Downtown Eastside residents protest at city hall after 10 years of broken promises
Vancouver, BC, Unceded Coast Salish Territories – On Tuesday, September 18, City Council will hold its last public hearing before the 2018 municipal election. Mayor Gregor Robertson and half of the sitting city councillors are not seeking re-election. After 10 years of lies, empty gestures, and broken promises, these elected officials will abandon their seats and with them their responsibility in perpetuating the homelessness crisis.
In 2008, Mayor Robertson promised to ‘end homelessness’ within 7 years. A decade later, the homelessness count in Vancouver has increased by 35%. In 2016, Mayor Robertson promised to build 100% welfare and pension rate housing at 58 West Hastings. The city is now only committed to renting one-third of the units at welfare and pension rates.
Residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) and Chinatown, along with their supporters, will rally outside and occupy Vancouver City Hall on Tuesday morning in protest of the city’s broken promises.
What solutions are residents calling for? Will City Council and Mayor Robertson be held accountable for their broken promises?
Attend the rally to hear residents speak out.
What: Rally
When: Tuesday, September 18th, 9:00 am
Where: South Entrance of Vancouver City Hall, 453 W 12th Avenue
– 30 –
Media Contact
Vincent Tao, OHCW Organizer
Phone: 604-258-8533
About Our Homes Can't Wait Coalition
Our Homes Can’t Wait is a coalition of groups that want more social housing in the Downtown Eastside. The Our Homes Can’t Wait campaign and the community vision for 58 W Hastings has so far been endorsed by Carnegie Community Action Project, Carnegie Community Centre Association, The Drug Users Resource Centre, Gallery Gachet, Alliance Against Displacement, Carnegie African Descent Group, Vancouver IWW, COSCO Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of B.C., Union Gospel Mission, Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, WAHRS – Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society, First United – Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Pivot Legal Society, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, Chinatown Concern Group 唐人街關注組, Chinatown Action Group 華埠行動小組, Aboriginal Front Door, and Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative
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