Downtown Eastside - DTES Issues

[jollyburger]

Some other dude got a bottle thrown at the back of his head during the day while headed to Ask for Luigi last weekend. He and his girlfriend (?) saw the guy while parking their car.. They didn't catch the guy.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by logan5

I just find it strange she would let the guy follow her for 40 minutes before going to people for help.

It really has strong victim shaming vibes saying it (and it IS, because we're all just bickering how WE think it could of been handled better) but but I agree as well. At any point she could of ducked into any business and just asked to use the phone to report it (or just used her own phone in the safety of the business). Nobody is going to kick you out if you say there's a guy you don't know who's been pretty much stepping on your heels for five blocks while saying nothing and not backing off.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Needs more malls I guess.

Vin lives and works downtown. He's an expert. Actually I have no idea if Vin even has a job or where he lives.

I used to live downtown and still work there daily. Are things worse? Yes. Is it the hyperbolic situation that primarily people who aren't working or living downtown make it out to be? No.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by teriyaki

I just find it strange one would be so fixated on a conspiracy theory instead of going for help.

Yes, one should be asking themselves serious questions as to why they want to discredit these experiences. Absent any real proof otherwise, it says something about you, and your life, not the situation at hand.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Vin lives and works downtown. He's an expert. Actually I have no idea if Vin even has a job or where he lives.

I used to live downtown and still work there daily. Are things worse? Yes. Is it the hyperbolic situation that primarily people who aren't working or living downtown make it out to be? No.

This twitter thread lays it out perfectly I think:

https://twitter.com/5kids1condo/status/1373022606933168133?s=20

[logan5]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Yes, one should be asking themselves serious questions as to why they want to discredit these experiences. Absent any real proof otherwise, it says something about you, and your life, not the situation at hand.

Lol. I'm just pointing out the highly unusual manner in which she handled this. Followed for 30 minutes, then instead of going into a bank or a store, because her life may be in danger, she instead films him for 10 minutes. There is no denying that that is a highly unusual way to handle the situation. And I guarantee you the police are looking at that as well.

Now she has posted the video with her full name watermarked on it, so now the stalker knows her full name. I dunno man. Very strange.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by logan5

Lol. I'm just pointing out the highly unusual manner in which she handled this. Followed for 30 minutes, then instead of going into a bank or a store, because her life may be in danger, she instead films him for 10 minutes. There is no denying that that is a highly unusual way to handle the situation. And I guarantee you the police are looking at that as well.

Now she has posted the video with her full name watermarked on it, so now the stalker knows her full name. I dunno man. Very strange.

Well VPD has a person of interest now, as another woman was assaulted by someone of a similar description. Guess your theory was (unsurprisingly) wrong.

https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/03/20/vpd-update-man-following-woman/

[teriyaki]

Originally Posted by logan5

Lol. I'm just pointing out the highly unusual manner in which she handled this. Followed for 30 minutes, then instead of going into a bank or a store, because her life may be in danger, she instead films him for 10 minutes. There is no denying that that is a highly unusual way to handle the situation. And I guarantee you the police are looking at that as well.

Now she has posted the video with her full name watermarked on it, so now the stalker knows her full name. I dunno man. Very strange.

Nope. What's unusual is having someone doggedly follow you. People can react in any manner or ways.

Now someone has been arrested, and this was after an actual assault occured. Maybe the person filming was acting the "right" way after all since it didn't end up in an assault. We're all wrong sometimes, continuing to push this little agenda of yours just keeps digging a bigger hole.

[jollyburger]

Maybe caught the guy..

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...ged-stalker-following-her-for-30-minutes

The victim saw a photo of the guy arrested and said it might not be him on News 1130.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Maybe caught the guy..

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...ged-stalker-following-her-for-30-minutes

I've been following the postings since this started on the previous page and I have to assume you're all male. I can already hear you saying "it's not all men!" and yes that's true - but it's not like you're all marked so we can see who are the good guys vs the bad guys. The bad ones drag down the rest of you.

Confronting 'males being creepy'TM isn't really a good idea for a woman unless she's something like a mixed martial arts champion - and even then he could have a weapon. So what's next - going into a place she likely isn't familiar with in the hope he gives up and leaves? What if he doesn't - there's no guarantee the people working there are going to be sympathetic. Phoning the police? Who knows how long it will take them to show up, if they do at all.

I have no doubt she was desperate when she approached the skaters - also terrified as who knows if she could trust them. After all this happened in public and people saw it and did nothing. Her filming the guy walking just behind her would have been pretty obvious.

Some of you here really have no idea what a woman has to live with every day. The rest of you - please remember this and make a habit of publicly being the good guy.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

This twitter thread lays it out perfectly I think:

https://twitter.com/5kids1condo/status/1373022606933168133?s=20

To summarize for those who won't read it, Adrian Crook (usually a big booster of downtown living) is residents don't even bother to report a lot of what happens anymore so stats show a "decrease: in incidents. Nobody bother to call when someone craps in front of your building door etc.

It's a real danger for urbanism when people like him are saying:

"I count myself as someone who would say it is less safe in downtown Van now than anytime I've lived here in the past 3 decades.

