City faces lawsuit from former homeless resident backed by Pivot Legal Society

by Charlie Smith on Nov 21, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Comments
The City of Vancouver has legal powers to ticket people for sleeping on public property.
Charlie Smith

A formerly homeless Vancouver man will file a constitutional challenge against city restrictions against sleeping outside.

Clarence Taylor, 57, will allege in a B.C. Supreme Court claim that three bylaws banning sleeping outdoors on city property and outlawing building shelters violate his right to life, liberty, and security of the person under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Pivot Legal Society is representing Taylor, who was approached by police and city engineering staff approximately 100 times while he lived in the streets from March 2009 to January 2012.

"He was issued several tickets under Vancouver by-laws for having 'structures' on the street," Pivot stated in a news release.

Pivot and Taylor will hold a news conference in the Downtown Eastside tomorrow, which is National Housing Day.


Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.

Comments (3) Add New Comment
Karencheyne
Nov 21, 2012 at 6:37 pm
The main question is....was there an alternate place for this man to sleep where he would have been warm and safe? If his only recourse was to sleep on a 1" inch mat on a floor with 100 others who would be quite bent on stealing your few belongings, then I can understand why he would prefer to sleep outside in a makeshift shelter. Just because a man is dirt poor and ofter referred to as a derelict, does not mean he is not entitled to some dignity and consideration for himself and what matters to him. Many many citizens donate to charities to help the poor. This man deserved to be helped , as well. It is what citizens expect to be done with the monies they donate.
0
0
Rating: 0
monty/that'sme
Nov 22, 2012 at 3:15 am
Why do the cops harass the homeless who may be there because they are terrified of bed bugs and cockroaches in some of the buildings--perhaps those allegedly owned by someone named Sahota?
Where is that woman from Lookout in all this? Has her staff sought to help everyone in the DTES?
Why don't the cops spend the money on the gangs handing out dope all over the place? And they want an increase in budget? Shame on them---they are starting to resemble the unprincipled politicians who constantly vote themselves more $$$. In Delta the CAO now earns
$296,000 per year!!!!!! (Separate contract negotiated with Mayor and perhaps Council).
1
0
Rating: +1
Skippy
Nov 23, 2012 at 11:19 am
Sidewalks are for walking. that is what we built then for in the first place. No homesteading rights yet or ever as far as I'm concerned. That they are on the street is a signal of what they did with their lives. But if you wish to take them into your home and be responsible for them just sign the adoption documents.
The excuses people make for themselves are really ticking me off. If I can work so can they but nowadays they just don't want any jobs. No job, no taxpayments, no sympathy. Just a welfare cheque.
0
0
Rating: 0
Add new comment
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.