowds of people to gather on the streets in front of their bar, as well as not permitting dealing inside.

The one solution is to decriminalise the drugs that are sold so openly on the street in the downtown area. If the drugs are regulated by authorities, this will take away from the so-called profiteer (known to us in Vancouver and throughout the world as dealers).

By decrirninalising drugs, we can stop the war that is occurring on the streets. People would not be getting shot and killed or beaten due to 'territorial boundaries'. I believe this would put an end to the oodles of people trapped in the criminal drug scene here and throughout the country.

I'm not talking about power here, I'm talking about life. Many of our people are dying due to the strength of the cocaine and heroin being sold. It's not about control, it's about taking back what's ours ( the community).

Hell on Wheels

CARNEGIE'S VOLUNTEER TUTORS

There is a sign in Carnegie's third floor Learning Centre, Drop-in classroom, which says CARNEGlE WELCOMES Y O U in several different languages. English as a Second Language learners, Tutors work in co-operation with the teaching staff and report back to them. Because there is a daily influx of new students and learners there is a constant need for tutors services. Tutors are asked to give 1 112 hours - 2 days a week to the Learning Centre, many wish they could give more time, and some do find ways to be of further assistance.

Late in '94 o r early '95 the 3rd floor, Learning Centre will be renovated to make more room for the ever growing number of students and learners. There will be disruptions but the Centre's dedication toward sewing the

needs of the community will make for patience while the renovations are in process.

Tutors concerned for their learners inexperience with local customs, have taken them on outings to places in the community. Learners may be shown unfamiliar vegetables and fruits in grocery and fruit stores, like Metrotown's Superstore.

Information posted over the foods explains whether t h e fruit o r vegetable needs to be peeled and cooked and how to cook them. Sometimes the Learners then treat the tutors to their cultural foods,which is an enjoyable experience.

Tutors hold ESL classes with 2 o r more learners and attend workshops to continue upgrading their skills. Dropin students generally learn at their own speed on a one-on one basis. Students have attended workshops with

tutors to discuss class and personal problems and better understand their situations.

They have also arranged conferences and workshops with the assistance of staff and tutors. In that way they have gained confidence in their management and speaking ability.

Tutors may also volunteer their time in the computer room, it helps if they know how to work computers.

Some tutors may spend 1 evening a month, after 7 pnq to tell stories to E.S.L. learners before an imitation fireplace. These stories involve the learners who may be drawn into telling tales of their own lives and fold tales. There are many similarities between our cultures.

Dora Sanders

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Sunday, June 12,1994

The Vancouver Courier

Casino foes gear up Downtown East Side seen as vulnerable

By ALISON APPELBE A major community effort killed an early '60s plan to put a freeway through central Vancouver. It can happen again with the waterfront casino, says a well-known community activist.

John Shayler, employed by Camegie Community Centre Association to draft an alternative plan for redeveloping the key Burrard Inlet site, says :he's hearing opposition to the casino and Seaport Centre project from around the region.

"We've never seen anything like it at the community level," he says, perusing a list of calls he's taken in the past hour.

Critics see the casino as an example of Vancouver "trying to be Las Vegas," he says.

"You can compare it to the '60s freewav issue because that spoke io people about where Vancouver was going >t that time. It was not Van- , couver. It was Los Angeles."

Shayler has just talked with women in Kerrisdale and West Vancouver who are circulating petitions opposing the casino, and both an academic and former city planner concerned about the promotional approach of the development consortium - Vancouver port, VLC Properties and Mirage Resorts.

"People are calling me from all over the place, and they're

basica\\y asking me, 'What's going on here? What's happening and how can I get involved?"

Seaport Centre spokesman Paul Manning concedes that there is "some genuine opp* sition to the project."

But he also defends the organization's promotion and polling practices that show, he says, 70 per cent approval for the entire project.

"We're not pretending that we're not trying to find out where our support lies... in face of opposition that is quite organized."

Shayler sees a widely distributed Seaport Centre brochure that requests the r e p m of a postage-paid card, and tick of approval, as one of a number of biased indicators of support. going on here? What3 happening and how can I get involved?"

But Manning points out: "People who don't want to -John Shayler tick it and send it in don't Shayler says opponents inand panhandling in other have to." He says there has been "a major response" to d u d e the United, Anglican parts of the city - a trend and Unitarian chudes, com- now seen in the West End, this and other surveys.

