March 1, 2019 Carnegie Newsletter

401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7 (604) 665-2289 Email: carnnews@shaw.ca

Website/Catalogue:

carnegienewsletter.org

CELE/SRATE , NTE.RNATlO~"\....

" WOMEN'S

-"DAY

EQUAL f

I

Dear Women (Downtown Eastside residentsl members) "You are worthy, and you have the right to live in this universe." unknown author You are unique & beautiful so strut your beauty with no care in the world You are a strong hearted woman so fight for what is right You are loved & respected so share the love through a smile Remember who you are and things will fall into place Trust in the universe Priscillia Tait gitsxan-wetsuwet'en

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - MARCH 8 ANTI-terrorism A message to anyone who will listen We want our 200 Canadians back Chinese nor otherwise Signed by A pUNJAB Is that what you want to call me NOW Being of an etymology of grand illusion With so much at stake THIS poet got it Signed by APUNJAB Ruby diamond Ps I am FULL of CONCeit And do you want the death penalty xi jinping We want Robert Lloyd Schellenberg back NOW Jathinder Sandhu oVERDOSES Plath sang its sorrow that 'bag full of god' that intricately framed reflecting glass that shattered mirror that which is acquired clandestinely in broad daylight that which runs roughshod over us that which hauls down arches, that which demolished shrines, that which empties pews, that thing, that single thing - echoing out, over us all.

Submitted by Dyllan Kaufmann

Down10wn Eas1sjde o D

As if we all don't have enough to do.... :)

Science 101 Science 101 is a free 3 month, non-credit, barrier free, introductory course offered to adults who are interested in learning more about the world around them.

Learn from UBC professors and graduate students about fascinating and fun topics in science!

Location and times Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:30pm on UBC campus. *Optional 'weekly tutorials and a variety of fieldtrips.

Course dates May 6th to August

e=, 2019

Information sessions March 6th at 6-7 pm at Camegie Community Centre, Classroom IT (401 Main St) March 15th at 3-4:30 pm at the UBC Leaming Exchange (612 Main St) March 20th at 6-7 pm at Camegie Community Centre, Classroom IT (401 Main St) March 220d at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm at Oppenheimer Park March 29th at 3-4:30 pm at the UBC Learning Exchange (612 Main St)

Contact us at: 604-345-0348

3

I'm involved in a project that will recommend to the City of Vancouver the best location for an east-west arterial road through the False Creek Flats. We're called the Flats Arterial Community Panel, and we're hosting a workshop for the public to contribute their ideas and perspectives to our work!

If you're interested, join a discussion-focused workshop on Tuesday, March 5, 7-9pm at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, 1607 East Hastings The City of Vancouver convened the Flats Arterial Community Panel to recommend the route for a new arterial road through False Creek Flats that best meets the needs of the neighbourhood, city, and region as a whole. The Panel has been listening to input from the City and multiple stakeholders to understand the advantages and drawbacks for the proposed arterial routes. The Panel will submit our recommendations to Vancouver City Council and Vancouver Board of Parks & Recreation.

At the public workshop you'll have the chance to contribute to the Panel's learning and study of the arterial options, and: *Hear about the Panelists' work so far *Leam more about the proposed route options *Enrich the Panel's learning by participating in table discussions about the advantages and drawbacks Panelists-have identified for each proposed route *Meet with other community members

or

sciencelOl@science.ubc.ca www.science.ubc.ca/lOl

FACULTY OF SCIENCE TIlE UNIVERSITY or BRITISH COlur-1BIA

Seating is limited, so please RSVP https:// fcfcommunitypanel.com/public-workshops/. if you're interested but can't make the public event in March, there']] be a 2nd public workshop on April 2 (Teresa)

Jenny Kwan MP Vancouver East NDP Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Critic 2572 E Hastings St Vancouver, BCV5K IZ3 T: 604-775-5800 F: 604-775-5811 Jenny.Kwan@parl.gc.ca

The following Motion has gone to City Council. It was made by Jean Swanson to work with and for the hundred or so people who camp in Oppenheimer Park during these cold days, and to relay the urgency to provide decent housing alternatives for the many homeless in the city.

