Ancillary to what is happening at DERA, two events should be noted. Although I was very vocal in the community about DERA and its non-compliance to the rule of law since the summer of 2009, Julie Rogers was re-elected to the Board of Directors of the PIVOT Legal Society. The only qualification that Julie had for the PIVOT Board of Directors was her directorship with DERA. And then if that was not bad enough, Pat McSherry was elected recenty to the Board of Directors of the Carnegie Centre. Pat McSherry is a director of DERA and her contribution to any discussion at any board meeting was "wait until a problem happens." The function of a Board is to make sure that problems do not happen. Not only was Pat a director she was also the Secretary. Because of her laziness she allowed a hired employee to look after her legislated duties (see Society Act). Pat was elected a few weeks ago to the Carnegie Board so everyone knew in the DTES that she was a party to the destruction of DERAH and still she was elected. Both Julie and Pat as well as every director of DERA/DERAH should be barred from ever being a member of any Board. Both should be held $accountable for what they did and in this case did not do. This just shows what type of Boards the decision makers and funders listen to. If there was even a whisper that a Board was or had members that were dysfunctional, funders should run. But then funders are just employees so why should they care.
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Showing posts with label PIVOT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PIVOT. Show all posts
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Motions for the Board January 12, 2010
The motions listed below (as well as other ones) have all been sent to the Board during my ten months as a director of DERA/DERAH and they have all been ignored. For those of you who feel that I have not followed protocols that apparently are the norm on how directors get things done in a non-profit I ask who authored those unwritten protocols.
How to do my job as a director was clarified to me by Phillip Landrie, a lawyer in Hastings North (604-257-3588), who told me that societies are micro City Halls. This was further confirmed by Suzanne Anton, City Councillor, who said that the City of Vancouver was a Society.
Unfortunately, most of the 26,000 societies we now have in British Columbia have morphed to anarchies each one doing what the hell they want without much regard to the rule of law or the purpose for the society. For example, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank does not have members only directors who all have professional careers outside of their "charity" work and defer to management on every single issue. And to think we the general public give them money trusting a woman who two years ago shut down the foodbank just before Christmas in the DTES without explanation: go and eat cake, said she.
Motions:
THAT the E/D be instructed to keep regular office hours and to record by the hour what he does. This is how lawyers and accountants bill their clients so why not Kim. His voice mail is always full and maybe he is overworked and deserves a raise. We as directors should know what he is doing.
THAT DERA open all day Wednesdays as it is suppose to be serving the people in the DTES. There is no reason for DERA to be closed on Wednesday.
THAT there be weekly meetings of DERA directors. DERAH is managing/owning property that is worth at least 60 million dollars (replacement value) and the directors meet only ten times a year for one hour at a time with the directors bitching that even that is encroaching on their personal time.
THAT a moratorium be put on any evictions of tenants and firings of employees for three months for each incident so that the possible evictees and those that are facing firings have a chance to present their case to the Board: this to avoid possible costly litigation for unjust terminations;
THAT unless the Board is notified of the reasons for DXXXs firing and they better be good beyond the vague "just cause" or the better one "she knows why" she is to be reinstated immediately.
THAT the Board respond to both AXXXs and HXXXs letters to it as why they had to leave the employee of DERA. And the Board allow those members that want to read the letters be allowed to do so.
THAT the Revocation of DERAH of its charitiable status in October 2009 be discussed in detail. It is inconceivable that this happened and Board or the E/D is covering it up.