Grandview-Woodlands ac- munity organizations and a and along Commercial Drive tivist Anne Duke says that by sizeable portion of the labour .and Hastinm.

"Are wggoing to go the approving f ~ r - ~ r o fgaming it movement. way of San Francisco -or am the province would be setting In the Downtown East Side, an unhealthy p~cedent. the fear is that a major desti- we going the way of Vancou"I'm working for my chil- nation resort development ver - which is much more dren's benefit more than any- will see cheap hotel rooms, beneficial?"

Shayler notes that pending thing. I'm concerned about now used by long-term resithe future generation." dents, renovated for tourists. U.S. legislation may transform She says developers and Shayler recalls the contro- Seattle into a highly competikey labour officials are inun- versial evictions of hundreds tive cruise ship port (it's now dating the community with of residents from low-cost permitted little cruise traffic) "very one-sided information." rooms during Expo '86 -and - which could affect future "They're talking about jobs predicts the loss would be demand for facilities here.

"We don't want a number and money. I don't think peo- greater with the introduction of white elephants on the waple am getting the information . of a high-volume casino. they need to make an educatThe result, he argues, will terfront that are money ed choice." be increased homelessness losers."

Clt OSSROAIIS OF MANY COMMUNITIES I d'.\1WER'S CONFERENCE

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The Learning Centre's 1994 Learner's Conference was an overwhelming success. A blast! Over 130 guests registered in the Theatre, and there may have been more as several people came in to observe the action.

More than 65 people participated in the workshops at different times.

Coordinator Debbie Bryant began the conference, arranged financing and put out the word to the Learners that they could be part of this. The conference was also a learning aid to all whowere involved in the process.

Learners met several times on the 3rd floor and planned the conference, with Debbie's suggestions as guidelines.

The Conference took place on the 16th of June, beginning at 9:30am in Carnegie's theatre and then moving up to the Learning Centre on the 3rd floor. It lasted until well past 4pm.

As each person entered the theatre they were given the latest edition of O W THE WA/,L, the Learning Centre's publication. It contains Learners'stories, poetry, and other writings and is also a teaching aid. Several Learners helped put the magazine together, typing the words into computers ('?'ordPerfect) and then sent them to the -----

issue may be the last off the press unless funding can be arranged through donations).

Coffee and muffins were served as the theatre filled to almost capacity.

Andy Nieman opened the Conference, with the assistance of Debbie. Andy and other Learners hosted the question & answer meeting, at times turning the 2 microphones over to other people.

The topic for the forum was "Does the Carnegie Learning Centre meet you cultural needs as a Learner?"

Learners who had graduated and been away for some years wanted to know if they could have an upgrading course. Others felt the Learning Centre needed more space so more people could take more subjects. Still other Learners felt the need for more, free English lessons, particularly those that have gone without food, clothing and other things to pay for their English lessons,.

The end result - after an hour - was "Yes, Carnegie does fill the needsof theLearners

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most of the time, but there is always room for improvement.

Translations from English to Cantonese, Mandarin and Spanish were made. Andy Nieman's poem was also translated by Chinese and Spanish-speaking persons. It was an exciting time for one and all when this happened.

Noted was the fact that some members feel racism is an issue and must be discussed. A racism meeting had already been programmed for the 23rd and everyone was urged to attend.

The morning forum concluded on a positive note the Carnegie Learning Centre is always making an effort to meet the needs of the Learners.

The next event was LUNCH, in the same room, and the food - Tastes of the Nation was brought in to the theatre from the kitchen and a long line-up soon was wound around the perimeter of the room. It was filled to capacity and non-attendees at the conference had to be turned away. There were trays of Chinese, Native, European and Canadian food which were soon all empty!

After every bit of food was consumed, many people went up to the 3rd floor to get involved in the 7 workshops taking place:.

1 :oo-2:oo 1. Resources for good parenting - hosted by Learners 2. Employment in the community and other concerns in the Downtown Eastside hosted by an employment rep 3. First Peoples from North & South - hosted by Natives 1:OO-3:OO

2:lO-3:lO 5. American Sign Language hosted by a staff member 6. Chinese Martial Arts - Learners announced the many moves as Chinese music filled the air. I might try some of the dance steps at home, thank you.

