MAY 15, 201 1

. "''carnegie~ _....~:.,.· .. ~·- 1 NEWSLETTER caiTVleWS@>Olocca

1 .W.I Main SUeel IJancciMlr Canada V6A ZTI (604) 665-2289

carnnews@shaw.ca www.camnews.org http://carnegie.vcn.bc.ca/newsletter

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THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE COMMUNITY

NEEDS SOCIAL HOUSING AT PANTAGES

DTES RESIDENTS STAGE "PAINT-IN" AGAINST CONDOS: "PANTAGES THEATRE IS OURS!"

One month ago City Hall issued a demolition permit to level the historic Pantages Theatre and rumours have been flying around the Downtown Eastside (DTES) ever since. Will Pantages be a "gentrification bomb" of condos at Main and Hastings? Or will it be a "jewel in the crown" of the DTES with 100% social housing and a low-income community arts centre?

On Thursday May 12th low-income Downtown Eastside residents gathered beneath the awning of the

Pantages Theatre on the 100 block of East Hastings to eat pancakes, paint the sidewalk wall of the building, and have their say about the future of the Pantages site. Some speakers referred to the "Paint-in" as in­spired by the daisy painting parties at Woodward's in the late 1990s that were an important part of the low­income community's claim over the building as an asset. The lesson from Woodward's though, Paint-in organizer Ivan Drury said, was, " We can lay claim to a building with protests and community gatherings, but we have to plan the project too."

While the pancake grill heated up the Paint-In was opened by the drummers from the Aboriginal Front Door Society (AFD). People standing in line for pan­cakes fell silent while the drummers played and sang. The mood on the sidewalk under the Pantages awning was friendly and warm, but serious and bit somber. The first words painted on the wall were: "City buy tbis building for us," "100% Social housing here," and "Tbis is stolen native land." The first image was a tree with roots going deep.

The first speaker at the press conference, where me­dia huddled still within the community hubbub, was Mona Woodward, the executive director of the Abo­riginal Front Door Society. Woodward acknowl­edged that Pantages is on unceded Coast Salish terri­tory and said the rumored plans to build 90 condos and SO units of social housing on the site were unac­ceptable. She said that AFD supports the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council 's (DNC) call for the Pantages to be redeveloped as I 00% social housing. "The low-income community wants l 00% social

housing with perhaps a community arts centre on the ground floor," explained Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) coordinator Jean Swanson. " If con­dos are mixed into this project they will contribute to

3.

higher land values, higher -rents in the adjacent hotels, more homelessness, and 'zones of exclusion' where low income people who have fell at home in the DTES will now feel excluded." Tami Starlight, co-president of the DNC, talked ab­

out the potential effects of a condo project on the I 00

block of East llastings. "A condo version of Pantages Theatre would be a knife to the heart of the Down­town Eastside," Starlight said. ' 'The I 00 block of East Hastings is the ground-zero, the centre of the neigh­bourhood, and now it's a crossroads. What happens at Pantages could decide the fate of the neighbourhood: A vibrant, diverse, low- income community ... or a cookie cuner consumer area with boutiques that sell clothes for dogs."

A DNC statement handed out at the Paint-In ex­plained that " lnclusionary zoning·· in the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District (DEOD) sub-district of the DTES means that any new development has to include 20% social housing - there can' t be any pure market condo projects in the DEOD. The result? There has not been a single condo development in the DEOD, not even through the heights of the real estate investment boom. If Pantages was successfully devel­oped as a mixed condo-social housing project it'd be a model for further condo developments in the DEOD and could unleash market development on the most sensitive and (until now) protected area in the city.

The other co-president of the DNC, Paul Martin, pointed at a painting another resident did on the wall of the Pantages of a man standing on top of a hotel and explained that he is a resident of a privately owned residential hotel. Martin said, "I Jive on the top noor of an eight story building in Gastown and the elevator has been broken for six months. My room is not a home, it's just a place to sleep, and not a good one at that. .. The city's policy is to replace all 5,000 SRO hotel rooms because they 're not good places to live. They should build I 00% social housing at the Pantages site as part of what they say is their commit­ment to replace the crummy hotel rooms."

Kevin Yake, representing the Vancouver Area Net­work of Drug Users (VANDU), explained that the city's plan of using "socially mixed" housing is not good for low-income residents. lie explained that the DTES is the only neighbourhood where poor drug users fee l comfortable. "Condos here would make things expensive and take away the only place we have," he said.

Ann-Marie Monk, speaking on behalf of the Down­town Eastside Women's Centre Power of Women group, said that hotel and social housing residents need to redefine what "social housing" means. She said that she is demanding "resident controlled" social housing because, "Staff watches me so much in the

building that ! feel like I'm in a permanent homeless shelter. not my home. They even come into my room without asking. We need affordable housing that feels like home!" Community groups advocated for years fo r the Pan­

tages Theatre to be saved as a low-income community arts space. With the theatre decayed beyond repair residents at the Paint-In imagi ned the ground floor of the Pantages social housing site as an arts and culture centre. Karen Ward from Gallery Gachct said, .. The Downtown Eastside has the highest number of artists per capita in the country, but we have few places to work and meet. An arts centre downtown would give residents opportunities to work and sell their art, as well as a safe space to meet and collaborate. Safe, decent housing is essential as well : you cannot create art when you're struggling every day just to survive."'