THAT applications for memberships and directorships be actively solicited. DERA/DERAH do not have closed memberships or closed boards as this is not common knowledge for what reason I do not know;
THAT the Board advertise that all Board meetings are open to members and interested parties especially those interested in becoming future directors;
THAT the draft motion to pay legal costs be revisited in the light that a management employee previously told the Board two years ago that he was going to pay for the subject litigation;
THAT Kim's title be changed to "general manager" rather than executive director as the moniker executive director suggests that Kim is an elected director which he is not;
THAT a notice be sent to all tenants of the DERAH buildings reminding them to declare each month all the income of the occupants in his/her/their unit even if the occupants are not on the tenancy agreement so that fair rent is paid and to remind the tenant that any default falls on the tenant i.e. if the tenant plans to have a roommate for the next five years (or any other period past, present or future) then the tenant is responsible to pay 1/3 of the occupant's gross income as additional rent. DERA has not been enforcing this rental term as it thinks it is okay for some tenants and directors and staff who live in the buildings to pay less than ten percent of their incomes per unit. I have a friend who pays 80% of her disability income in old for profit building to rent as she isn't lucky enough to live in social housing. Her disposible income is $200 and a comparable person living in social housing would have $700 in disposable income. Disposable income is monies leftover after paying rent.
THAT a police report be ordered relating to the flooding incident on December 28 2009to help verify the circumstances surrounding the flooding and in particular to confirm that DERAH staff told the police that Dave had a violent mental history and as a result Dave was sent to the "funny farm" for assessment. I was told that one's medical condition was confidential so how was it that Tellier staff knew of it (Kim was there)and used such information to convince the police to take Dave away. After observation Dave was released to face Sabina, the Tellier housing manager, saying that he was not allowed back into his suite and that the his lock was changed. And if I do not understand what is going on then staff should explain what I do not understand. The only thing I am certain of is there had been a continuous malfunction of a fire alarm in Dave's suite and DERAH refused to fix it resulting in the sprinkler system eventually being tripped. It was not a malicious act.
THAT the auditor or the on-staff bookkeeper attend all Board meetings so that directors can ask questions of them like who was paid $5,000 to do a $500 web page when the executive director initially said the new web site would be done by a volunteer;
THAT a land search be done in the Land Titles Registry to clarify who in fact owns the DERAH buildings. If DERAH doesn't own the buildings why is it that it is listed on the tax assessment at City Hall and when I inquired from BC Housing to clarify who owned the buildings it refused to answer my email but then why should BC Housing reply to any questions. Why should BCH help me do my job;
THAT the directors who refuse to read my emails relating to Board business be asked to resign. Alex and Julie both have told me that they do not read my emails. And to think that Julie is a director of PIVOT, a legal entity who believes in the rule of law.
If there is anything in this blog that is either slanderous, libelous or untrue please contact me otherwise it stands as true.
Bulletin No. SYS-09-045 December 29, 2009
TRANSIT SHELTER PROGRAM
Transit Police and Coast Mountain Bus will team up to help the homeless and others who need access to shelter in extreme cold weather.
The target audience is the homeless and those most in need of shelter during the extreme cold weather.
Transit Police Constables who identify someone who needs shelter and transport to it will be able to request a bus/shuttle driver from Coast Mountain, who will provide free passage for the person to the nearest shelter location.
Transit Police will transport any persons that could potentially be disruptive on CMBC service.
It is our hope that this project will be a model of partnership for our agencies in assisting our most at risk citizens.
We very much appreciate your assistance with this project and look forward to making it a success for Coast Mountain Bus, the Transit Police and those in need.
Stan Sierpina
Vice President
Customer Service
How to do my job as a director was clarified to me by Phillip Landrie, a lawyer in Hastings North (604-257-3588), who told me that societies are micro City Halls. This was further confirmed by Suzanne Anton, City Councillor, who said that the City of Vancouver was a Society.
Unfortunately, most of the 26,000 societies we now have in British Columbia have morphed to anarchies each one doing what the hell they want without much regard to the rule of law or the purpose for the society. For example, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank does not have members only directors who all have professional careers outside of their "charity" work and defer to management on every single issue. And to think we the general public give them money trusting a woman who two years ago shut down the foodbank just before Christmas in the DTES without explanation: go and eat cake, said she.
