People in a growing tent city on Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) were given the order to clear out by Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry..Issued Monday, the order says more than 100 tents and tarpaulin structures pose a significant fire and safety hazard, and therefore must be removed by Thursday morning.. DTESDTES .“Should a fire occur in the area in its current condition, it would be catastrophic, putting lives at risk and jeopardizing hundreds of units of much-needed housing,” read a statement from the city..Fire inspectors walked the area of Hastings Street between Carrall and Main Streets last week, finding building entrances blocked and an accumulation of combustible materials against structures, including the storage of propane..Leading up to Thursday's 9 a.m. deadline, the city says it will work with the community, non-profit organizations, and partner government organizations to expedite structure removal and offer additional support for those staying in the shelters..Some of that support includes extra public washrooms, hand-washing stations, and day storage for personal belongings..“The conditions in the DTES are representative of a systemic failure to meet the needs of low-income, marginalized residents and communities, a crisis requiring urgent cooperation of all levels of government,” said city staff Monday..The city acknowledged the situation has grown “significantly more unsafe” since July 1, when the Vancouver Police Department stopped sending officers to accompany city maintenance crews during daily street sweeps, during which unoccupied tents and items were disposed of — a practice that angered activists and city councillors..In response to the new order, Mayor Kennedy Stewart highlighted "the stress and difficulty this order will cause those living in the affected area," however he "completely supports" the fire chief's decision..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
People in a growing tent city on Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) were given the order to clear out by Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry..Issued Monday, the order says more than 100 tents and tarpaulin structures pose a significant fire and safety hazard, and therefore must be removed by Thursday morning.. DTESDTES .“Should a fire occur in the area in its current condition, it would be catastrophic, putting lives at risk and jeopardizing hundreds of units of much-needed housing,” read a statement from the city..Fire inspectors walked the area of Hastings Street between Carrall and Main Streets last week, finding building entrances blocked and an accumulation of combustible materials against structures, including the storage of propane..Leading up to Thursday's 9 a.m. deadline, the city says it will work with the community, non-profit organizations, and partner government organizations to expedite structure removal and offer additional support for those staying in the shelters..Some of that support includes extra public washrooms, hand-washing stations, and day storage for personal belongings..“The conditions in the DTES are representative of a systemic failure to meet the needs of low-income, marginalized residents and communities, a crisis requiring urgent cooperation of all levels of government,” said city staff Monday..The city acknowledged the situation has grown “significantly more unsafe” since July 1, when the Vancouver Police Department stopped sending officers to accompany city maintenance crews during daily street sweeps, during which unoccupied tents and items were disposed of — a practice that angered activists and city councillors..In response to the new order, Mayor Kennedy Stewart highlighted "the stress and difficulty this order will cause those living in the affected area," however he "completely supports" the fire chief's decision..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