The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council has picked the Pantages site as one of ten sites that they arc demanding the city buy and designate for social housing before the next municipal election. The first victory of their "Fight for 10 sites" campaign, ann­ounced earl ier this spring, was the housing for women and children above the coming Hastings Street library '·The library was number one," pledged Paul Martin, "Pantages will be number two."

Beneath the green tree painted on the Pantages, by the end of the day crowded with images of people, houses, and words of community persistence and unity, someone wrote: "ROOTS: We need them to grow, don ' t kill them with condos."' But by the next morning someone else, someone not from the same community that had come together to colour the bro­ken down walls of the Pantages with a vision of a hopeful future, had ordered the wall painted over. Jean Swanson shook her head and said, " It was just too beautiful fo r them to leave up."

From the DNC's blog n

conStrUCtion at Carnegie

It vibrates through me "Bang, thump, squawk" Construction at Carnegie Rocks falling like bludgeons On my unprotected noggin

My ears echo Soft metallic ' lings' Hard crunches Steel-toed footpads Overhead.

Enclosed spaces "Construction Safety Zone" No airy feel of Skyl ight Stolen spaces in hal lways

Hammer thunk thunk thunk A new sound in the symphony Drums with a symbolic cymbal My heart sympathetic Engaged to a beat not my own No calm, relaxing Construction at Carnegie

Marble Staircase

She sweeps down the curved marble staircase in"a beautiful white wedding dress, trailing satin and tulle Her scarred face is hidden, obscured by the white net of her veil, hiding her face from her husband-to-be. He will remove it, lift ing it over her head in a single deft motion and obscure her no longer. How she longs for that moment- a blessing or a curse, depending on his reaction. She is prepared for both actions

Lunch at Carnegie

Hearty food that sticks to your r ibs. Colourful char­acters full of stories. Belonging. Brent with his curl­ing fingers worki ng still, the efficient one slopping down four meals at a time. The line-up snaking up and down, up and down with people's emotions. Smells of fresh cooking, soups swirling in chafing pans. l fi nd you there, tears d rying on your face. My arms

embrace you and hold you safe.

DO YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THE CARNEGIE BOARD?!

Every year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), we elect a new Board of Directors for the Community Centre Association. There are about 5000 members! There are a total of 15 people on the Board, with a

minimum of 12 in case we get any dropouts. In order to run in the election you have to be nominated by someone who is also a member. You have to have been a card-carrying member for a

minimum of 60 days immediately prior to the election date, this year on Thursday, June 2nd at 5:30pm in the theatre. In order to vote, you have to have been a member for 14 days immediately prior to June 2nd. Do remember to bring your membership card to the AGM.

Now usually all nominations are made at the May Board meeting, so people have a month to think about it and ask people to support them. This year, however, just ten people accepted their nominations (i think there was a hockey game on the first Thursday in May) so nominations from the floor will be accepted at the AGM on June 2"d.

What does a Board member do? Well , first of all we go to 2 or 3 meetings a month. Each director is to help on a least 2 committees, which include: Volunteer, Library I Education, Program, Seniors, Community Relations and Finance. There is also a Publications & an Oppenheime Park Committee so there's lots to do. There are also 5 members on the Board who serve in

executive positions: President, Vice-president, Treasure

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CRUNCH -cites

Secretary and Member-at-Large. These are elected after the AGM at a special meeting of the new board.

If you want to be a member of Carnegie's Board of Directors, come out to the AGM on June 2nd and get nominated. Carnegie needs people like you!

By Adrienne MacCallum, Secretary (Director for 2 years and counting!)

Enter the 3-Day Hope in Shadows Photography Contest!

HO P E I~ S HADOWS

m contest categories

1. Our Community (hl.tck & .dut< or rolour ph<>tos

;hmnn~ rhe DTES). Phot<>s rhar <how rlus communuy\

Hrengths: respcn tor one .mother, wo rking fOr j thttU'\ th e

people .tnd ;Ktinril':oo in your ht'e, comp.1"'ion, hopt> ancl

morr!

2. Your City Landscape !'eel ire< t<• phoro~raph your

,·ie\\ o( V,ulcou,-rr or heyon~l

3. The Julie Rogers Award for Best Portrait

4. Best Colour Photo

5. Best Black & White Photo

Downtown Eastside

Photography Contest

First prize (1 winner): $500 cash Cash prizes for 40 winning photos

Pick up liJ at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday June 1 Interurban Gallery (1 East Hastings)

Free to enter, cameras and training provided!

Each rontt>tant "rll be giwn a free single-u;e camerJ COO a\'atL>blt). You en rer your photos bv returnmg )OUr rJmcri-1 to rhc lnterurbL1n Gallery ( l East l lasrings) on S.uurday j u ne 4, llam to 3pm. E•·cry conre!'r:tnt wtll get $5 cash wht-n th<!y rurn in thr1r riltnt·-r;..

