March 1, 2015 carnegie newsletter

MARCH 1, 2015

CaEEi!ilSegi e NEW S LE TT E R

Index carnegienewsletter.org Website carnnews@shaw.ca email . ~arnnews@vcn.bc.ca

401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 604-665-2289

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presented by'Gallery Gachet, the "Revitalizing Japantown?" Research Project, and the Right to Remain Community Fair team. exhibition runs March s" - April 12 Jlp ing reception Friday March s", 7~LUI'.'l..--'

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SEE EXHIBITS AT GALLERY GACHET

The Right to Remain

By SYL WIA [Gallery Gachet website]

GALLERY GACHET: 88 E. Cordova Street Exhibition runs: March 6th - April 12th, 2015

nous people displaced from across Turtle Island ar:d. beyond. .

For nearly half of the twentieth century a community Opening reception: Friday, March 6, 7.00.10.00pm The Right to Remain has been enacted by over a cen- ' of over eight thousand Japanese Canadians was foundational to building the neighbourhood we see today. tury ofthis community's resilience and resistance to During the Second World War these Canadians were the forces of colonization, racism, violence and unreuprooted & dispossessed of their properties & belongstrained urban capitalism. Gallery Gachet, along with ings through trumped up national security measures community and academic allies, asserts the Right to enforcing the racist ideals of White British Society.

Remain for the people of the Downtown Eastside, a place held sacred by many that carries one of this In proceeding decades low-income people have country's richest legacies of Human Rights struggle found the means to survive & form community, takand achievement. ing refuge in this neighbourhood from an uncaring society. However today, marginalized residents are For many millennia Indigenous peoples have lived on this land, despite continued colonization and disposincreasingly being renovicted and dispossessed of their belongings and homes through rampant develsession under the auspices of nation building. Today this neighbourhood remains home to many Indigeopment, criminalization, stigmatization, institutionalization, and policing. This push is fuelled by efforts to "revitalize" buildings, services & streetscapes to capii talize on the desires of affluent consumers ultimately furthering displacement & the project of colonization .

This exhibition enlivens Human Rights stories of ancestors who once dwelled here and places them in â&#x20AC;˘ conversation with current residents. Spoken through ~*,tI. people's histories, voices, and artwork, this exhibition weaves together stories of the Downtown Eastside, told through the Right to Remain Community Fair workshops, held between July 2014 & January 2015.

These stories are presented as a visually provocative dialogue about the Right of all people to Remain in the places they callhome and form community.

THE RIGHT

.TO REr,tIlIN-

Spring Flamenco Series at the Carnegie Join us for our spring series of flamenco workshops, where you will be immersed in the music, rhythm, and dance of southern Spain. From the gypsy camps and Moorish medinas, flamenco embodies the pride, passion, suffering, and joy of the people. Learn dance technique, rhythmic hand clapping or palmas, and how to listen and respond to the music. No dance experience necessary; open to everyone. Ole! Instructor:

Kelty McKerracher

Saturdays February 28 - April 18 Carnegie Theatre 2pm - 3pm Introduction Level: Sevillanas 1st copla 3pm - 4pm Beginner Level: Sevillanas 4th copla 4pm - Spm Intermediate Level: Bulerias por Fiesta

NEIGHBOURHOOD SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM 2015 The 2015 NSG program launch & online application opens February 23'd. Deadline for submissions is March 31 st, 2015. . http://neighbourhoodgmallgrants.calgrantlneighbourhoo d-small-grants (Hard copies of applications available at Ray-Cam, Strathcona, Camegie & Britannia Community Centres) RESIDENT ADVISQRY COMMITTEE If you're interested in being on this committee, email LinseaO路Shea-linsea.nsgp@gmail.com.

Orientation will take place at Strathcona Community Centre on Saturday March 7th, time to be determined, and you will need to attend 4-6 meetings (depending on the number of apps) between April 1 & June 30.

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Come and sing with the

CARNEGIE CHOIR! Saturdays 6:30 - 9:30 PM Sundays 2:30 - 5:30 PM Jan. 17,to May 17, 2014 Classroom 2 (3rd Floor)

EVERYONE WELCOME!

You Can't Have it Both Ways A matter was brought to the attention of the editor concerning "supportive long-term" housing; the rules & having to sign away your rights or not get a room.

Case-in-point: the Occupancy Agreement of a UGM (Union Gospel Mission) run apartment building.

