Downtown Eastside - DTES Issues

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

More at :
https://vancouversun.com/news/crime-goin...UbOFfbc3QxB4GYr80Kni_46-jnxp7ijYpreFQPmw

Well, here's the counter to what you posted:

Crime significantly up in several Vancouver neighbourhoods: VPD
During the first six months of this year, the number of break-ins to businesses and commercial properties was up 47.9 per cent compared with the same period last year.

https://vancouversun.com/news/crime-significantly-up-in-several-vancouver-neighbourhoods-vpd

[Alex Mackinnon]

News story

The VP of our neighbourhood association was followed home and beat in the head with a pipe the other night. Not robbed, just smacked on the head for no apparent reason.

I'd imagine this was a targeted assault. Probably folks trying to intimidate her. She's been relatively vocal at calling out the government inaction on the Strathcona Park camp.

I'm pretty angry about this. It's not like she's been saying just take bulldozers to the camp. The SRA has been calling for real housing to be setup for the campers for this entire fiasco.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

News story

The VP of our neighbourhood association was followed home and beat in the head with a pipe the other night. Not robbed, just smacked on the head for no apparent reason.

I'd imagine this was a targeted assault. Probably folks trying to intimidate her. She's been relatively vocal at calling out the government inaction on the Strathcona Park camp.

I'm pretty angry about this. It's not like she's been saying just take bulldozers to the camp. The SRA has been calling for real housing to be setup for the campers for this entire fiasco.

Perhaps it's about time she starts saying that. Not just the one at Strathcona, but everywhere else in this city.

Hardworking people and small businesses get fined and punished left, right and centre when they even get a little infraction, such as breaking minor City bylaws like as not shoving snow in front of their doorsteps or remove graffiti made by others. How is it that arrogant folks can just park themselves anywhere they want 24/7 of the time and get away with it?

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by Vin

Perhaps it's about time she starts saying that. Not just the one at Strathcona, but everywhere else in this city.

Hardworking people and small businesses get fined and punished left, right and centre when they even get a little infraction, such as breaking minor City bylaws like as not shoving snow in front of their doorsteps or remove graffiti made by others. How is it that arrogant folks can just park themselves anywhere they want 24/7 of the time and get away with it?

Because there was a charter challenge, and it was found that the existing bylaws were not compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so could not be enforced. New bylaws are on route, but who knows if they'll enforce them.

Hence the new bylaw only permitting camping in parks between 10PM and 7 AM.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

Because there was a charter challenge, and it was found that the existing bylaws were not compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so could not be enforced. New bylaws are on route, but who knows if they'll enforce them.

Hence the new bylaw only permitting camping in parks between 10PM and 7 AM.

Let me guess: Pivot Legal headed that challenge up.

God forbid society ever gets it together and adds a charter of responsibilities. Until then, the recipe of charters is half-baked.

[SeymourDrake]

So the New Bylaw specifies the time they can be in the park and also which parks? Yet none of it is being enforced.

So if there was no crime related to the homeless camps would people still have issues with the camps?

Crime is up here in Yaletown, not a homeless Camp to be seen.

When i say Crime i also mean organized crime, criminals renting out multi million dollar condos. Top tier suppliers.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by s211

Let me guess: Pivot Legal headed that challenge up.

God forbid society ever gets it together and adds a charter of responsibilities. Until then, the recipe of charters is half-baked.

Well, you could have a provincial government willing to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to preserve public order. Neither main party has shown themselves willing to do so.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Alex Mackinnon

Because there was a charter challenge, and it was found that the existing bylaws were not compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so could not be enforced. New bylaws are on route, but who knows if they'll enforce them.

Hence the new bylaw only permitting camping in parks between 10PM and 7 AM.

Then it's time to amend the useless charter if it does not work for the majority. As far as I know, a charter is man-made, and we can overturn it.

The reason why bylaws are not enforced is because scoundrels know how to use a useless charter as their back-up to challenge authorities, so much so that resources are wasted on court cases, legal proceedings, etc.. That is when authorities just give up and turn soft-spined because they think it is simply not worth the while to fight relatively "minor" infractions, which actually accumulate to the big problem we have today in this rather dysfunctional part of society.

[SeymourDrake]

Maybe this thread needs a new title? vs 5 separate threads. There is a lot of crossover within the topic because the DTES is no longer the only big problem area.

[s211]

Hello, all. An honest question as I'd like to find some help for a particular homeless guy.