PI OT equality liffs eve<yone

~ww.pl\t>dreal.ore

HOPE IN SHADOWS f't,t·:,u ,1 '" c.;.,.., •• u,nu:r

W'\\"\\'.ho~~lnshado" .;.(\)m

For more information, call 604 255 9701

This contest is open only to low-income residents (including children)

of the Downtown Eastside.

conStrUCtion at Carnegie ;z. 6Aft ... hallways to weave in and out of while construction ' workers carryi ng pipes, rails and tubing jostle and She gawks and obsesses, but what can she see jockey around pedestrians - all th is while the build~· nr She should. Why did she undergoes a facelif1, a change in its decades-old fa- !leave cade ... Take away the old etched lines, the greying Her cunning words destroy the truth brick, the worn and sunken stairway that time has Yanking her deeper trodden into concave pools of marble... Release ... the marble staircase, not to heaven, not to hell; J USl l ler hope gets rejected like her last meal a gentle easing arch winding melodiously to one's Her "old friend" left her empty. Again destination - or simply just to meander - to play and A lone ease upon - step lightly a slight shuffie of the feet - a She hugs the cold tiles, they don' t return the favour slight dance - or think again... She's scared of being loved ... a place to dwell- to ponder - its stairs, its steps Pain older than ourselves .. ' it' has stood the test of time - She reminds herself that she's disgusting this test metered out in graduations... She tells herself she's beautiful

Roger Stewart Numb

The tao of touch senseless, pointless She remembers the familiar feeling She knows this blanket holds no warmth

degrees of down Wh . ~~~ at mag1c docs touch create right dirty down that we crave it so. T hat babies right vomit, Thoughts of a distorted longing do not thrive without it. That discretion painful For something that no longer exists h h D id it ever t e nurse w o cuts tough nails thwarts and really

Abby Sophia Glanz and sands calluses on the elderly putrid beyond tells me sometimes men weep comprehens ion as s he rubs lotion on their feet. the nature of

Yet the touch of a stranger the bumping o r predatory thrust in the subway is like a slap. We long for the familiar, the open palm of love, its tender fingers. It is our hands that tamed cats into pets, not our food.

The widow looks in the mirror thinking, no one will ever touch me again, never. Not hold me. Not caress the softness of my breasts, my inner th ighs, the swe ll of my belly. Do 1 st ill live if no one knows my body?

We touch each other so many ways, in curiosity, in anger, to command attention, to soothe, to quiet, to rouse, to cure.

the beast the fires of hell are claimed by our own doing let it go and amazingly it has a different point of view, far more amazing than our small-minded escapades of extreme deceitful pleasures

you think get over yourself he lp another and really help another not for ulterior motives it's not about what U can get o r how much you

Touc h is our fi rst language and often, our last as the breath ebbs and a hand c loses our eyes.

I have or obtain

I it's about how you live your life

Nora Rickman

Orange Juice

Used to be oranges were Medicine in my family

Vitamins C and so on Lacking a proper diet in isolated. snow-bound

villages Lack of nutrition The barrel of apples lasted all winter ; Grapes I saw fo r the first time

when I was three A way station during the war On our way to the city On our way to Canada

1 was an outport child Semi savage Country bred

Wilhe lmina

Goat's milk soup, homemade bread crusty, baked apples, country butter -sl ightly rancid- only a cool place under the pantry floor, smell oflime and dusty vegetab les Mason jars of veal and salmon Canned Carnation in strong black tea It was the war and the Russians were starving

~:\ ,,, . \ News From -the LibrarY NewDVDs Hope A documentary that follows artist Ken Paquette, his partner Winnie Peters, and his five young sons as they cope through a year of change, and how, over the course of the four seasons, the family cycles through poverty, addiction, violence and love. Capturing the joy and laughter as well as the pain, of this complex family, this is a fully realized portrait of people and place. The story takes place on the Schkam Native Reserve. across the river from the town of I lope, with the directors living amongst the family and becoming an intimate part of the unfolding events. Each family member offers a unique voice, describing their frustration and anger with each other, as well as their love and dreams fo r a better life. Raw honesty and a deep humanism explode stereotypes, capturing the joy and laughter, as well as the pain of this complex family. club native; flow thick is your blood? This documentary is by Mohawk filnunaker Tracey Deer who examines the mean ing of Mohawk identity politics at Kahn awake by following the lives of four women from the community as they tell in their own words what it is like to have to defend your cultural heritage in order to live at Kahnawake. Of particular note is the presence of Olympian Waneek Hom-Miller in the film. She ex­plains her view ofth policy regarding band membership and explores her views post-Oka. Three traditional wo­men explain their circumstances regarding identity and membership. One woman is filmed during a horne birth and the family impact of Bill C-3 1 and Kahnawake membership ru les are explored on this newest family

member. This is a moving and compelling DVD from a Mohawk woman's perspective. Cedar and Bamboo By recounting the life experiences of four descendants of mixed heritage, Cedar and Bamboo e>.plores the in­ter-community histori~s and shared experiences of Chi­nese Canadians and First Nations. Set in British Colum­bia. their stories reveal the diflicu lt circumstances of Indigenous people and early Chinese immigrants. The lir~t generation of mixed blood descendants share capti­vating stories about the hardships they endured as are­sult of their confusing cultural heritage. The younger generation is drawing strength from the proud p~ts of their elders, and they're chm>sing to take the best of both worlds.

