March 1, 2015 carnegie newsletter

MARCH 1, 2015

CaEEi!ilSegi eNEW S LE TT E R Index carnegienewsletter.org Website

401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 [email protected] email

. [email protected]

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\T~ERIG~r'., ' I l' .'

y'DREMAIN, "

- -presented by'Gallery Gachet,the "Revitalizing Japantown?" Research Project,and the Right to Remain Community Fair team.exhibition runs March s"- April 12

Jlp ing reception Friday March s", 7~LUI'.'l..--'

"lhe Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre will present a sister exhibiricn. Revifoliling Jopanrown?October 24, 20t5 -Jenuery 31, 2016, 6688 Southoaks Crescent. Bumaby, BC.www.mkkeiplace.orq

We woulc like 10 ClIlp!e~s our ;Jr,1I1:i.t:::J~ to: the RH1t-,t to ftl!",<lln Comm'Jn.l), F.,jf Ans TCJ:Tl ;!'I;H includr.<> 1\.11Loh.,n, Andy MOli. He:b 'V;nlcy. KJlcn W.l!d, "nd QUI!'! M,lnlos; GaU",ry G.l{hct, Carn!!Qlc (<Immunity Aetton io'rc:jt!Cl Cilrnegie Communi:y Centre; Rikl

UIO V<lr'l(:)lj~erJb~n'h' L.Ul'J"'''Y':Sd,uci (. Ja~illl.!)e Hdl1 N,~kt>1N"hOI'oll Mu)Oi!u""'~ {klh C", ter, PuWOi!II !':MfOi!t FOi!~'''''dl 50(,etV; C:;U!<ltfr V,.,IUI\IVfr J"·I.Int'~e CoIIIdC' ••1l (.IUlt'IlS AHO{I.'IIOII imd nlt~tllrfllli'G ••,t:.·PU_ _ _ _ • ~'- ,'!'. __

'ART IS A WAY OF SURVIVAL.'-y.o.

SEE EXHIBITS AT GALLERY GACHET

The Right to RemainBy SYLWIA [Gallery Gachet website]

GALLERY GACHET: 88 E. Cordova StreetExhibition runs: March 6th - April 12th, 2015Opening reception: Friday, March 6, 7.00.10.00pmThe Right to Remain has been enacted by over a cen- 'tury ofthis community's resilience and resistance tothe forces of colonization, racism, violence and unre-strained urban capitalism. Gallery Gachet, along withcommunity and academic allies, asserts the Right toRemain for the people of the Downtown Eastside, aplace held sacred by many that carries one of thiscountry's richest legacies of Human Rights struggleand achievement.For many millennia Indigenous peoples have lived onthis land, despite continued colonization and dispos-session under the auspices of nation building. Todaythis neighbourhood remains home to many Indige-

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THE RIGHT.TO REr,tIlIN-

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nous people displaced from across Turtle Island ar:d.beyond. .

For nearly half of the twentieth century a communityof over eight thousand Japanese Canadians was foun-dational to building the neighbourhood we see today.During the Second World War these Canadians wereuprooted & dispossessed of their properties & belong-ings through trumped up national security measuresenforcing the racist ideals of White British Society.

In proceeding decades low-income people havefound the means to survive & form community, tak-ing refuge in this neighbourhood from an uncaringsociety. However today, marginalized residents areincreasingly being renovicted and dispossessed oftheir belongings and homes through rampant devel-opment, criminalization, stigmatization, institutionali-zation, and policing. This push is fuelled by efforts to"revitalize" buildings, services & streetscapes to capi-talize on the desires of affluent consumers ultimatelyfurthering displacement & the project of colonization .This exhibition enlivens Human Rights stories of

ancestors who once dwelled here and places them in•conversation with current residents. Spoken throughpeople's histories, voices, and artwork, this exhibitionweaves together stories of the Downtown Eastside,told through the Right to Remain Community Fairworkshops, held between July 2014 & January 2015.These stories are presented as a visually provocativedialogue about the Right of all people to Remain inthe places they callhome and form community.

Spring Flamenco Series at the Carnegie

Join us for our spring series of flamenco workshops,where you will be immersed in the music, rhythm,and dance of southern Spain. From the gypsy campsand Moorish medinas, flamenco embodies the pride,passion, suffering, and joy of the people. Learn dancetechnique, rhythmic hand clapping or palmas, andhow to listen and respond to the music. No danceexperience necessary; open to everyone. Ole!

