September 1, 1993, carnegie newsletter

NEWSLETTER

September I, 1993

401 Main St., Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604)665-2289

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Inside:

Alfie Mountain Oppenheimer Youth housing

Worms

PNE

Potato Heads

ELDERS CONFERENCE I N D U N C A N I'm George N i c h o l a s , My t r i p t h e r e wasuuonderful.

Tony was a t h i s b e s t .

Everyo n e on t h e b u s was f u l l o f life.

Upon a r r i v i n g a t Duncan o u r l u g g a g e was confiscated and put somewhere unknown t o u s u n t i l l a t e r i n t h e e v e n i n g when we 6'ound o u r s e l v e s t a k i n g o v e r allhouse on t h e r e s e r v e w h e r e t h e owners r e t r e a t e d o a n R.V., l e a v i n g 1 7 C a r n e g i e members t o enjoy t h e s e people's love l o v e l y home.

The C o n f e r e n c e was v e r y e n j o y a b l e t o me, especially the picture ceremony,rat Chemainis, which took almost s i x hours t o complete.

Also a t 60 y e a r s o l d i t was n i c e t o h a v e y o u n g c h i l d r e n and young a d u l t s t o w a i t e hand a n d f o o t on me.

I had n o t n e e d e d t o move f o r anything.

The f o o d : s a l m o n , e l k , moose, c r a b l e g , o y s t e r s , bannock, o c t o p u s , f i s h e g g s , f r e s h f r u i t ! - Wow! ! I t t o o k a l o t o f work f o r t h i s e v e n t and t h e young p e o p l e b r o u g h t it off wonderfully.

Thanks t o you a l l . f r o m GEORGE N .

SENIORS GROUP

NEW ADDRESS The U I office f o r t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e and Strathcona i s now located a t - : S u i t e 103 4181 East Hastings Burnaby Phone: 291- 1674

WALK-FOR AIDS NATIVE HELATH PARTICIPATION SEPT 26 t h SUNDAY Volunteers needed cooking serving clean-up c a l l 254-9949

by Sept 9

K i m Cambell How do you l i k e your soup?

Mixed up with creamed Mulroney I am s u r e .

Do you e a t it i n a bowl with Right Wing crackers: If you win We w i l l a l l be i n t h e soup. (But you won't)

SHEILA BAXTER

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6:30

Wed.

Heigh ho, we're to the fair I t took a l i t t l e persuading, but t h e PNE has agreed t o make s u r e Carnegie g e t s t h e f r e e passes it needs f o r t h i s y e a r ' s fair.

The PNE had c u t o f f Carnegie without any 'warning, but changed i t s mind a f t e r a strongly-worded p r o t e s t l e t t e r from t h e Carnegie Board, followed by a demonstrat i o n by Carnegie members with p l a c a r d s a t t h e corner of Main and Hastings during t h e PNE parade.

As Shriners, p o l i c e and f i r e squads and B.C. Lions cheerleaders marched by, they c o u l d n l t help but n o t i c e t h e banner displayed a c r o s s t h e f r o n t of Carnegie: ''Shame on t h e PNE - Discriminates a g a i n s t t h e poor and disabled."

We s t i l l d o n ' t have a proper explanation f o r t h e c u t o f f . When we first complained, t h e PNE o f f e r e d a handful1 of passes, b u t only i f Carnegie members s p e c i f i e d t h e i r mental o r physical d i s a b i l i t y , This i s obviously unacceptable - an invasion of privacy and a demeaning form of means t e s t .

To make m a t t e r s worse, t h e PNE handed out thousands of f r e e passes t h i s year t o groups a l l over t h e

c i t y , including hundreds t o bingo players.

Indeed, people i n t h e parade who supported t h e p r o t e s t gave out handfuls of t h e i r own passes t o t h e Carnegie demonstrators.

The about-face by t h e PNE came a s a r e s u l t o f t h e strong and united a c t i o n of Carnegie members.

The f a i r runs u n t i l Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. Any Carnegie member who wants a p a s s should apply a t t h e t h i r d - f l o o r o f f i c e of Carnegie between noon and 5 p.m. t o g e t t h e i r name on t h e l i s t .

COMINGS AND GOINGS BIKI'HS- On August 7 a t 12:51 a.m., Todd Richard Ambrosia came i n t o t h e world weighing 6 pounds, 11 counces.

A brother f o r . V i r g i n i a and Erica. proud p a r e n t s a r e Todd and June Rose.

Ted and Cindy Chang a r e t h e proud p a r e n t s of a 7-pound boy named Micah.

A t t h e r a t e babies a r e arriving, Carnegie w i l l soon have t o open a nursery. Congratulations t o a l l of t h e new p a r e n t s .

s t e p s . He was a cousin of Margaret P r e v o s t t s , and an e x c e l l e n t c a r v e r .

Our thoughts and p r a y e r s go out t o a l l who a r e greiving. Putt i n g t h i s column t o g e t h e r reminded me of growing up i n Srsk.tcFeww.

Things were so excPting t h e r e t h a t whenever you v i s i t e d your n e a r e s t neighbor, you h i t t h e s o c i a l page of t h e weekly newspaper. We alwavs had p l e n t y oC human i n t e r e c t s t o r i e s i n s t e a d of c o n s t a n t l y giving t h e n o l i t i c i a n s t h e p u b l i c 4 t y t h e y don't deserve.

DEATHS August has been a t e r r i b l e month f o r l o s i n g people who were close t o us.

Mary James was born on August 10, 1952, and passed away on August 17, 1993. Even though she was s u f f e ~ from cancer, she e v e r complained.

One unique q u a l i t y about Mary she was always doing t h i n g s f o r o t h e r s and never expected anything i n return. Mary's ashed have been sent up t o h e r family i n Mount Currie

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There was a memorial f o r Mary James a t F i r s t United Chiuch, and it is very d i f f i c u l t t o r e a l i z e tha? one grieving woman would meet a t r a g i c death a few days' l a t e r . The r e p o r t s say t h a t Pouline Joseph f e l l from t h e eighth-storey window of t h e Balmoral Hotel.