The Occupancy Agreement is a l4-page document detailing all aspects of living there in terms of who is responsible for what, what is required of the Operator & the Resident and so on. Fine; leases have much the same stipulations & rules by which all disparate men & women can live together in relative harmony.

UGM has dubbed this particular place as a "dry" residence, meaning no alcohol or illicit drugs are permitted. Likewise use of such substances outside the building is not tolerated, to cover anyone getting falling-down drunk in a bar & staggering home. If you are going to be part of an alcohol/drug abuse treatment program then your life is no longer private.

Anyone using alcohol or illicit drugs, whether inside individual's rooms/homes or outside [meaning if someone who sees you or just doesn't like you reports to UGM that you were having a beer or smoking a joint] is subject to immediate eviction.

The purists (or Puritans) then got a few choice sections included in the occupancy agreement: TERMINATION (Eviction): -the residents can be asked to submit to drug & alcohol (urine) tests at any time; failure or refusal means immediate eviction notice.

-the Resident agrees to provide written consent to submitting to drug/alcohol testing at any time (& every time). Refusal to sign the consent form or

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be test ij means the resident has to leave~

because whoever thinks you may not be a teetotaler / clean that's wrong; they can't.

If you refuse to sign their Rental agreement, refuse to give up your Charter rights, UGM cannot then evict you. The laws and provisions of different Acts certainly supersede & even invalidate sections of this Agreement. In the matter of the resident who brought the documentation, he had PIVOT check on the legality of certain sections after UGM tried to evict him for refusing drug/alcohol testing. He'd moved in but not for any treatment program, being neither a drunk nor an addict. PIVOT sent letters on more than one occasion telling UGM to cease & desist their attempts to evict this guy for not submitting to these strange (to him, anyway) testing protocols.

It is doubtful ifUGM has 'seen the light' & taken this awkward requirement for every resident to allow such invasive things out of their Rental Agreement. If you haven't been in court & had a Judge tell you to change what's unlawful or egregious, you just haven't been caught yet & can keep doing it!

Apparently the provincial government has special provisions for "supportive" housing; if you can get your building designated under this special category even the Residential Tenancy Act may not apply.

I wonder how dther 'supportive' housing and the people who live there are faring. The innocence or victimization often declared by this or that person who disagrees with management about what s/he can or can't do ...? Maybe .. maybe not. Any comments?!!

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By PAULR TAYLOR

-the Resident agrees that the Operat?r may enter the ~.

Unit and shall be allowed free & unmterrupted access to the Unit at any time for any purpose. ;_ The bits about submitting to testin~ and having to let . the manager into your space at any time for any pur- i pose may be okay with people in treatment but there's one crucial problem: UGM also rents to the general public. If you are looking for a decen~ r~oI?' s.eean ad for this UGM place & want to move Ill, it 1S disagreeable to be treated like an alcoholic or drug addict. The BC Human Rights code says that a tenant cannot be discriminated against. If UGM refused to rent to you

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Walkin' on Rocks

free fabric workshop make a simple skirt and/or ~ kaftan style tunic or blouse ' thursday,S march 2015. 2:30 to 5:30 pm 3rd floor atrium gallery carnegie center, 401 main street all materials & supplies free limited supplies as shown, registration suggested, space held until 2:45 register at karenza@chindi-nation.net or phone 604 708 6304 a chindi nation workshop

Side of the road, walkin' on rocks, thumb out & up lookin' to hitch a ride to somewhere simple, serene, easy and peaceful, tryin' my darndest to escape from rapidly outta-control gentrification just gotta outrun it 'cause it's like a torrential tidal wave I'm throwin' in the towel for the time bein but I'm not through fightin' .. not by a long shot. .. I'm just takin' a well-earned rest, some recreation, just to recharge my batteries. Tired & tuckered out from corrupt developer-friendly & bankrolled City Hall.. on the outskirts .. 1o" & Cambie .. the ultimate roadblock in insane City planning strategies. Frustration personified.

They may be winning some battles but r guarantee they ain't gonna win the war. And you can take that to the bank.

So, for the time being, I've hit the road walkin' on rocks 'n lookin' for a nirvana-type state-of-mind. I shall return; you can count on this. That's the name of this tune.