Instructor: Kelty McKerracher

Saturdays February 28 - April 18Carnegie Theatre

2pm - 3pm Introduction Level: Sevillanas 1st copla3pm - 4pm Beginner Level: Sevillanas 4th copla4pm - Spm Intermediate Level: Bulerias por Fiesta

NEIGHBOURHOOD SMALLGRANTS PROGRAM 2015

The 2015 NSG program launch & online applicationopens February 23'd. Deadline for submissions isMarch 31 st, 2015. .http://neighbourhoodgmallgrants.calgrantlneighbourhood-small-grants(Hard copies of applications available at Ray-Cam,Strathcona, Camegie & Britannia Community Centres)

RESIDENT ADVISQRY COMMITTEEIf you're interested in being on this committee,email LinseaO·[email protected] will take place at Strathcona CommunityCentre on Saturday March 7th

, time to be determined,and you will need to attend 4-6 meetings (dependingon the number of apps) between April 1 & June 30.

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Come and sing with theCARNEGIE CHOIR!

Saturdays 6:30 - 9:30 PMSundays 2:30 - 5:30 PMJan. 17,to May 17, 2014Classroom 2 (3rd Floor)

EVERYONE WELCOME!

A matter was brought to the attention of the editorconcerning "supportive long-term" housing; the rules& having to sign away your rights or not get a room.Case-in-point: the Occupancy Agreement of a UGM(Union Gospel Mission) run apartment building.The Occupancy Agreement is a l4-page document

detailing all aspects of living there in terms of who isresponsible for what, what is required of the Operator& the Resident and so on. Fine; leases have much thesame stipulations & rules by which all disparate men& women can live together in relative harmony.UGM has dubbed this particular place as a "dry"

residence, meaning no alcohol or illicit drugs arepermitted. Likewise use of such substances outsidethe building is not tolerated, to cover anyone gettingfalling-down drunk in a bar & staggering home. Ifyou are going to be part of an alcohol/drug abusetreatment program then your life is no longer private.Anyone using alcohol or illicit drugs, whether insideindividual's rooms/homes or outside [meaning ifsomeone who sees you or just doesn't like you reportsto UGM that you were having a beer or smoking ajoint] is subject to immediate eviction.