MOTION ON NOTICE 4. Helping Campers in Oppenheimer Park Submitted by: Councillor Swanson WHEREAS 1. There are currently 80-100 people camping in Oppenheimer Park in below freezing temperatures; 2. Most are living with makeshift shelters, with insufficient bedding, lack of proper nutrition and no formal source of heat; 3. The elderly and vulnerable are more susceptible to illnesses exacerbated by cold, and may be already living with chronic illnesses; 4. There are reports of pneumonia in the park already; 5. Campers cannot safely leave their belongs to go to shelters, emergency response shelters or warming centres or to the hospital for fear of having their belongings thrown away; 6. Shelters are too often full or not able to meet the needs of campers with partners, pets or belongings; 7. Campers have had belongings destroyed or taken by City staff; 8. Park washrooms are only open until 5 pm; 9. It is costly to pay City engineering and rangers to take down tents and clean up garbage;

•

10. While most people agree that tent cities are not a good way to live, when there is no housing or shelter available people can be safer in a tent city than being alone on the street.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED A. THAT Council direct staff to work with BC Housing to rent a hotel or motel to house the Oppenheimer Park patrons.

B. THAT in the' terim, Council direct staff to acquire or implement a warming station in Oppenheimer Park with large heated tents, staffed with Peer Workers to help ensure safety and cleanliness.

C. THAT Council direct staff to provide storage for belongings and washroom facilities for park patrons.

D. THAT Council direct staff to ensure there is a way for campers to keep andlor retrieve their possessions.

E. THAT Council direct staff to talk to Oppenheimer Park staff and patrons about other possible solutions to humanize being homeless when there is no housing to move to. * * * * *

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5 Dear Mayor & City Council Re: Helping Campers in Oppenheimer Park I am writing in support Councillor Swanson's motion. The City of Vancouver needs to declare a state of emergency over Vancouver's homeless crisis. At a CCAP meeting with Shane Simpson MLA, Shane asked us a question a long the line: knowing that you cannot resolve the housing crisis overnight what would you do? I said I would help the people at Oppenheimer Park with sleeping bags and tents.

It is crazy to me that in Canada we have people living in third world living conditions - and it's getting worse.

All 3 levels of Govemment are contributing to the problem. It is estimated that 80-100 people are camping in Oppenheimer Park. Shame!

Something has to be done to help these people. There are already reports of pneumonia, and these people do not have access to proper medical attention.

It is heart breaking to see cities across the Province increasing their police budgets while doing nothing to stamp out homelessness. People living on the street in the DTES are constantly harassed by Police and City workers with pitch forks trashing their stuff. This has to end. If we cannot house the homeless then leave them alone.

Many people are afraid of shelters. They fear being attacked or robbed. They worry about bed bugs. I was homeless last year and couldn't even get in the shelter because it was over booked. The smell of the place was beyond normal. Why would anyone let a place smell that bad?

I support Councillor Swanson's resolve THAT City staff work with BC Housing to rent a hotel or motel to house the people living at Oppenheimer Park. THAT in the interim City staff implement warming stations staffed with peer support workers to ensure safety and cleanliness. And, THAT the City direct staff to provide 24 hour access to washrooms and provide storage for belongings for the campers at Oppenheimer Park.

Don WaJchuk

IMuriel's Journey Poetry Prizel 1st Prize: $100 2nd Prize: $50 other prizes awarded by select judges

Thoughts on Revenge vs. Forgiveness Revenge is a Communicative Failure whereas Forgiveness is a Conqueror's Success

Write aiid submit up to 5 lively poems by April 1. Any subject. Be outspoken.

See the Rules online:https:lltinyurLcom/ySjbpkkt or search Facebook for: Muriel's Journey Poetry Prize all submissions must be by email. Read rules first.