Alfred Richard Mountain was found dead a t t h e corner of Graveley and Lakewood. Alfred was only 36 years o l d and I o f t e n used i m s i t t i n g on t h e Carnegie

I r e n e Schmidt Mary James was a shining example - a woman who honored h e r c u l t u r e , helped o t h e r s , and never complained Why me?"

She was f u l l of courage and compassion and kept her work out of t h e s p o t l i g h t . Our community w i l l miss h e r and never f o r g e t h e r example.

Longtime Downtown'Eastsider Tom Bayne d i e d t h i s p a s t month. Tom was born i n 1912 i n t h e U. S. H i s p a r e n t s brought him t o Canada when he was a year o l d , But t h e a u t h o r i t i e s got h i s b i r t h d a t e mixed up, s o Tom went throught h i s l i f e with two b i r t h d a y s - h i s r e a l one, on January 1st and t h e o f f i c i a l one on a l l h i s documents - March 3rd.

Tom come out west i n t h e e a r l y 1930s, during t h e Great Depression.

He rode t h e r a i l s and l i v e d i n t h e hobo jungles along t h e way. #el,was a r r e s t e d s e v e r a l times f o r vagrancy and was evenyually s e n t t o a r e l i e f

camp w i t h a l l t h e o t h e r s i n g l e , unemployed men. From t h e r e , v h e j o i n e d t h e r e l i e f camp s t r i k e r s and l e f t Vancouver with t h e On-to-Ottawa Trek i n i n 1936. Tomr~had t h e d i s t i n c t i o n o f b e i n g one of t h e few T r e k k e r s t o make it a l l t h e way t o Ottawa. A f t e r t h e RCMP a t t a c k e d and j a i l e d t h e T r e k k e r s i n Regina, t h e gave each of them a one-way t i c k e t back t o t h e i r home town. Tom s a i d h e was from C a r l t o n P l a c e , j u s t o u t s i d e of Ottawa. He made it t o t h e c a p i t a l j u s t as t h e marchers were a r r i v i n g from Toronto.

A f t e r t h e Trek. Tom r e t u r n e d t o Vancouver, where h e s e t t l e d i n t h e

Downtown E a s t s i d e ; He l i v e d f o r a time i n a houseboat on ~ a l s r eCreek, and made a l i v i n g t a k i n g l o g s o f f booms and s e l l i n g them. He l a t e r worked f o r many y e a r s a s a bookie, o u t o f t h e o l d Broadway Hotel (now t h e Sunrise).

Tom Bayne was always a r e b e l . For y e a r s h e donated $20 a month t o DERA o u t of h i s monthly pension cheque. And whenever someone asked how he was doing, he usgd t o r e p l y , "Good enough t o throw rocks. " J.S.

A MAN LOST I N HIS OWN SKIN

The day was Aug. 20. Another body was found i n an a l l e y . The meaning behind t h i s s e n s e l e s s d e a t h h a s a l o t o f people t h i n k i n g .

A l f r e d Richard Mountain was t h e young man's name, one who roame t h e s t r e e t s i n t h e daytime w i t h h i s buddies. They a l l d r i n k t h e cooking wine t h a t can b e bought i n some c o r n e r s t o r e s . I t ' s c a l l e d ginseng brandy.

Many of you know A l f r e d a s j u s a mean drunken bum. Most s t r e e t < people a r e d r i n k i n g because t h e y d o n ' t have a home t o go t o . T h e i r l i v i n g a r e a i s t h e a l l e y s , garbage b i n s , o r somewhere t h e y can f i n d warm steam coming out o f a b u i l d i n g Yes, A l f i e was l o o k i n g f o r a p l a c e t o f i n d h i m s e l f . I t seemed everyone t u r n e d him away. By t h a t I mean Treatment C e n t r e , Detox's. e t c . A l l because A l f i e had t h i s mean s t r e a k i n him. He and h i s b r o t h e r s were i n and o u t o f j a i l .

It' s unfortunate t h a t Alfie won't b e h e r e f o r P o l i c e Chief M a r s h a l l ' s t r i a l . You can b e t h i s f a m i l y won't l e t t h i s s l i p through t h e cracks.

A l f i e , y o u ' l l b e missed. T i 1 we meet a g a i n , Margaret

Uh oh, he's back! ~ t ' sn o t p o s s i b l e t o w r i t e it a l l down, but i t ' s a l s o h a r d e r than h e l l to t e l l it a l l i n a few sentences. --: Eleven people, including t h i s writer, have j u s t spent 17 days i n Nicaragua. ~ t ' st h e country t h a t experienced a f u l l - s c a l e r e v o l u t i o n i n 1979, when almost t h e e n t i r e population r o s e up and overthrew t h e corrupt, US-backed government of Anastasia Somoza.

Somoza was t h e fun-kind of guy who couldn't t e l l t h e d i f f e r e n c e between h i s own bank account and t h e n a t i o n a l treasury; who thought t h e earthquake of 1972 was t h e g r e a t e s t t h i n g s i n c e s l i c e d bread, s i n c e he r e b u i l t a l o t of t h e c a p i t a l c i t y of Managua on h i s land, with m a t e r i a l s supplied by h i s companies, using h i s t r u c k s , h i s e q u i p ment, and paying himself and h i s 'fami l y ' l i k e kings anyone who thought he was a greedy sack of s h i t was shot, o r t o r t u r e d and shot. I f he wanted entertainment he'd t a k e a bunch of peopl e from prison up i n a h e l i c o p t e r and throw them out while hovering over one of Nicaragua's volcanoes.

Somoza and s e v e r a l hundred of t h e r i c h e s t Nicaraguans escaped t o t h e US - t o Miami mostly - and took much of t h e country's t r e a s u r y with them.

Somoza himself was shot down i n Miami a year o r so a f t e r he got t h e r e . He j u s t had too many people who had l o s t family members who, f o r some reason, couldn't b r i n g themselves t o ' f o r g i v e and f o r g e t 1 .