By ROBYNLlVINGSTONE I~

They're Taking It Away Written by lan Robb (On From Different Angels, 1994)

~ Chorus: Oh, they're taking it away:-Yes they're taking it away They are taking all the good thing You can hear the people say And they'll take it all tomorrow If they don't take it today From the poor and sick and helpless They are taking it away.

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0 our government's elected in the democratic way A-whining at the cost of all the things they have to pay And the bully-boys on Bay Street, you can hear the bastards say, "To hell with paying taxes, pull the safety-net away!"

If you're down upon your luck and need to keep the wolf at bay Just don't rely on welfare or the dole pay your way For the rich, they have decided not another cent to pay " You can whistle for your supper for they've taken it away.

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If you're Native, Black or Asian, if you're feminist or gay If you're just a little different from the most of us today If you want to make your point or if you want to have your way You can spit into the wind for they hav~ taken it away.

If you're battered by your husband and you need a place to stay best get down upon your knees and quickly learn to pray ,For the women's centre's phone was disconnected yesterday I And there's no-one left to talk to, now they've taken it away.

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If it's ever your misfortune in a hospital to stay You'd best not be impatient for a bed on which to lay For your health ain't worth the taxes that the healthy have to pay And the beds were too expensive, so they've taken them away

~ ~ , Art by Serena Lee

"

, Oh there's those that have and those that don't and those that are okay ;And there's those who understand that fairness in the only way , But there's those that are so comfortable they look the other way And they vote for all the villains who would take it all away So if you've health and wealth and wisdom, stop and spare a thought today For those who don't and those who can't, there is no other way , Or we might as well give up the ghost and join the USA For there won't be any difference when they take it all away.

Submitted by Harold David

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Inclusionary zoning: What do developers really contribute?

I was shocked a few weeks ago to learn that a non profit society has to pay for the 5 social housing units in the new condo development at 557 E. Cordova St. The development is in the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District, and it's built under an old zoning which said that extra density could happen only if"at least 20 percent of the additional residential units is developed for social housing." I thought that meant the developer had to provide the social housing. So did lots of other folks involved in the DTES Local Area Planning Process. Naive, and stupid me. t After numerous back and forths with city staff, I finally found out that I hadn't read the small print in the definitions section of the 1982 Official Development Plan: "Social housing means residential units, purchased by a government or non-profit housing group using availabl government funding, for housing senior citizens, handicapped persons or individuals or families oflow income." So, according to the old zoning, developers don't have to provide the social housing, just "develop units for social housing" using government funds.

How many units of social housing will this developer at 138 E. Hastings actually provide in exchange for getting higher density? .

So what about other mostly condo developments in the DTES that are supposed to put in social housing?

There's one at 662 Alexander St. that's supposed to have 5 social housing units at welfare rate along with 24 condos. Who's paying for them and ifit's not the

developer, what is the developer's contribution for being able to build greater density? There is one at 138 E Hastings St. where there are 79 condos and 18 units of social housing, only 9 at welfare rate. City staff told me that a non profit has purchased these social housing units. The developer also has a low interest loan from BC Housing. So where is the developer's contribution to building social housing in exchange for the increased density? There is another development at 955 E. Hastings where I understood that the developer would provide 70 units of social housing in exchange for being allowed to rezone for 282 condo units. Now I'm wondering who is actually going to provide the housing. Will a non profit housing group have to buy them? If so, then what is the developer actually contributing?

The new zoning for the DTES says, "In all cases where social housing units are secured through provision of additional density, units will be delivered as completed social housing units enabling the partner to meet affordability objectives, on terms that are satisfactory to the City." I missed this "on terms that are satisfactory to the City" when plowing through the 200 pages of the Draft Local Area Plan.

For ~ while in February the front page of the city's website had a big blurb, "How development helps fund communities." There was an explanation of how deve~opers' contribute to various amenities including ~ousm~ a~d then there was this "guiding principle:" !he CIty s syst~m should be consistent, transparent, simple, and flexible." In my experience, this whole process of what is called inclusionary zoning, where developers are s~pposed to provide social housing in exchange for bemg able to build higher or fatter build -ings is definitely "flexible." But it's not "consistent transparent, or simple." , Why does it matter? Sometimes it's good to hold back ~n.development. In the DTES condo development ISmcreasmg land prices, and forcing up rents in the hotels where thousands of low income people live and the stores where they would like to shop but can no longer afford to. Zoning that holds back certain kinds of development can protect communities. If deve~opers were actually required to provide social hOUSIng,rather than sell it to someone else, it could protect communities. Besides, how many members of the g.e~eral p~blic, when they hear that a developer is providing social housing in a development, think that

CHINATO\짜N

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RALLY AT CITY HALL

Tuesday

March 3

To demand City Council Meet in the Carnegie 9:30am to place a temporary Theatre (401 Main St.) moratorium on new OR Arrive at City Hall market housing 10:45am (453 West 12th Ave; development proiects! at Cambie St.)