Live or involved in the Dowtown Eastside? Add "DTES" in your submission email to apply to the separate Downtown Eastside 1st Prize $100.

and which is the easy vs. the difficult thing to do?

Oftentimes it's the difficult road that gives the success and the freedom to be able to move on remembering that perpetrators are not always fully aware of the harm that they do to others or significantly to themselves.

- Inga g

The great tornado swirls It ruminates and swirls I am made small in its eye I know who my creator is like an ant Carrying twice its load This mouth gaping A voiceless scream Just like the dreams I have Of the Portland hotel I once had a snotty self-indulgent customer sitting outside a coffee shop on Robson street, deride me in laughter at my poverty. She laughed pointing at me because I was panhandling. I will never forget that. I had never been ridiculed for my poverty before, but I remember how she pointed at me and what she said. It didn't hit me the same way that calling me a Paki would, but it spoke volumes about her. In one sense we are not poor. We all have roaring buttercups. But in another sense, we are forced to live in a world that only values money. We have access to health if we have money. To food and shelter if we have money. All these things ought to be a right that every person has. That we live in a world where starvation is a constant experience for whole nations, ] wonder, if things will ever change. For me the most important stuff in life is healing. I know that recovering alcoholics and addicts can be the greatest of healers. Because they have been there. I know that the body holds every memory we will ever have and nobody can buy my body.

The wisest people are those that have suffered. Addicts need weight and depth in a message. They don't need frivolous superficiality. I love the people of the DTES. Yes, poverty is a stark reality. But there is also a comradery and one neighbor helping another. This too is part of the DTES. I am going to end by saying that where there is vulnerability, there is humanity and community is so very important to our humanity and for that I am grateful.

When the tornado falls upon itself, a swirling of wind We are left in awe.

Its largeness dwarfs my humanity And I am made right sized.

Ruby Diamond

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•

401 Main Street, Vancouver BC V6A 2T7

604·665·2289

The 2019 B.C. Budget was delivered yesterday and we were there looking for the investments in B.C.'s first 7 -ever poverty reduction strategy. In a nutshell, the new BC Child Opportunity Benefit will significantly impact families in poverty in British Columbia but there needs to be far more for individuals in poverty in this budget.

This is a family budget building on last year's significant and continued investments in child care, and we're pleased to see B.C. finally get in line with other provinces in providing a child benefit that extends up to age 18. There are also many other supports for families, youth and children outlined below.

However, the increase to welfare and disability rates of only $50 per month and the addition of only 200 modular houses in this budget is a drop in the ocean in tackling deep poverty for individuals. This is a critical gap given that one in three singles live in poverty in B.C. Given the level of surplus in the budget, as well as forecast allowance and contingency funds, there's really no reason to keep rates so shockingly low!

We look forward to seeing more significant measures and the long-term vision in the full poverty reduction strategy to be released shortly. Below is a summary of our Members' analysis.

BCPRC Press Release: BC Budget: Making Life Better for Families in BC to Prevent Poverty Welfare and Disability Assistance With the increase of $50 per month per person, the basic income assistance rate will now be only $760 per month, which is meant to cover housing, food, transportation and other basic needs. This remains below 50% of the poverty line, which reflects the actual cost of living. The disability rate will increase to $1183 plus the existing transportation allowance of $52 per month.

However, along with many of our members, we have been advocating for a shift to a more supportive social assistance system so we welcome significant steps, including: -changing the definition of spouse in line with other programs to ensure fairness in the level of support for couples; -helping clients access identification; -increasing the assets threshold; -allowing people to keep their car; -extending the shelter rate to those paying room and board to a family member; -and simplifying the re-application process to decrease the risk in people taking up short-term employment opportunities.

Raise the Rates: Pulling Teeth: Budget 2019 a big disappointment CCPA: Budget 2019: Positive investments, but room for more Housing New investments include a small expansion of the Province's successful modular housing program to fund 200 additional units beyond the 2000, plus an additional 2,500, announced last year as well as $15 million to develop a province-wide homeless response strategy over the next three years.

