Public Disorder & the Decline of Vancouver's Livability

[Vin]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

This does not refute what I posted.

Obviously you don’t have the faintest idea what NCRMD is, how it works, and worst of all, as per usual you have no interest in learning anything.

And obviously it isn't working, is it?

VPD: mental health contributing factor in 73 per cent of ‘stranger assaults’ in Vancouver
Four unprovoked assaults every day in Vancouver
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/l...ver-bc-5599640

[Vin]

We are not getting many people outside the city coming back to the city centre compared with other North American cities. I suppose that is because DTES, Chinatown, and Granville Street are factored in? These places are certainly scaring away many potential visitors. The rest of downtown just appears more vibrant because compared to other N. American cities, we already have a very sizeable number of residents living here, but looks are certainly deceiving when we are not getting people living elsewhere to spend here.

Is Vancouver’s downtown recovery really trailing most North American cities?
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/real-...iling-most-north-american-cities-5652927

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Vin

We are not getting many people outside the city coming back to the city centre compared with other North American cities. I suppose that is because DTES, Chinatown, and Granville Street are factored in? These places are certainly scaring away many potential visitors. The rest of downtown just appears more vibrant because compared to other N. American cities, we already have a very sizeable number of residents living here, but looks are certainly deceiving when we are not getting people living elsewhere to spend here.

Speaking completely anecdotally, I think WFH is having a huge impact. Vacancy rates may be low, but our office is usually far below half-full, and I can see directly into the Douglas Jung building from our office and hardly anyone has been in there since the pandemic began.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by Vin

And obviously it isn't working, is it?

Well research tells us that it is, in terms of its intended framework and the narrow instances that it is applied. Individuals found to be NCRMD have lower rates of recidivism than regular offenders, for example.

Does it solve the problems that Vancouver faces? No, but it’s also not the reason why they exist nor does it relate to why they continue. Mental health is a major, most likely primary factor, but NCRMD is not the reason why it is not properly addressed. It seems pretty obvious that an individual will benefit more from mental health treatment, that still restricts their freedoms so as to prioritize public safety, rather than simply throwing them in jail.

Funny how often the things I argue about here with you are topics that apply to my educational or work backgrounds. It’s almost as if some people are pulling from deeper sources than “this is how I feel” or “this is what google told me”…

Awaiting your inevitable, always irrelevant response.

[jollyburger]

Maybe it's all true.. but then it also seems pretty convenient when half the board gets kicked out and there's questions about financial oversight.

B.C. Housing's CEO retired the same way its board was overhauled — quickly, without anyone answering questions

On July 8, the B.C. government replaced most of the board of B.C. Housing — a publicly owned organization that has had its share of headlines lately.

On Tuesday, its longtime CEO decided to leave on his own terms.

"I no longer have confidence I can solve the complex problems facing us at B.C. Housing," said Shayne Ramsay, its CEO for 22 years, in announcing his retirement.

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Coming so soon after the board's overhaul, the timing prompted speculation on whether Ramsay left fully on his own accord, though people close to the government agency say it came as a surprise.

In a Twitter thread, Ramsay talked about a few violent incidents that have taken place in recent months involving homeless people in Metro Vancouver, along with threats made to him by members of the public at Vancouver City Hall after speaking in favour of a social housing tower.

B.C. Housing followed rules in buying 9 hotels, auditor general report finds
B.C. Housing is the agency in charge of funding and oversight for tens of thousands of shelter and social housing units across the province.

As such, it has become a lightning rod for many of the criticisms in big cities around the intersection of crime, homelessness and affordable housing — particularly as its budget has nearly tripled to $2 billion a year under the NDP government.

It means many of the questions surrounding B.C. Housing will remain after Ramsay's retirement — questions that, for the moment, aren't being answered.

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Tackling big issues quickly
To those in the public housing sector, Ramsay was generally seen as a strong, positive force, finding innovative solutions in a challenging environment and being responsive to changing conditions.

"I think you'd find few individuals with a passion for affordable housing that he has," said Jill Atkey, CEO of the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association, who described his leadership style as open and accessible.

"The other thing I would say about his leadership style is just really wanting to get things done quickly … and we say that through the acquisitions of new hotel spaces through COVID."