Organized by Carnegle Community Action ProJect's Chinatown Concern Group ccapvancouver.wordpress.com I SIGNTHE PETITION: bit.ly/unite4chinatown

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)

j]UM~tÂą~qT!JJ~tJU NEWSLETTER Ji~R http://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com

March,2015

Will rents in the East Hotel go up because of a new apartment building proposed for 450 Gore Ave?

CCAP to oppose new apartment building at 450 Gore By the time you read this, City Council will probably have approved a new 6 2

story rental apartment building at 450 Gore, just south of First United Church.

The building will have 10 micro suites, 36 studios, and 15 two bedroom units.

The city staff s report says the developer "estimates" that the units will rent for $850 (micro unit), $1100 (studio), and $1850 (2 bedroom). Nothing in the staff report would prevent the owner from increasing these rents. The report claims that the building "contributes toward the ... targets of the Housing and Homelessness Strategy."

The staff report also says that the city is planning to waive about $450,000 in fees to the city that developers would normally have to pay. This is an incentive, according to the city, for building "affordable" housing, even though it's not affordable to most people who live in the Downtown Eastside.

King-mong Chan of the Chinatown Concern group plans to tell Council,

surrounding buildings like the East Hotel, Fan Tower, Chau Luen and nearby co-ops.

Putting high end stores in the bottom of the new building will also help to push up property values and pressure existing shops on Gore that serve low income people now. Will their taxes go up and will they be forced to raise prices or start serving richer condo and apartment residents instead of low income neighbourhood residents?

CCAP will tell City Council that they should make the developer pay the $450,000 in fees. It's not good to subsidize a developer whose building will increase upward pressure on nearby rents and won't provide any desperately needed low-rent social housing .. We'll let you know in the next newsletter what Council actually decides.

"Developments like this ... contribute to the change of the neighbourhood further and further away from Chinatown's character. It increases land values for retail and housing and does not provide any housing that is affordable to low-income people."

The Camegie Community Action Project (CCAP) intends to speak against the proposal on Thursday, February 26, at the Public Hearing at City Hall, right after the deadline for this paper. CCAP intends to say that more market housing in the DTES will push up property values and could increase the rents in

Below, the site at 450 Gore where a new 6 story market rental apartment building is proposed.

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An open letter to Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Dear Minister, Re: Ministry 1-866 number We are members of the Carnegie Community Action Project who meet every Friday to discuss and act on issues that are important to our community.

Many of us are on disability or social assistance and have had to use the Ministry's 1-866 number when we need Ministry services or income or when our cheques are withheld and we don't know why.

AS'you must know, $610 a month, the social assistance rate for a single person, is not enough to pay rent and buy nutritious food for a month.

Because of this, many people who need social assistance cannot afford phones.

To tell us that we have to phone to get the services that we need is just putting one more hurdle in our lives. Maybe we can find a community agency that has a free phone. But these phones usually have a 5 minute time limit, and we are on hold, sometimes, for 40 minutes! People line up behind us and start getting angry. We give up and 4

Above, Ministry poster advertising 'secure, simple, convenient" way to access services. drop the call and don't get what we need.

Or we buy some precious minutes for a phone so we can contact medical appointments, and prospective employers? and have to waste them while we are on hold with the Ministry.

It is extremely stressful to have to phone to get services and money that we desperately need and then to have to wait such a long time on hold and sometimes get cut off. This stress is bad for our health.

One of our members, who has severe arthritis and no phone, had to wait in lineups to use community phones just so she could get an application for disability assistance. It was so stressful waiting on hold in lineups where people got angry at her for taking so much time that she gave up after several times of trying. As a result, her disability pension was two months later than it would have been, had she been able to get the form when she needed it. She lost about $600 and the Ministry gained about $600.

To make the poorest people in the

province always have to wait on hold for 10, 20 or 40 minutes creates a lot of unnecessary stress and is disrespectful of our lives and our humanity. When we call the Ministry it is usually important. We may be on the verge of homelessness. We may need money for food. We may need medicine.