Wapikoni mobile 2007- 10 short films; 2008-15 short films The travell ing ~tudios of Wapikoni Mobile have enabled young people from Aboriginal communities in Quebec to express themselves through videos and music. Short films presented were made with their guidance and are a mosaic of rich, contemporary and original works. With the "hands-on" philosophy of Wapikoni Mobile, these young artists were involved with practical training, starting from script writing to final editing. The result: thought-provoking documentary shorts and original mu­sic

Aboriginality Aboriginality follows an urban youth as he heads down the mystical Red Road, where the sweet grass grows, to re-connect and be inspired by both new and traditional elements of First Nations culture. In the five minute animated film the young boy learns about his culture and the choices he makes as he 'walks down the red road". Aboriginality also features and provides an in-depth interview with world champion hoop dancer and hip-hop artist Dallas Arcand, a seventh generation member of the Alexander (Kipohtakaw) Plains Indian Cree Nation where he discusses his own choices made walking down the red road.

Writers' Jamboree - looking for Lorren Stewart We're sti ll looking for one of the winners of the Jam­boree Writing Contest- Lorren Stewart. If you are Lorren, or if you know how we can get in touch with Lorren, please come and see Beth in the library. Thanks so much to everyone who was part of the Writers' Jamboree- it was a wonderful day!

Beth, your librarian (with thanks to library technician student Tracy Bergey for the annotations!)

vancouver Public Library needs

Thursday May 19, 5-9 p.m. Aboriginal Friendship Centre 1607 East Hastings

Thursday May 26, 5-9 p.m. Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre 920 East Hastings

Saturday May 28, 1-4 p.m. Oppenheimer Park 400 Powell at Jackson

Monday May 30, 5-9 p.m. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Centre 28 West Pender

Wednesday June 1, 5-9 p.m. Carnegie Community Centre 401 Main Street

Sunday June 5, 1-5 p.m. Strathcona Branch (VPL) 592 East Pender

Free refreshments Children's activities Door Prizes!

Dear Mayor Robertson, May 10,201 1

We are writing you as the Mayor of Vancouver and Chairman of the Vancouver Police Board about the ongoing issue of criminalization of poverty in our community.

We are low and no income people who have been profoundly affected by the City policy and police practice of criminalizing behaviours linked to poverty, marginalization and illness. Specifically we are concerned about current City bylaws around vending, jaywalking and public urination/defecation, and the discriminatory and harmful way these bylaws are being enforced.

It is very clear to us that the enforcement of these bylaws through ticketing creates more harm than good. People who are ticketed for behaviours that are the consequence of inadequate social and economic supports face a number of serious health impacts:

• increased feelings o f humiliation, stigmatization and marginalization added stress and anxiety of having a ticket you can't possibly afford to pay hanging over you

• jail time for tickets or related 'failure to appear charges': in jail , community members face a litany of health Consequences: they lose housing, jobs and volunteer positions, they go off medications and face painful and harmful withdrawal from illicit drugs to which they arc addicted & they acquire new illnesses and diseases.

On the nip side there is absolutely no evidence that ticketing deters behaviours which are for the most part poverty survival strategies (vending), the consequence of unacceptable social conditions (public urination and defecation), and symptoms of illness, disability and addiction Qaywalking).

For the past two years VANDU has worked with the City to develop positive, community solutions to the problems identified by the city as 'public disorder':

)> We conducted an 8 month study on Pedestrian Safety in our community and produced a high quality report "We're A ll Pedestrians" with short, medium and long term recommendations for improving pedestrian safety in our community (none of which was to hand out jaywalking tickets). The City sent a staff member to the Urban llealth Conference in New York City to present the report. Nonetheless, to date only one recommendation has been partially implemented (countdown signals in two locations in the Downtown Eastside).

)> Working with the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood council VANDU has developed and supported a weekly Sunday Vendors Market where people selling used goods as an economic survival strategy can do so without fear of police harassment, brutality, ticketing and arrest. This initiative needs to be strengthened and supported so that it can be extended throughout the week. The funding which is currently being provided for the market ($20,000) is inadequate and represents a fraction of what the public is already paying for police foot patrols, the administrative costs of ticketing and prosecuting, and the high direct and indirect costs of imprisoning people.

)> We recently completed a project with the City on access to toilets in the Downtown Eastside. The report recommends, among other measures, immediately extending the hours of the existing public toilets in the

Downtown Eastside. This demand has been put forward by the community in numerous reports, consultations and committees for more than 10 years. The report is currently stalled and we have received no further commitments from the City towards addressing this urgent issue.