Hotly debated supportive housing project approved for Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood
At the same time, the external review of B.C. Housing that prompted the removal of its board last month cited a lack of oversight over decisions and spending as inadequate. And while many critics of the agency disagree on what role the government should play in housing the most vulnerable, they generally agree that transparency at B.C. Housing has been lacking.

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"Nobody really knows how decision-making is happening," said Fiona York, a co-ordinator for the Carnegie Community Action Project who has been a liaison for a number of tent encampments in Vancouver.

"Hopefully whomever comes in next will have more transparency and be willing to be more open about processes and decision-making."

Further transparency questions
But if transparency was an issue in B.C. Housing's operations under Ramsay, it's also been an issue in the removal of its board and Ramsay's subsequent retirement.

One might note the similarities between B.C. Housing and B.C. Ferries at the moment: two publicly overseen organizations that deal with sensitive subjects; two boards that have been replaced by the government; two CEOs that have suddenly left — fired, in the ferry operator's case.

In both cases, the government and the new boards have been reticent to speak about the massive governance overhaul underway and what it could signal.

B.C. Housing's new chair, Allan Seckel, has declined all interview requests in his first month on the job. The agency's website directs the media to phone a number no longer in operation.

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When asked for an interview with anyone from the government or B.C. Housing to discuss the organization, the province declined and instead issued a statement, ostensibly from acting Housing Minister Murray Rankin, praising themselves.

Province fires board of B.C. Housing following critical report
"Since 2017 our government, together with B.C. Housing, has delivered thousands of new homes for people … as a result, thousands of people are no longer living on the streets and now have safe homes and the supports they need for a fresh start," said the statement, which also promised that the board would immediately begin work to find a new CEO.

"We are determined to continue to expand our work to provide the safe, affordable housing and supports [that] people and communities need across B.C."

Whatever the reasons for Ramsay's departure, his replacement will have their work cut out to achieve that mandate.

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6540032

[FarmerHaight]

Deadline to remove Downtown Eastside tents passes

The opposing viewpoints presented in this CBC video sure seem familiar...

[MIPS]

Like I said back on page 66. There is no way to enforce an order to vacate. Most of us knew that deadline was going to pass with no change.
Shawn and Miriam both have a solid point that there are people being put into government housing or SRO's who are unfit to be there either because they are so heavily addicted or they are mentally unwell, so most stay out on the street either for safety or because the housing is in terrible condition. Miriam more so wants to see an institution reopen and I have been and still am supportive of that, weather not it's involuntary confinement or low security corrections with mandatory treatment programs.

[Vin]

........ and hence the circus continues in the worst neighbourhood of the country, with the City (as expected) unable to even enforce the most basic of bylaws. Does the City also realize that by unable to function properly, they are also endangering the safety of residents?

[Vin]

We are still very safe of course, according to many knowledgeable folks here.

Shooting at Granville Street SRO.......

Armed suspect injured, several others hurt in violent Granville Street incident
https://www.facebook.com/148192078555388...Yjw4kxQy8nMBzFzf7HxPjQwehEytt2CZkz3frwl/

[Vin]

We have no right to remove these illegal tenters, but of course no problem to let them burn.....

Tent goes up in flames at DTES sidewalk tent city
https://globalnews.ca/video/9042617/tent-goes-up-in-flames-at-dtes-sidewalk-tent-city/

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

We are still very safe of course, according to many knowledgeable folks here.

Shooting at Granville Street SRO.......

Armed suspect killed, several others hurt in violent Granville Street incident
https://www.facebook.com/148192078555388...Yjw4kxQy8nMBzFzf7HxPjQwehEytt2CZkz3frwl/

Who was killed? Who did the shooting?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Breaking News: Vancouver is almost as unsafe as every other city in the developed world! You heard it here first!

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Who was killed? Who did the shooting?

On the news, one of the guys who got attacked in the head with the machete said that a woman in her 20s had her fingers cut off.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by officedweller

On the news, one of the guys who got attacked in the head with the machete said that a woman in her 20s had her fingers cut off.

I haven't seen any details, but that would match the VPD's description of 'life altering injuries', although they refer to him stabbing the victims. I'm not belittling the situation. It was apparently a very violent attack, and I wouldn't be surprised if the investigation concludes that the police were justified in the use of force.

At this point we don't know any of the circumstances of the events, but initial reporting in The Hive was clearly wrong to publish 'Armed suspect killed'.

