At long last the Pivot Legal Society has released its report on private security in Vancouver entitled Security Before Justice: A study of the impacts of private security on homelessness and under-housed Vancouver residents (.pdf). The report was authored by David Eby, Darice Bennet, John Richardson, and Kevin Tilley, who, along with everyone else involved, have to be commended for bringing this crucial issue to light.

Speaking with David on the phone this morning we somberly reminisced about the fact that it seems a lifetime ago since we first talked about this issue. At the time I was aware that Pivot was going to be writing the report and have waited with great anticipation for the results. The product of their labours is, by no means, a disappointment, striking at the heart of one of the most overlooked injustices in this city, one that should concern every resident of Vancouver if they believe in equality, the law, and the Charter.

A few very key points from the report’s Executive Summary include…

“Private security guards routinely overstep the bounds of their authority on public property. This includes guards asking or otherwise compelling people to move along when they have no legal authority to do so.

Private security guards are controlling access to space (on both public and mass private property) in ways that are not in keeping with principles of equality and fairness. This includes issuing informal bans from certain buildings, streets or neighbourhoods and the use of profiling, where people are treated differently depending upon their appearance. Profiling results in the continued harassment of homeless and visibly poor people, who are disproportionately Aboriginal and/or may suffer from a mental or physical disability including drug addiction.

Private security guards use force illegally. Both survey respondents and focus group participants claimed that guards are using force and threats of violence against homeless and other marginalized people on a routine basis.

There is little accountability when private security guards overstep their authority. People in the Downtown Eastside are not generally aware of their rights in relation to security guards, or how to complain about security guards’ actions. Only 39 of 154 survey respondents reported that they were
aware of the process for making a complaint against a security guard.”

My passion regarding this issue began a year and a half ago when I intervened in an incident involving an elderly women and two security guards that were trying to remove her from in front of a business on Water Street. One of the guards had the woman by the arm and was attempting to move her further down the sidewalk. Turning to the guard I told him that his action technically constituted assault and that he had absolutely no right to be touching the women, let alone asking her to leave the area. Both guards responded with aggressive language, telling me to go fuck myself and mind my own business. My response was to produce my phone, look at them, and ask them if they’d like me to call the police so that they could provide them the definition of assault, after which the one guard unhanded the women. She stood there for a moment unsure what to do, so I asked her to walk with me. The guards turned and went up Water Street in the other direction. While walking with her towards Carroll Street she told me that she had been harassed by guards in the past and even ushered into a back alley where they told her “people like her belonged”. There was no question that she suffered from mental illness, which only enraged me further, because in our society there is no excuse for a women in her 60’s that obviously needs long-term care to be on the streets. None.

Later that day I did a little digging and found out that the company was contracted by the Gastown Business Improvement Society.

From Pivot’s report…

“Andrew, a former Paladin Security licensed contract security guard, approached Pivot legal Society in the spring of 2007.

Andrew’s company was contracted to provide security patrols by the Gastown Business Improvement Society. He explained that he had recently quit his job because he felt that he was being asked to violate the rights of poor people.

In a sworn statement, the former security guard described being instructed to engage in “profiling” activities (monitoring the movements of people who looked homeless, poor or drug addicted). He also stated he was asked to remove profiled people from a busy tourist strip and relocate them to adjacent areas outside of the tourist zone. He recalled being asked to chase off one severely disabled panhandler because business owners considered the wheelchair-bound woman, who had lost an arm and a leg, too disruptive.

Andrew stated that his company routinely banned certain people from the Gastown Business Improvement Area, although, to his knowledge, there were no court orders in place restricting the movements of these citizens. He was asked to enforce these private bans and to use physical force in the course of his duties. Andrew also raised concerns about incident reports being altered and about information-sharing practices between his company
and the public police.”

Things down here are a world removed from Robson Street and Yaletown despite the fact that they’re only a five to ten minute car ride away. Like it or not, economic persecution is no different than any other form of persecution, and to think that it is tolerated in this city, even defended, disgusts me.

But you know, I’m a hypocrite, and I would be remiss not to claim myself one. Because no matter my views on the subject, I live in one of the ‘reclaimed’ buildings down here that represents the greed driven gentrification of the Lower Eastside. And that’s one of the main reasons that I’m moving, because I simply cannot live with that anymore.