We undertook these projects in collaboration with the City in good fa ith and with the understanding that there was a real interest in creating alternatives to the law enforcement and criminalization approach which has been so spectac­ularly unsuccessful. We now fear that we have wasted our time and energy and that the City has no intention of implementing the creative, constructive solutions we have been working so hard to develop.

We would like to request a meeting with you to discuss these matters. Our group regularly meets at 2pm on Tues­days; we would be happy to move our meeting to accommodate your schedule. This is a matter of some urgency to us and we look forward to hearing back from you soon. You can contact us through our group coordinator Aiyanas Ormond at 604-683-6061, or at aiyanas@vandu.org

Sincerely, Tuesday Group, Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) www.vandu.org 380 E. Hastings, Vancouver BC V6A I P4 604-683-6061 vandu@ vandu.org

The darkness that binds me

I cant see Darkness has consumed me

The light is gone But I am not afraid

Of the darkness the binds me I chose to embrace it Left with the pain

Of my missing heart She stole from me

She has left me empty I-1 urt and alone

Anger consumes me Fed by the darkness that binds me

I gave her everything l gave her all of me

Anger dies And sadness replaces it

Also fed By the darkness that binds me Why cant I forget about her

I loved her and she harmed me Yet I still want her

Could it be That she is the darkness that binds me?

I

Ritchard Stard

JUST

BECAUSE

I WORK HERE

DOES NOT MEAN

I ACTUALLY

"WORK"

HERE

Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House 573 East Hastings@ Princess

7 Right to Food mobile murals Thursday, May 19 3:00pm- 6:00pm

@ SOLEfood Urban Farm (East Hastings@ Hawkes)

Remember the Food Murals at HomeGround? Drop by SO LEfood Urban Farm and celebrate the public launching of the 7 mobile Right to Food murals.

Each one represents a Food Solution developed by the DTES Kitchen Table Project, a Community Led Food Action Plan to bring more healthy and tasty food to the

Downtown Eastside.

Get to know you r neighbourhood Farm, what's growing & how you and your friends/family can participate.

The DTES NH acknowledges and honours the fact that our community lies within the Traditional Territory of the Coast Salish people.

And another social activist burns out Burnt out Crashed and burned over and over and over So i stopped flying Stopped high steppin' in my high heel sneakers Stopped climbing those chicken wire fences Short cuts through the ravine, through gardens signed NO TRESPASSING Through private nature preserves of virgin timber Stopped staying up late to see a good movie or ballet

or opera, Thinking only of my fatigue The endless sitting, killing time until i could sleep and escape

the humdrum existence of necessity and normalcy

Pervasive madness put away Took too much energy And made me different Unable to communicate A loner- suspect and unpopular Not fitting in A square not even trying to be round

Wilhelmina Miles

Humanities 101 DOCUMENTARIES Saturdays, Carnegie Centre, 6p.m.

May 2 1st HOXSEY The Quack(?) Who Cured Cancer

96 minutes. A New America - A New Canada Times arc

changing, and unless \\ e 1-.now what is happening the changes are not going to be for the better. Knowl­edge is power. Get powerful. May 28th

Talk by David Ealing on the banking system and how it v.orks in Canada. Followed by a documental) and discussion. Also

World Without Cancer- the story of Laetril. Exploring the scientific rationale for Laetril therapy. Cancer a de fic iency disease caused by an essential food factor deleted from the diet of modern man. Case histories of terminal cancer patients who have recovered using Laetrile therapy. 60 minutes.

Deception Was My Job - The Testimony of Yuri Bezmenov Propagandist for the KGB interviewed by G. Edward Griffin. 90 minutes.

..

The Art of Rudolf Kurt Penner in the month of May, 2011

at LUMS Office: 360 Jackson off E Cordova Open during office hours and especially

Wednesday - Friday, lOam - 4pm

Sunday May 22. Doors at 1pm, showtime 2pm Tickets $10 at AFD (384 Main), $15 at the door. Venue: The Yale Hotel, 1300 Granville Street

Love Oneself

Respect your own heart Let it heal From all the wrong that was brought on you Learn to forgive Don't dwell in the past

Fade to black

Eyes open The fear sets in I've lost myself In the darkness

I cant see Through the pain

Wishi ng everything Would fade to black

Thinking maybe I will find myself

In the darkness I've become

Numb Thinking maybe Without the pain I can find myself l see myself now

l chase him But he runs away

No matter what I do I cannot catch him As I realize I am

Truly lost It will eat you alive Ask the Creator to lighten your soul.

Numb and broken Wishing everything would

Just fade to black

Go to the water to cleanse yourself to make all the hate go away Go to the forest Hug the tree of life Scream, cry and laugh it all away Always bring tobacco to give thanks If youi take anything from Mother Earth, always make an offering Tobacco is the best medicine for Mother Earth

I hope your healing journey goes well Be safe & love oneself.

