Public Disorder & the Decline of Vancouver's Livability

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

“Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” ― Mark Twain

"a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" - Winston Churchill

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Pre or post 1935?

The Champs-Élysées was the pre-eminent shopping street in the city of Paris pre- and post-1935. And remains so today.

Is this a good or a bad thing?

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Acajack

The Champs-Élysées was the pre-eminent shopping street in the city of Paris pre- and post-1935. And remains so today.

Is this a good or a bad thing?

Neither. It's simply a line of text in a history book.

The original comment was the intersection of Main & Hastings used to be the economic centre of Vancouver for maybe 20-odd years upon its birth, essentially. It had already moving west by WW1 and was Skid Row in the 20s.

[whatnext]

Gee, who could have predicted this?

'Unsustainable' theft at cashier-free convenience store may force its closure
The first 24/7 cashier-less store in Vancouver may close the year after it opened.
Brendan Kergin

Vancouver's first 24/7 cashier-less shop may not last too long.

That's because of an "unsustainable amount of theft" is going on at the store, called Avenue C. Located at the Walter Gage student residence at the University of BC (UBC), the "express micro-market" is open to the general public at all times of day and night as a small convenience store with a self-checkout.

If the theft continues, the shop, which opened in October 2021, may not be around much longer.

"Our goal is to keep Avenue C open for our community and we are working with Campus Security and Canteen Canada to enhance security measures," says UBC director of food services Colin Moore in a statement. "However, if we are not able to significantly reduce the level of theft, we will need to close the market."....

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local...store-micro-market-self-checkout-6069198

[Sheba]

Minister links chronic pain with toxic drug overdoses, commits $5M to pain network

The federal government is putting $5 million toward chronic pain resources in what Carolyn Bennett, minister of mental health and addictions, says is part of an effort to help stop people with untreated pain from seeking relief through toxic street drugs.

She says up to $4.5 million over five years will go toward expanding the Pain Canada Network, enhancing national collaboration, scaling up best practices and expanding resources for those living with chronic pain.

Another $520,000 will support a project to improve access to services for LGBTQ residents in B.C., as well as those in Chinese, Punjabi and Arabic-speaking communities living with chronic pain.

Bennett says the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges for those living with pain, including access to adequate health services and support.

Her announcement came as the BC Coroners Service said 171 people died in September from the toxic drug crisis, putting the province on track to surpass 2,000 overdose deaths for another year.

Bennett says that data shows many of those who have died in B.C. sought treatment for their pain in the previous year.

“We have all heard about people being cut off their meds and then going to the street for their drugs. We don’t think people should live in pain,” Bennett says.

“This will help increase pain management options and awareness about best practices from coast to coast to coast.”

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

“Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” ― Mark Twain

I totally agree with Mr Twain. I won't argue with you.

[Vin]

We've outdone ourselves yet again!

More than 1,600 deaths from illicit drugs in first 9 months of the year
https://globalnews.ca/news/9258698/bc-toxic-drug-supply-deaths-september-2022/

Be proud, people, be proud.

[Vin]

Global news just reported that the Province spends $5 bil to tackle homelessness and drug addiction in Vancouver each year, and apparently half of that goes into paying for wages of those working in the industries supporting them. Yet the homeless and drug addiction crises are getting worse.

5 billion dollars per year......let that number sink in.

[logan5]

Vin, you are just vulgar and vile at this point.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

Global news just reported that the Province spends $5 bil to tackle homelessness and drug addiction in Vancouver each year, and apparently half of that goes into paying for wages of those working in the industries supporting them. Yet the homeless and drug addiction crises are getting worse.

5 billion dollars per year......let that number sink in.

They didn't say that "apparently half of that goes into paying for wages of those working in the industries supporting them". It may or may not be true, but what they actually said was that taking the published financial statements of just three of the supportive housing providers, half their expenditure was on wages and employee benefits.

The Edmonton police department seem to have had the idea of an 'audit' of spending on social services first. (It's not just homelessness and addiction services that they counted, it's the entire range of services, including subsidized housing).

The same company was commissioned there - they're an Alberta startup - and concluded that about $7.5 billion going into social supports in Edmonton every year. And overdose deaths are increasing in Edmonton as well, and homelessness is getting worse too. "Three thousand people are living on the streets of Edmonton, city officials say. That number has doubled since before the pandemic."

[jollyburger]

RIP marine bike thieves

Transport Canada to dispose of 11 derelict vessels in Vancouver's False Creek
List includes everything from a 28-foot Windfall yacht to a Sea-Doo and a skiff.

Transport Canada has served notice it will seize and dispose of 11 vessels moored in False Creek that the federal agency deems wrecked, abandoned or hazardous.

“Transport Canada can deem a vessel abandoned if it is left unattended for two years or less in circumstances where it appears that the owner will not be returning,” a spokeswoman for Transport Canada said in an emailed response to questions.

“A notice is posted on vessels that may be considered to be abandoned, requesting for the owner to contact us.

“If there is no response from the notice and an owner is unable to be identified, Transport Canada will then issue a public notice stating our intention to remove the abandoned vessel.”

Owners have 30 days from publication of a notice to remove abandoned boats before Transport Canada hauls them out of the water to dispose of.

The federal government is acting under Section 39 of the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, which gives the minister of fisheries and oceans the right to “dismantle, destroy or otherwise dispose of a vessel, a wreck, or their contents” after due notice is given.

Article content
Boat owners are responsible for any costs of disposal not covered by subsequent sales of vessels and/or contents.

The Vancouver Police Department’s marine unit did not get back to Postmedia by deadline, but Transport Canada said it works closely with the police force, as well as the Coast Guard.