The Siesta Rooms are a privately run SRO that has 11 rooms for staff at the Roxy and 64 others. It's been a rooming house for many years, with public money helping improve it in the 1990s.

[whatnext]

Interesting about the 11 staff rooms. The Roxy is now closed temporarily so they can assess damage to the building.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-roxy-closed-temporarily-repairs

[MIPS]

So what I'm interpreting here is dude up in one of the suites decided to finally snap, torches his apartment and then goes out to play Butcher until the police come and subdue him with a round, but he's currently expected to live.
Again, not so much a crime problem as a mental health issue but still something that in the middle of Summer isn't a great thing to have in the club district during tourist season.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Who was killed? Who did the shooting?

Go ask the media company: they made the initial mistake.

Coke Ventura
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said that the suspect had been killed. The suspect has not been killed but is in hospital.

I corrected the mistake once I noticed their mistake.

The fact remains that the situations of SROs are getting even more dire lately, and authorities are failing residents especially with the drug crisis going on. Downtown isn't "safe" like many would like to think.

[Vin]

And now the mayor is seeking what I have been wanting all along......

Vancouver mayor wants justice reform for "prolific offenders" after machete attack
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-mayor-justice-reform-prolific-offenders-machete-attack
Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart is asking for additional mental health services and criminal justice reform for prolific offenders after the Granville Street machete attack.

But why now when he just said Vancouver is very safe a mere couple of months ago? Does Kennedy know his days in office are numbered and his legacy is in tatters, finally? Shifting the responsibility and blame to the provincial government when he knows that he has done nothing all these years is more like it.

Kennedy:

“Gaps in our mental health and criminal justice system not only fail our public, but our first responders and partners in law enforcement who are committed to community and public safety despite a lack of critical support to comprehensively address violent offenders.”

Vancouver is very safe, indeed.

Vancouverites:

Vangrooverloser
This the same clown who de-funded the VPD? LOL

Matt Paul
This is coming from a clown not too long ago said how safe our city streets are.
This city needs change.

jon
Its getting dangerous to walk the streets of Vancouver.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Breaking News: Vancouver is almost as unsafe as every other city in the developed world! You heard it here first!

Earlier this year:

Kennedy Stewart
@kennedystewart

Headlines about crime are scary. And some politicians want you to feel scared.
But let me be clear: Vancouver remains one of the safest cities in the world.
That's thanks to $1M/day in police funding, work to tackle homelessness, and expanding mental health + additions care.

3:06 PM ·
Jan 20, 2022·Twitter Web App

You two sound alike.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

Go ask the media company: they made the initial mistake. Trying to discredit me, like others, is getting pretty old.

The fact remains that you made no comments about how the situations of SROs are getting these days, or how authorities are failing residents, as you are one of those that keep insisting that downtown is safe.

I haven't ever suggested it was completely 'safe', I've suggested that your characterizing it as 'unsafe' is inaccurate, as have many others here. There's a significant distance between 'safe' and 'unsafe'. We're somewhere in that space - but we always have been. As long as there has been a Vancouver, there have been acts of violence, impulsive behaviour, innocent bystanders getting injured or even killed. You characterize things as getting much worse, and you happily post unverified and inaccurate stories without correcting them if they're proven wrong. I look at the statistics, and read a lot of historical material, and I can tell you that it's been more dangerous to live in the city in the past, and you're more likely to experience or see violent crime in other cities today than in Vancouver.

I have also said that there are reasons that people with mental health issues are finding things more difficult (places that were open closed because of covid, resources spread more thinly, fewer low-cost places to live, intolerant attitudes in the community, and some people having no understanding, or interest in understanding why things are happening). The tainted drug supply makes things worse, and it's painfully slow to get that addressed in the way that's most likely to improve the situation in the short term.

But it seems that nothing will change your 'sky is falling' attitude, or your simplistic solution to 'lock them up', even though situations like this one would apparently require psychic powers to know that the alleged attacker was about to act in the way that he did.

The mayor has already called on the province to "recommit to reforming the justice system," especially with regards to "prolific offenders that endanger public safety."

He also called for a response to the "dire need" for improved mental health services.

"Gaps in our mental health and criminal justice system not only fail our public, but our first responders and partners in law enforcement who are committed to community and public safety despite a lack of critical support to comprehensively address violent offenders."