Al Jazeera discusses Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside as an example of gentrification controversies around the world

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      Vancouver’s ongoing debate about gentrification in the Downtown Eastside made its way onto an international stage today.

      Al Jazeera English dedicated the June 24 episode of its popular program The Stream to housing, development, and social mixing in Vancouver.

      “Almost every big city has an up-and-coming neighbourhood,” said host Femi Oke in her introduction to the segment. “But in Vancouver, development has led to a deep divide between the haves, and the have-nots.”

      Vancouver residents featured during the 35-minute broadcast included Brent Toderian, former chief planner for the City of Vancouver; Ivan Drury, who is described as an anti-displacement activist; “Homeless Dave,” who recently held a hunger strike calling attention to a need for affordable housing ; and  Mark Brand, the owner of Save on Meats, a restaurant in the Downtown Eastside.

      Vision Vancouver city councillor Andrea Reimer was scheduled to speak on the program, but pulled out at the last minute, according to the program’s host.

      Also included in the discussion were responses from many Vancouver residents identified by their Twitter handles, including @timbux, @msfergie_sjs, @KimaraSalaudin, @steveleathley, among others.

      The Stream’s episode about gentrification and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside appears in its entirety below.

      In related news, Vancouver City Council is scheduled to vote tomorrow (June 25) on two motions expected to bring new social-housing projects to some of the Downtown Eastside’s most vulnerable residents. You can read more about that story here.

      Comments

      1 Comments

      al jazeera

      Jun 25, 2013 at 10:16am

      they produce some very good quality news.