In my youth I was probably fairly ignorant of risk, sure.

But recently, and especially in the COVID era, it's felt unsafe.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

This twitter thread lays it out perfectly I think:

https://twitter.com/5kids1condo/status/1373022606933168133?s=20

This is literally my experience that I have been posting in this thread for 18 months.

So many posters keep on insisting there is no issue, or its marginally worse.

Its a trend that's rapidly accelerated in one direction.

I'm also glad someone with more capital than myself is willing to back up my community level experience I was posting about couple pages back - people are not reporting to police. No one is going to ever aggregate how many incidents are non reported, but its a lot, its skewing stats to the downside and its changing the nature of discussion when people only want to rely on stats and not what its like out there in real life.

And worse, crime has been recategorized or even legalized.

Of course possession of stolen goods and sale is not going to be a crime trending up if we literally sanction and provide security for open air markets of stolen goods.

Its super frustrating when posters here and elsewhere insist like City life is the same or maybe marginally worse than before. Its simply not true.

This is the first time since I'm old enough to remember, and the first time since the 90's before the boom started that Downtown feels "unsafe."

You have to be extra aware, and on edge at most times, it just doesn't feel safe anymore. I cant think of a better way to put it.

Also to add, the civic realm discussion. That's another thing. This City just looks like shit. It has for a couple years. Garbage. Graffiti. Dirty sidewalks. Unmaintained medians. Overgrown hedges, parks. Its literally unkept. We peaked in 2010, and it seems like all downhill from there.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Vin lives and works downtown. He's an expert. Actually I have no idea if Vin even has a job or where he lives.

I used to live downtown and still work there daily. Are things worse? Yes. Is it the hyperbolic situation that primarily people who aren't working or living downtown make it out to be? No.

Come on, not knowing anything and still trying to pass judgement? Even WarrenC12's mall comment sounds nicer.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Vin lives and works downtown. He's an expert. Actually I have no idea if Vin even has a job or where he lives.

I used to live downtown and still work there daily. Are things worse? Yes. Is it the hyperbolic situation that primarily people who aren't working or living downtown make it out to be? No.

Depends on what your definitions are.

Is Downtown in the worse shape since at least the 1990's? I would say thats an easy yes.

Does Downtown "feel" unsafe, I would say thats an easy yes.

Does Downtown, and the City at large feel unmaintained, dirty and overgrown, I would say yes.

You ask me those 3 questions 10 years ago and it would be an easy "no."

I'm under no illusion - DTES issues have persisted for the 22 years I have lived in Vancouver full time.

But the last 24 months have easily, easily been the worst and as I keep on repeating the trend of bad decisions leading to worse outcomes seems to be getting very entrenched.

[Skook]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

This twitter thread lays it out perfectly I think:

https://twitter.com/5kids1condo/status/1373022606933168133?s=20

Wow, that twitter thread captures what has been happening in the city perfectly, not only the examples of our rapidly deteriorating conditions on the streets, but the sanctimonious attitudes from some in the comments:

Why do people think these things are mutually exclusive? Why can't you advocate for more detox and treatment AND agree that everyone benefits - including the addicted and otherwise disadvantaged - when minimum standards of acceptable behaviour are enforced in public?

We can certainly debate what those minimum standards should be, but I would think the vast majority would agree that defecating and open needle use in front of an elementary school - which is the point we've reached in my neighbourhood - is across the line.

[officedweller]

BC Housing acquiring Ramada Vancouver Downtown [former Niagara Hotel] hotel to house the homeless
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ramada-l...-hotel-435-west-pender-street-bc-housing

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by officedweller

BC Housing acquiring Ramada Vancouver Downtown [former Niagara Hotel] hotel to house the homeless
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ramada-l...-hotel-435-west-pender-street-bc-housing

Saw this on Twitter last night... thought this comment pretty much said it all...

Downtown has become a homeless encampment dotted with $2k a foot bolt hole Westbank condos. Nice work, @gregorrobertson and
@kennedystewart
https://twitter.com/juanxcuarentena/status/1374202600917061643

Ron.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

Saw this on Twitter last night... thought this comment pretty much said it all...

Downtown has become a homeless encampment dotted with $2k a foot bolt hole Westbank condos. Nice work, @gregorrobertson and
@kennedystewart
https://twitter.com/juanxcuarentena/status/1374202600917061643

Ron.

Vancouver is becoming a posterchild of extreme wealth disparity.

Its sad. Literally sad. Its so disappointing for the City. It feels so disconnecting.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by officedweller

BC Housing acquiring Ramada Vancouver Downtown Hotel to House the Homeless

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ramada-l...-hotel-435-west-pender-street-bc-housing

The cannibalization of downtown hotels for the endless parade of homeless and drug addicted continues. A final nail in the coffin of another downtown Vancouver block?

[Metro-One]

Just read a rather depressing article written by business owners on Granville street.

They pretty much stated that Granville Street is at the tipping point now of becoming the next DTES, and once it passes that point we all know it is next to impossible to return from it.

Really hope something is done and soon.