Downtown Eastside - DTES Issues

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

I think they formally applied for rezoning in 2017 and just now got funding. I think it was bloody ten years ago by now that the City offered up the land maybe? Before my time here.

Standard biggest hold back for these is the funding from design all the way up to construction finance and then of course operations. Lots of hoops with 3 tiers of government.

Yes, it was first submitted for rezoning in 2017, and revised a bit after the UDP suggested some changes (which the architect acknowledged would improve it). City Council approved the rezoning in January 2018 - so that wasn't the holdup.

The City of Vancouver's financial contribution is the site, which they acquired from Concord Pacific (who originally planned condos here) as a CAC through bonus space from rezoning for The Arc and One Pacific. The Chinatown Foundation have fundraised $30m, which has taken a while. The Province are contributing $33.6m and yesterday the Federal Government announced total NHCF (National Housing Co-Investment Fund) funding of $45.8M, which includes a $18.5M contribution and a $27.3M repayable loan.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Vin

As usual, wrong again:

"The Gulag was a system of forced labor camps established during Joseph Stalin's long reign as dictator of the Soviet Union"

There were often tortures and murders in these camps by authorities, as there were many WW2 German soldier inmates as well as political prisoners.

Changing City is right. Before and after the Wehrmacht, many prisoners were petty criminals and undesirables; since then, "gulag" in the West means any kind of hard labour camp with below-prison conditions.

Originally Posted by Vin

Funny, but if you think these people won't be productive at working camps, what makes you think they can improve at the shelters, detox sites, etc.? For me, they all come hand-in hand. I believe that people can be cleaned up at detox centres, and the ones who commit crimes should spend time detoxing as well as contributing back to society via working in camps after they get better instead of being bitter in regular prisons or even set free to rot on the streets once again.

Did I say they'd clean up in a shelter? I said that if they can't, then they won't work in a gulag, and if they can, they don't need to go in the first place. Either way, no demand; put the "can'ts" in Riverview and keep helping the rest as per status quo.

[Feathered Friend]

Ironically, part of the hold up for 58 W Hastings was due to those who wanted it to achieve even deeper levels of affordability. In fact, its first city-led open house had to be rescheduled as the venue (Vancouver Community College) cancelled at the last minute over fears protestors would cause damage.

After that, it took a long while to secure a new place, which ended up being the atrium on the Woodward's site. For what it's worth, the advocates at that meeting were fairly well behaved, aside from a small few who were blocking the info boards. They all left shortly after the media presence did, though the filming of an Anna Kendrick Christmas film (Noelle) continued across the road at 95 W Hastings.

I'm sure the former mayor still regrets signing that easel paper contract though.

[whatnext]

A timely reminder its not just "the homeless" making downtown less livable. The drunken yahoos of Granville Street are back:

17 'stranger attacks' in just 2 weeks in Vancouver, police say, releasing video of an incident
Kendra Mangione
Published Thursday, July 29, 2021

VANCOUVER -- Officers are investigating an incident they say is just one of more than a dozen random assaults reported in Vancouver in the last few weeks.

Police said the incident was reported in the early morning hours of July 11, though the public was not notified until this week.

In a news release, the Vancouver Police Department said a man was walking home along Granville Street at about 3:30 a.m. that day when he was approached by a group of men.

Part of the incident was captured by a nearby security camera, according to the VPD, who released some of that video Thursday...

....According to VPD Const. Tania Visintin, "Stranger attacks have been prevalent in recent weeks throughout Vancouver and this is very concerning."

The constable said there have been 17 "random assaults" reported across the city in the last two weeks alone.

Three suspects are all described as South Asian and in their early 20s.

The first is about 5'10" with short hair and "large ears," the VPD said. At the time of the assault, he was wearing a white T-shirt, white pants and a green jacket, and carrying a black satchel across his chest....

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/17-stranger-at...dent-1.5528224

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Changing City is right. Before and after the Wehrmacht, many prisoners were petty criminals and undesirables; since then, "gulag" in the West means any kind of hard labour camp with below-prison conditions.



Did I say they'd clean up in a shelter? I said that if they can't, then they won't work in a gulag, and if they can, they don't need to go in the first place. Either way, no demand; put the "can'ts" in Riverview and keep helping the rest as per status quo.

Gulags in the 'West'? Find me one. I suppose you mean Guantanamo Bay? Even that doesn't qualify since it is only a interrogation/torture centre.

Man, people make up things as they go along just to justify themselves.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by whatnext

A timely reminder its not just "the homeless" making downtown less livable. The drunken yahoos of Granville Street are back

Hopefully they find those responsible. From the video it looks like the perpetrators are doing this solely as a form of group entertainment and need to suffer some consequences.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Vin

Gulags in the 'West'? Find me one. I suppose you mean Guantanamo Bay? Even that doesn't qualify since it is only a interrogation/torture centre.

Migrant detention centres, for one. Torture is only one way to define a camp.

At any rate, you're clutching at dangling participles - the context means the West calls them gulags. And a gulag is what you're suggesting.

Originally Posted by Vin

Man, people make up things as they go along just to justify themselves.