Motions:
THAT the E/D be instructed to keep regular office hours and to record by the hour what he does. This is how lawyers and accountants bill their clients so why not Kim. His voice mail is always full and maybe he is overworked and deserves a raise. We as directors should know what he is doing.
THAT DERA open all day Wednesdays as it is suppose to be serving the people in the DTES. There is no reason for DERA to be closed on Wednesday.
THAT there be weekly meetings of DERA directors. DERAH is managing/owning property that is worth at least 60 million dollars (replacement value) and the directors meet only ten times a year for one hour at a time with the directors bitching that even that is encroaching on their personal time.
THAT a moratorium be put on any evictions of tenants and firings of employees for three months for each incident so that the possible evictees and those that are facing firings have a chance to present their case to the Board: this to avoid possible costly litigation for unjust terminations;
THAT unless the Board is notified of the reasons for DXXXs firing and they better be good beyond the vague "just cause" or the better one "she knows why" she is to be reinstated immediately.
THAT the Board respond to both AXXXs and HXXXs letters to it as why they had to leave the employee of DERA. And the Board allow those members that want to read the letters be allowed to do so.
THAT the Revocation of DERAH of its charitiable status in October 2009 be discussed in detail. It is inconceivable that this happened and Board or the E/D is covering it up.
THAT applications for memberships and directorships be actively solicited. DERA/DERAH do not have closed memberships or closed boards as this is not common knowledge for what reason I do not know;
THAT the Board advertise that all Board meetings are open to members and interested parties especially those interested in becoming future directors;
THAT the draft motion to pay legal costs be revisited in the light that a management employee previously told the Board two years ago that he was going to pay for the subject litigation;
THAT Kim's title be changed to "general manager" rather than executive director as the moniker executive director suggests that Kim is an elected director which he is not;
THAT a notice be sent to all tenants of the DERAH buildings reminding them to declare each month all the income of the occupants in his/her/their unit even if the occupants are not on the tenancy agreement so that fair rent is paid and to remind the tenant that any default falls on the tenant i.e. if the tenant plans to have a roommate for the next five years (or any other period past, present or future) then the tenant is responsible to pay 1/3 of the occupant's gross income as additional rent. DERA has not been enforcing this rental term as it thinks it is okay for some tenants and directors and staff who live in the buildings to pay less than ten percent of their incomes per unit. I have a friend who pays 80% of her disability income in old for profit building to rent as she isn't lucky enough to live in social housing. Her disposible income is $200 and a comparable person living in social housing would have $700 in disposable income. Disposable income is monies leftover after paying rent.
THAT a police report be ordered relating to the flooding incident on December 28 2009to help verify the circumstances surrounding the flooding and in particular to confirm that DERAH staff told the police that Dave had a violent mental history and as a result Dave was sent to the "funny farm" for assessment. I was told that one's medical condition was confidential so how was it that Tellier staff knew of it (Kim was there)and used such information to convince the police to take Dave away. After observation Dave was released to face Sabina, the Tellier housing manager, saying that he was not allowed back into his suite and that the his lock was changed. And if I do not understand what is going on then staff should explain what I do not understand. The only thing I am certain of is there had been a continuous malfunction of a fire alarm in Dave's suite and DERAH refused to fix it resulting in the sprinkler system eventually being tripped. It was not a malicious act.
THAT the auditor or the on-staff bookkeeper attend all Board meetings so that directors can ask questions of them like who was paid $5,000 to do a $500 web page when the executive director initially said the new web site would be done by a volunteer;
THAT a land search be done in the Land Titles Registry to clarify who in fact owns the DERAH buildings. If DERAH doesn't own the buildings why is it that it is listed on the tax assessment at City Hall and when I inquired from BC Housing to clarify who owned the buildings it refused to answer my email but then why should BC Housing reply to any questions. Why should BCH help me do my job;
THAT the directors who refuse to read my emails relating to Board business be asked to resign. Alex and Julie both have told me that they do not read my emails. And to think that Julie is a director of PIVOT, a legal entity who believes in the rule of law.