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4. Drugs and Alcohol - well-attended with several speakers

7. Amnesty International - Tom, a tutor, is a member and hosted this.

It was so popular that it went well past the time and another meeting is planned.

Debbie Bryant hosted the closing ceremonies which were held in the gallery, where stories from Carnegie's latest OH+' THE WAIJ, ,original writings by members and Native poetry were all read. Coffee and refreshments were served (and consumed!) while a Bluegrass band played several enjoyable dance tunes, giving everyone a fun ending to a wonderful day. The dancing was terrific, and those moves! !

An added note - we are saying a sad farewell to Debbie Bryant. This was her last Learner's Conference. We will miss her folks.

By DORA SANDERS

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Heroin Overdoses In May there was a special meeting with Coroner Larry Campbell and other experts dealing with massive heroin deaths.

John Turvey from DEYAS was the first speaker and he linked part of the problem with the risk of AIDS - most cases of testing HIV positive and most heroin deaths could be prevented if people knew what they were putting into their bodies.

A massive influx of Southeast Asian heroin has come to Vancouver. It's pure and going a1 very cheap prices. Points made by John included: 1 )do not share anything when using drugs; 2) use the smallest syringe available; 3)select a good vein to avoid abscesses; 4)if you are not sure of the quality, use both cocaine & heroin in small quantities until you know.

We do not know what to do when people hit the deck. We have lost a great deal of expertise as addicts used to be able to look after each other. Again, John stressed "Know what you are using; if someone gets in difficulty, call 91 1 ." Another caution was to never assume someone is 'sleeping'; many users have mini-convulsions.

Larry Campbell was the next speaker. He told us that we have a community with a medical epidemic which can be stopped; that it's up to each of us to look out for one another. The heroin deaths are totally unacceptable. Next to New York City, Vancouver has the highest death rate per capita. Both Turvey and Campbell cited a bumper crop in opium in Southeast Asia as the source of the influx and the goad to sell it so pure is, if you don't get caught selling drugs you end up being rich.

Campbell described addiction as a different kind of illness. These people have a need and craving which must be fixed, It is a hostile environment you are buying this stuff from.

He said the obvious way to stop deaths from heroin is to stop addiction, but in today's society drug users are seen as people we should not care about. Rethinking the problem means not shutting down any ideas but coming up with ways that are acceptable to the community as a whole.

Liz Whynot is a medical health officer and has found drug overdoses overwhelming. She said the way to deal with the medical bureaucracy is to act on suggestions from the community. There are practical things we can use and the head medical officer in the province will make such things part of the recommendations. Liz said that heroin overdoses rank third as a cause of deaths in young men. The old approaches to this serious problem are ineffective. Money allocated to drug enforcement could be given to communities to deal with the drastic situation.

Coruner Larry Campbell gave some more info, saying that there would be ten times the number of deaths if people weren't already narcotized. He also said he is available for private meetings with users who fear backlash if they come out in public as addicts.

A woman spoke of losing her brother to an overdose and how there are too many regulations to prevent women from entering detox centres. Peak House, which is a treatment centre for youth, only has six beds for the entire province. I know of many people who want to get off alcohol or drugs

and there just isn't enough room at the detoxes. If help isn't available immediately, we often lose them forever.

I have written this article in the hope that it will save many lives. We need more information to stop the senseless deaths.

The "SCUMMER" Thief

BYIRENE SCHMIDT

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A few nights ago a thief, or most probably two, broke into the u ~ u g ~ uand t " caned away two colour Tvs, a micro-wave oven, a radio and other assorted goodies.

Now to tell the truth I couldn't care less if the victim was rich or poor. The point is in this case that the "Dugout" is a drop-in centre for the down-and-out; a place to have a coffee play cards, read and generally relax. The TV is on at night.

I hope the Azz Hooles who committed the crime read this, and may a hundred thousand fleas from Wilde Beeste invade their private

Sidewalk squatter seatless in Seattle

Associated Press

SEATTLE-No sitting or lying on public sidewalks in Downtown Zone 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Signs with that message were posted this week in t h e Pioneer Square neighborhood, a prelude to police enforcing one of the United States' toughest laws against street vagrancy.

The sidewalk law went o n t h e books last November, but the city

didn't prepare to enforce it until a U.S. district judge upheld the ordinance in March.