I urge you to read the report, which is linked at the top of this entry, and to make your voice heard regarding this issue.

You know what I love? Being stuck in an airport and on a plane for hours only to arrive home at three in the morning to drunk, stoned idiots standing outside someone’s place downstairs trying to brainstorm a way to get a taxi at the top of their lungs.

You know what I love even more? Dumping water on them.

The Pitt River Bridge was closed this morning for two and a half hours after a bomb threat was made to 911. The threat turned out to be a false and the bridge was reopened. Thus, reports that an al-Qaeda sleeper cell may be operating in the greater Pitt Meadows area are obviously false. No word yet on whether a mob has gathered at Roosters Country Cabaret with torches and a rope intent on looking for foreigners.

Some hours early, in Fernie BC, a 19-year-old kid somehow shot himself in the head with a crossbow. No details have been released other than he was flown to Calgary to have the bolt removed. Was alcohol a factor? I’m going to say yes given that the incident occurred during a party at the boy’s home. Either that or he thought he was Ted Nugent and mistook himself for a bear.

One of Libby Davies‘ people contacted me today, so I’m going to hopefully have her over for some tea and talk some politics with her. As most of you know, I don’t back any one party, so the fact that Libby is a member of the NDP is inconsequential to me. I back Libby, that’s all that need be said.

For those of you that have been following David Eby’s quest for local office, he lost by only 17 votes this weekend. From what I understand there is a recount taking place tonight, so we’ll see what happens. David is a contributing author here on the site and I’m extremely proud of the dedication and diligence that he displayed throughout his campaign. Due to a lot of scheduling conflicts I wasn’t able to get out and help David with his campaign, something that I truly regret if it could have helped secure him 20 more votes.

A Message From Matt

If you’re a routine visitor, I don’t need to go into detail regarding my love for dogs, nor animals in general. I grew up with three dogs, have raised four of them over the last five years, and owe them more than most know. During one of the darkest periods of my life my dogs were there for me, laying beside me on a bathroom floor as I swerved between vomiting from extreme anxiety and laying unconscious in a ball. To me they are not my pets, they are my family, and therefore my equals – and I treat them as such every day of their lives.

My unconditional love for my dogs is equal to that felt for my family and dearest friends. I would, without hesitation, sacrifice whatever need be sacrificed to see them healthy and happy, they are that important to me.

I am certainly not alone when it comes to such feelings. There are dogs out there right now in need of good homes capable of transforming lives, of providing a companionship that people have cherished for almost our entire tenure on this planet. Thus, through them, and for them, initiatives like Paws For A Cause can help animals in need throughout the Province and place us in the fortunate position of being able to give something back in return for what our unquestioning companions have given us.

I sincerely hope that when the initiative is launched here on the website that you will participate. If you are unable to, which is completely understandable, your support in the comments will be more than enough.

My deepest thanks,

Matt

I feel like I have been dropped off of a building into molten lava and then stretched out over a cookie sheet. Can’t sleep, have a hard time keeping food down, dizzy, very little energy, constant headache. To be honest, I’m thinking of going to hospital.

This was not the week to have four dogs at home. One of the reasons I haven’t gone to hospital is because I’m worried about Bella. Given the thickness of her coat, she’s shedding at an incredible rate, and I am worried that if I leave her alone too long that the heat might get to her as well. I searched Craigslist to see if anyone had posted an advert for part-time house services, but no luck. Unfortunately all of my friends work and are therefore unavailable during mornings and days.

On top of all of that, I have to pick up an acoustic guitar some time soon and start brushing up on material for an upcoming acoustic performance – which I am sure will end up being a last minute affair being that I leave next week.

Last night I filled my bathtub with nothing but cold water and laid in it for a while. It didn’t really produce significant results. My main goal was to try and get my body temperature down – that scene from Jacob’s Ladder comes to mind (minus the ice, of course). Kay bought another fan as well, so I now have four blowing full blast. Plus I took a hammer to one of my window frames and removed the stoppers so that I can open the window all the way, which has helped a bit. But I have to admit, I have never prayed for rain and cold weather more in my life.