If there is anything in this blog that is either slanderous, libelous or untrue please contact me otherwise it stands as true.
Bulletin No. SYS-09-045 December 29, 2009
TRANSIT SHELTER PROGRAM
Transit Police and Coast Mountain Bus will team up to help the homeless and others who need access to shelter in extreme cold weather.
The target audience is the homeless and those most in need of shelter during the extreme cold weather.
Transit Police Constables who identify someone who needs shelter and transport to it will be able to request a bus/shuttle driver from Coast Mountain, who will provide free passage for the person to the nearest shelter location.
Transit Police will transport any persons that could potentially be disruptive on CMBC service.
It is our hope that this project will be a model of partnership for our agencies in assisting our most at risk citizens.
We very much appreciate your assistance with this project and look forward to making it a success for Coast Mountain Bus, the Transit Police and those in need.
Stan Sierpina
Vice President
Customer Service
Friday, October 9, 2009
Report to Members
Addendum: November 4, 2009. Went to the board meeting yesterday. A member Rob Morgan, a former DERA board member was there and when I was verbally abused by a director he came to my rescue : what in hell was this director doing as I was a "little old lady" and no one was showing any respect towards me. The problem with the Board is that they all come from abusive backgrounds and those that have been abused abuse. In any event there was a board meeting but the executive director never showed and since he was to report on his activities the meeting was not very informative. I kept some notes and will comment on them later.
Another open board meeting has been called for Tuesday, November 3rd 2009 at Solheim Place 251 Union Street (Chinatown) 9th Floor at 6:30 p.m. Spread the word. These meetings are more entertaining than reality tv.604-685-9987
Addendum: October 31, 2009 (Saturday). I walked up Hastings towards Cambie to view the dressup costumes this evening. Everything was orderly. In front of the DERA office I spoke briefly to David Cunningham who told me I was wasting my time trying to find out why XXX was fired on Wednesday. I told him I was a director of DERA/DERAH and I have a right to know. David then told me that none of the the boards in the DTES have any power so what was the point of I knowing. Only paid staff have power. He mentioned he knew why XXX was fired but he would not tell me the reason. As he was talking to me he was throwing crumpled up paper towels (12 sheets) on the sidewalk in front of 16 East Hastings. I asked him to pick up the sheets but he refused. He has no respect for the lands of the Squamish people. The best part was he called the police to report me postering the windows at 12/16 Hastings. When the police officers arrived I was told I could be be charged with mischielf. I explained to the police that I was a director of DERA therefore I could not be charged. One of the police officers had a name tag called Chu. This whole DERA thing is getting stranger and stranger. Now the truth has come out that janitors are making policy and not the Board. David Cunningham is the son of Russell Cunningham. Russell Cunningham boasted even before XXX was fired to tenants that he was in line for XXX's job. XXX's job is the second highest position in DERA. In defense of XXX, XXX is a new Canadian, has worked all XXX's adult life in Canada, goes to Mexico once a year to visit XXX's aging mother, has three children all going to university (which is a real accomplishment in this day and age), XXX volunteers for the NDP during elections, XXX stands 4"8" weighs 140 pounds and XXX was transferred by Kim from a safe working building Solheim to the terror of DERA being Tellier. For what reason. I suspect to intimidate and harass so that XXX would resign.
Addendum: October 29, 2009 (Thursday). I received an email directed to all board members yesterday that the employee who was being harassed by a DERA employee for the past two years that he/she was fired by Kim Kerr, Executive Director, at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday. I immediately asked that the person be reinstated. The harasser should have been fired not the victim. Kim refused to tell her/him the reason he/she was fired and was told to go to the union. This is what Kim did to another employee in April 2009. And another one in June 2009. When Kim decides for some imaginary paranoid capicious reason that an employee has to go he fires them without explanation. Under BC Law if an employer pays severence the employer doesn't have to have cause. The substantial severence pay does not come out of Kim's personal money, it comes directly out of DERA's revenues. (I asked for an accounting for all monies paid for severence over the years Kim has paid but he refused. One rumour was that he signed a severence cheque for $62,000 for Stephanie). The Board just allows Kim an open cheque to pay and pay and pay. The Board is responsible for this irresponsible, abhorrent and expensive behavior. It is time the elected directors took over the management of DERA and do what they were elected to do: make sure DERA is well managed and regain its reputation of being a transparent and fair organization.