Under t h e law, which covers downtown and neighborhood commercial districts, violators can be fined up t o $50 US, o r ordered to perform community service work.

The first tickets probably will be issued within the next couple of weeks, said city a t t o r n e y Mark Sidran, who wrote the regulation.

Police will be required to warn peo-

ple to move off the sidewalk before issuing a citation.

Downtown resident Frederick Kubalik, 74, said the law's a "damn good one." He said he's tired of seeing people sprawled on sidewalks and urinating and defecating in p u b

lic.

But Cameron Cook, 38, who said h e h a s been homeless for two months because of drug and a l c e hol addiction, said the law unfairly targets homeless people.

yp "fully sensible of the ~mportance of By 1 860 settlement in the colony of Vancouver lsland was spreading into the purchasing, without loss of time, the Native title to the soil of British Columbia."

Cowichan, Chemainus and Saltspring island What happened next was a complete denial area. Governor James Douglas wanted to of British justice. The Colonies of Vancouver purchase the Indian title to land in these Island and British Columbia, unable to obtain areas. He had already made fourteen treaties funds for treaties from the Imperial with Indian nations between 1851 and 1854.

Government, and unwilling to raise these The local Assembly agreed that such a step funds within the colony itself, began to was necessary, and petitioned the Imperial occupy Indian land and force Indian people to Government for funds to buy Indian land. live on reserves without making treaties with Their petition said, "As the Native Indian them. These two colonies were the first in the population of Vancouver Island have distinct British empire to ibrtrore British policy ideas of property in land, and mutually concerning the transfer of aboriginal lands, recognise their several exclusive possessory and they created a state of unfinished business rights in certain districts, they would not fail to regard the occupation of such portions of that exists today, and will continue to exist the Colony by white settlers, unless with the until justice is done. full consent of the proprietary tribes, as Governor Douglas hoped that Indian national wrongs...." discontent would disappear if he gave the The Colonial Secretary in England refused nations as much land as they requested for the request for money, saying that the colony their reserves. First Nations people could not should provide the funds, but he stated he was understand how the white people could "give"

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them land which was already theirs.

In 1864 James Douglas retired, and Joseph Trutch held the new office of Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works until 1871. Not only did he refuse to recognise Indian title to the land, but he carried out an active policy of reducing the size of reserves that Douglas had already surveyed on behalf of First Nations people.

First Nations people protested bitterly against the unjust seizures of their land, but they could not fight thecannons of the British warships or the flood of settlers and land speculators that lusted after the land the way the miners lusted after gold in 1858. By 1890 much of the land in British Columbia was in the hands of the newcomers. Indian people did not give up the struggle for justice, however, in spite of sickness, the oppression of the Indian Act, residential schools, the Potlatch Law of 1884 that made it a crime

JULY 4

- AUG 24

Day Camp f o r Children 6-12

*Arts and Crafts *Sports *Trips t o beaches, r o l l e r rinks, Playland and other fun places.

for First Nations people to conduct a major ceremony, and the notorious law of 1927 that made fundraising for the purpose of furthering Indian land claims a criminal offense. The Potlatch Law and the fundraising law were repealed in 1951.

The battle has persisted to this day, and now aboriginal rights have been entrenched in the Canadian Constitution. The struggle of First Nations peoples for their own identity and justice has been one of the longest and most successful resistance movements against oppression in the world's history. All of us can take inspiration from it, especially in these dark days when we feel we are losing control of our lives to economic wars in the global arena, or mega-pro-jectsthat overwhelm our neighbourhoods.

By SANDY CAMERON

:kStaff will walk children t o and fi-om t h e park daily. The pick-up drop o f f location is: C r a b t r e e Corner, 101 E. Cordova S t . :"

Day Camp Hours Flon-Fri: I0:OOam-5:30pm Sat: 12 noon-5:OOpw

:"REGISTER

a t Ray-Cam Centre,

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rGly

WWI I IWU.

merr lernoer ~ A Y U u w W O W S evicted residents to

make

way for tourists.

Traffic and parking problems would increase, and it would be 24-hours-aday. More than 25,000 people a day would play and drink at the casino.

Community groups that depend on small charity bingos and casinos would suffer. This includes groups like Strathcona and Ray-Cam Community Centres, Chinese Community Library and Carnegie Centre.

Small businesses and jobs in Chinatown and Gastown would be harmed.