The purists (or Puritans) then got a few choicesections included in the occupancy agreement:TERMINATION (Eviction):-the residents can be asked to submit to drug &alcohol (urine) tests at any time; failure or refusalmeans immediate eviction notice.-the Resident agrees to provide written consent tosubmitting to drug/alcohol testing at any time (&every time). Refusal to sign the consent form or

~~~~fObe test ij means the resident has to leave~ 1Il:.. {fJ ~;- ~.-the Resident agrees that the Operat?r may enter the ~. .. , LJ .: . . .Unit and shall be allowed free & unmterrupted access . . £'1; /.to the Unit at any time for any purpose. ; _ ~.

The bits about submitting to testin~ and having to let .~tliJ"';~j ", -the manager into your space at any time for any pur- i ~ PI·pose may be okay with people in treatment but there's 11=-:11:=11 ~:::;;;;::::Ione crucial problem: UGM also rents to the general , - E I

public. If you are looking for a decen~ r~oI?' s.eean ad o}l ;;;]~i~~for this UGM place & want to move Ill, it 1S disagree- ~able to be treated like an alcoholic or drug addict. TheBC Human Rights code says that a tenant cannot bediscriminated against. If UGM refused to rent to you

You Can't Have it Both Ways because whoever thinks you may not be a teetotaler /clean that's wrong; they can't.If you refuse to sign their Rental agreement, refuse

to give up your Charter rights, UGM cannot thenevict you. The laws and provisions of different Actscertainly supersede & even invalidate sections of thisAgreement. In the matter of the resident who broughtthe documentation, he had PIVOT check on the leg-ality of certain sections after UGM tried to evict himfor refusing drug/alcohol testing. He'd moved in butnot for any treatment program, being neither a drunknor an addict. PIVOT sent letters on more than oneoccasion telling UGM to cease & desist their attemptsto evict this guy for not submitting to these strange (tohim, anyway) testing protocols.It is doubtful ifUGM has 'seen the light' & taken

this awkward requirement for every resident to allowsuch invasive things out of their Rental Agreement. Ifyou haven't been in court & had a Judge tell you tochange what's unlawful or egregious, you just haven'tbeen caught yet & can keep doing it!

Apparently the provincial government has specialprovisions for "supportive" housing; if you can getyour building designated under this special categoryeven the Residential Tenancy Act may not apply.I wonder how dther 'supportive' housing and the

people who live there are faring. The innocence orvictimization often declared by this or that personwho disagrees with management about what s/he canor can't do ...? Maybe .. maybe not. Any comments?!!

By PAULR TAYLOR

free fabric workshopmakea simple skirt and/or ~ kaftan

style tunic or blouse '

thursday,S march 2015. 2:30 to 5:30 pm3rd floor atrium gallery

carnegie center, 401 main street

all materials & supplies free limited supplies as shown,registration suggested, space held until 2:45

register [email protected] or phone 604 708 6304

a chindi nation workshop

Walkin' on RocksSide of the road, walkin' on rocks, thumb out & uplookin' to hitch a ride to somewhere simple, serene,easy and peaceful, tryin' my darndest to escape fromrapidly outta-control gentrification just gotta outrun it'cause it's like a torrential tidal waveI'm throwin' in the towel for the time bein but I'm notthrough fightin' .. not by a long shot. .. I'm just takin'a well-earned rest, some recreation, just to rechargemy batteries. Tired & tuckered out from corrupt de-veloper-friendly & bankrolled City Hall.. on the out-skirts .. 1o" & Cambie .. the ultimate roadblock in in-sane City planning strategies. Frustration personified.

They may be winning some battles but r guaranteethey ain't gonna win the war. And you can take that tothe bank.

So, for the time being, I've hit the road walkin' onrocks 'n lookin' for a nirvana-type state-of-mind. Ishall return; you can count on this. That's the name ofthis tune. By ROBYNLlVINGSTONE

I~

If it's ever your misfortune in a hospital to stayYou'd best not be impatient for a bed on which to lay

~ For your health ain't worth the taxes that the healthy have to payAnd the beds were too expensive, so they've taken them away

"~, , Oh there's those that have and those that don't and those that are okay

;And there's those who understand that fairness in the only way ,But there's those that are so comfortable they look the other wayAnd they vote for all the villains who would take it all away

They're Taking It AwayWritten by lan Robb(On From Different Angels, 1994)

Art by Serena Lee

~Chorus: .r'Oh, they're taking it away:--Yes they're taking it awayThey are taking all the good thingYou can hear the people sayAnd they'll take it all tomorrowIf they don't take it todayFrom the poor and sick and helplessThey are taking it away.

'j 0 our government's elected in the democratic wayA-whining at the cost of all the things they have to payAnd the bully-boys on Bay Street, you can hear the bastards say,"To hell with paying taxes, pull the safety-net away!"

