Well put, and don’t forget black market/non pharmaceutical grade benzodiazepines. Fentanyl and « Xan »(genuine or illicit benzos) have changed the landscape as well as the individual and collective user behaviour. The drugs are more potent than previous analogs and contribute to reduced individual capacity and more frequent desire/need to rescore. My understanding and belief as to a key cause of outdoor congregations is they stem from the unpredictable potency/lethality of the current drug supply. You don’t hear it in the news as much these days but addicts were reportedly scared to use alone and with good reason, when fentanyl emerged. Not everyone who uses ends up in a tent on Hastings but I believe these stronger drugs make it easier to end up there, and harder to get out.
The tent removal on Hastings
- Thread starter angry anderson
- Start date
Actually, I know a lot of people who do give a shit about these people, and make it a priority to try and help them. But individusls can’t really do diddly squat when our governments at all levels perpetuate this insane systemic homeless cycle.
Worse drugs make things worse for addicts, and it’s shocking with all the OD deaths that the problem just keeps on growing. One addict dies,, two more take his place, and with better tents.
This is beyond a simplistic blame-the-rich scenario, popular as that card may be to play, or any other demographic that we blame for all that ails us. I don’t think any point grey-ers forced these homeless people into bad life decisions. They sure don’t enjoy seeing them lying on the street corner at Granville & Georgia, or Hastings, or anywhere else. It is a human travesty, and a blight on our city, but it is not the doing of successful workkng people who are better off. Shit, let’s blame the Illuminati and the KKK, and those fucking CRA tax collectors while we’re at it. This problem needs clarity and courage and consistency from our elected officials, regrettably in short supply with our elected officials.
Not likely. Hard to push a shopping cart to Point Grey from Hastings carrying a tiki torch and a pitchfork. . They certainly don't look they've got the energy or sense of direction to go on a rampage.
Last edited:
I remember approximately 30 years ago a work mate who's family came from Russia had a cousin visit him from Russia. The cousin told my work mate he was surprised to see relatively nice cars out in the open, unprotected and looking pristine.. He told his cousin that in Russia that cars like that would be vandalized because the common folk would never be able to afford a nice car, so why should the rich people be allowed to enjoy owning one? I remember being quite shocked when my work mate told me about his converstion with his cousin. But now I fear that we might not be far from reaching the same point here in North America. The disparity between the rich and the poor grows daily.
JD
My 2 cents.
Give the tenters 2 options.
Option A. Move to low income housing and get help/start improving yourself.
Option B. Death
You see, option B (death) became the final solution for unwanted people of society in Nazi Germany (Europe during WW2). Well because it was cheaper....
Since Option B is off the list....
They only have Option A left....
The lesser of 2 evils.....But cost the taxpayers alot of money....
Given how politicians and bureaucrats work, they will always come up with 2 solutions that are equally distasteful.
Funny thing, its the Easter long weekend, where someone died, so that you could live. (or so the religious zealots preach).... ahh well life goes on.....
Give the tenters 2 options.
Option A. Move to low income housing and get help/start improving yourself.
Option B. Death
You see, option B (death) became the final solution for unwanted people of society in Nazi Germany (Europe during WW2). Well because it was cheaper....
Since Option B is off the list....
They only have Option A left....
The lesser of 2 evils.....But cost the taxpayers alot of money....
Given how politicians and bureaucrats work, they will always come up with 2 solutions that are equally distasteful.
Funny thing, its the Easter long weekend, where someone died, so that you could live. (or so the religious zealots preach).... ahh well life goes on.....
Tent removal continues for 4th day on Downtown Eastside | Watch (msn.com)
Sorry, but my reaction is just clean this shit up. It has to be done because what was going on wasn't working. As they say, when you close one door, another door will open. It may not be much better, but it couldn't be any worse.
Sorry, but my reaction is just clean this shit up. It has to be done because what was going on wasn't working. As they say, when you close one door, another door will open. It may not be much better, but it couldn't be any worse.
It could become relatively much worse in Vancouver and surrounds based on weather.
San Fran and L.A. have mild winters and vast, nearby areas with similar comforts. Canadian winters could easily drive the homeless to Vancouver from every other province and territory that is nearer to the west coast than to the east coast.