Directors elected April 2009:
Another open board meeting has been called for Tuesday, November 3rd 2009 at Solheim Place 251 Union Street (Chinatown) 9th Floor at 6:30 p.m. Spread the word. These meetings are more entertaining than reality tv.604-685-9987
Addendum: October 31, 2009 (Saturday). I walked up Hastings towards Cambie to view the dressup costumes this evening. Everything was orderly. In front of the DERA office I spoke briefly to David Cunningham who told me I was wasting my time trying to find out why XXX was fired on Wednesday. I told him I was a director of DERA/DERAH and I have a right to know. David then told me that none of the the boards in the DTES have any power so what was the point of I knowing. Only paid staff have power. He mentioned he knew why XXX was fired but he would not tell me the reason. As he was talking to me he was throwing crumpled up paper towels (12 sheets) on the sidewalk in front of 16 East Hastings. I asked him to pick up the sheets but he refused. He has no respect for the lands of the Squamish people. The best part was he called the police to report me postering the windows at 12/16 Hastings. When the police officers arrived I was told I could be be charged with mischielf. I explained to the police that I was a director of DERA therefore I could not be charged. One of the police officers had a name tag called Chu. This whole DERA thing is getting stranger and stranger. Now the truth has come out that janitors are making policy and not the Board. David Cunningham is the son of Russell Cunningham. Russell Cunningham boasted even before XXX was fired to tenants that he was in line for XXX's job. XXX's job is the second highest position in DERA. In defense of XXX, XXX is a new Canadian, has worked all XXX's adult life in Canada, goes to Mexico once a year to visit XXX's aging mother, has three children all going to university (which is a real accomplishment in this day and age), XXX volunteers for the NDP during elections, XXX stands 4"8" weighs 140 pounds and XXX was transferred by Kim from a safe working building Solheim to the terror of DERA being Tellier. For what reason. I suspect to intimidate and harass so that XXX would resign.
Addendum: October 29, 2009 (Thursday). I received an email directed to all board members yesterday that the employee who was being harassed by a DERA employee for the past two years that he/she was fired by Kim Kerr, Executive Director, at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday. I immediately asked that the person be reinstated. The harasser should have been fired not the victim. Kim refused to tell her/him the reason he/she was fired and was told to go to the union. This is what Kim did to another employee in April 2009. And another one in June 2009. When Kim decides for some imaginary paranoid capicious reason that an employee has to go he fires them without explanation. Under BC Law if an employer pays severence the employer doesn't have to have cause. The substantial severence pay does not come out of Kim's personal money, it comes directly out of DERA's revenues. (I asked for an accounting for all monies paid for severence over the years Kim has paid but he refused. One rumour was that he signed a severence cheque for $62,000 for Stephanie). The Board just allows Kim an open cheque to pay and pay and pay. The Board is responsible for this irresponsible, abhorrent and expensive behavior. It is time the elected directors took over the management of DERA and do what they were elected to do: make sure DERA is well managed and regain its reputation of being a transparent and fair organization.