The S a n d i n i s t a s , a s t h e revolutiona r i e s c a l l e d themselves, d i d amazing

t h i n g s i n t h e following 11 years. Educ a t i o n was guaranteed f r e e , medical c a r e was open G a v a i l a b l e with c l i n i c s and workshops on preventive c a r e , a massive campaign t o e r a s e i l l i t e r a c y went on f o r y e a r s and had g r e a t succe s s , people who worked t h e land had a s a y i n t h e i r l i v e s , r a t h e r than being almost a s l a v e t o t h e owner...it went on and on. This i s not j u s t s u b j e c t i v e r e p o r t i n g - t h e World Health Organisat i o n and t h e United Nations gave t h e S a n d i n i s t a government s p e c i a l recogn i t i o n f o r t h e r e s u l t s of t h e i r s o c i a l and h e a l t h programs.

What happened?

The US government, f i r s t under Ron Reagan, then under George Bush, was f r o t h i n g a t t h e mouth... 2 B continued

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and Third W d d s are one and' the same system I

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angers gro The Vancouver Sun, Monday, August 23,1993 KAREN GRAM Sun

Vancouver

A long-time advocate for the Downtown Eastside is drawing the community's fire for his plans to build housing for street kids at Main and Hastings.

Youth agencies in the neighborhood say the plans by Jim Green, now a provincial government employee, came as a surprise to them and will be disastrous for the young people involved.

"This is the worst idea that could ever have been conceived," said Calvin Lee, who coordinates the Street Youth Action Committee, a committee of teenagers from the Downtown Eastside.

"We are going to put kids right in the middle of a population that has given up hope."

Green, who now works for the ministries of finance and municipal affairs developing innovative financing for housing projects, plans to buy the old Bank of Montreal bui1ding;a heritage structure at Main and Hastings, with finance ministry money.

Using money from another government fund, street youths would be hired to renovate the building, giving them one year of trajning in all aspects of construction. The youths would then live in the building.

The ground floor would be a community bank; upstairs would be 30 housing units.

Ten of the units would be for street kids; Green said he hopes the community would decide who would live in the remaining 20, but it can't be people with special needs.

Green has first dibs on the purchase of the building. He has also secured $3 million from B.C. 21, a government fund intended to provide money for projects that will prepare the province for the 21st century, to build the units.

He said he has verbal approval from the city to proceed with the plan, but still has to go through the formal approval process.

"If it all goes ahead, it will be a tremendous boon to thetpmmunity," said Green on Sunday. "It willactiieve all the things I want to do on this planet."

He reeled off the benefits: a community bank, desperately needed housing in a heritage building and job training for street youths., But youth and street agencies in the Downtown Eastside say the plan will backfire and complain the project was sprung on them too late to change it. They say they only heard about it last week.

Lee said Main and Hastings is one of the busiest corners in the city, with sirens going all the time and more alcoholics and drug addicts per square metre than anywhere else.

"Why would we $ant to entrench kids down there?"

Lee said putting street kids together on that corner could create gangs where none existed before. As well, the kids would be vulnerable to all kinds of predators and drug dealing would likely proliferate.

Juan Rivera, an 18-year-old who lives in Stamps Place housing project at Campbell and Hastings and is a member of the Street Youth Action Committee, said he thinks the project is doomed unless it is moved from the proposed location.

"Many, many things would have to be done so that the building wouldn't fall apart in less than a month," lie said, adding he also feared a gang might develop there. He said kids should be housed in smaller projects off the main drag but still close to the action.

The youth council a t RayCam Community Center has written a letter to Green saying: "Young people deserve better care and attention than mass locations in high risk enviroments."

And John Turvey, of the Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society, said he doubts the street youths his organization serves would get the jobs because they have too many problems.

The jobs would go to youths from other parts of the city, he said.

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90we'd be bringing in more kids to the area," he said. "You got to be brain-dead to do that."

Green agreed kids with drug or alcohol abuse problems are not suitable for the project but said there are lots of others in the area who are. He said he doesn't rule out youths from Granville because they are part of the downtown core too.

Besides, he asked, isn't it better to train youths from just up the street on Granville than hire adults from Alberta or Ontario as some contractors do?

Deborah Mearns, president of Vancouver Native Health, said she is upset the community wasn't consulted earlier.

She said the community just completed a 2%-month process in which the residents and agencies worked out three low-impact

,housing projects for street youth that have the complete support of the neighborhood.

Those projects, located in Strathcona, the West End and the downtown South Granville area, are set to go.

That process was done through the Downtown Eastside-Strathcona Coalition, which was set up after residents complained about being left out of the planning for the area. Mearns said Green should have used the coalition too.

"If there is that kind of money, why can't we work out how it will be spent?" said Mearns.

Green said his staff have had meetings with 41 agencies in the downtown core including Granville Mall - but he had to keep fairly quiet about the plan so as not to endanger negotiations regarding it.

A house is not necessarily a home The p r o v i n c i a l government i s making t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e a n o f f e r i t t h i n k s we c a n ' t r e f u s e .

think of t h e idea of entrenching v u l n e r a b l e k i d s on a " S t r i p " known f o r i t s d r u g s , a l c o h o l and s t r e e t crime. (See t h e r e p r i n t e d newspaper a r t i c l e .)

I t wants t o b u i l d housing f o r s t r e e t youth r i g h t a t t h e most u n l i k e l y s p o t i n t h e neighbourhood, Hastings and Main, k i t t y - c o r n e r from Carnegie.

I n f a c t , t h e downtown E a s t s i d e / S t r a t h c o n a C o a l i t i o n h a s a l r e a d y co come up w i t h a sounder approach f o r youth - s m a l l , more home-like housi n g away from t h e s t r i p .

To sweeten t h e o f f e r , t h e province s a y s i t w i l l a l s o b u i l d housing f o r a d u l t s t h e r e and e s t a b l i s h a bank on t h e s i t e t o s e r v i c e low-income people who have trouble s t a r t i n g accounts i n r e g u l a r banks.