Please tell us what the Ministry intends to do to replace phones with real people and/or end phone wait times.

We would like to invite you to one of our meetings, held every Friday at noon at the Carnegie Centre in Vancouver. If you come we can discuss our experiences with the phone line.

Yours sincerely, CCAP Volunteers

We need a raise now!

8 years with no welfare increase is TOO LONG.

Keep this day open: Tuesday, March 31 At 11 am we'll gather at Carnegie and WALK to the provincial government offices at Howe St.

Walk for higher welfare rates, on March 31, 11 am

5

\.What the law says about hotel -, maintenance Keep this sheet posted up in your room and call 311 if you think the city should make your landlord fix things.

These quotes are from Vancouver's Standards of Maintenance Bylaw: Elevator: "Every elevator in any building used for residential purposes shall be maintained in an operational condition at all times."

Soap and toilet paper: "Every lodging house operator shall provide ... that adequate supplies of hand soap and toilet tissue shall be available at all times to lodgers in shared sanitary facilities."

Cleanliness and pests: "Every lodging house operator shall: (a) maintain the lodging house and site thereof in a thoroughly clean and sanitary condition at all times, including windows and lightwells,(b)maintain the 6

lodging house and site thereof free of pests,(c)maintain the lodging house, fixtures, equipment, furnishings and appliances provided therein, in good repair,(d)maintain the interior surfaces in light coloured finishes, and (e )maintain all floors and stairs in good repair." â&#x20AC;˘

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Vancity Support for this project does not necessarily implY..Va.ncity's endorsement of the findmgs or contents of this newsletter

Richest benefit most from latest BC Budget Every February the BC government tells people in the province how much money it is going to spend and how much it's going to take in. This is called the BC Budget. Looking at the BC budget you can tell who is important to the government because those are the people who will get more money and have their taxes reduced. You can also tell who isn't important to the government.

This is the year that Oxfam announced that the richest 1% in the world will have more money than the poorest 99% next year. So what does our BC government do about this growing inequality that is hurting so many people? It reduces taxes for the richest 2% by $227 million.

What does it do for the poorest? It ends the

clawback of child support payments from welfare, a move that costs the government only $13 million. Yes, the rich get 17 times more than the poor.

The Budget also ignored calls for a poverty reduction strategy. BC is the only Canadian province without one.

MSP premiums are going up again too.

A family of 3 or more will pay $150 a month. BC is one of only 2 provinces that even have medicare premiums. In other provinces medicare is paid for with income and other taxes.

The government actually had a surplus of nearly $900 million this year and still didn't decide to raise welfare rates or build more social housing. --JS

THE BC GOVERNMENT'S LOPSIDED GENEROSITY IN BUDGET 2015 No more top tax bracket for people earning over $150,000

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No more child support clawbacks for parents on Income assistance ~

= $13 million for poorest British Columbians

For concrete

$227 million for richest 2% of British Columbians

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Ideas on how to help all British Columblans.

read the CCPA's budget analysis on PollcyNote.ca.

7

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the developer is actually providing the housing, not building the housing to sell to a non profit who can't, then, use its money for desperately needed housing somewhere else?

In my opinion, developers will never be able to build enough housing to meet the needs of people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness. We need a massive federal provincial housing program to do this. In the meantime, I think it's important for people to realize that developer-provided social housing is not an answer to the housing crisis, especially when the developers don't even provide the housing. And the city should be really explicit with communities about exactly what social housing contribution developers will have to make in exchange for increased density. That's the only way they can achieve their guiding principle of being"consistent, transparent, and simple."

--Jean Swanson

Great gift or Small curse To wonder is but our lot This World outlying Eden Garlanded flowers or, Precious thought.

1939-1999(approx) Cyril E Clemo aged 17 [submitted by his cousin Wilhelmina]

.,.etropoli!Gn Concert BOlld

Repertoire will include a wide variety of music: Broadway, the classics, marches, ballads, jazz and movie themes .. Come and enjoy the big band sound!