“Each year, Transport Canada assesses hundreds of vessels to ensure compliance with this Act, and takes appropriate action as a result of these assessments,” a Transport Canada spokeswoman said.

“For False Creek specifically, Transport Canada has worked closely with the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Department for the past several months to identify vessels that may be abandoned.”

The derelict vessels in False Creek include both sailing and power boats. One of them, a Tollycraft, has a Sea-Doo on board, while a small blue cabin cruiser has a skiff onboard.

Article content
“There are vessel removal and recycling organizations throughout the country” that look after taking boats out of the water, according to Transport Canada.

“Abandoned vessels are removed from the marine environment and disposed of in accordance with provincial regulations. All refuse and recyclables are handled by local provincially regulated facilities.”

People with permits are allowed to anchor in False Creek for up to 14 days during a 30-day period during high season (April 1 to Sept. 30) and 21 to 40 days in low season (Oct. 1 to March 31).

If anyone is familiar with what boats overstay their permit, or worse host criminal activities, it is the water-taxi operators who navigate the water from the Aquatic Centre to Science World every day for False Creek Ferries.

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Police have been active in the waterway supervising boats being towed since September, said Jeremy Patterson, manager of False Creek Ferries.

Besides owners having their boats towed out of the water for failure to pay fines for overstaying, the operators see a lot of other activity that looks suspicious, especially boats with a high number of bikes and bike parts onboard, Patterson said.

“Oh yeah, we know that those guys, they’re shuttling bikes to and from the boats all the time,” he said, adding the police are aware of the activity.

Two of the suspect boats were tied together about 100 metres west of False Creek Ferries’ dock at David Lam Park in Yaletown this week, Patterson said.

Another suspicious vessel, which ferry operators called Orange Peel, hasn’t been seen in some time, he added.

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“I don’t think there’s a name on that particular boat. We called it Orange Peel, it always seemed to have a bunch of bikes on it.

“I haven’t heard any discussion about Orange Peel lately, so they may have been one of the first boats to get towed. They didn’t have a very good relationship with the police.”

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...se-of-11-derelict-vessels-in-false-creek

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logan5

Vin, you are just vulgar and vile at this point.

If you can't even elaborate on that, I think I've nothing much to say to an opportunist such as yourself.

[Vin]

I think the previous administration, including Parks Board, have given up on virtually everything, or leaving things in ruins for ABC to take over.

"Corrosion and damage to tracks, overgrown vegetation" amongst the problems of Stanley Park train
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/stanley-...ts-technical-issues-vancouver-park-board

Stanley Park is just a pale comparison to what it used to be. Now kids can't even experience the only ride in the entire city during Christmas.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Vin

I think the previous administration, including Parks Board, have given up on virtually everything, or leaving things in ruins for ABC to take over.

Stanley Park is just a pale comparison to what it used to be. Now kids can't even experience the only ride in the entire city during Christmas.

Do you want a new rec centre or a new kids train? Piece says the train is a relic and financial liability.

[Migrant_Coconut]

If the Stanley Park train is the only cultural entertainment event or venue for you, your life is very sad indeed.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Do you want a new rec centre or a new kids train? Piece says the train is a relic and financial liability.

LOL, a relic, determined by who? Not the thousands who enjoyed it every year. Maybe it was the woke "settlers and colonists" who were running the Parks Board until they were recently given the boot by voters?

Hopefully ABC does a purge of Parks and City management staff who helped guide this city off the rails.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by whatnext

LOL, a relic, determined by who?

I couldn't find "relic" or "financial liability" in the piece, but if you actually read the article you will see where GenWhy got that impression.

In a September 2022 press release explaining the Ghost Train cancellation, the Vancouver Park Board stated the problems relate to “mechanical issues affecting the antique engines and passenger cars,” and that the trains did not pass a recent safety inspection by Technical Safety BC.

The Park Board further stated at the time that the trains are more than six decades old, and “require unique and hard-to-access parts, in addition to highly specialized service and maintenance.”

I understand you don't believe anything the previous Park Board commissions said, but is it really that difficult to understand why it is hard to find replacement parts for a 60 year-old train?

[chowhou]

All of y'all are being unreasonable about this. Is it so much to admit that it's both a relic and has value?

As mentioned previously in this thread, it's non-standard model train gauge so parts are probably a real PITA to source, but it seems like it pulls in a good profit for the park and benefits local charities. It's also a cool little train (choo choo!).

(Does anyone know if it's at all feasible to run electric steam engines? I want my trains to go chugga chugga.)

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

I couldn't find "relic" or "financial liability" in the piece, but if you actually read the article you will see where GenWhy got that impression.

I understand you don't believe anything the previous Park Board commissions said, but is it really that difficult to understand why it is hard to find replacement parts for a 60 year-old train?

And plenty of other organizations keep them going. If not. then invest in a new one. Although the previous PB didn't seem to want to invest in anything not used by bikes. As I said, here's hoping ABC takes out the broom and sweeps away a bunch of current staff.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by whatnext

And plenty of other organizations keep them going. If not. then invest in a new one. Although the previous PB didn't seem to want to invest in anything not used by bikes. As I said, here's hoping ABC takes out the broom and sweeps away a bunch of current staff.

If the Park Board decides to invest in a new one or increase maintenance to keep the current train running I will not be opposed.

But look at the conversation above:
-> GenWhy: "train is a relic and financial liability"
-> You: thousands of people ride the train every year so it cannot be a relic.

You didn't read the story GenWhy referred to, so instead of the exchange being a reasonable discussion you talked past their point.