New Housing Coalition Targets Condo Sites
PHOTOGRAPHY about HOUSINGDIRECT ACTION posted on DECEMBER 1, 2011 by FLUX
DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE - Under the banner Occupy Condos, the DTES Not For Developers Coalition took its battle for social housing to two sites today. Housing advocates rallied outside the Pantages "Sequel 138" block on East Hastings and marched to the nearby "21 Doors" condos on Carrall Street.
Outside the Pantages site, developer Marc Williams plastered posters "welcoming" author Naomi Klein - one of the speakers at the rally. Other speakers included representatives from the Aboriginal Front Door, DTES Neighbourhood Council, DTES Power of Women Group and Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users.
The new coalition for soical housing also includes the Carnegie Community Action Project, the Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society, Streams of Justice and the UBC Social Justice Centre.
Rally organizer Ivan Drury presented a "gift basket" to a 21 Rooms employee that included leaflets on gentrification, cards asking condo residents to stop complaining and start supporting the Carrall Street Market, info about the missing and murdered women, two roach motels and dead plant.