'Energy' by Michelle Tuffy See this in colour at Gallery Gachet, 88 E Cordova, from Mar 6 - Apr 12

Wednesday, March 4th 7:30 - 8:30 PM in Carnegie Theatre

THE BRIDGE PARTY Me and a friend went to Oceanview Cemetery last week friends & grandparents & Moms & Dads had been waiting awhile for us to come and speak but mostly to know we will never forget, surrounded by vast neglect we used our hands to make their marble homes right so much has happened since Lucifer offered them a light (they declined telling him to stay in Hell( their legacies shall we never forget, it was pouring lives & souls but we were on a mission of sorts sent from Ground Control some would later say were looking for the greatest creator since god, if there be one of that name all our loved ones are on that incredibly beautiful plane oceanview ocean blue is my one & only god, The evil ones shall have all their sins sewn into their mouths to lower them to the depths of hell w shall never know what wonders await us we have awhile yet to go the party awaits us but we still have time to check up and talk to our loved ones souls, Deadlines are set they come & they go like the Vatican City becoming a communist state trading children for locked up priests NON ono then again my mind is so clouded should the answer be yes or no, be it wondrous gardens or prison pardons such beauty runs down like a fresh coat of paint or patients arguing over whose cancer tumor is bigger or the picture that came with a frame being used as MY BEST FRIEND sadness comes in all colours not everyone can be a saint how very accurate and true, the Terrorists of Vancouver are already here they're the ones called "architects" 'transjoke' politicians of every level these are the scary sin-eaters to fear at least everyone at OceanView does not have to suffer any more yet for us the danger is real & in front of our eyes oh god what the hell are we to do?

This is the New Age of Greed give them a corner & up goes another skyscraper is this 'just what [we] need' I honestly do not think we have to be the second most expensive city in this entire world to live but where can we go, like wondering which ocean has the most guns at the bottom the Pacific or the Atlantic so many woeful tales that bear mankind's footprints & all so tragic so they can be translated for everyone to hear -unbearable act-by-act & blow-by-blow,

I watch people tring to draw fire but they have no red pens do not worry not for the next holocaust will return again & again I have seen too many flames rise & lives end what can you say about my point of view, Why with so many paths in front of us to choose why I scream again Why does mankind always fucking lose your future is all your own but as for me my final resting home will be OceanBlue Ocean View, ... shall'nt weep for the rest of you

By ROBERT McGILLIVRA Y "A room without books is like a body without a soul."

-Cicero

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack - the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of manoeuvres.

The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn.

It is like moving in a circle - you never come to an end.

Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The

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Our address is: Carnegie Newsletter, 401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.c. V6A 2T7 Thank you for your support!

I

SU'BPRIME

~.

We live in a dark time with a sub-prime minister Master oftenebriftc politics Embracer of the dark its friend fear and stark terror

WHAT IS TIME? â&#x20AC;˘

works to pump his number / politicizing terror Creates a police-state apparatchik who need not answer to the nation democratic Enhances governance autocratic in a nation run by a party of one

Conservatives vote their fear Light and hope reside In the centre and centre-left A war-monger ~OPhO<ie

sub-prime minister

Once we were a peacekeeper International leader Now we live in a dark time Made darker bya sub-prime-minister

rhetoric

Gilles Cyrenne

TO: Canadians it is ice hockey Americans it is money English it is Tea Time French it iis Sex n'Wine Mexicans it is a siesta Hindus it does not exist Buddhists it is irrevelant Elders it is running out!

Babys it is a beginning Newlyweds it is Hope Divorcees it is hopeless say, Time is A thief!

John alan douglas

So in this best of all possible worlds ..' This land of milk and honey Other side of Jordan We also wait to die.

A spark of light A long time of darkness Some say a time of repose A rest Silence and peace At last.

Sans pain, sans nightmares The horror stopped, Or stayed until we are born again The wheel still turning.

Our ideas implanted eons age Coming to fruition now.

The Tower of Babe I The hunting down of the unbelievers A venging the Sins Sins of the fathers.

Sins of the Alien of I' est ranger -Keeper of strange customs Breakers of taboo New evils invented each day.

New atrocities advertised for

Maximum consumption To amuse and entertain The lumpen proletariat, the Great Unwashed The common folk Xenaphobia, agoraphobia, arachnaphobia Fear of life Fear of death Of torture and imprisonment The fiery tongs of creatures employed by God or the Devil - or both.

Tongues lolling in gargoyle head. , Talons gripping the newly captured Sucking the very blood , Sucking the very spirit By easy means Hunger, caging, filth & the old clockwork orange Planting new memories, confusing the diehards depressing the hopeful disappointing those naive ones Too immersed in dreams To read To see the Signs of Ash and Dust.