The government p r o j e c t i s being plunked down w i t h v i r t u a l l y no p r i o r community c o n s u l t a t i o n - even though l o t s o f o u t s i d e i n t e r e s t s , from d e v e l o p e r s t o union o f f i c i a l s and a r c h i t e c t s , seem t o know a l l about i t .

A t a p u b l i c meeting i n Carnegie on August 22, r e s i d e n t s and s t r e e t workers t o l d government r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n no u n c e r t a i n terms what t h e y

I t will have a b i g impact on Carnegie, because t h e i n f l u x o f yo* youth w i l l a f f e c t programming i n the Centre.

Government r e p r e s e n t a t i v e J i m Green t o l d t h e p u b l i c meeting t h e government i n s i s t s t h a t i f we want t h e bank and t h e a d u l t housing, we have t o t a k e t h e youth p r o j e c t , t o o .

The groups making t h e appeal 9 . r e p r e s e n t a l l t h e main r e s i d e n t s ' groups : Carnegie, DERA, Strathcona Community Centre and Ray-Cam. And some o f t h e most a c t i v e s t r e e t agencies: DEYAS, Native Health,and Watari Youth S e r v i c e s . I

Now s e v e r a l community groups a and s t r e e t agencies have banded together t o write d i r e c t l y t o V i c t o r i a t o say t h a t ' s n o t good enough, and t o i n v i t e t h e M i n i s t e r r e s p o n s i b l e , Mike Harcourt, Finance M i n i s t e r Glen Clark and Housing M i n i s t e r Robin Blencoe, t o t a l k t o t h e community f a c e - t o - f a c e .

LEAWERS CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The community's message i s : We d e s p e r a t e l y need more decent housing f o r a d u l t s i n t h e neighbourhood and we a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n d i s c u s s i n g t h e bank. But we d o n ' t want unacceptable schemes rammed down our t h r o a t s .

We need h e l p PLANNING Food, Workshops, Decorations, P u b l i c i t y .

And any new p r o j e c t s should be discussed f i r s t with t h e community, n o t a f t e r t h e r e ' s j u s t a few d e t a i l s l e f t t o be worked out.

IIELP

Meets Every Other Monday SEPTEMBER 7 (Tues) SEPTEMBER 20

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A l l Learners and Students from t h e Downtown Eastside Welcome The Learners' Conference is f o r a l l l e a r n e r s t o t a k e p a r t i n . GET INVOLVED! Become a member of t h e executive of t h e conference & t a k e p a r t i n t h e program.

It w i l l happen on September 30th.

So f a r , t h e t e n t a t i v e program is loam I n t r o d u c t i o n , ( c o f f e e & muff i n s ) llam-12 noon: Workshop i n t h e Theatre lpm Lunch 2pm-3pm: Open Forum 4pm: Music by Soft D i r t

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Tables w i l l be s e t up. .

C h a i r s w i l l be placed around t h e room.

Brochures may be l a i d o u t .

Advertisements may b e presented.

Learners can a l s o get involved doing o t h e r t h i n g s a t t h e ,Carnegie. Read s i g n s i n t h e c e n t r e , f i n d out what i n t e r e s t s you and become an a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t Attention ESL Learners. Are you i n t e r e s t e d i n acting? Become involved i n a c t i n g a t t h e Learners' Conference. J u s t contact Dora o r Patrick.

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NOISE A N D SUCH H e r e ' s how i t w a s m a y b e t e n y e a r s ago, even i n t h e West End. 1 0 am: my c h o i c e o f sound, u s u a l l y S c h u b e r t , The B e a t l e s , and c o f f e e p e r k i n g .

I t s m e l l e d s o good.

Then I heard t h e t o a s t pop up o r t h e r i n g o f my t e l e p h o n e , a n a r r a n g e m e n t made f o r t i m e o f f a t t h e beach.

The a i r s m e l l e d good, t o o .

I n f a c t , l i f e was good.

Do I s o u n d l i k e a n o l d c a r p e r b y now? Someone w h o s e object i s t o g r i p e about change? L e t s look a t t h e s i t u a t i o n now, same h o u r o f t h e day.

By 1 0 am I am b l i t z e d , u p s i n c e 5 am, 4 a m , dreading t h e noise t h a t w i l l s t a r t any minute.

And t h e s m e l l s now a r e o f o i l , g a s a n d dust.

During t h e p a s t s i x y e a r s , we h a v e moved f o u r times.

J e a n S w a n s o n t o l d me o n c e when we e m b a r k e d f r o m New West b a c k t o V a n c o u v e r , " 8 n t i l l a t e l y , 1 8 m o n t h s was my a v e r a g e s t a y i n a p l a c e .

Where I am now i s o k , b u t we're not allowed t o e a t f i s h , or..

."

We w e r e a s k a n c e .

Some d a y , I vowed J e a n s h a l l h a v e some f i s h w i t h u s , Oh y e s s h e will.

By 1 0 am I f e e l l u c k y even t o h e a r Beethoven o r t h e We h a v e t a k e n a t o p 22. v a r i e t y of inventive measures against offenders short of a gun.

T h a t we w h a l l n e v e r d o .

L o r d , we m i g h t e n d u p i n j a i l . ( g o a l ) and have even l e s s choice about any sounds.

You s e e , f o u r b l o c k s from u s , and r e p o r t e d b y t h e S u n a week a g o , a man w a v e d a gun a t two s k a t e b o a r d e r s .

We h e r a l d e d h i s s h o w o f a n g e r .

Our m e t h o d s i n c l u d e : l o u d a n d e x p l i c i t u s e o f Harry Rankin(I believe I s t y l e works. was m e a n t f o r h i s f a m i l y .

C e r t a i n l y my own f i n d s me a n appalling misfit) The f i n g e r and t o s s i n g o f o b j e c t s t o w a r d s a l l manner o f c r u d : s k a t e b o a m d e r s As boom c a r s , c e m e n t t r u c k s . w e l l , H a r l e y s and most b i k e s w i t h no m u f f l e r s , any r e v Q i g g vehicle, t o u r buses, abused and/or unattended dogs, and kids.