Tylenol, Gravol, water. Rinse and repeat. In truth I have nothing to really complain about, it’s not as if I have Hodgkin’s or anything. Plus, if I am still able to lay in bed and type it can’t be that bad.

Completely off topic: loud Australian girls are annoying. Sorry, but they are.

As most Vancouverites are aware, central air is something that doesn’t really exist on the West Coast. Sure, there are a few newer high-end resident high-rises that have it, but most don’t.

My place is a large, single 1,200 sq foot room with concrete floors and 18 foot ceilings – but the two windows only open 4 inches. The hallways in the building are air conditioned, but not the apartments, which means that in weather like this it can get as hot as 40 degrees in here.

I have four powerful fans that are constantly on. During the day I prop my front door open to get airflow, but at night it has to be closed. So I tend to point all of the fans at the bed because trying to use them to draw air in from outside is a pointless exercise (tried it).

Last week I thought I might have the flu. I realize now that it isn’t the flu, it’s what’s called “heat exhaustion”, a less serious version of ‘heatstroke”, which can be fatal. I have all of the symptoms – nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and muscle cramps. I’ve also had a lot of difficulty breathing.

To be honest, I don’t know how the dogs are able to bear it. Given that I have them for the week, I have thought about moving to a hotel and hiring someone to help me look after them – either that or hire someone for the week to help out with them here. Given the size of my car, taking all four of them out to my parents and staying there isn’t an option.

Laying here, I am at a loss as to how residences can be built without this sort of thing being taken into consideration. Were I acclimatized to such temperatures it would be a different matter, but I’m not. It’s impossible to sleep.

It’s been a fucked up day and it was polished off this evening by two stories relayed to me by friends that have to be shared…

Nine Girls At The Beach

Nine Paris Hilton lookalikes all in a row at Spanish Banks. All of them with small accessory dogs, huge sunglasses, t-bar bikini bottoms, one sits topless. For two hours not a word passes between them. All of them on their cell phones; talking, texting. The silence is finally broken when what appears to be the most popular of the hot girl pack is dumped by her boyfriend via text message and is consoled by topless girl.

Welcome to Vancouver.

A Dead Dog In A Suitcase

A girl is dog-sitting for friends and comes home to find that the dog has passed away. Devastated she calls the vet and they tell her to bring the dog in. She doesn’t drive, so she puts the dead dog into a suitcase and takes the bus. Visibly upset, a fellow passenger asks her what’s wrong. She makes up a story, tells him that she was just dumped by her boyfriend. She gets off the bus a block from the vet. The guy that was talking to her gets off too. The bus pulls away, the guy punches her in the face, knocking her unconscious. She awakes to find that he’s stolen the suitcase.

Despite the fact that I write on this website on a daily basis, I’m rather out of the loop when it comes to the ‘blog scene’ here in Vancouver. That said; I was unaware that Blogathon 2008 was even taking place or I probably would have participated.

Thankfully, through my friend Rebecca Bollwitt, I was able to contribute at the last minute. Rebecca’s charity of choice is The Union Gospel Mission, a non-profit organization that has been active in helping Vancouver’s homeless since 1940.

At first, Duane asked me if I would be willing to contribute a signed CD, which I immediately agreed to. But as I thought about it, it seemed too little an effort. So I decided the best way to raise money to help Rebecca and Duane’s cause of choice was to hold a private listening session for the highest bidder.

As many of you are aware, the tracks that will be previewed are only demos, and the record that they will eventually appear on will not be released for some time. But it seemed to me to be the best course of action with regards to helping raise money, so I went with it. Of course, it will be held in a very private setting and I will be there to answer any questions the winner might have about the songs, the album’s theme, and so forth.

As of this morning I am being told that the bidding has reached $4,000 dollars.

As recently announced on Miss604.com, Matthew is going to be holding a special private screening of the demo tracks for the new album for one special person. As the album will not be released until next year, it’s a great opportunity to be one of the first individuals to hear the album in its entirety. The proceeds from the event will go to the Union Gospel Mission, a local Vancouver charity that provides assistance to the homeless.

The event is in the form of an auction, where the highest bidder will be awarded the prize. If you’d like to participate, please visit the auction page and leave a comment to place your bid. The contest will end in a few days, so make sure to head over and place a bid soon to be considered.