A real estate spoof sold shares to Premier Gordon Campbell's house this afternoon to denounce the sale of Vancouver’s Little Mountain Housing and the lack of low-income affordable housing around B.C.
“If the Premier can sell land that belongs to us, I guess we can sell land that belongs to him,” said Linda Shuto, a member of Community Advocates for Little Mountain.
The organizers decided on today’s carnival-style event -- which included live music, games and a clown -- as a new tactic, after holding a number of recent rallies and protests.
“We decided that maybe we need some laughter, a little satire,” Shuto told The Tyee.
Little Mountain is the oldest social housing project in Vancouver. Residents were told in early 2007 that the publicly-owned property would be sold and redeveloped.
Of the 224 units on the 15-acre property, only about a dozen remain occupied today, with many residents relocated outside Vancouver, said Shuto.
A number of current and former residents attended today’s event to see old friends and share the loss they experienced after so many left.
“I’m in a house now that is not my home,” said Alana Zubot, who lived at Little Mountain for eight years before leaving last fall.
“This is my home, this is where all my community ties are,” she told The Tyee.
It’s this sentiment that has kept some of the few remaining tenants from leaving, said Ingrid Steenhuisen, whose family has lived there since 1957.
“For us it’s not just four walls, it’s not just this site. This community is an integral part of who we are.”
While many of the residents have been told they will be able to return to Little Mountain after the site is redeveloped, Zubot said she is sceptical.
“I don’t believe it,” she said. “If they tear it down it’s going to sit empty for a long time.”
She also questioned why the units are sitting vacant now when there is such a need for affordable housing in Vancouver.
“For all the damage that’s been done, the least that they could be doing right now is reopening the homes and start housing people that need housing.”
While the event highlighted the situation at Little Mountain, it underlines the much broader issue of the lack of low-income housing, said Shuto, and the need for affordable housing strategies from both the provincial and federal governments.
And while she welcomed the recent focus from the province on support housing for addictions and mental illness, she said there has been no attention given to affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and students.
“It’s their job to build homes, just like it’s their job to build schools, and hospitals and roads. Until we have a government that sees that and says 'this is our responsibility and we take it seriously,' I don’t think we’re going to see a solution to this.”
To highlight the non-partisan nature of today's event, Shuto said the mock sale of the Premier's house will apply to whichever party leader wins the May 12 election if the next government fails to meet the needs of affordable housing in B.C.
Garrett Zehr reports for The Tyee.
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frenchy mcswede
3 years ago
my reccomendation would be
that after campbell gets his butt kicked the province seize the assetts of the fraser institute (it's NOT a charity anyway),and the vancouver board of trade, as well as the new useless over priced convention center. These places should then be converted to low income, disabled and middle class housing, any leftover assetts should be given to the food bank...sounds fairer than what campbell did in his first term, n'est pas...?
RossK
3 years ago
Looks Like Little Mountain May Be....
....Another place where the candidate Mr. Campbell won't be campaigning today.
.
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Little Mountain
Have any of the Faithful ever seen the housing at Little Mountain? It was hardly above the level of tar paper shack. Do any of you Faithful think that these units can be kept forever? It is a terribly misuse of the land in the area and the buildings themselves were so old they were about be be condemned.
"that after campbell gets his butt kicked the province seize the assetts of the fraser institute"
I have heard such nonsense from the Faithful in every election I have ever witnessed in BC. The only time the NDP have won is when the free enterprise vote was split.
It isn't this time. Campbell is going to have a comfortable majority. I would imagine the Faithful will get ever more shrill in the next couple of weeks but that will not change the outcome.
First will be silence.
Then will be denial.
Then will come blame for everyone else but the NDP's policies.
Frank
3 years ago
Wilf
Not true, I predict
1. That Campbell will win and you will blame the NDP for his victory.
2. That Campbell will announce we are far worse off than anyone knew and the budget will have to be rewritten and spending cuts will have to happen. You will blame the NDP.
3. That every time anyone turns around they will have to pay a fee or a tax or a toll or a levy or a premium and you will blame the NDP.
The answer?
Take responsibility for the gov't you support instead of blaming the party that lost.
Frank
3 years ago
The "faithful"
Barbara Yaffe refers to a different group as "the faithful"
"Liberals' first West Coast convention draws few of the faithful"
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Liberals+first+West+Coast+convention+draws+faithful/1533381/story.html
But keep the name-calling coming anyway.
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Well, ummmm, Frank....
"1. That Campbell will win and you will blame the NDP for his victory."
Frank, I agree with you prediction. The Liberals are off to a pretty comfortable majority.
As for blaming the NDP, well, if the NDP could, well, like, ummmm, get enough votes, then the Liberals would, well, not win,so, it is, well, kind of the NDP's fault that the Liberals win.
Frank
3 years ago
Wilf
You need to concern yourself more with the party you vote for.
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
On the Contrary
Frank, on the contrary, I would like to see a much more effective opposition this time out. Do you think Farnsworth would be up to the task as the new NDP leader?
Frank
3 years ago
Wilf
I doubt many people vote for an opposition.
I hope James stays on.
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Huh?
"I hope James stays on."
Frank, with two defeats under belt, wouldn't another leader increase your odds? Or do you want to perpetually stay in opposition so you don't have to run on a record?
And you are correct. People don't vote for opposition. Unfortunately, your party doesn't get enough votes to win so in effect, that is what you are doing.
Frank
3 years ago
Wilf
"wouldn't another leader increase your odds?"
I don't think so. The NDP has had lots of leaders and almost all of them lost. Even now Campbell is widely disliked but you and many others will still vote for him so I doubt personality has anything to do with it.
"Or do you want to perpetually stay in opposition so you don't have to run on a record?"
Strange, because the Liberals are still campaigning against the NDP record. One which I'm fine with.
In fact if anyone is avoiding running on a record its the Liberals. Look at your posts as an example, its always about the NDP and never about anything the Liberals have done.
"Unfortunately, your party doesn't get enough votes to win so in effect, that is what you are doing."
*Yawn* The same comment for 5 years. Please read the rules of the Tyee concerning trolling.