Need I c o n t i n u e ? T h e n o i s e i n t h e West End i s m u l t i a m p l i f i e d b y t o o many t a l l , skinny buildings, too c l o s e , together. ( C o u r t e s y Mayor Tom C a m p b e l l , 1 9 6 6 . ) He began t h e c r a z e t o f i l l t h e t h e a r e a w i t h cement A S u p e r v i s o r I had a t t h e Welfare Dept. E l s b e t h Wolverton, s a i d s h e and h e r f a m i l y used t o l i v e h e r e i n t h e e r a of s a n i t y and green g r a s s happy k i d s . Not now.

Too bad.

JONENE B ICKET

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Getting tired of welfare bashing?

For the last couple of months the media and Liberal and Social Credit politicians have been talking a lot about so-called welfare fraud.

The government has hired new "fi-audinspectors." The Young Socreds at Simon Fraser University distributed a "hate poster" against people on welfare.

People from Terrace to Vancouver have told End Legislated Poverty that this welfare bashing in the media is having an effect in welfare ofices. People are afraid to ask for what they need. People are afiaid to apply for welfare. People on welfare cringe everytime they hear this welfare bashing, assuming it applies to them.

If you need welfare, or are on welfare, remember that getting welfare is a right in Canada. The

government in Ottawa purposely kept interest rates high, knowing it would create unemployment. That government cut back UIC on purpose, knowing it would throw more people onto welfare. That government brought in fiee trade, knowing it would destroy jobs.

When TV and the papers and some politicians produce stories that paint people on welfare as fiaud artists, they are guilty of bigotry and discrimination. The solution to this problem is to get them to stop.

They are the ones that have to change, not the people on welfare.

Don't be afiaid to demand your right to welfare. If you have trouble, or if you think you are being investigated for fraud, go to one of the groups on the back page for help.

J

*

How much welfare fraud is proven?

Ministry of Social Services claims that there were 669 complaints of welfare fiaud in March, They say that only half of these were valid and that only 10 resulted in court convictions.

There are 323,000 people on welfare in B. C. These statistics mean that there was one conviction for welfare fiaud for every 32,300 people on welfare. This is a very low fraud rate. It is certainly much lower than the rate of conviction for Socred Cabinet Ministers in the last provincial government.

The government says that half of the 669 complaints are valid in spite of only 10 people being convicted. Why is this? They say it is because the Minstry staff cut off payments and made repayment deals with people "caught cheating". However, how many people on welfare are forced to sign repayment deals because if they dontt,their cheques will be cut off, they'll be evicted and starve?

Why isn't it assumed that people on

welfare, like other people are innocent until proven guilty?

However, even if half of the 669 complaints were valid, that would still be a fiaud rate of about 2 tenths of one percent of the cases on welfare, far less than one percent.

14.

F O O D BANKS A R E LOSING THEIR PERSPECTIVE

I b e l i e v e t h e whole i d e a of t h e c r e a t i o n of food banks was t o s u p p l y p e o p l e w i t h f o o d when t h e y r a n o u t o f money a n d I t was b a s i c a l l y f o r food.

Welfare, U I C , o r o t h e r lowincome p e o p l e s s u c h a s s e n i o r c i t i z e n s n o t y e t o l d enough t o collect pensions.

The t r u e r e a s o n f o r t h e food bank b e i n g t h e r e a t a l l h a s e s c a p e d t h o s e p e o p l e managi n g t h e New W e s t m i n s t e r f o o d bank a t t h e 6 t h A v e n u e C h u r c h near 12th S t r e e t .

They h a v e s e t daysland h a v e had f o r two years.

Each Wednesday i s f o r a c e r t a i n number o f p e o p l e .

A l l have been a s s i g n e d t h e i r s p e c i f i c d a y s f o r t h e whole c a l e n d e r y e a r a n d c a n come o n no o t h e r d a y .

No r e a s o n i s

good enough f o r m i s s i n g y o u r day.

Those a s s i g n e d Welfare W e d n e s d a y m u s t come o n t h a t day whether t h e y need food or not.

"Store t h e bread i n t h e f r e e z e r and p u t t h e o t h e r s t u f f away i n c u p b o a r d s .

We have t o be t o l d t h a t because A l o t of t h e we a r e s t u p i d . s t u f f i s donuts, cake, p i e s t h a t would go i n t o t h e g a r b a g e s o o n anyway a n d i t i s p r a c t i c a l l y r e a d y t o go g r e e n , o r I about-to-be-thrown-out candy bars.

High e n e r g y f o o d .

And y e t t h e w h o l e i d e a of g o i n g t o t h e f o o d b a n k was b e c a u s e you n e e d e d r e a l f o o d j u s t b e f o r e y o u r c h e c k was due.

Even a week b e f o r e i s reasonable.

But on W e l f a r e W e d n e s d a y ! ! ! Most V a n c o u v e r food banks c l o s e on W e l f a r e Wednesdays.

On t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e NW b a n k i s f o r p e o p l e r e c e i v i n g monies from other sources, fine.

Why c a n ' t they sort out t h e Welfare r e c i p i e n t s and g i v e t h e y a chance.

I t ' s v e r y inhuman t h e way t h e y do i t a n d t h e way t h e y t h e y t r e a t S e n i o r C i t i z e n s a s k i n g f o r an e x t r a l o z f o f b r e a d t o t i d e them over.

Terrible.

I have t h e f e e l i n g t h a t s i n c e t h e New W e s t m i n s t e r W e l f a r e , S a l v a t i o n A r m and f o o d b a n k s a r e a l l wor i n g t o g e t h e r on t h i s i t ' s t h e i r way o f t r y i n g t o c u t down on t h e number o f p e o p l e u s i n g food banks.

g

4''I have a solution... Only one of us will eat."

UE N+m S.nh

T h e New W e s t m i n s t e r s a l v a t i o n Army won' t g i v e vouchers because a person on steady welfare shouldn't r e q u i r e one.

T h e SA s e n d s them back t o t h e w e l f a r e Welfare o f f i c e f o r a voucher. s a y s you c a n ' t manage y o u r money s o w e ' l l g i v e y o u a weekly ( o r bi-weekly) cheque, and p a y y o u r b i l l s f o r you.

