NDP MLA Jenny Kwan objects to street sweeps and selective ticketing

Vancouver-Mt. Pleasant NDP MLA Jenny Kwan has alleged that  Vancouver city staff are rousting  homeless people in her constituency. She has also claimed that constituents have complained of "selective ticketing" by Vancouver police. Below is a letter  Kwan sent today to Vancouver police Chief Jim Chu and members of Vancouver city council:

23 January 2009

Mayor and Council          Chief Constable Jim Chu
Vancouver City Hall          Vancouver Police Department
453 West 12th Avenue          312 Main Street
Vancouver, BC   V5Y1V4        Vancouver, BC V6A 2T2

Dear Mayor Robertson, Councillors and Chief:
 
It has come to my attention that ongoing street sweeps in the Downtown Eastside leading up to the 2010 Olympics are having an increasingly negative impact on low-income people in the Downtown Eastside.   Furthermore, the ongoing practices of the City of Vancouver's   Engineering Department in enforcing discriminatory bylaws is also causing incredible hardship for people.
 
The Engineering Department regularly places the belongings of homeless people in to a large steel shipping container usually placed on either Carrall or Columbia Street.   They are then hauled away to the city's work yard on National Avenue.   In a September 28th article in the Georgia Straight, street artist Ken Foster talked about his materials being taken, including a wheelchair.   Another aboriginal homeless individual visited my office recently and recounted his experience of losing his valued carving tools.    I am asking that Vancouver City Council bring a stop to this alarming policy immediately.
 
 In addition, homeless people have been woken up by Engineering Department staff in the early mornings on storefronts in different neighbourhoods around the city as a means to enforce city bylaws.   Instead of this practice, perhaps an outreach worker could engage with those most in need to build a rapport and provide assistance to them.   I applaud the Mayor's resolve to bring an end to homelessness in our communities and thank the Council's recent shelter initiatives.   However, shelters are not homes and I know you will agree that it is time for VANOC and its government partners to make good on its commitment for a real social legacy for the 2010 Olympics including social housing.   I trust that our communities can count on you in bringing this message to VANOC and the federal and provincial governments.

I have also received complaints from constituents that the police are engaging in selective ticketing for illegal vending, riding a bike on a sidewalk, jaywalking and spitting. I note that the VPD's 2008 Business Plan includes the policy recommendation to include ticketing under the Safe Streets Act and Trespass Act by 20%.     I hope it is not the case that the Vancouver Police Department is being used to gentrify and 'clean up' the neighbourhood in the lead up to the 2010 Olympics.       I wholeheartedly agree with the Mayor's recent comment that we cannot ticket our way out of our social problems.   Real solutions that deal with the core of the issue are required.

VANOC promised to set up a table on Security and Civil Liberties, but has not delivered on that commitment.

In addition, the Integrated Security Unit has not adequately consulted with the community.   There is a real fear that this approach will lead to really poor decision-making about how security will be practiced leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

All of these policies are evidence of top-down decision making that highlights the fact that the previous council has failed to engage the Downtown Eastside community in a respectful manner.   It is my understanding that Vancouver City Council passed a motion calling for consultation on security and civil liberties issues, but many of these practices can be stopped or altered directly by the City and the Vancouver Police Department while the consultation is underway.

I look forward to your response and prompt action to address the concerns I have raised in this letter.

Sincerely,
 
Jenny Wai Ching Kwan, MLA
Vancouver – Mt. Pleasant

Comments

1 Comments

tarbrush

Feb 6, 2009 at 8:18am

i'm so glad ms kwan has noticed this and only after how many years?

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