If you're down upon your luck and need to keep the wolf at bayJust don't rely on welfare or the dole to pay your wayFor the rich, they have decided not another cent to pay

" You can whistle for your supper for they've taken it away.I

If you're Native, Black or Asian, if you're feminist or gayI If you're just a little different from the most of us todayIf you want to make your point or if you want to have your wayYou can spit into the wind for they hav~ taken it away.

If you're battered by your husband and you need a place to stayI You'd best get down upon your knees and quickly learn to pray

I,For the women's centre's phone was disconnected yesterdayAnd there's no-one left to talk to, now they've taken it away.

So if you've health and wealth and wisdom, stop and spare a thought todayFor those who don't and those who can't, there is no other way

, Or we might as well give up the ghost and join the USAFor there won't be any difference when they take it all away.

Submitted by Harold David

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Inclusionary zoning: Whatdo developers really contribute?I was shocked a few weeks ago to learn that a non

profit society has to pay for the 5 social housing unitsin the new condo development at 557 E. Cordova St.The development is in the Downtown Eastside Op-penheimer District, and it's built under an old zoningwhich said that extra density could happen only if"atleast 20 percent of the additional residential units isdeveloped for social housing." I thought that meantthe developer had to provide the social housing. Sodid lots of other folks involved in the DTES LocalArea Planning Process. Naive, and stupid me.t After numerous back and forths with city staff, Ifinally found out that I hadn't read the small print inthe definitions section of the 1982 Official Develop-ment Plan: "Social housing means residential units,purchased by a government or non-profit housinggroup using availabl government funding, for hous-ing senior citizens, handicapped persons or individu-als or families oflow income." So, according to theold zoning, developers don't have to provide the so-cial housing, just "develop units for social housing"using government funds.How many units of social housing will this developerat 138 E. Hastings actually provide in exchange forgetting higher density? .

So what about other mostly condo developments inthe DTES that are supposed to put in social housing?There's one at 662 Alexander St. that's supposed tohave 5 social housing units at welfare rate along with24 condos. Who's paying for them and ifit's not the

developer, what is the developer's contribution forbeing able to build greater density? There is one at138 E Hastings St. where there are 79 condos and 18units of social housing, only 9 at welfare rate. Citystaff told me that a non profit has purchased thesesocial housing units. The developer also has a lowinterest loan from BC Housing. So where is the de-veloper's contribution to building social housing inexchange for the increased density? There is anotherdevelopment at 955 E. Hastings where I understoodthat the developer would provide 70 units of socialhousing in exchange for being allowed to rezone for282 condo units. Now I'm wondering who is actuallygoing to provide the housing. Will a non profit hous-ing group have to buy them? If so, then what is thedeveloper actually contributing?

The new zoning for the DTES says, "In all caseswhere social housing units are secured through provi-sion of additional density, units will be delivered ascompleted social housing units enabling the partner tomeet affordability objectives, on terms that are satis-factory to the City." I missed this "on terms that aresatisfactory to the City" when plowing through the200 pages of the Draft Local Area Plan.For ~ while in February the front page of the city's

website had a big blurb, "How development helpsfund communities." There was an explanation of howdeve~opers' contribute to various amenities including~ousm~ a~d then there was this "guiding principle:"!he CIty s syst~m should be consistent, transparent,

simple, and flexible." In my experience, this wholeprocess of what is called inclusionary zoning, wheredevelopers are s~pposed to provide social housing inexchange for bemg able to build higher or fatter build-ings is definitely "flexible." But it's not "consistenttransparent, or simple." ,Why does it matter? Sometimes it's good to hold

back ~n.development. In the DTES condo develop-ment ISmcreasmg land prices, and forcing up rents inthe hotels where thousands of low income people liveand the stores where they would like to shop but canno longer afford to. Zoning that holds back certainkinds of development can protect communities. Ifdeve~opers were actually required to provide socialhOUSIng,rather than sell it to someone else, it couldprotect communities. Besides, how many members ofthe g.e~eral p~blic, when they hear that a developer isproviding social housing in a development, think that

CHINATO\¥NI

RALLY ATCITY HALL

To demand City Councilto place a temporarymoratorium on new

market housingdevelopment proiects!

Tuesday

March 39:30am

OR

Meet in the CarnegieTheatre (401 Main St.)

Arrive at City Hall10:45am (453 West 12th Ave;

