Protesters temporarily take over Vancouver City Council
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – An hour-long protest at Vancouver City Hall late Tuesday morning saw roughly two dozen people storm council chambers, occupying the chairs of councillors and forcing security staff to lock the doors to parts of the building.
With banners and signs in hand, the group chanted, “tax the rich to house the poor” and “our homes can’t wait” as they came to vent their frustrations over what they see as a lack of action on behalf of the city to address homelessness and affordable housing.
Chants of “tax the rich to house the poor” & “our homes can’t wait” from protestors at @CityofVancouver council chambers pic.twitter.com/fOyaMZOFc4
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— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) June 27, 2017
VANDU Board Member Karen Ward speaks at @CityofVancouver protest #yvr pic.twitter.com/n7lMfxrm6r
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) June 27, 2017
“People are going to die of homelessness, they are dying of homelessness. Somebody has to do something now, starting now,” Carnegie Community Action Project volunteer Jean Swanson says.
The protesters brought a list of five motions they hoped council would adopt, including making $30 million from the city’s housing fund available to build social housing at 58 West Hastings Street and for the City of Vancouver to buy 105 Keefer Street from the Beedie Group to also build social housing.
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They also want land for tent cities, and they’re calling for Vancouver to enforce standards of maintenance bylaws for SROs, like the Balmoral Hotel on the Downtown Eastside, to be repaired. They also want the city make homelessness and SRO residents a top priority for money towards housing.
Since council had declared a recess and left the chambers, the protesters pretended to pass the motions themselves.
“Even if I were an opposition councillor, I would have sat there, I would have stayed, listened to us and I would have made our motions,” Swanson says.
People sitting in council chairs. Passing mock motions such as more affordable housing $, social housing at 105 Keefer St #yvr pic.twitter.com/NbGzdX1CK2
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) June 27, 2017
The group left peacefully, after about an hour, and the protesters hope council takes their motions to heart and acts immediately to deal with homelessness.
Protestors now leaving @CityofVancouver council chambers following protest over homelessness/affordable housing #yvrpic.twitter.com/T3JmrV0tyh
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) June 27, 2017