Bonnie E Stevens

R itchard S tard

Sisters, Brothers, Friends, You are now part of"the left," because Harper's

right-wing extremism is go ing to put the overwhelm­ing majority of Canada's population in that category. (I'm assuming there are no billionaires, Nazi skin­heads, or rabid anti-abortionists on my e-mail list.)

You believe in unions? universal health care? pub­lic education? peace? adequate welfare benefits? a woman's right to choose? government responsibility to stimulate job growth? That used to put you in the centre. Now you're on the left.

The short list of points below is a bit academic, but it starts the discussion about what we have to do to get our act together--our "left" act, our fight back act. Or do you think we should just watch the destruction for four years until the next federal election?

Solidarity, Gene

P.S. Also, check out the accompanying e-mail focus­ing on trade unions --"a movement in trouble."

I. Now that the Conservatives have won a major­ity of seats in the House of Commons, we will see just how right-wing they are. Thi s is arguably the most right-wing party elected to federa l office since the Tories under RB Bennett were in office ( 1930-1 935), and the context of global slump makes it likely that they wi ll pursue their agenda vigorously. They are fervently ideologically committed to expanding the profits and power of capital ( in both its market and state forms) and gutting the public sector through

cuts, privatization and the infusion of market fo rces .into public services. They will continue to oppose any meaningful moves to reduce e missions of greenhouse gases that drive climate change. They are committed to a racist immigration policy based on increasing the number of people admitted on temporary work visas and decreasing the number accepted as permanent residents, and an aggressive fo reign policy for Cana- · dian imperialism in all iance with the US. T heir ranks include the most reactionary sexist and heterosexist elements in society, who will press for measures to their liking.

2. The Conservatives won a majority of seats not because they convinced a much larger number of people to support them, but because of how a small increase in support was translated through the peculi­arities of the "first-past-the-post" version of capitalist democracy. The Tories won 37.7% of the popular vote in 2008 and 40% in 20 I I . T here hasn't been a major swing to the r ight in the population, only in the way seats are distributed in the House of Commons.

3. The record-high 3 1% vote for the NDP (up from 17.5% in 2008) represents a major change in the voting choices among the very large numbers of peo­ple who support minor soc ial reforms and defence of existing social programs within the framework of the neoliberal consensus that defines official pol itics (whose touchstone is "fiscal responsibility" and defi­cit elimination), above all in Quebec. It means some­th ing that so many people voted for the party seen as most on the left. But the NDP ran on its most mod­erate platfo rm ever, with the goal of replacing the Liberals as the party perceived as the main and 100% respectable alternative to the Tories in administering Canad ian capitalism -- not as a party that stands for a social democratic alternative to the business parties. So support for the NDP in 20 II means something different than support for the N DP did in, for exam­ple, the 1988 federal election (when the NDP won 20% of the vote, its previous high). Then, faced with pressure from people opposed to the Canada-US free trade deal to campaign only against the deal, leader of the NDP Ed Broadbent argued that the Tories (pro­free trade) were the party ofmWall Street and the Lib­erals (who at the time opposed the deal) were the party of Bay Street. Nothing like that was heard this time. Unfortunately, the NDP vote in 2011 doesn't represent a significant shift to the left in working people's views or any growth of radicalism in society.

4. Aggressive Tory moves to take advantage of their long-sought opportunity to implement their full agenda without restraint will likely meet with dismay and outrage. There may well be a deepening political polarization that creates opportunities to mobi lize protest and resistance against Tory attacks. But the serious problems within the working-class movement will make it difficult to channel anger and dismay into militant resistance by the working class (unionized and non-unionized).

5. The NDP leadership is thoroughly imbued with parliamentary cretinism, to use an old socialist term. so we can expect to see NDP MPs criticize what the Conservatives are doing but not do anything to mobi­lize people in the streets or in their workplaces to try to stop Tory attacks. Major strikes against public sec­tor cuts or large-scale protest will probably be treated by federal NDP leaders the same way their provincial counterparts treated the Days of Action in Ontario ( 1995-1999) and politicized public sector strikes and

~ the handful of "Days of Defiance" in BC (2002-2005): behind-the-scenes opposition to them happen­ing, with NDP loyalists at the top of the union offi­cialdom engaging in outright sabotage.

6. For everyone who wholeheartedly opposes neo­liberal ism, the main challenge will be to reach out to people who are repulsed by what the Tories are doing and argue that action is needed now to try to block attacks. It will also be crucial to argue for no cuts (rather than smalle r cuts) and against racist and anti­immigrant measures that will have some support among some people who oppose other Tory moves. Wait ing til 20 15 to vote the Tories out of office is a recipe for demoralization and defeat. We need to start mobilizing resolute opposition in the streets, in workplaces, on campuses -- not rely on the NDP in the I louse of Commons with their "leave it to us" stance.

7. To fight the Tories, we need a left that sees col­lective action in struggle as essential and doesn't re­duce politics to elections. That lefi- the radical left-­is currently at a historic low point in the Canadian state. If there is a new wave of protest, it may create new opportunities for the growth of the radical left (th is isn't guaranteed, as the experience of anti-cuts protests in Ontario and BC show). To take advantage of such opportunities, rad icals will need to find ways to overcome our fragmentation, marginalization and political divisions.