"Other measures include accelerating $38 million in grants to housing providers in the 2018119fiscal year that ends on March Jl as well as $10 million to establish a provincial rent bank (which is welcome, but ultimately a band-aid solution in the context of a major housing crisis).

While the investment in new housing was at a record level in last year's BC Budget, the crisis is so severe that more action is still needed. Budget 2019 adds to this multi-year investment plan, though only modestly. Additional investments are needed to meet the government's target of 114,000 new housing units over 10 years. As of last year's budget, the government outlined specific commitments to create 34,000 new homes over 10 years and Budget 2019 does not yet begin to substantially bridge the gap to achieve the 114,000 unit target.

The target itself should also be increased, particularly as it is designed to include market housing. We need 10,000 units per year of social and cooperative housing in Metro Vancouver alone."

CCPA: Nine things to know about BC Budget 2019 BCNPHA: Housing Advocates Welcome Continued Investments in Affordable Housing in 2019 BC Budget Child care Budget 2019 built on what was announced in Budget 2018 extending funding for the plan into the 2021-22 fiscal year and including $9 million more next year than expected to deal with high demand for existing programs.

"We are already seeing results as we build towards the $lOaDay Plan, a quality, universal child care system:

Families of more than 52,000 children are benefitingfrom lower fees, with many more low income families paying low or no fees.

2,500 children are in $10/day prototype sites.

Early Childhood Educators see their first publicly-funded wage increase in almost 20 years, along with increased bursaries and education supports.

New licensed programs are being created, existing facilities being upgraded, unlicensed spaces becoming licensed, young parent programs and children with additional needs are benefiting from increased funding.

Importantly, the BC government has confirmed its commitment to Indigenous-led child care on and off reserve. " Developing a universal child care system requires continued accountability by directing investments into:

investment,

so we encourage

government

to ensure

Increasing wages for Early Childhood Educators, to a living wage to address the recruitment and retention crisis.

Creating more new child care programs with public partners and non-profits, as parents across BC are still desperate for access to quality licensed care.

Lowering parentfees, with more $10/day prototype sites & universalfee reductions" Health Budget 2019 highlighted the investment to reduce Pharmacare deductibles for low-income people and to increase access to medications including treatment for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and eye infections as well as the full elimination ofMSP fees which will take effect by January 1,2020.

"The government's reinvestment in better care for seniors, faster access to surgeries and building and renovating hospitals continues to be a priority in the 2019 provincial budget. Health care programs will see a lift of $1.3 billion over three years, which will include support for a multi-year plan to boost staffing levels in nursing homes to the minimum guidelines. The budget also continues support for the second year of a $548 million investment in seniors' care including more staff for long-term care, home support and other services. The capital plan anticipates a number of hospital renovations announced over the last year that will enhance and improve services in communities across B. C. And significantly, health authorities won't beforced to use inflexible and expensive public-private partnership (P3) schemes, which have resulted in long-term liabilities amount to almost $1 billion in health care alone. , The Budget also re-iterated the government's support for team-based primary care. Community Health Centres are an interdisciplinary, team-based model that is well proven in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Oregon. The government's primary care strategy, announced in May 2018, included CHCs as part of its primary care reforms." More funding is still needed to roll out this vision with an annualized global funding model. We also encourage the government

to work towards universal dental and vision care.

Education Another significant move is the elimination of interest on student loans effective immediately. huge relief to students graduating from post-secondary education with significant debt.

This provides

"Students are ve,y happy that the government has listened to our call, and has taken this important step towards mitigating student debt, " said A ran Armutlu, Chairperson of the BC Federation of Students (BCFS). " This announcement will not only help current and future students, but also those who have completed their studies and are struggling to make loan payments. " Funding also increased for tuition-free ABE and ELL, benefiting an estimated 19,000 students and post-secondary spaces opened across BC, including 2900 tech seats and 620 early childhood educator seats.