Directors elected April 2009:
- Alex Burnip 1008-16 Hastings , V6A 1N1 bellbender@yahoo.com 604-682-3269/7934
- Peter Golletz 202-133 Powell Street V6A 1N2 604-505-7805 bozah@dera.bc,ca
- Elvis Houle 121-1161 Granville V6A 0B4 fallenfeathers2002@yahoo.ca 604-597-5662
- Julie Rogers 813-133 West Pender V6B 5N2 604-568-6497 juliearogers@hotmail.com
- Elizabeth Kelliher 385 Cordova Street V6A 1L4 604-685-9987 elizabethkelliher@shaw.ca
- Christopher Thomas Slater 806-133 Pender Street crancts@vcn.bc.ca 604-202-6085
- Susan Neeves 506-16 Hastings Street East jabberduk@hotmail.com 604-569-5535
- Jill Chettiar 302-251 Union Street malliga@shaw.ca 604-728-9550
- Audrey Laferriere 75-12 Hastings Street East V6A 1N1 audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca 778-329-1250
- Pat McSherry 301-245 Powell V6A 1G3 patmcsherry@telus.net 604-687-6844
Addendum: October 27, 2009 (Tuesday) I attended for the Board of Directors Meeting. Only three directors showed up so the Meeting was cancelled. I was rather disappointed as I wanted to discuss a number of issues: the revocation on October 3, 2009 of DERAH's charitable status by the federal government; wanting all DERA Board meetings to be voice recorded; why BC Housing hasn't replaced the elevators in the Tellier Tower (ten stories high); the allegations of an employee who said she/he has been harassed for two years and wants management (the Board) to do something about it; why the reassignment of the harassed employee from a "safe" family building to a "dangerous" building; a telephone call from a tenant in Tellier asking who was on duty at 1:00 am on Saturday as the lobby area and his floor (with picture forwarded) had passed out females (4) sleeping there; the "new" accounting overseer was not there as promised by the executive-director to field questions; and where are the 2008 financial statements for the housing society that should have been presented at the AGM in April 2009.
Addendum: October 26, 2009I just received notice that a meeting of the Board of Directors will take place at 6:30 at 251 Union Street Solheim Place Vancouver tomorrow Tuesday October 27th 2009. Since all board meetings are open to the community, any of you that are interested should attend.
Addendum: October 23, 2009 (Friday) I received a telephone call this evening from the President of the Board of DERA asking me to cease and detest from communicating with anyone especially funders as that is not what directors do. I do not know what the Board expects me to do when it and the executive-director refuses to give me access to any information that is my right under the Socities Act. A director is like a police office if something is rumoured to be wrong he investigates. If he doesn't investigate he isn't doing his job. If any of you know of a solution, please let me know. I am beginning to think there is a conspiracy out there as no lawyer wants to get involved with this citing legal fees. And PIVOT refused citing some obscure meaningless conflict that had nothing to do with the governance of the Board. And the funders and the auditor seem to be protecting DERA from what I do not know because each one of them refused to release any information to me as well. And no one can say items are confidential as I am a director and all confidential items are to come to me.
Addendum: October 13, 2009 A special board meeting was called this evening. I didnot know that I would be the subject of it. The board wanted me to resign. I refused. A detailed report to follow.
I regret the action of the Board in cancelling the September 08 2009 meeting with the explanation that the president of the Board was not prepared. This meeting was called two months ago. I suspect that there will never be another monthly board meeting as there is no requirement for monthly board meeting in the Societies Act. The directors must be happy now that they are now truly invisible to members and staff (except for the two directors who blindly co-sign cheques for DERA's eleven bank accounts).
On September 8, 2009, a nasty gentleman, told me in front of a group of people, as he walked pass me, that I was crazy, and for me to go back to the asylum. When I asked who he was, he would not tell me. One of the group said he was Russ Cunningham. Russ then repeated in a louder voice that I was crazy, and for me to go back to the asylum. Russ Cunningham is an on-and-off again employee/contractor of DERA and he lives in Solheim Place. If an employee verbally abuses me in this way I wonder what staff has been doing to the tenants most of which are elderly and/or disabled. If any of you have had a negative experience with Russ Cunningham (or any other employee) please let me know.