I’m right in the core of downtown Winnipeg as I text, this rot is here too. What a shit hole.
Well, sounds like not much has changed in Winnipeg. Homeless must be a lot tougher there.
When I was traveling to Winnipeg regularly in the 80-90's, that downtown strip, can't recall the streets, but it was rough, might have been about the only place I had been that had me looking at shadows and reflections in the glass.
And to think that Winnipeg in the 50-60's and part of the 70's was a major center ... sad.
Yeah it was very sad.
I went with a friend who used to work in the downtown Bay store. She had an appointment in the big office tower at Portage and Main.
Downtown was vibrant in the 80s. A large shopping center was built with nice stores. The main street was nice to walk, there were lots of interesting shops. Lots of people worked in the offices along the main avenue.
Now everything is empty.
Even the library isn’t safe, people get stabbed there!
There is nothing to attract anyone to downtown. People go to see a game or concert and leave right after.
Hundreds of millions have been spent with no effect.
I’ve always disagreed with the importance of a downtown core, something many politicians are obsessed with. I think it’s far more sensible to go to a dentist/doctor that’s a few blocks away that drive downtown. Shopping- everything is online and comes to my door.
I went with a friend who used to work in the downtown Bay store. She had an appointment in the big office tower at Portage and Main.
Downtown was vibrant in the 80s. A large shopping center was built with nice stores. The main street was nice to walk, there were lots of interesting shops. Lots of people worked in the offices along the main avenue.
Now everything is empty.
Even the library isn’t safe, people get stabbed there!
There is nothing to attract anyone to downtown. People go to see a game or concert and leave right after.
Hundreds of millions have been spent with no effect.
I’ve always disagreed with the importance of a downtown core, something many politicians are obsessed with. I think it’s far more sensible to go to a dentist/doctor that’s a few blocks away that drive downtown. Shopping- everything is online and comes to my door.
Last edited:
I just need to clarify -
being a veteran of war ....is not a "bad decision"
surviving genocide.... is not a "bad decision"
suriving the totally corrupt and exploitative foster care system.....is not a "bad decision"
a war against citizens which has lasted decades......is not a "bad decision"
having a head injury....is not a "bad decision"
dealing with mental health issues.......is not a "bad decision"
minimum wage not being a livable wage here....is not a "bad decision"
I love you guys but jeez.... a lot of rhetoric flying around here....
try to imagine if it was you...or someone you love...who society chose too throw away...all for the piece of the most valuable real estate in north america....for greed...
And yes it's happening everywhere....this is not the fault of harm reduction.... the is the fault of failed policies which defunded mental health services, failed to support our vetrans when they come home, failed to build affordable housing in an ongoing way, ongoing destruction of first nations communities and families and the ongoing war against citizens via the remnents of prohibition....
this is the net result of those "bad decisions" and not fault of those people impacted...
If we want someone to blame we should all look in the mirror.
love susie
being a veteran of war ....is not a "bad decision"
surviving genocide.... is not a "bad decision"
suriving the totally corrupt and exploitative foster care system.....is not a "bad decision"
a war against citizens which has lasted decades......is not a "bad decision"
having a head injury....is not a "bad decision"
dealing with mental health issues.......is not a "bad decision"
minimum wage not being a livable wage here....is not a "bad decision"
I love you guys but jeez.... a lot of rhetoric flying around here....
try to imagine if it was you...or someone you love...who society chose too throw away...all for the piece of the most valuable real estate in north america....for greed...
And yes it's happening everywhere....this is not the fault of harm reduction.... the is the fault of failed policies which defunded mental health services, failed to support our vetrans when they come home, failed to build affordable housing in an ongoing way, ongoing destruction of first nations communities and families and the ongoing war against citizens via the remnents of prohibition....
this is the net result of those "bad decisions" and not fault of those people impacted...
If we want someone to blame we should all look in the mirror.
love susie
Always easy to spot the silver spoon trust fund crowd in threads like this.
All mouth, no knowledge.
All mouth, no knowledge.
'Could'? This has certainly and obviously been the case here in the lower mainland for the last 50-60 years at least.