Ironic, coming from you.

[whatnext]

Yet one more reason to let the Granville "Entertainment" District die. People can party in their home areas.

Stranger sexual assaults in Vancouver more than double in July compared to 2019
BY DENISE WONG
Posted Aug 11, 2021 9:43 am PDT

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Sexual assaults by strangers in Vancouver more than doubled in July compared to the same month two years ago.

Vancouver police shared that statistic on Wednesday, warning the spike is even more apparent in the Granville Entertainment District.

“We have seen a 129 per cent increase in stranger sexual assaults reported to us in July alone when compared to July of 2019,” Const. Tania Visintin said. “In particular, there has been a 167 per cent increase in sexual assaults related to the Granville Entertainment District when compared to the three-year average for the month of July.”

Vistintin calls this rise “very concerning,” adding since July 1, there have been eight sexual assaults on or near the Granville Strip, which included rape...

https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/08...ults-stranger/

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Yet one more reason to let the Granville "Entertainment" District die. People can party in their home areas.

And how is this relevant in the DTES thread?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Changing City

And how is this relevant in the DTES thread?

Kennedy Stewart has let DTES-style problems spread all over the downtown core.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Kennedy Stewart has let DTES-style problems spread all over the downtown core.

Nice try, but this is off topic.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Migrant detention centres, for one. Torture is only one way to define a camp.

At any rate, you're clutching at dangling participles - the context means the West calls them gulags. And a gulag is what you're suggesting.

Ironic, coming from you.

Say what you want, but you know that's not what I mean. A Gulag is far from what I am prescribing. If you don't get it, then at least stop poisoning what I mean with the worst of words. That's not the best way to sway opinions.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Vin

Say what you want, but you know that's not what I mean. A Gulag is far from what I am prescribing. If you don't get it, then at least stop poisoning what I mean with the worst of words. That's not the best way to sway opinions.

Then explain exactly what you do mean; you're the only one who understands it right now. It's pretty much a fact that prison in BC is already as cheap as possible without being inhumane (and even its current humaneness is debatable).

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Then explain exactly what you do mean; you're the only one who understands it right now. It's pretty much a fact that prison in BC is already as cheap as possible without being inhumane (and even its current humaneness is debatable).

Sounds more like you're the only one who can't comprehend here.

I propose a humane incarceration system where inmates are made to work in order to pay back to society. Is this not simple enough for you to digest, or do you need me to mince it more?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

I propose a humane incarceration system where inmates are made to work in order to pay back to society. Is this not simple enough for you to digest, or do you need me to mince it more?

So like North Korea?

Show us a real world example of where this has worked.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Vin

Sounds more like you're the only one who can't comprehend here.

I propose a humane incarceration system where inmates are made to work in order to pay back to society. Is this not simple enough for you to digest, or do you need me to mince it more?

Pretty much everybody on this thread thinks you want a gulag; the failure is hardly on my end.

And I propose that America's slave labour prison system is a warning, not an instruction manual. Also that DTES residents that are dangerous enough to be sent to prison are incapable of paying back to society without special treatment (which would negate the need for prison in the first place).

[MIPS]

The news article isn't up yet (was on global 10 minutes ago) but I'm a little baffled on this one, even though the jokes is they'll steal anything.

Over the summer a gastown cafe had their patio stolen, three times.
No not the tables and chairs. The fencing and planters. The latest time it's on camera with several people coming around at 4AM, breaking up the fencing and walking off with everything.
Is lumber that expensive now on the grey market?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by MIPS

The news article isn't up yet (was on global 10 minutes ago) but I'm a little baffled on this one, even though the jokes is they'll steal anything.

Over the summer a gastown cafe had their patio stolen, three times.
No not the tables and chairs. The fencing and planters. The latest time it's on camera with several people coming around at 4AM, breaking up the fencing and walking off with everything.
Is lumber that expensive now on the grey market?

Assuming the thread police won’t try to argue Gastown isn’t the DTES…..the piece mentioned the owner was afraid to be interviewed and a nearby resident said the rats were coming out of the cracks in the neighbourhood and she was surprised anyone wanted to run a business there. Another failure of the Kennedy Stewart regime at the city to do anything about the downward slide of the area.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by MIPS

The news article isn't up yet (was on global 10 minutes ago) but I'm a little baffled on this one, even though the jokes is they'll steal anything.

Over the summer a gastown cafe had their patio stolen, three times.
No not the tables and chairs. The fencing and planters. The latest time it's on camera with several people coming around at 4AM, breaking up the fencing and walking off with everything.
Is lumber that expensive now on the grey market?

I'm pretty sure its to use the lumber to build make shift structures like large tents and meeting rooms.

The Strathcona camp has multi story set ups with 12ft high walls of pallets, etc.

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by rofina

I'm pretty sure its to use the lumber to build make shift structures like large tents and meeting rooms.

The Strathcona camp has multi story set ups with 12ft high walls of pallets, etc.

That Strathcona camp has been gone for several months, and the field is currently getting rehabilitated. I've gone for a few walks around there recently. It's mostly back to just being a nice, big, slightly underutilized park.