Again like EXPO, tourists would spend their money at the big fancy casino.

LET'S MAKE'SURE THE CASINO DOESN'T GET APPROVED Write or c a l l with your o p i n i o n : Premier Mike Harcourt

Mayor Philip Owen

C/O Legislative Buildings Victoria, B.C. V8V 1 x 4 Vancouver ofice 253-7905

C/O Vancouver City Hall 435 West 12th Ave Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 1V4 873-7621

Our MLA

Anna Terrana Member of Partiament

House of Commons Ottawa, Ont KIA OA3 (no postage needed) Vancouver office 255-1838

This leaflet produced by Strathcona Residents Association and Carnegie Community Centre Association

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The proposed giant casino/destination resort on the waterfront would have a very harmful effect on our neighhood.

Crime on our streets would increase. Even without the casino, Chinatown merchants have already had to hire a special police force - 80 per cent of stores have been burglarized in the past six months.

There would be more homeless people on the streets and in our

t'jt-L;E R N VIOLENCE & THE MACHO-

CANADIAN SPORTS NETWORK

Commercial interests supported by hockey stars & hockey stars supported by commercial interests... the most important thing a hockey star does is create markets. Beer & T-shirts lead the pack, especially Molson's Canadian, which surrounds each televised hockey game with images of kids gearing up for street wars.

America has successfully sold the Canadian vouth market a street gang image. Looting has become a hip form of social protest & running wild in the streets is a comn~ercially sanctioned ritual of proof of macho manhood.

The teenage market has been saturated with images designed to give it the idea that it must prove itself by violence against old ways, old governments & old people.

There is no alternative culture represented here & no intellectual revolution - in fact anything intellectual or cultural has become the enemy of youth, according to the advertisers, whose major economic activity is to bombard teenage brains with antiintellectual & anti-cultural imagery in order to sell them expensive running shoes.

As long as 'sports fans' just lean on their horns & scream at pedestrians, they are given a "gold star" by media & cops - but as soon as their screamed threats turn into physically violent actions, they are shot in the head with rubber bullets, tear gassed & officially declared not to be sports' fans.

1%

"Sports Fans" are well-behaved consumers of hockey mania, they say... only when they start punching bystanders & smashing windows does society try to wash its hands of them.

Commercial interests suddenly withdraw their support after their victims have been securely nailed to a media cross. Cops confiscate TV news footage, reviewing it fiame by frame, making up excuses for themselves & finding the faces of new victims in the crowd.

Meanwhile hockey & Molson's Night in Canada continue screwing things up to a fever pitch, & images of American-style street gangs, like the Ninja Turtles or the L.A. riots are a cherished selling point for beer salesmen with powerful psycho-images & special effects to invade emotionally stressed teenage minds.

TORA

The Final Game Two hockey teams square off for the final Game of the best of seven. Two deserving hockey teams, but only one will skate away with the prize.

Three periods, twenty minutes each. The hopes and fears of the grinding eighty-four games to reach these finals...the outcome now hinged on every play, every stop by two evenly matched goalies.

A lot of money for many, but above all the ultimate honour of having your name engraved on the Stanley Cup. What would complete the scene would be either Danny Gallivan or Foster Hewitt describing every shot, every save, every close play.

To the victors, a cup; to the losers a bitter wine.

A.W.M.

JUDGMENTS

by Shelia Baxter

PEOPLE OF THE PARK

You tell me, that being "Poor" Is something I did to myself.

That somehow, I chose this life.

The 50 cent package of Kraft dinner with cockroaches, freshly hatched from a bunch of brown eggs that look like dried coffeec the free bread, that is starting to mold this tinyroom that never knows quiet, the hallways dirty, toilet down the hall.

I did not chose this life.

Life gave it to me When I became an older woman surviving the healings of an abusive spouse left abandoned, to find my way from total depression into this: this room, my broken bridge to recovery. fix this broken bridge I may come across.

Give me a chance.

Life is short, Nary a whisper in the breeze, Life is a gift To do with as you please Life can be rich But it can also be a bitch.

Life can be beautiful With the one you love beside you, Be it either a lass or a dog.

Finally life is mysterious 'cause you never know what the next hour will produce or seduce.

Faces of shattered lives on a bench they sit For that is their home A park bench well lit.