Wilhelmina Miles

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The Lions of Carnegie The Dragons of Carnegie The Goats of Carnegie [T A KEY 0 U R PIe KJ Photos by Eva the Elf, taken on Chinese New Year.

Fromthe Library We all know that the Carnegie Library is unique, and I've got some cool stats to back that up. In 2014 the Carnegie was the only VPL branch to see an increase in DVD circulation (up 10.5% = almost 76,000 DVDs borrowed) and we have seen an increase in Books as well (up 10.4% = 20,600 Books borrowed). We have added another row of DVD's and are working hard to fill it & borrow overflow from other branches. Thanks so much for your patience as we meet the demand.

The other impressive feat is that out of 21 branches we're third highest in number of visits, even though we are the second smallest, which means that our space is well-loved. We're looking forward to upgrades in our wifi technology because the VPL system has reached capacity, withan increase of 51 % in wire-

less usage.

If you love DVD's keep your eyes peeled on the "Quick View" section for popular titles such as Gone Girl, Wild, The Imitation Game, The Wolf a/Wall Street, Gravity, etc. These items tend to have long wait lists but the Quick View section means you can jump the line! (Do note that they are for 3-day check out).

Your librarian, Natalie

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THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION Articles represent the views of individual contributors and not ofthe Association.

WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter • • • • • • • • • •

Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry.

Cover art - Max size: 17cm(6 :Y:)wide x 15cm(6')high.

Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the Downtown Eastside, but all work considered.

Black & White printing only.

Size restrictions apply (Le. if your piece is too large, it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit).

All artists will receive credit for their work.

Originals will be retumed to the artist after being copied for publication.

Remuneration: Camegie Volunteer Tickets

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We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory. ;;.::.,1". ;~:;.'~

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Meade

THURSDAY MARCH 12TH Next issue:

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLA Working for You .1070 - 1641 Commercial Dr, VSL 3Y3 Phone: 604-77S-0790

Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.

The editor can edit for clarity, format & brevity, . but not at the expense of the writer's message.

WEAPONS COMPUTER ADVICE Vancouver Community Network Cost-effective computer & IT support for non-profits I

VCN Tech Team http://techteam.vcn.bc.ca Call 778-724-0826 ext2. 705-333 Terminal

Ave, Van

OF MASS DESTRUCTION

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AIDS POVERTY

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HOMELESSNESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TOT ALlT ARIAN CAP IT ALlSM IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED

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(Publication is possible only with now-necessary donations.)

DONATIONS 2015 Terry & Savannah -$150 Michele C.-$100 Leslie S.-$100 Bob & Muggs -$100 Lisa -$50 Catherine C.-$100 Glenn B.-$200 Sheila B.$50 Vancouver Moving Theatre -$200 Pat 0.$50 Harold & Sharron 0.-$100 Michael C.-$100 Eleanor B.-$50 Elaine & Oavid -$j0 Margaret M.-$50 Ruth McG -$50' Jenny K -$100 Jacqueline L -$75 Or Kevin -$50 Robert McG.-$65 Anonymous $110 J

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Vancouver's non-commercial, listener supported community station.

METROVANCO ALLIANCE TRA"i\" TRANSPORTATIl) REFERENDUM FO Thursday March 12 2015,7:00 "Please RSVP to mvatransit@gmail,com metvanalliance. nationbuilder. com

or online at

Carnegie Theatre 401 Main St., Vancouver, Unceded Coa t

Wheelchair Accessible Public transit service levels in the Lower Mainland have rern~iJled practically unchanged over the past seven years. In that same period demand has soareq;;;}i? ::>

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Metro Vancouver residents will be asked to vote on a 0.5 perci;fui~I路!p.;~t~):搂~r~vincial,?,~leS Tax to improve pubh transit service, in a referendum this March. the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council plan for more transit routes, morebuses;ian9'tlC:i@Y9A~ vans, more options for cyclists, and increased service all over the region. ' ,'," " '" "

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If you live or work in the Downtown Eastside area we encourage you to come. We'll be discussing the upcoming transit and transportation referendum and working in groups to build relationships and develop strategies to ensure that the referendum passes.

Be there to add your voice for a better city! metvanalliance.nationbuilder.com . facebook.ccm/rnetvanalliance . @metvanalliance info@metvanalliance.org路 (604) 4418136路 1019 Broughton si. VincouverV6G 2A7

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