The government provided record levels of capital spending to build new schools and complete seismic upgrades. However, it's important that these new schools are built right In addition, $550 million is dedicated to increase operational funding over three years but this funding falls short of what is needed to address the teacher shortage and the need for improvements to class size and composition.

Low Wage Work and Employment Standards "Budget 2019 also strengthened protections for vulnerable workers with an increase in Employment Standards funding of $14 million over three years tofacilitate the removal of the self-help kit, double staff to conduct investigations and create a registry as introduced in the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act. We know that the most pressing needfor change is in how the Employment Standards Act is enforced. Enforcement should be proactive, rather than driven by workers' complaints as it is now. We hope that with a significant increase in Branch enforcement staff they can proactively enforce workplace rights, which for many vulnerable workers currently only exist on paper. We also urge the government to act in this legislative session to protect children and youth from work-related exploitation and injury by reforming child employment standards and ensuring adequate eriforcement. " Equity This is an overview of some of the investments that target those most marginalized in poverty. Having called for this measure along with our members, in particular First Call, we celebrate the expansion of the provincial child benefit, with the increase of provision from 6 years old to 18 years old. This will reduce child poverty and is a good preventative initiative.

The new benefit will provide an increase of the maximum lifetime benefit for a family with two children from $7,920 to $48,000. The benefit targets deep poverty with the threshold for the maximum benefit set at $25,000.

However, this is far below the poverty line of $40,000 for a family offour.

There are many other measures aimed at families, children and youth, including: family-based caregivers including foster parents will have an increase of $179 per month; support payments received by extended family will increase to match foster parents' compensation in order to keep families together; families with children and youth with special needs will get more support, including respite relieffor parents; and children and youth with mental health issues will have more access to services.

On legal aid: "While the budget announces the piloting of eight legal clinics across the province, the dollars tentatively attached to this promise fall far short of what would be required to create the kind of clinical legal clinic structure that is so desperately needed. Moreover, there is no increase in investment in the civil legal aid system to reduce barriers to eligibility and increase services. The failure. to properly fund family legal aid is particularly devastating for women leaving violent relationships."

On transit: "HandyDART service in all jurisdictions is suffering, and HandyDART riders with it. As in 2018, there is no line item for this in the 2019 budget. BC Transit is getting an additional $21M infunding, so we will see some further increase in service. It is not enough and we will continue to advocate for more HandyDART vehicle hours." There is also no money for the measures outlined by the #AllOnBoard campaign: free transit for children and youth and a sliding-scale low-income transit pass.

On Community Living BC: There was a very modest annual increase of$66 million to the Community Living BC budget. "It ¡I/emains unclear how this budget will actually translate directly into supports for people with intellectual disabilities and their families who are waiting for services, " says Inclusion BC Executive Director Karla Verschoor. "Families and community agencies that support people with intellectual disabilities across BC have struggled with inadequate funding for a long time. Individuals andfamilies continue to be told there's not enough money in the CLBC budget for the services they need and face increasingly limited support options. " On indigenous issues: "Budget 2019 announces funds for new revenue-sharing agreements with BC First Nations for $297 million over three years. The funds will be available to First Nations to invest in priorities to support their communities, and the Budget does not include much detail on how the money will be distributed but this is an important initiative to watch. " The government acknowledged that "the agreement to share provincial gaming revenue was reached after decades of work and advocacy by the First Nations Leadership Council, represented by the First Nations Gaming Commission, as directed through resolutions by Chiefs at assemblies of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. "

Pulling Teeth: Budget 2019 a big disappointment A fter a year of poverty reduction "consultations" with the BC government, we at Raise the Rates are extremely disappointed to see that they did not hear us. Another year of rapidly rising housing prices, unlivable costs of living, and government inaction on welfare and disability rates means more suffering, trauma, and deepening debt for folks living on income assistance.

It's true: this year, the government announced an increase to rates. By $50. Now a single person on income assistance is receiving $760 per month.

