Downtown Eastside - DTES Issues

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I have heard rumors that many residents in Strathcona are going to stop paying their property tax as a protest and several businesses are planning a class action lawsuit against the city.

The threat is more than a rumour

Some Strathcona residents are considering withholding their property taxes to show their dismay at Vancouver’s handling of the growing homeless camp at Strathcona Park and its effect on their neighbourhood.

“The community feels very much feel abandoned by our elected representatives,” said Jamie MacLaren, a lawyer spearheading the initiative.

“The health and safety conditions of the community have deteriorated since the camp located in Strathcona Park. But even before that, it’s been a few years that there have been significant issues (in Strathcona), an upward trend in property crime and health and safety issues here.”

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Both Lewis and MacLaren have sympathy for the homeless in the park. But they would like government to find real homes for them.

The idea behind withholding property tax is to organize Strathcona residents, which include homeowners, renters and the camp residents to apply pressure on all levels of government for a sanctioned and fully-supported camp somewhere in the city, said MacLaren.

“But not on park property that is quite scarce in the city right now.”

Lewis said the residents association met with representatives of the city and province Monday, including provincial ministers Shane Simpson and Melanie Mark.

“We sincerely hope our elected officials are listening,” she said. “(But) my sense is that they’re in no hurry to do anything.”

“I do object to the thought that the park board or city doesn’t care about Strathcona Park,” park board chair Camil Dumont said. “I think it’s quite an important park and something that has been highly on our radar. Very well used and well appreciated space.”

Strathcona Park was probably being used more than ever before at the start of the pandemic, with hundreds of local residents using the park during sunny days. But once the homeless camp set up on the southeast side of the park on June 16, neighbourhood use declined significantly.

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The park board’s Dumont said any solution to the homeless camp issue will probably have to come from senior levels of government.

“Realistically the park board is not in the housing business,” he said.

“B.C. Housing is a provincial authority, and the city has a play in there to make as well. We all have to work together to figure out what to do.”