No walls surround them No bed to sleep Not even a blanket To warm their feet.

Rut one thing they have That no one can take A smile of gold There is no hate.

So, next time you see The people of the park Please give them a smile, To warm their hearts.

VICKI 94 AFTER TIE GARDEN

t h e f i g s you bought F r i d a y a f t e r n o o n we a t e F r i d a y n i g h t l o 1 l i n g about i n o u r own suggestivenes> w i t h o u t , I suppose, e x p e c t a t i o n e x c e p your f i n g e r l i g h t l y p r e s s e d upon t h e book o f e d i b l e w i l d p l a n t s open on my l a y beautifully illustrated t h a t 7 o t e n t i a l impulsiveness we h e s i t a t e gamely a b o u t , reminding o u r s e l v e s how f a r from us home i s s e 2 a r a t e l y , when I t u r n r i g h t a t t h e end of your harrow h a l l n o t l e f t , a i d you descend those t o o few s t a i r s t o lock t h e door behind ne Dan Feeney

REASONS WHY THE PARKS BOARD SHOULD VOTE AGAINST THE CASINO:

1. The Seaport Centre casino/resort complex will encourage children. Why? The Mirage casino developers want to fix another generation to the gambling habit. So much for "family entertainment".

2. The Mirage casino will turn Crab Portside waterfront park into a "pisstank for rich drunks. Certainly, alcohol is the fuel to get gamblers spending more of their money.

3. Remember that between 5% to 8% of gamblers will be addicted. That means these people will lose their jobs, family, friends and respect. They will lose all their money and they will become a new criminal class in our world class city.

4. Further, students and the unemployed are two classes that become addicted to gambling.

5. The casino will hire mostly students from such campuses as the proposed SFU expansion into Woodwards.

Downtown Eastsiders from low income backgrounds will not be hired in equal numbers, and will be the first to be let go. The Woodwards SFU campus will cause further evictions and nomel e ssness displacing low income people including

seniors from nearby existing rooming houses.

6. Instead of a negative casino, would not it be better if low income people from the local community worked building much needed social housing onsite on the Port Lands? A balanced COMMUNITY is what is needed on Port central waterfront lands, not a all night Las Vegas playground.

7. Low income families and local children will be the first to be pushed out of Crab Portside waterfront park.

Crab park is now the only safe greenspace for the many local families.

8. 25,000 "new people" each day into Seaport Centre is far too many for the central waterfront area.

9. The casino and resort complex will cause the loss of 4,000 existing low income housing units, and further will destroy the fragile low income Downtown Eastside community.

10. Drugs, prostitution, alcohol and mugging will increase in areas near Seaport Centre. Organized crime and violence will come with the Las Vegas for profit casino, and resort complex.

1 1 . Traffic and noise and pollution will significantly increase near Crab park, during the day but also in the evenings.

Don Larson

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A little note from E.W.; The other day I picked up the volunteer new9 very interesting reading, if you wait for the bus.

I try and read all the news items at the Carnegie Centre.

The booklet informs the public what activities are available in the building.

The Learning Centre on the third floor where you can take your G.E.D. Also this is the floor where the Main honcho offices are located.

The second floor where cafeteria food dispensary is situate4where people can obtain food for a reasonable price.

The Main floor is the information area plus the public library.

The Seniors Lounge is located at lane level, 'where our seniors come to converse with one another or watch T.V., play cards, or just contemplate.

Also there is the Pool room off from the Seniors Lounge.

In all the time I have been here, the newsletters at the Carnegie has never mentioned one word about the weightroom.

It's as if it does not exist.

We are oblivion to the rest of the Centre.

Which by the way is interconnected with the Seniors Drop-in on the Lane Level.

To my knowledge there are two of us women down here plus numerous young men who volunteer their valuable time to keep the weightroom open seven days a week We are not recognized by this huge Centre with approximately one hundred and fifty volunteers, all told, give or take a few.

Ouch, sure makes one feel imperceptible*

Of course some of us are here for our own benefits, fitness and health wise.

It would be nice to know we are part of the Carnegie Centre. and be acknowledged, that we, too, are doing a service for the public, keeping fit and providing intruction for those interested in fitness and health, with lifting etc, etc.