at Cambie St.)Organized by Carnegle Community Action ProJect's Chinatown Concern Groupccapvancouver.wordpress.com ISIGNTHE PETITION:bit.ly/unite4chinatown

Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP)j]UM~t±~qT!JJ~tJU

NEWSLETTER Ji~Rhttp://ccapvancouver.wordpress.com March,2015

Will rents in the East Hotel go up because of a new apartment building proposed for 450GoreAve?

CCAP to oppose new apartment building at 450 GoreBy the time you read this, City Councilwill probably have approved a new 6

story rental apartment building at 450Gore, just south of First United Church.

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The building will have 10 micro suites,36 studios, and 15 two bedroom units.The city staff s report says the developer"estimates" that the units will rent for$850 (micro unit), $1100 (studio), and$1850 (2 bedroom). Nothing in the staffreport would prevent the owner fromincreasing these rents. The report claimsthat the building "contributes toward the... targets of the Housing andHomelessness Strategy."

The staff report also says that the city isplanning to waive about $450,000 infees to the city that developers wouldnormally have to pay. This is anincentive, according to the city, forbuilding "affordable" housing, eventhough it's not affordable to most peoplewho live in the Downtown Eastside.

King-mong Chan of the ChinatownConcern group plans to tell Council,"Developments like this ... contribute to thechange of the neighbourhood further andfurther away from Chinatown's character. Itincreases land values for retail and housingand does not provide any housing that isaffordable to low-income people."

The Camegie Community Action Project(CCAP) intends to speak against theproposal on Thursday, February 26, atthe Public Hearing at City Hall, rightafter the deadline for this paper. CCAPintends to say that more market housingin the DTES will push up propertyvalues and could increase the rents in

surrounding buildings like the EastHotel, Fan Tower, Chau Luen andnearby co-ops.

Putting high end stores in the bottom ofthe new building will also help to pushup property values and pressure existingshops on Gore that serve low incomepeople now. Will their taxes go up andwill they be forced to raise prices or startserving richer condo and apartmentresidents instead of low incomeneighbourhood residents?

CCAP will tell City Council that theyshould make the developer pay the$450,000 in fees. It's not good tosubsidize a developer whose buildingwill increase upward pressure on nearbyrents and won't provide any desperatelyneeded low-rent social housing .. We'lllet you know in the next newsletter whatCouncil actually decides.

Below, the site at 450 Gore where a new6 story market rental apartment buildingis proposed.

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An open letter to Michelle Stilwell, Minister of SocialDevelopment and Social Innovation

Dear Minister,

Re: Ministry 1-866 number

We are members of the CarnegieCommunity Action Project who meetevery Friday to discuss and act onissues that are important to ourcommunity.

Many of us are on disability or socialassistance and have had to use theMinistry's 1-866 number when weneed Ministry services or income orwhen our cheques are withheld and wedon't know why.

AS'you must know, $610 a month, thesocial assistance rate for a singleperson, is not enough to pay rent andbuy nutritious food for a month.Because of this, many people who needsocial assistance cannot afford phones.To tell us that we have to phone to getthe services that we need is just puttingone more hurdle in our lives. Maybewe can find a community agency thathas a free phone. But these phonesusually have a 5 minute time limit, andwe are on hold, sometimes, for 40minutes! People line up behind us andstart getting angry. We give up and

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Above, Ministry poster advertising'secure, simple, convenient" way toaccess services.

drop the call and don't get what weneed.

Or we buy some precious minutes for aphone so we can contact medicalappointments, and prospectiveemployers? and have to waste themwhile we are on hold with the Ministry.

We need a raise now!8 years with no welfare increase is TOO LONG.

Keep this day open: Tuesday, March 31At 11 am we'll gather at Carnegie and WALK to the provincial government

offices at Howe St.

It is extremely stressful to have tophone to get services and money thatwe desperately need and then to haveto wait such a long time on hold andsometimes get cut off. This stress isbad for our health.

One of our members, who has severearthritis and no phone, had to wait inlineups to use community phones justso she could get an application fordisability assistance. It was so stressfulwaiting on hold in lineups wherepeople got angry at her for taking somuch time that she gave up afterseveral times of trying. As a result, herdisability pension was two months laterthan it would have been, had she beenable to get the form when she neededit. She lost about $600 and theMinistry gained about $600.

To make the poorest people in the