I f y o u ' r e q u i c k you change y o u r mind a b o u t g e t t i n g a voucher.

And e v e n i f y o u move a w a y t o a n o t h e r a r e a , t o a ~ e s A d e n c ev i t h c h e a p e r rent, welfare continues t o m a n a g e y o u r money b e c a u s e n you s h o u l d n ' t go h u n g r y .

Trying o t h e r companies t h a t might h e l p you r e t a i n a c e r t a i n independence h e r e i n NW i s h u m i l a t i n g a n d f r u s t r a t A l l you're l e f t with is ing. a l e s s o n o n who n o t t o a s k a n d how t o g o h u n g r y , a n d then its a drastic search f o r meals i n c h a r i t y o r g ~ n i z a t i o n s i f y o u c a n f i n d a n y i n New Westminster.

There a r e s e v e r a l i n Vancouver, b u t i f you can a f f o r d t h e b u s f a r e you can buy b r e a d which i s c o n s t a n t l y g o i n g up i n p r i c e .

A WARD :' The first Crummy Cockroach Award 'since we decided to revive this time honoured tradition will go this month to the Metropole Hotel.

The Metropole has been singled out for this attention because of the total state of disre'pair to which has been allowed to descend.

DERA staff visited the Metropole this month after some residents came in to complain about the conditions there.

The Metropole, according to staff who inspected it, is the armpit of the Downtown Eastside. Picture carpeting that has been so badly burned with cigarette butts that you have to search for a clear patch in order to determine the original colour, or three floors without fire extinguishers to put out the garbage can fires.

The garbage cans themselves had obviously not been cleaned in a dog's age and were oozing with unidentifiable goo. .The good news is that the City is looking into taking legal action against the owners, which means we'll only have to hold our breaths until midJanuary to see some action on this cess-pool.

We hope to be able to investigate any other local hotels and rooming houses which may be nominated for this award so that we can document their condition and report our findings to the proper authorities.

If you know of a hotel or rooming house . which deserves close public scrutiny of its compliqxe with health, safety or fire regulan tions call DERA at 682-0931. k

Moving t o a n a r e a w h e r e they have a s s i s t a n c e i s t h e only answer.

Yes. T h e New W e s t m i n s t e r Food Bank m a n a g e r s a n d m a y b e e v e n C i t y H a l l who p a y some o f t h e s t a f f t h e r e , a r e r e a l l y a hard-headed l o t .

A.

V.

ICTIM B

0

16 KITCHEN KORNER Wednesday morning, 9 am, t h e kitchen i s q u i e t except f o r J a n i c e s t i r r i n g t h e oatmeal and working on one of t h e two soups she makes i n t h e mornings. No dishwasher, no; concession worker, few, i f any, volunteers i n t h e kitchen. No second f l o o r r e c e p t i o n i s t , no f i r s t f l o o r r e c e p t i o n i s t . What's going on here? Has everyone moved away?

Have they been tossed i n t h e back of a van and taken t o a s e c r e t p l a c e f o r experimental s c i e n t i f i c t e s t i n g ?

No, i t ' s worse than t h a t , i t ' s Welfare Wednesday! !!

Repeat t h i s scene f o r s e v e r a l days running and what have we got?

A kitchen t h a t i s f i r i n g on two cylinders i n s t e a d of e i g h t , l o t s of unfortunate people t h a t do not f e e l well a t a l l , and a bunch of t h e same people t h a t have no money l e f t t o feed themselves f o r t h e next 30 o r so days.

I ' d l i k e t o say t h a t t h e City, (which funds s t a f f s a l a r i e s ) , does not provide e x t r a s t a f f i n g f o r WW and t h e days t h a t follow, but I d o n ' t t h i n k t h a t w i l l appease many customers. We a r e s t i l l expected t o produce t h e same amount of high q u a l i t y goods and s e r v i c e t h a t we do f o r t h e r e s t of t h e month.

The cheque problem i s an on-: going one t h a t has f a r reaching e f f e c t s . From t h e Mardi Gras atmosphere i n t h e s t r e e t s , t o t h e drunks and druggies t h a t our door men and s e c u r i t y s t a f f have t o d e a l with i n v e r i t a b l e non-stop fashion f o r more than a few days every month. I ' m not going t o o f f e r another opinion a s t o t h e b e s t way t o d e a l with it. But f o r t h e people of t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e who a r e caught up i n t h i s t e r r i b l e game i t ' s a c r u e l way t o have t o e x i s t , and we hope t h a t it w i l l e v e n t u a l l y be changed.

In t h e meantime we ask t h a t you be a l i t t l e t o l e r a n t with t h e f o l k s i n t h e kitchen on t h e s e days and reccignize t h a t they a r e working a t f u l l t i l t t r y i n g t o f i l l t h e gaps l e f t by our soon-to-be-returning volunteers, t r y i n g t o suppliment a l l your needs, food-wise a t l e a s t .

There a r e excptions t o every r u l e of course and good o l d Bob t h e c h i l i maker always shows up. ( I t h i n k he needs t h e t i c k e t s ) , and of course David Wong never leaves.

There a r e o t h e r s a l s o but I t h i n k you g e t t h e p o i n t . Yes?!!!

A s you may have noticed t h e r e have been a number of changes i n t h e kitchen s i n c e we l a s t spoke. We've h i r e d two new workers; S u s i Hollman, and Carol Rrismer. They both have e x e l l e n t q u a l i f i c a t i o n s and having watched them work i t ' s obvious t h a t they w i l l be a bonus f o r t h e p a t r o n s here a t t h e Carnegie.

Also i n case you haven't n o t i c e d J e r r y Sentino i s back i n t h e Kitchen.

He's returned t o h i s o r i g i n a l job a f t e r whipping t h e s e c u r i t y s t a f f i n t o shape, John has been s e n t out of t h e kitchen f o r awhile, something about t o o many Welsh items appearing on t h e menu.