NOTE: Thanks E.W. for writing this note, it is always nice to hear from our volunteers. The Newsletter has always been open to anyone who has a comment about the Centre or the Community. I encourage you to keep writing and keep us informed as to what is happening in the

LAW ENFORCEMENT BY TELEVISION FRANCHISE:

Not only is the Canadian youth pumped up by commercial image-wars, t h e Canadian cop in the street is also a reactive nerve exposed by television, to images designed to trigger sudden violent reactions to the street gang symbolism displayed by disappointed hockey fanatics.

In spite of their official training manuals & selective schooling, police officers prefer to take their cues from special " police action" channels beamed onto the satellite network from red neck North American "Law Enforcementncentres such as Dallas, Texas.

24 Hour swat team activities are Broadcast continent-wide. The Pictures are invisible wave lengths tuned in & translated into an education available to any enforcement-minded, violenceinclined mentality that values the macho credibility they provide.

Smashing an opposing player into the boards is something every policeman understands. He has as much fascination with new riot gear, mace, pepper sprays & the latest electronic surveillance equipment as your average teenager has

with street gang symbolism & LA Gear.

Powerful multi-bi llion dollar empires of marketing potential have discovered the key to societies dreams, nightmares & fantasies. They have become experts at moving psychological ghosts around in the minds of individuals to elicit emotional responses that have nothing to do with reasonable, humane, peaceful intelligent activity.

In fact, reasonable humane attitudes are usually characterized as boring & old fashioned. Reasonable compassionate understanding individuals do not sell much beer, skateboards & street gear.

Reasonable humane attitudes are also not a big favorite with cops, who only display such things when they are accused of brutality & have to justify themselves to the media.

The media-viewer conspiracy knows what to expect: more violence in the streets, followed by more reasonable explanations by nice looking people. More billion-dollar sports complexes, more casinos & Mafia connections, more coke, more beer more hockey night in Canada, more muscles & mustaches, more reasonable carefully thought out rationalizations. Meanwhile everybody makes money.

Legalung narcotics the political, social and economic their parents drinking alcohol?" ' spectrum that says legalizing drugs Cannabis itself is being widely is the only long-term answer to a used as a medicine that eases pain. problem that seems to have no other Recently, the Bristol drug squad LONDON solution. made what they thought was a bust EROIN, cannabis and Edward Ellison, a retired detec- of a small-time dealer. The suspect Ecstacy, the core drugs of tive chief superintendent who turned out to be rather different, a both users and marketeers, worked on the Metropolitan Police retired 70-year-old former Rollswill almost certainly be drug squad, says all his "research Royce worker who was growing 35 made legal in Britain sooner rather (and work) soon led me to the con- cannabis plants to relieve the varithan later. clusion that we were fighting the drug ous pains of old age for himself and A steamroller of radical, contrary war in the wrong way; that the only his friends. opinion that includes police chiefs, way we could win was to destroy the The demand for the drug from penjudges, doctors, drug-law enforceprofits of drug dealers, and this will sioners has stunned doctors, police ment officers, right-wing journalists best be done by licensing the use and professional suppliers. In this and law lords, is pushing the colof drugs. case, Alan Derrett said that the drug lective view that drug use can never "Twenty years ago, that view was allowed him to be controlled in Britain - and that heresy in the police. In all my years, start gardening the only solution is to legalize cerI never encountered a colleague who again. "I know of tain drugs and so take the huge profshared my belief; but within a a t least three its and the resulting violent crime decade the climate changed. other people a out of the market and largely out of "I strongly believe," says Ellison, woman and two society. "that those who misuse drugs, men -the s a v e - It is now accepted that relatively whether it's heroin, cocaine, age as me who neglected cities uch as Manchester cannabis, tobacco or alcohol, are not smoke it to cure are totally out o ontrol as far as tracriminals. They are just individuthe pain of ditional law ' als exercising a personal Choice. arthritis. If it is enforcement is The only controls that should be put for their personconcerned. Large on them is that they should be al use I see no parts of many restrained from affecting the rest pro'tjrem." northern urban of us. We must try to shield the young A Conservative centres, and Loncrime people from the temptation, and peer, the third don. are today nowe must all be protected from the Baron Mancroft, damaging effects of their behavior. told a national This is really no different from the police c o n f q way we now treat drink." ence earlier $% Ellison, who helped to create the morkh that d@s barons feasdng off National Criminal Intelligence Ser- should be made the appetites of vice, is supported by many senior readily available users. police officers, some of whom are on the hign S'eeta U S While the Connow speaking out on a subject that or Britain servative governused to bring only fearful silence! ment stands firm, The chief corntables of this counand .indeed prptry, who are responsible for running BARON MANCROFT poses harsher the regional police forces, have all penalties for the but come out for the legalization sf use of such innocusoftdrugs. As a senior Yorkshire o h ous drugs a s cer told a national television procannabis, there is a new, powerful gram: "How can we tell young peoconsensus gathering on the right of ple not to use Ecstacy when they see NICHOLAS HILLS Sun London Bureau

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current policy. It beating the war is lost.