province always have to wait on holdfor 10, 20 or 40 minutes creates a lot ofunnecessary stress and is disrespectfulof our lives and our humanity. Whenwe call the Ministry it is usuallyimportant. We may be on the verge ofhomelessness. We may need moneyfor food. We may need medicine.

Please tell us what the Ministry intendsto do to replace phones with realpeople and/or end phone wait times.

We would like to invite you to one ofour meetings, held every Friday atnoon at the Carnegie Centre inVancouver. If you come we candiscuss our experiences with the phoneline.

Yours sincerely,

CCAP Volunteers

Walk for higher welfare rates, on March 31, 11 am 5

lodging house and site thereoffree of pests,(c)maintain thelodging house, fixtures,equipment, furnishings andappliances provided therein, ingood repair,(d)maintain theinterior surfaces in lightcoloured finishes, and(e )maintain all floors and stairsin good repair."

• -o- ,-"',

\.What the law says about hotel-,

maintenanceKeep this sheet posted up in your room and call 311 if you think the city

should make your landlord fix things.

These quotes are fromVancouver's Standards ofMaintenance Bylaw:

Elevator: "Every elevator inany building used for residentialpurposes shall be maintained inan operational condition at alltimes."

Soap and toilet paper: "Everylodging house operator shallprovide ... that adequatesupplies of hand soap and toilettissue shall be availableat all times to lodgers in sharedsanitary facilities."

Cleanliness and pests:"Every lodging house operatorshall: (a) maintain the lodginghouse and site thereof in athoroughly clean andsanitary condition at all times,including windows andlightwells,(b)maintain the

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VancitySupport for this project does

not necessarily implY..Va.ncity'sendorsement of the findmgs or

contents of this newsletter

clawback of child support paymentsfrom welfare, a move that costs thegovernment only $13 million. Yes, therich get 17 times more than the poor.

Richest benefit most from latest BC Budget

The Budget also ignored calls for apoverty reduction strategy. BC is theonly Canadian province without one.

MSP premiums are going up again too.A family of 3 or more will pay $150 amonth. BC is one of only 2 provincesthat even have medicare premiums. Inother provinces medicare is paid for withincome and other taxes.

The government actually had a surplusof nearly $900 million this year and stilldidn't decide to raise welfare rates orbuild more social housing. --JS

No more top taxbracket for people

earning over $150,000

7

THE BC GOVERNMENT'S LOPSIDEDGENEROSITY IN BUDGET 2015

Every February the BC government tellspeople in the province how much moneyit is going to spend and how much it'sgoing to take in. This is called the BCBudget. Looking at the BC budget youcan tell who is important to thegovernment because those are the peoplewho will get more money and have theirtaxes reduced. You can also tell whoisn't important to the government.

This is the year that Oxfam announcedthat the richest 1% in the world will havemore money than the poorest 99% nextyear. So what does our BC governmentdo about this growing inequality that ishurting so many people? It reducestaxes for the richest 2% by $227 million.What does it do for the poorest? It endsthe

No more child supportclawbacks for parentson Income assistance

=$227 million for

richest 2% of~ British Columbians

For concrete Ideas on how to help all British Columblans. read the CCPA's budget analysis on PollcyNote.ca.

=$13 million for poorest -0

British Columbians

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the developer is actually providing the housing, notbuilding the housing to sell to a non profit who can't,then, use its money for desperately needed housingsomewhere else?In my opinion, developers will never be able to build

enough housing to meet the needs of people who arehomeless and at risk of homelessness. We need amassive federal provincial housing program to dothis. In the meantime, I think it's important for peo-ple to realize that developer-provided social housingis not an answer to the housing crisis, especially whenthe developers don't even provide the housing. Andthe city should be really explicit with communitiesabout exactly what social housing contribution devel-opers will have to make in exchange for increaseddensity. That's the only way they can achieve theirguiding principle of being"consistent, transparent, andsimple."

--Jean Swanson

'Energy' by Michelle TuffySee this in colour at Gallery Gachet,88 E Cordova, from Mar 6 - Apr 12

Great gift or Small curseTo wonder is but our lotThis World outlying EdenGarlanded flowers or,Precious thought.

1939-1999(approx) Cyril E Clemo aged 17[submitted by his cousin Wilhelmina]

.,.etropoli!Gn Concert BOlld

Repertoire will include a wide variety of music:Broadway, the classics, marches, ballads, jazz andmovie themes .. Come and enjoy the big band sound!

Wednesday, March 4th

7:30 - 8:30 PMin Carnegie Theatre