Speaking of jams and preserves, Vicky Dutcher i s conducting a c l a s s f o r making t h o s e s o r t s of t h i n g s .

We have been p u t t i n g out t h i s jam f o r your t o a s t , and it i s DELICIOUS! And, f o r a l l you long-suffering t o a s t makers, we have f i n a l l y ordered a new t o a s t e r , it should be h e r e any minute now, s o hang i n t h e r e and you may never have t o e a t a h a l f burned, half-raw pkece of t o a s t again !

That's a l l f o r now, s o till next t i m e Happy e a t in2 !

. ..

...

Oppenheimer Park Oppenheimer Park is a prime example of how much power a commun i t y has i f t h e y decide t o t a k e back t h e i r t e r r i t o r y . A t one time, t h e drug pushers were c o n t r o l l i n g t h e park, but now t h i s has a l l changed.

The most important i s s u e was t o make t h e park s a f e f o r every r e s i d e n t . The plan t o have so many events i n t h e park worked a s it drove t h e undesireables away, Now it i s a p l e a s u r e t o a t t e n d Carnegie music programs, pow-wows, Japanese Powell S t r e e t F e s t i v a l , Latin-Native f u n c t i o n s and many othe r s t o o numerous t o mention.

Even t h e p o l i c e a r e impressed a t t h e changes f o r t h e b e t t e r . Somet h i n g 1 r e a l l y m i s s e d a t t h e park is L i t t l e League b a s e b a l l . Before Wayne was t o t a l l y involved with music, he used t o play f o r a team c a l l e d t h e Dodgers i n Oppenheimer Park.

Besides playing a g a i n s t d i f f e r e n t teams, t h e c h i l d r e n were taken t o Camp Capilano. Perhaps we could r e v i v e t h i s rewarding event f o r t h e young ones i n our community.

Despite what some people t h i n k , thet h e r e a r e numerous p o s i t i v e t h i n g s happening i n t h i s area.

I r e n e Schmidt

Bridge over troubled rail-lines: Columbia overpass TO: Editor, Carnegie Newsletter Meanwhile, some misinformed a r e t r y i n g t o shoot themselves i n t h e foot.

I mean, why would anybody t r y t o s t o p t h e Columbia S t r e e t Pedestrian Overpass from happening?

I t w i l l allow people from nearby housing p r o j e c t s t o u s e Crab Park, e a s i l y - - f o r t h e f i r s t time.

Yet we s e e t h e scene o f a number of d i s g r u n t l e d people p u t t i n g up phony arguements a g a i n s t t h e Columbia S t r e e Overpass.

Get it r i g h t . I t won't block views becuz.. i t s a s e e - t h r u structure.

.

The Overpass l i k e l y would be locked a t n i g h t , s o people w i l l NOT SLEEP I N THE COLUMBIA PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS. There-will-NOT-BE COOKING WINE AND SHOOTING GALLERY "PARTIES", becuz, i t s w i t h i n f i v e f e e t , a t eyel e v e l of t h e P o r t P o l i c e b u i l d i n g s .

There has been proper d i s c u s s i o n and n o t i f i c a t i o n of meetings on t h e a c c e s s f o r people w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s issue.

I n f a c t , t h e r e has been seven y e a r s o f meetings, a l l o f which I have a t t e n d e d except t h e two meetings t o d i s p l a y t h e a r c h i t e c t s 1 model o f t h e s t r u c t u r e . I had a l r e a d y a t t e n d e d t h e c i t y h a l l meeting and had seen t h e well-designed, c l a s s y Columbia P e d e s t r i a n Overpass.

This is a l a s t - m i n u t e attempt t o s t e a l t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e neighborhood's a c c t s s t o Crab Beach park, and t h e c e n t r a l w a t e r f r o n t area.

Gastown wants t o s t e a l t h e Columbia S t . overpass f o r r i c h tour4 i s t access. L e t t s support t h e Columbia S t . overpass, and s e e t h a t i s i s b u i l t by next June, so t h a t we have proper access.

Don Larson

Anonymous Author First published on the bathroom wall at Carnegie Centre.

August, 1993 Sometimes I get s01.jdepressed about my life.

. . . . like

what have I done what have I accomplished where am I headed what will I do what am I doing here I feel so wasted - my time is wasted on drugs

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For what? ! A few precious moments of euphoria - precious in that those moments could have been spent more wisely - spent doing something (or working towards something) of value - like helping people.

My money is being wasted, although I do help out a lots of guys (and gals) who are in a lot worse situation than mine.

Say, that's another thing - I do have a lot more of a chance, more opportunity than a lot of people down here.

A lot of people down here can't. They have no choice. I do. I'm smart, I've got good looks, and I'm young - but I'm hooked on the f-ing drug!

I'm wasting my time, my energy, my youth on heroin! I hate it!

I hate myself. I'm a loser.

I have no power. I'm weak. A Bum. I'm lazy.. A f-ing whore.

I was brought up in a foster home.

I was taken away from my family.

I was taken away from my people.

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Raised by white people who told me that my family hated me didn't love me. That's why I was in a foster home. They said my family didn't want me, that I was no good.

They told me my family was a bunch of drunks losers, low-life Indians. SO I felt all alone a t 7 years old. I know I didn't belong with the white people. Now I just t r y to forget. I'm still all alone. I didn't deal with my foster family, and my Native family are ashamed of me. I'm not as "Indiantt as them - too many "whitet1ways.

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So, my family is the "street" people. My home is the streets and bars. My brothers are dealers. my sisters are whores, whom I know will one day gently tuck me safely and snugly into the warm comforting cradle of my coffin. Close to her bosom where I will feel forever, eternally safe. I know she will take me home. It will be the only permanent place I'd ever know. The only place that I know I can call my own and nobody can take it away. A warm, soft, comfortable, clean, safe place where no one will bother me.

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Mother, I'll be ready whenever you call for me to come home to rest.

22.