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at Carnegie Adult

"learn t o read a n d write learn English a s a S e c o n d Language " g e t into m a t h s a n d science *prepare for GED and Grade 1 2 Gra start a t your o w n level, work at your o w n pace ...

AND HAVE FUN

- No Appointment Necessary Wheelchair Accessible Sign Language Used Here

FREE

401 Main Street (at Hasting TDD 665-2257

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LEARNING.. .

-You'll Really Bloom

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DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

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STD Clinic - Monday through Friday, loam - 6pmFREE MEDICAL CLINIC - Mon, Wed, Friday, 5:30-7:30pm.

NEEDLE EXCHANGE - 221 Main; every day, 9am - 5pm.

Needle Exchange Van - on the street evenings, Mon-Sat. N.A. meets every Monday night at 223 Main Street.

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1994 DONATIONS Bruce J.-$10 B i l l S,-$2 Paula R.-$10 C h a r l e y B.-$32 SandyC.-$20 KettleFS-$16 C e c i l e C.-$10 Hazel M.-$10 E i l l 8.-$16 J o y T. -$I2 L i l l i a n II.$16 Diane M. $16 E t i e n n e S. -$4O Libby D.-$20 CEEDS - $50 Adult LCC -$I' C a r n e g i e ALC-$30 Margi S . - $ 5 Anonymous -$35 S u e H.-$35

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THE NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION. A r t i c l e s represent the views of individual c o n t r i b u t o r s end n o t o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n .

llclp i n t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e ( f u n d i n g )

Deadline NEXT ISSUE

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NEED HELP ?

The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association can help you with: any welfare problem information on legal rights disputes with landlords unsafe living conditions income tax UIC problem finding housing opening a bank account

Come Into the DERA office at 9 East Hastings St. or phone us at 682-093 1.

DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 20 YEARS.

Editor, On June 16, 1994, I talked with Ellen, one of the volunteers for the Gay and Lesbian Dropin at Camegie. This group meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month in the Pottery Room on the lane level. 1 was disturbed to learn that they are not being welcomed into our community and our Centre.

What happened to equal rights for everyone?

That's really not the point here; the point here is that we welcome any and all persons with an interest in the community.

My belief is that every person who comes into Carnegie has a right to express his or her feelings. It happens everyday. I see people holding hands, hugging and yes, sometimes kissing. The only difference with the gay and lesbian group is that they love their partner who is the same sex, I see no wrong in this. This is not a crime!

It's reality, this is life and we are causing more damage mentally, physically and emotionally to this group who have not been accepted by or in society today.

Why act like ignorant people? I thought we had class. That went out the window when we tore down the posters announcing the dropin.

Also, lashing out or making rude jokes does not make this group comfortable.

Why is it that some of us are so agitated about having a gay and lesbian drop-in at Camegie? Why not try to be more understanding about women and men who have affections for the same sex? We need not judge this group by their way of living.

We need to be more understanding and accepting.

Margaret Prevost

OLDER WOMEN'S DROP-IN *Refreshments*Talk *Movies 7hefirst Tuesday ofthe month.

3pm - 6pm.

Julv 5th: "Sister Act 11" 509 East Hastings Call 254 -6207 for information.

Sponsored by THE NEIGHBOURHOODHELPERS PROJECT

LET US NOT JUDGE!

GAY & LESBIAN DROP-IN is 1st and 3rd TH I JRSDAY OF EACH MONTH

Julv's video on the 7th: "Fried Green Tomatoes" 3:OO - 5:OO AT CARNEGIE CENTRE IN THE POTTERY ROOM Sponsored by: Neighbourhood Helpers Project First Uniled Church Camegie Seniors Committee

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