THE BRIDGE PARTYMe and a friend went to Oceanview Cemetery lastweek friends & grandparents & Moms & Dads hadbeen waiting awhile for us to come and speak butmostly to know we will never forget, surrounded byvast neglect we used our hands to make their marblehomes right so much has happened since Lucifer of-fered them a light (they declined telling him to stay inHell( their legacies shall we never forget, it was pour-ing lives & souls but we were on a mission of sortssent from Ground Control some would later say werelooking for the greatest creator since god, if there beone of that name all our loved ones are on that in-credibly beautiful plane oceanview ocean blue is myone & only god,The evil ones shall have all their sins sewn into theirmouths to lower them to the depths of hell w shallnever know what wonders await us we have awhileyet to go the party awaits us but we still have time tocheck up and talk to our loved ones souls,Deadlines are set they come & they go like the Vati-can City becoming a communist state trading childrenfor locked up priests NON ono then again my mind isso clouded should the answer be yes or no, be it won-drous gardens or prison pardons such beauty runsdown like a fresh coat of paint or patients arguingover whose cancer tumor is bigger or the picture thatcame with a frame being used as MY BEST FRIENDsadness comes in all colours not everyone can be asaint how very accurate and true,the Terrorists of Vancouver are already here they'rethe ones called "architects" 'transjoke' politicians ofevery level these are the scary sin-eaters to fear atleast everyone at OceanView does not have to sufferany more yet for us the danger is real & in front ofour eyes oh god what the hell are we to do?This is the New Age of Greed give them a corner &up goes another skyscraper is this 'just what [we]need' I honestly do not think we have to be the sec-ond most expensive city in this entire world to livebut where can we go, like wondering which ocean hasthe most guns at the bottom the Pacific or the Atlanticso many woeful tales that bear mankind's footprints& all so tragic so they can be translated for everyoneto hear -unbearable act-by-act & blow-by-blow,

I watch people tring to draw fire but they have no redpens do not worry not for the next holocaust will re-turn again & again I have seen too many flames rise& lives end what can you say about my point of view,Why with so many paths in front of us to choose whyI scream again Why does mankind always fuckinglose your future is all your own but as for me my finalresting home will be OceanBlue Ocean View,... shall'nt weep for the rest of you

By ROBERT McGILLIVRA Y

"A room without books is like a body without a soul."-Cicero

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joiningbattle, but indirect methods will be needed in order tosecure victory.

In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack- the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combinationgive rise to an endless series of manoeuvres.

The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn.It is like moving in a circle - you never come to an end.Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

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Thank you for your support!

I

SU'BPRIME ~.We live in a dark time works to pump his number

with a sub-prime • / politicizing terrorminister Creates a police-state apparatchik

Master oftenebriftc politics who need not answerEmbracer of the dark to the nation democratic

its friend fear Enhances governance autocraticand stark terror in a nation run

by a party of oneConservatives vote their fearLight and hope reside

In the centreand centre-left

A war-monger sub-primeminister

~OPhO<ie rhetoric

So in this best of all possible worlds..' This land of milk and honey

Other side of JordanWe also wait to die.

A spark of lightA long time of darknessSome say a time of reposeA restSilence and peaceAt last.

Sans pain, sans nightmaresThe horror stopped,Or stayed until we are born againThe wheel still turning.

Our ideas implanted eons ageComing to fruition now.The Tower of Babe IThe hunting down of the unbelieversAvenging the SinsSins of the fathers.

Sins of the Alienof I' est ranger -Keeper of strange customsBreakers of tabooNew evils invented each day.New atrocities advertised for

Once we were a peacekeeperInternational leader

Now we live in a dark timeMade darkerbya sub-prime-minister

Gilles Cyrenne

WHAT IS TIME?TO:Canadians it is ice hockeyAmericans it is moneyEnglish it is Tea TimeFrench it iis Sex n'WineMexicans it is a siestaHindus it does not existBuddhists it is irrevelantElders it is running out!Babys it is a beginningNewlyweds it is HopeDivorcees it is hopeless

say, Time is A thief!John alan douglas

Maximum consumptionTo amuse and entertainThe lumpen proletariat, the GreatUnwashedThe common folk -

Xenaphobia, agoraphobia, arachnaphobiaFear of lifeFear of deathOf torture and imprisonmentThe fiery tongs of creatures employed byGod or the Devil - or both.

Tongues lolling in gargoyle head., Talons gripping the newly capturedSucking the very blood

, Sucking the very spiritBy easy means

Hunger, caging, filth & the old clockwork orangePlanting new memories, confusing the diehardsdepressing the hopefuldisappointing those naive onesToo immersed in dreamsTo readTo see the Signs of Ash and Dust.