1?1 ~ ~~~(~~~-~-~ ~~--

Carnegie Theatre Workshops -It's time for theatre -

In June 1886- 125 years ago­Sparks from a clear cut fire in False Creek

leapt into an inferno that destroyed the new city of Vancouver

Let's stage the story of The Great Fire!

Actors, dancers, musicians and stage crew

! Everyone Welcome!

- Fridays 1 pm - 4pm -May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17

Class/Rehearsal in the Carnegie Theatre Performance date, time & place

still to be determined

For more info: Teresa 604-255-940 I

ij:'"fo~ailoom

Prayer for les Slaugltterltouse Chickens!

Les Poulets didn't vote in Fed Election they seem to have few civil rights few Animal Rights few rights!

So next time U sink Consumer Chops into anonymous Chicken Burger or 'KFC' do remember les pouvres poulets who, in either language feel their lot truly clucks!

John Alan Douglas

GOOD NEWS!

The DTES Small Arts Grant s Project is back to provide funding opportunities for Individual Artists !

In June of last year, the DTES Small Arts Grants Pilot Project ended with a fabulous gala at Centre A which featured artwork and performances by 37 grant recipients. The evening showcased the vitality of the art scene in t he DTES and demonstrated the value of an individual-based grant, the first of its kind in the neighbourhood.

Carnegie Community Centre is very happy to announce that the Vancouver Foundation has refunded this successful project, and with added support from Vancity, we will once again offer 65 grants of up to $1000 to artists living in the Downtown Eastside.

Applications for the first round of jurying will be available on Friday, Ma y 6th at various locations in the neighbourhood including the Carnegie Center and Oppenheimer Park. Deadline for submission is Monday, May 30th, at 4 PM . Among the first tier of applicants, those who are shortlisted will be invited to submit a more detailed project & budget proposal for a second round of jurying. Successful grant recipients will be announced in mid-July.

Information sessions about the project and the application process will held at the following : 1. Tu esday, May 17th, 6 - 7 PM: Carnegie Community Centre, 3'd Floor Classroom II 2. Thursday, May 19th, 2:30 - 4:00 PM: Oppenheimer Park, Field House

To apply online, visit http://dtessmallartsgrants.blogspot.com/

To view our online gallery, please visit: http:/ /va ncouverfou nda tionsma II arts .ca/

For more information, please contact Jason Bouchard, Coordinator at: Email : dtesartsgrants@gmail .com Phone: 778-879-9843 vancouver

foundation

With additional support from.

Vancity

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Publications Policy: #8 No political pamphlets, tracts, advertising or contributions from political parties or people seeking election will be published during an election period. However, politicians are free to utilise the newsletter outside of these periods to indicate what they are doing for our community and readers are free to respond with their views.

The Carnegie Newsleller is a 16-28 page, twice-monthly publication with 1200 copies per issue and a readershi p of likely twice that. Depending on how much easier stereotypes make your perceptions of this community, contents are "By, For and A bout the Bad and Dishonest people of the Dowmown Eastside.' ' This description is to counter an uninformed declaration that "all that's needed to ' revitalise' that area are good, honest people."

Contents, in the form of articles, writing, poetry, locally-produced art and some graphic input, cover all manner of life and living in Canada' s poorest postal code. Issues include poverty, housing, homelessness, the drug trade, sex trade, ·'free" trade, safe injection sites, health and lifestyles possible on welfare, women - murdered, missing, violence against, children - drug mules or forced prostitution, playgrounds and possibilities in our community, gentrification, treatment re alcoholism, addiction, despair, the deinstitutionalization of mental health consumers & and of course much more.

At the Carnegie Newsletter website www.carnnews.org there is a link to a resource guide called Help in the Downtown Eastside. It is free in hardcopy, available in English, French & Spanish, and lists organisations/ agencies/drop-ins/services in our neighbourhood and some that people here need to access from time to time, like hospitals and where to get identification. It also makes avai lable a bit of in fo about each and is a good place to find opportunities to volunteer. The names, addresses and phone numbers are there; if you want to know more, call them!

A STATE OF Flf/X She bites into a coloured pill, bright in the hanging darkness, heavy as iron. A trivial thing, I know. yet I wonder ... then again why should I care? I feel close to her. like a sister. She gingerly steps off the stoop of a jagged porch, trying mightily to avoid potholes, rats and other frightful hazards too numerous to mention. Purposefully stabbing her stile tto hee l into a now shattered, murky crackpipe she s ilently screams. No one hears; they hardly ever do or cruelly pretend they don't. .. so jaded and out of touch, like so many of us. We try so hard to be concerned, benevolent, kindly. Oh well, that 's the current state of the situation ... Hey, am I crazy or does everyone in this east side area smoke cigarettes (or am I jus t going crazy)? Can't run can't hide from the tar-and-nicotine-hooked crowd; it is not a very exclusive club down in these parts, it's safe to say ... It can be so annoying sometimes, being pestered and bothered fo r this n ' that, although in the end I really do not mind at all. I truly believe that we are all our brother' s and sister's keeper on this crazy spinning sphere floating around in the middle of nowhere!