There's that parklet above the easypark parkade at the northern foot of Hornby, and there's a full-time homeless guy who's been in the same clothes for months and his shirt is so torn up that you see more skin than shirt.

What's the best way to approach this person and provide some clothing? Is it perhaps best to call an agency that might be able to visit this person and help him more fulsomely than I might be able to do on my own?

Can anybody think of the best group to help him out? I've not approached him yet as it seems clear he has some mental issues and I don't want to accidentally light a powder keg.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by s211

Hello, all. An honest question as I'd like to find some help for a particular homeless guy.

There's that parklet above the easypark parkade at the northern foot of Hornby, and there's a full-time homeless guy who's been in the same clothes for months and his shirt is so torn up that you see more skin than shirt.

What's the best way to approach this person and provide some clothing? Is it perhaps best to call an agency that might be able to visit this person and help him more fulsomely than I might be able to do on my own?

Can anybody think of the best group to help him out? I've not approached him yet as it seems clear he has some mental issues and I don't want to accidentally light a powder keg.

Perhaps you can call someone at 811 and see if they can provide you a solution. It could be a matter of life and death since the weather can get so cold lately. I don't really think he is in the mantal capacity to think for himself anymore.

Hope this helps:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/mental-health

[whatnext]

Just another day in the DTES, and then people wonder why ICBC rates are so high:

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/jolpk0/cordova_car_rampage/

[s211]

Originally Posted by Vin

Perhaps you can call someone at 811 and see if they can provide you a solution. It could be a matter of life and death since the weather can get so cold lately. I don't really think he is in the mantal capacity to think for himself anymore.

Hope this helps:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/mental-health

Thank you.

[Sheba]

Settlement brings Balmoral and Regent Hotels into public ownership

We have reached a settlement with the owners of the Balmoral and Regent hotels to expropriate the properties.

The settlement, which has been approved by Vancouver City Council, ensures that we can move forward with BC Housing to turn the buildings into safe and secure low-income housing.

“Bringing the Regent and Balmoral into public ownership marks a hopeful new beginning for residents of the Downtown Eastside and something all residents should be proud of,” said Mayor Kennedy Stewart. “Downtown Eastside residents will be at the centre of creating a new vision for these two sites, and indeed the entire community. I want to thank City Council, the Government of BC, and BC Housing for continuing to work together with the community to provide housing that is healthy, safe, and supportive — housing that heals lives and changes futures.”

After many years of enforcement and legal action against the owners, who oversaw decades of underinvestment, unaddressed life-safety issues resulted in the closure of these two derelict buildings in 2017 and 2019.

We approved expropriation of the buildings in late 2019 in order to bring these properties into public ownership to be converted into social housing. The owners then filed for a judicial review of our expropriation.

We decided to settle with the property owners to mitigate the financial risk posed by the upcoming judicial review and potential claims for greater compensation, and to enable staff to begin planning for community engagement on the future of the properties.

“For too long, people had to live in sub-standard living conditions in these buildings. The acquisition of these properties is welcome news and I would like to commend the City of Vancouver for their efforts,” said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. “We look forward to working with the City to turn these buildings into the kind of homes people will be proud to live in for years to come.”

Given the significance of the two properties to the Downtown Eastside community, and their location at the heart of the neighbourhood, community engagement regarding the future of the buildings is a priority.

In 2021, together with BC Housing, we will conduct a robust engagement process that ensures low-income residents can and do participate in the visioning of these sites. Staff are aiming to report back to Council on the next steps and timeline for the revitalization of these properties in early 2021.

[nds88]

Hope they got mountains of money from the City.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by nds88

Hope they got mountains of money from the City.

You... like the Sahotas?

[djh]

So what's best now for those two sites? Bulldoze them and build bigger/better? Or renovate and live with the limitations of these old structures?

[MIPS]

It comes down to what costs less.
I kind of hope either way that the Balmoral's sign is saved. There's not a lot of neon left from the old days and that section of Hastings needs a LOT more charm than the locals are delivering.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by nds88

Hope they got mountains of money from the City.

Oh, I'm sure they paid at least $500k per unit.

Ron.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by MIPS

It comes down to what costs less.
I kind of hope either way that the Balmoral's sign is saved. There's not a lot of neon left from the old days and that section of Hastings needs a LOT more charm than the locals are delivering.

Rude of me to laugh at this but: lol.