This $50 proves to us that the government really did not listen to the deep, meaningful, visionary words and work that we and our anti-poverty allies brought to the table. It demonstrates to us that people in the depth of poverty don't matter in light of the "fiscal responsibilities" of the government and aren't worth investing valuable money into.

We know what it takes: a mere $1.16 billion in bringing up income assistance rates to the poverty line in BC. This is only 1% of the provincial GDP. What we are starting to realize is that the government cannot be bothered to spend even 1% of its wealth to drastically change the lives of the over 180 000 people living on income assistance.

An increase of $50 is half of the increase that the government gave to income assistance in September 20 l7.

They seem to care about 50% less now. And it's not looking great for the future.

It begs the question, are we at the dentist? Because getting any government in BC to care about people on income assistance seems to be like pulling teeth (and the astronomical bill that comes after).

We told them: raise welfare rates. Raise disability rates. If not to the federal poverty line (market basket measure), at least commit to 75% of the poverty line.

We told them: make sure to tie rents to the unit, and not the tenant, so landlords can stop taking advantage of low-income people to make a profit off our human right to housing.

We told them: create a more equitable, accessible assistance system, that is actually here for the support ofvulnerable and targeted populations. • We told them: make a poverty reduction plan that has no holes, no gaps, no lack of communication between ministries because everyone pays for poverty, and every ministry is responsible for an equitable plan.

We supported the work of many other groups who have been saying the same things for many years, in many different ways.

We urged them to end poverty, or at least reduce poverty. Instead they have entrenched poverty for those in the deepest poverty and the greatest need.

Who exactly was the government listening to?

POVERTY

REDUCTION STRATEGY

The Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts and the City Opera Vancouver present

TEA ~OPERA mm

~

AN EVENING

It:ll

BROADWAY

OF OPERA

& AND

CLASSICS

FEATURING MICHELLE

KOEBKE

SOPRANO

ROGER

PARTOH

PIANIST

A variety of bands playing Bluegrass, Folk and Country Music!

•••

PACIFIC BLUEGRASS & HERITAGE

SOCIETY

Wednesday March 13 2019 1

7-8:30prn Carnegie Theatre

THE BUM

I've learned that Dignity is recognizing our own worth and that of others for as a young boy once said: "God don't make no junk" while Respect is how we treat that which is of value to us honoring qualities, natural talents, feelings and the rights of others ... which leads my thinking to that: We should treat ourselves and others with dignity, and with respect especially if they are experiencing a loss of work opportunities, money or a honey; for this is when we are most sensitive and what does it cost us - to do so? when we may, one day, be likewise 'emotionally tossed' by unkind words.

Emotions ... studying our own emotions can teach us 'awareness' of what is life enhancing and of that which can trigger us negatively to mess up.

Jealousy, for one, can trigger us to search and work on 'our own' natural talents while Self-expression can lift us out of any depression; something we should give our time and respect to for I've learned that Respect is given to those who give it.

Inga g.

Ionce met a man who lived in the city With his patchy old clothes He looked quite a pity His face was unshaven And his hair was uncut And everyone looked at him Like he was some kind of nut But as I came closer There's a tear on his cheek It's not money the man wants But a friend that he seeks I asked him if he' d like to talk He nodded his head so we went for a walk He had once had a wife And a very happy home Butt his wife went away And he was left all alone Now he loved his wife For she was real fine So he tried to furget her in a bottle of wine

.

.

As all the lonely years went by He tried but in vain to find that ost love It just wasn't the same Money and car and home all gone There was nothing left for him to pawn.

He sank even lower with the passing of time He found himself down on the streets begging for nickels and dimes.

Now let's not forget that he's still a man And he'll try to help himself out The best way he can.

So just' cause you have money And are well-to-do Remember, don't ever laugh at a bum Because the same thing can happen to you.

Lyle Hayes

from the LibrarY March 8th is International Women's Day. In addition to perhaps giving a traditional flower, gift, or word of appreciation to the all the women who make your life better or, I hope, receiving the same, if you are a woman, and make all our lives better, perhaps you'd like to pop by the library and pick up one of the following items by or about women. Here's an interesting thing I learned about International Women's Day while writing this column: It is an official holiday in many countries, but in China and Madagascar, it is a holiday for women only. And here's something I wondered about while writing this column: Why is it not a holiday here?