Oh, sorry, I digress. I suppose you are wondering what else happened to the poor soul in the alley? Who knows? She wandered off into the fog, like a dissipa­ting vapour herself in her tattered, soiled, creamy, nuanced hip-length dress to do her business and er­rands. Whatever they may be, she tends to keep them especially quiet, private affairs; acknowledged and understood by all those who skiHer and scatter around her, day in & day out... so it goes.

ROBYN LIVINGSTONE.

TERMINUS STATION Well St. MINUS is in his glory today, what with Royal beddings unsharp Harper unsettling & Uncle Sam getting his cousin (once removed) Osama out of his way, more years of kissing U.S. ass while the worser reams second-in-command & has already picked his targets for the next 9/11-ish bash, like war

crimes groupies or hundreds o f d ead s led dogs named Snoopy - shallow graves like victories do not last - I see little kids playing their little games. like Cowboys & Dungeons or Indians & Dragons the outcome is pretty much the same. I see yanks dancing in th street cuz Laden got it right in the head, when other Evils met their fate people were happy to be alive & free not because another ma11 is dead, here we have blan­kets o f unsecurity as they shut down shelters but are giving out one-way tickets for you & me, we are not worthy so the next stop is Terminus Station do you have your garbage of necessity? Say bye to all your relations. you knew this world had some great countries, so many tht your yearly income was encrusted on your knees. then this oppressive festival of hate with signs like ·'Beware ofWanted"or " IIELP TOMORROW"' for a job a poor man would­n't think twice & leave this new minimum wage with ma.xi mum rage is now the poor person 's new di sease back to the States where everything's great Pulp Fic­tiOJ1 is reaching a feverish pitch did god lead them to Pakistan then authorize thi s ki lling now just who is the evilist son of a bitch ... St. MINUS tells me his body was carried out in a U.S. flag w ith "Tell Hitler we said I lello" written on it talk about do-it-yourself bodybags, like a universe garage sale with gods ' devils' icecream trucks & all you ce~n crucify nails talking about kicking the hornets' nest this could be the mos t comfortable unrest as more countries join our nuclear mess I'll leave all that to the tw its I'm sure it is on sale, I may not know how to work this fururistic shit but as one in 7 billion I have no idea how you can get off on it, how many people won't see their teens as this world keeps on going up & down at least there will be no more christ Lohans & Charlie Sheens to burn our childrenn's minds to th( ground, some have said when life gives you lemons start a lemonade stand and be your ovm boss is that ru good as it sounds? You' ll never know cuz Earth has lost control as our newest war to end all wars WW Ill to you and me ha! turned hardcore but wait there is a tiny bit more .. .St. MINUS has asked all flags to be flown at half-mast now he has this feeling we will never see the pictures marked AFTER only the ones saying BEFORE

By ROBERT McGILLIVRAY

'"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead."' Benjamin Franklin

FREE ~ "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful

Ca rn eg•1 e committed citizens can change the worMida.rlgnadree1edM,eitad~sp the only thing that ever has." ••

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WANTED Artwork for the Carnegie newsletter

• Small illustrations to accompany artides and poetry. • Cover art- Max size: 17cm(6 :Y.")wide x 15cm(6")high. • Subject matter pertaining to issues relevant to the

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• Size restrictions apply (i.e. if your piece is too large, • it will be reduced and/or cropped to fit). • All artists will receive credit for their work.

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There were several complaints about the cover of the May 151 issue.

*People at the Listening Post, a place for spiritual practice, were loathe to display that Newsletter face-up; it would just make those inside nauseous, seeking inner peace and seeing Stephen Harper at the same time; *Copies that usually get picked up weren't

- and people in various places cited the disgust expressed at having this cretin on the cover of the semi-sacred Carnegie Newsletter.

*a few were sad, angry that the facts on the cover and certainly in the content were not spread nationwide, in the same manner as Harper's controllers had him trying to sound momentous while PR and tourist photos of Canada were on screens as commercials ...

I could apologise but you can get that and

a coffee for half-a-buck. Harper now has his majority, just like

Brian Mulroney had his. Mulroney became the most hated man in the country for the garbage he perpetrated, and the next elec­tion saw the Progressive Conservatives reduced to TWO seats.

Harper used the last 5 years to stack the Senate with crooks who got caught and will surely do the same thing with any vacan­cies on the Supreme Court. Then, with both levels of Parliament and the courts, laws & programs like the right to safe abortions and universal healthcare will bite the dust.

The treason referred to on that illustrious May 151 cover will become apparent as our separation from th United States gets foggy and our laws are changed to mirror theirs. Then the Fortress North America (including parts of Mexico and Latin America, where global corporations have their once­Americanadian factories) will become real­ity, because "there is no alternative."

PAULR TAYLOR, Editor.