AS THE WORM TURNS A few weeks ago, Don, Heather and I went t o v i s i t C i t y Farmer on 6 t h and Maple i n West Van, a gardening o r g a n i s a t i o n t h a t s p e c i a l i s e s i n composting. The people t h e r e t e s t d i f f e r e n t kinds of composting and methods of a c k ieving t h e b e s t d i r t , then advise t h e i r major funder, t h e C i t y o f V a n c o ~ v e r y on j u s t what t o implement i n t o t h e i r programs.

We wanted t o t a l k t o Nicole, o f t h e S t r a t h c o n a Community Gardens E my gardening neighbour, about g e t t i n g a worm farm f o r t h e Carnegie Learning Centre. Don't worry, it won't smell $ t h e worms w i l l l o v e t h e food we a r e g e ing t o g i v e them s o much t h a t t h e y wouldnrt d r e a h of escape, o r s o N i c o l e a s s u r e d us.

To begin, you need a w e l l v e n t i l a t e d b i n s t u f f e d w i t h newspaper s h r e d ded i n t o 1-inch s t r i p s , straw o r l e a v e s (calcium s o u r c e s t h a t w i l l b a l a n c e o u t t h e n i t o r g e n ) and about 400 l i t t l e w r i g g l e r s . Nicole had 4 o r 5 boxes s e t up, f i l l e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of bedding and worms, a l l a t t h e i r v a r i o u s s t a g e s o f p r o d u c t i o n . Don, of c o u r s e , had h i s hands i n a l l o f t h e b i n s 4 h i s f i n g e r s i n t h e owrms immediately. Witk out looking up he handed b o t h Heather and I one each t o h o l d nad examine.

Worm t r i v i a : * Worms r e a c h m a t u r i t y i n approximatel y 6 weeks. Look f o r t h e r i n g on i t s s a d d l e t o f i n d o u t i f i t ' s f u l l grown. * When nervous, l i k e when p l a c e d i n someone's hand, t h e y s e c r e t e i a y e l l ow j u i c e t h a t a p p a r e n t l y s m e l l s enough t o s c a r e most p r e d a t o r s away. Not u s . * Worms have b o t h male E female p a p t s , However, t h e y s t i l l need a p a r t n e r t o reproduce. They accomplish t h i s f e a t by s l i d i n g i n t o each o t h e r ' s pouch. You can a c t u a l l y s e e them do t h i s , n i c o l e says.

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What i s a l l t h e f u s s about worms, you ask? Well, t h e c a s t i n g s t h a t o u r I l i t t l e workers d e p o s i t a r e gardeners8 gold and when mixed w i t h a l i t t l e com- ' p o s t i t makes a p e r f e c t bed f o r germin a t i n g s e e d l i n g s . And p e o p l e a c t u a l l y ' buy worms and t h e r i c h s o i l t h e y c r e ? a t e . I ' d l o v e t o have them on t h e back pages of !'Off t h e Wall" as t h e l a r g e s t body of f u n d e r s , l i t e r a l l y .

Nicole i s p l a n n i n g t o g i v e u s a workshop on t h e whole p r o c e s s a t C i t y Farmer. We'll s e t up o u r k i t t h e n . If you'd l i k e t o come along, Nicole can handle about 15 of u s . I t may b e worth the t r i p just t o see t h i e r beautiful gardens.

If you can' t make it t h e n , someone, p o s s i b l y Don, w i l l b e on hand a t t h e L e a r n e r s 1 Conference September 23 t o g i v e a demo a l o n g s i d e t h e o t h e r workshops t h a t a r e happening i n i t h e Theatre.

By WENDY PEDERSEN PS: I f you want t o s e e Vancouver's onl y f u n c t i o n i n g neiohbnurhood-scale compoqting o p e r a t i o n , t a k e a walk o v e r t o t h e S t r a t h c o n a Community Gardens, 700-block P r i o r .

FREE

CONTACT:

F L O R E N C E HACKETT

1)OWN'I'UWN I A S S l YOU'I'II AC'SIVITI IS SO(:18'I'Y

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SIU C l i n i c C l o ~ ~ t l it~l y~ i . o ~ ~ I:I+idi~y, gl~ gem - 5pn.

I W E bllil)l(:Al. (:I.INI(: - IFbll, Wcd, F r i d a y , 5 :30-7 :3Opn1 NIIIDl.lr liXCllAN(;li - 221 Maill; uueryday, 9am-5pm.

NbeJle ~XCII~IIIRC V ~ I I - OII t h e s t r e e t evenings, Man-Sat N.A. n ~ e e t se v e r y b l o ~ d i r y n i g h t a t 2 2 3 C I a i n S t .

Out-to-Lunch D~IIIC~I

1993 DONATIONS S t u a r t M.-$50 K e t t l e F.S.-$16 Bert T .-$lo E t i e n n e S.-$50 L i s a E.-$10 Matt -$20 Keith C.-$20 AbbyK.-$10

Eleanor K.-$25 Adbusters -$50 Wayne H.-$2.50 Legal Aid -$SO Mary C.-$25 P a u l a R,-$20 S t e v e T.-$15 E r i c E.-$10 Anonymous-$70

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2:31).

Ueadl i n e NCX'I' ISSUE

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el$ ili ' t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e Cf unding) S o c i a l S e r v i c e s -$lo00 Vancouver H e a l t h Dept. -$I1 Employment 6 Immigration -$a00 P.L.U.R.A. -$lo00

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NEED HELP ?

The Downtown E a s t s l d e Res i d e n t s ' A s s o c l a t l o n can h e l p you w l t h : ,

any w e l f a r e problem lnformatlotr on l e g a l r l g l t t e d l s p y t e s w ltlr l a n d l orde u n s a f e l l v l n g c o ~ r d lito n s lncome t a x UIC problems + f lnd ltag Iruus l n g openlng a bank account fi

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Come I n t o t h e DERA o f f lce a t 9 East Ilost l n g s S t o r phone u s a t 682-0931.

D E M ' s G e n e r a l M e n h e r s h i p m e e t i n g i s on t h e l a s t F r i d a y o f e v e r y month i n C a r u e g i e T h e a t r e , s t a r l i n g a t 10:30 am.

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DERA HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 20 YEARS.