Wilhelmina Miles

•The Lions of Carnegie The Dragons of Carnegie The Goats of Carnegie

[T A KEY 0 U R PIe KJPhotos by Eva the Elf, taken on Chinese New Year.

Fromthe LibraryWe all know that the Carnegie Library is unique, andI've got some cool stats to back that up. In 2014 theCarnegie was the only VPL branch to see an increasein DVD circulation (up 10.5% = almost 76,000 DVDsborrowed) and we have seen an increase in Books aswell (up 10.4% = 20,600 Books borrowed). We haveadded another row of DVD's and are working hard tofill it & borrow overflow from other branches. Thanksso much for your patience as we meet the demand.The other impressive feat is that out of 21 branches

we're third highest in number of visits, even thoughwe are the second smallest, which means that ourspace is well-loved. We're looking forward to up-grades in our wifi technology because the VPL systemhas reached capacity, withan increase of 51% in wire-

less usage.If you love DVD's keep your eyes peeled on the

"Quick View" section for popular titles such as GoneGirl, Wild, The Imitation Game, The Wolf a/Wall Street,Gravity, etc. These items tend to have long wait listsbut the Quick View section means you can jump theline! (Do note that they are for 3-day check out).

Your librarian,Natalie

THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATION OF THECARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION

Articles represent the views of individualcontributors and not ofthe Association.

WANTEDArtwork for the Carnegie Newsletter

• Small illustrations to accompany articles and poetry.• Cover art - Max size: 17cm(6 :Y:)wide x 15cm(6')high.• Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the• Downtown Eastside, but all work considered.• Black & White printing only.• Size restrictions apply (Le. if your piece is too large,• it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit).• All artists will receive credit for their work.• Originals will be retumed to the artist after being

copied for publication.• Remuneration: Camegie Volunteer Tickets

Please make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.The editor can edit for clarity, format & brevity, .but not at the expense of the writer's message.

COMPUTER ADVICEVancouver Community NetworkCost-effective computer & IT support for non-profitsVCN Tech Team http://techteam.vcn.bc.ca

I Call 778-724-0826 ext2. 705-333 Terminal Ave, Van

(Publication is possible only withnow-necessary donations.)DONATIONS 2015Terry & Savannah -$150 Michele C.-$100Leslie S.-$100 Bob & Muggs -$100 Lisa -$50Catherine C.-$100 Glenn B.-$200 Sheila B.$50Vancouver Moving Theatre -$200 Pat 0.$50Harold & Sharron 0.-$100 Michael C.-$100Eleanor B.-$50 Elaine & Oavid -$j0 J

Margaret M.-$50 Ruth McG -$50'Jenny K -$100 Jacqueline L -$75Or Kevin -$50 Robert McG.-$65Anonymous $110

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:; We acknowledge that Carnegie Community Centre, and',;: this Newsletter, are occurring on Coast Salish Territory.~.:;,;>:;:~~.::<;:.:::~< ':'.:,::_;:.~~:;.::::'::':'~ :::.~_::::~ ..::~:':;'::'.~ :"_.:',::._~~":::.:~_';..~~~~:~:::';::;'~~::.~:.:.~;": ;;.::.,1". ;~:;.'~ :>:~:~::

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfulcommitted citizens can change the world. Indeed,it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Meade

THURSDAY MARCH 12THNext issue: SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Jenny Wai Ching Kwan MLAWorking for You

.1070 - 1641 Commercial Dr, VSL 3Y3Phone: 604-77S-0790

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION• AIDS

.• POVERTY• HOMELESSNESS• VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN• TOT ALlT ARIAN CAP ITALlSM• IGNORANCE and SUSTAINED FEAR

Vancouver'snon-commercial,listener supportedcommunity station.

METROVANCOALLIANCE TRA"i\"TRANSPORTATIl)REFERENDUM FOThursday March 12 2015,7:00

"Please RSVP to mvatransit@gmail,com or online atmetvanalliance. nationbuilder. com

Carnegie Theatre401 Main St., Vancouver, Unceded CoaWheelchair Accessible

tPublic transit service levels in the Lower Mainland have rern~iJled practically unchanged over thepast seven years. In that same period demand has soareq;;;}i?

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Metro Vancouver residents will be asked to vote on a 0.5 perci;fui~I·!p.;~t~):§~r~vincial,?,~leSTax to improve pubh transit service, in a referendum this March. burvqt~~;.~i!i~Rpr8Y~RJ:t~,;the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council plan for more transit routes, morebuses;ian9'tlC:i@Y9A~vans, more options for cyclists, and increased service all over the region. ' ,'," " '" "

If you live or work in the Downtown Eastside area we encourage you to come. We'll be discussingthe upcoming transit and transportation referendum and working in groups to build relationshipsand develop strategies to ensure that the referendum passes.

Be there to add your voice for a better city!metvanalliance.nationbuilder.com . facebook.ccm/rnetvanalliance . @[email protected]· (604) 4418136· 1019 Broughton si. VincouverV6G 2A7

fDOb LlrJt-u's AA&: StJ ,-/JeST /-IF£rlN.£ •••

tHANI<s Spal:'.