Russ is the father of David Cunningham of APC fame who walked away from the APC to become an artist. I have known David for five years and I assume what David knows is what his father knows. How else would Russ know I was crazy and I came from an asylum. Not true. David works for DERA and he also lives in Solheim in a three bedroom apartment with Jill and their child. Jill is a director of DERA.
How is it that people who make a union wage can reside in DERA's low income housing. I have asked for a list of the DERA employees who live in DERA Housing but I haven't had a response. Perhaps those of you who live in the towers could assist me. One of my future proposals will be that no full-time DERA employees live in DERA housing. If you agree let me know.
I also put on notice that no one is to take down any notices that I post in the DERA towers addressed to members/tenants of pending meetings like the weekly all towers community kitchen in Tellier each Friday at 5:30 pm, etc. Each time I post something or ask that something be posted it either does not get posted or it gets torn down.
I still have not received an apology from the lawyer-advocates for their behaviors in forcing me to leave the DERA office at 12 East Hastings with the explanation that the executive-director instructed them to do so. Because of their profession lawyers are expected to have a higher standard of conduct than others and they knew or should have known that a director's elected position is paramount to that of a paid employee (executive-director). Their behavior and lack of respect for the rule-of-law is inexcusable.
On September 15 2009 a DERA director accused me of publishing his name, phone number and address as he didn't want anyone to know he was a Board member. This was not done because no one asked me for the information. What a terrible thing DERA has done; it has created a climate where there is no tenant interest in how the towers are managed. He also accused me of telling everyone on the Board what to do via emails. I was doing my job as director as best I could considing no one else on the Board is even attempting to engage in dialogue to better DERA. The only vehicle I have are e-mails. Needless to say he was verbally abusive as well. He was drug/alcoholic impaired
I am still looking for a lawyer who might help me pro bono or do it myself but I feel I am being forced to go to the court of public opinion. I am less than one thousandth of one percent there now with my blog. But a blog won't go very far if no one is aware of it. Such fun in the world of to make the invisible visible (the old website motto of DERA).
Audrey Jane Laferriere,
DERA Director (2009)
778-329-1250
email:audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca
http://voiceofgoneballistic.blogspot.com/
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Verbal Discourse
The only thing certain about Ladner wanting to wait for a permanent solution to street homelessness are the deaths occurring in the DTES weekly.
In the first mayoral debate Ladner referred to Philip Mangano, the US czar of homelessness, that "housing first" was the way to go. When I spoke to Philip and when I told him that the City has a deliberate written policy not to do more shelters he was perplexed and he asked him what was the City going to do with the homeless in the meantime. I told Ladner this and at the next debate he said that the City's Housing Director, Cameron Gray, was the "expert" and Cameron said that we need permanent solutions. Of course Cameron would say that as he is an employee.
As for Robertson, he is doing the same thing as City Council has always done is listen to the wrong people and not use common sense. There is no reason for anyone to be living on the streets. Putting a mat on the floor at Storyeum is negligible in cost so why is he even considering opening additional buildings such as community centers. Such a plan is nothing more than a logistic nightmare. We do not need portable shelters all over the City. We need shelters that can stablize people and not move them each morning to the street and then to another shelter.
In the first mayoral debate Ladner referred to Philip Mangano, the US czar of homelessness, that "housing first" was the way to go. When I spoke to Philip and when I told him that the City has a deliberate written policy not to do more shelters he was perplexed and he asked him what was the City going to do with the homeless in the meantime. I told Ladner this and at the next debate he said that the City's Housing Director, Cameron Gray, was the "expert" and Cameron said that we need permanent solutions. Of course Cameron would say that as he is an employee.
As for Robertson, he is doing the same thing as City Council has always done is listen to the wrong people and not use common sense. There is no reason for anyone to be living on the streets. Putting a mat on the floor at Storyeum is negligible in cost so why is he even considering opening additional buildings such as community centers. Such a plan is nothing more than a logistic nightmare. We do not need portable shelters all over the City. We need shelters that can stablize people and not move them each morning to the street and then to another shelter.
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