About Betty's Boob, by Vero Cazot and Julie Rocheleau, is a 'wordless' graphic novel about Betty's boob.

Beautifully illustrated, and it's a really lovely, uplifting story of how Betty's life is transformed after she loses a breast to cancer.

Malala Yousafzai is one of the great women activists of our time, and an honorary Canadian. He Named Me Malala is the now classic documentary of her story from the Pakistani teen whom the Taliban attempted to kill for advocating for girls' education, to a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Meshell Ndegeocello is a phenomenally talented multi -instrumentalist who has been making music since the 1980s. She was one of the first artists to sign to Madonna's record label, and may be best known for her hit duet on Van Morrison's Wild Night with John Mellencamp. Ventriloquism came out last year and is a collection of covers of songs from the 80s and 90s. Everything on it is great, so it's hard to pick just one or two cuts to highlight, but keep your ears open for definitive versions ofTLC's Waterfalls, Tina Turner's Private Dancer, & Sade's Smooth Operator.

Dawn Dumont is an Indigenous author from Saskatoon. Glass Beads is a series of interconnected short stories following the lives of four young Indigenous friends, set from the early 90s to late OOs,as they navigate life in the city as the first of their families to live off reserve.

On March 9th, the library is partnering with Disabilities Alliance BC to offer 1 hour Tax Preparation Sessions for People Receiving Disability Benefits. If you're interested in signing up, ask in the library.

Happy reading, viewing and listening, Randy

STILL AND MOVING LIFE Many people won't understand poetry yet poetry shall understand people!

Trees alongside Powell Street East speak in the rainbow tongues of dreaming gods.

Their roots swim down to richest regions undreamt of by urban and shitty hall bureaucrats!

Garbage bins hold rusted forgotten dreams wanting so much to tell rotting state secrets!

Miscellaneous folks wander our streets coming from all planets lives and auras but the myriad ghosts remain ever silent, they prefer to mingle with seabirds, dead leaves and echoes of priceless latent moonlight.

John Alan Douglas Governance I want my life back! Right? Right now! Then I want my freedom returned. Turn back to when I can make decisions. Who stole that very essential beginning from my confidence? Was I conned out of it; or did I lose it? If I lost it; then how does it begin to be replaced? I need it now! Right? Right? Right! Is it too late to apologize? It is too late to apologize. Something too is missing from my life and it is my brothers success and my memory of it. I want my life back. Lost.

1---------P-e-t-t....,y

By Byron

is Exactly the Term

Big difference in being criminal I hate petty thieves 'cause they are petty in so many ways ripping off people's bikes or TVs People, individual people, real people who maybe sacrificed time and money to buy a good bicycle or quality TV petty lit fux who never consider for a second that the same people they ripped today might one day throw them a dime once someone breaks their legs and they can't run off with whatever Wise up, rob a bank, or swindle a corporation have a little class, you ass, think think about the effort and pride that bicycle might be worth; don't assume people with money deserve to be stolen from 'cause you got zip like they owe it to you .. petty lil mutha fuka G-Man

NEED T

CH HELP?

o

o

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If you are struggling with your phone or any other technology, or just want to learn, we are offering free learning in the form of drop-in 'tech cafes' at the following locations and times:

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Floor), Tuesdays 10:30am-12:30

Eas~ide Works (57 E Hastings St), Thursdays lpm-3:30pm Oppenheimer

Park Field House, Fridays 10:30am-12:30

last Monday of the Month: WISH Drop-In Centre, 6-8pm (April 30 and May 28, female only)

a place "Ht

of mind

U""Yl:tI;$1TY

Learning

Of

flfllT'SH

Exchange

COLUMI'>'A.

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WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie Newsletter -Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12 WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION • •

AIDS POVERTY

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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

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IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

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