Loading....
x
A police crackdown ticketing activities like spitting, panhandling, jaywalking, and curbside vending in the Downtown Eastside will be used as an excuse to get the poor off the streets ahead of the 2010 Games, poverty activists alleged yesterday.
“There’s a big crackdown,” said Chili Bean, who is an activist with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre’s Power of Women Group. Bean helped organize a protest/yard sale yesterday on the sidewalk outside Vancouver Police Department building on Main Street.
“As the Olympics get closer, the tickets will be summoned. And if you can’t pay the fine … you are going to go to jail,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Bean alleged that people in the Downtown Eastside are being given tickets for infractions like spitting and selling items on the sidewalk and will be thrown in jail because they cannot afford to pay.
According to organizers of the event tickets for violating the Safe Streets Act jumped to 467 last year, up from 202 tickets in 2007.
Police also wrote 133 Trespass Act tickets in 2008, up from 95 in 2007. Bylaw infractions increased to 439, up from 247 in 2007.
Not paying the tickets will result in “no-go” court orders to keep chronic offenders out of certain areas, said organizers in a press release.
“They’re picking on the Downtown Eastside,” said Karen Lahay, one of the organizers. “They haven’t been ticketing anywhere else.”
“There’s a big crackdown,” said Chili Bean, who is an activist with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre’s Power of Women Group. Bean helped organize a protest/yard sale yesterday on the sidewalk outside Vancouver Police Department building on Main Street.
“As the Olympics get closer, the tickets will be summoned. And if you can’t pay the fine … you are going to go to jail,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Bean alleged that people in the Downtown Eastside are being given tickets for infractions like spitting and selling items on the sidewalk and will be thrown in jail because they cannot afford to pay.
According to organizers of the event tickets for violating the Safe Streets Act jumped to 467 last year, up from 202 tickets in 2007.
Police also wrote 133 Trespass Act tickets in 2008, up from 95 in 2007. Bylaw infractions increased to 439, up from 247 in 2007.
Not paying the tickets will result in “no-go” court orders to keep chronic offenders out of certain areas, said organizers in a press release.
“They’re picking on the Downtown Eastside,” said Karen Lahay, one of the organizers. “They haven’t been ticketing anywhere else.”
more local stories
Gallery connecting children with arts
The venue is holding the second of a series of three Family Fuse weekends, a massive kid-oriented art event themed in relationship to the gallery’s current exhibits that features around 20 activities and performances.
Colbert declares Langley ‘peanut punter’ No. 1 threat
Late-night talk show comic Stephen Colbert has found a new gripe in the Lower Mainland — the Langley nut-kicker.
Bigger HST break eyed for new homes
To help lessen the impact the HST will have on B.C.’s real-estate market, the province is proposing increasing the threshold for the new housing rebate.
Mix one science centre, Facebook, get big party
New Vancouverite Fabiola Carletti has got making friends down to a science. Her formula? A novel birthday party idea and Facebook.
Vaccine available to all now
The largest mass vaccination in the province’s history expanded Friday to include everyone who wants an H1N1 flu shot, said Dr. Perry Kendall, the province’s chief medical health officer.
editor's picks
Nearly a third of the members of Parliament are on Twitter bandwagon
OTTAWA - Members of Parliament are scrambling to climb aboard the Twitter bandwagon - and getting elbowed by controversial, satirical and even phoney postings.
U.S. volunteers strive to save Santa letter service after Postal Service puts it on ice
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A group of volunteer Santa Claus "elves" in Alaska's frigid interior is determined to save a popular holiday letter service featuring the North Pole's most beloved icon.
Egypt, Algeria in a growing diplomatic row caused by their bitter soccer rivalry
CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Algeria for consultations as part of a growing diplomatic row caused by a bitter soccer rivalry between the two Arab nations that has sparked violence among fans.
EU heads into new era with unknowns named to new president, foreign policy jobs
BRUSSELS - The EU says it has solved an old problem for Washington.
Finance minister proposes code of conduct for credit-and debit-card companies
OTTAWA - Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is proposing a voluntary code of conduct for credit-and debit-card companies that he says will "level the playing field" for consumers and small businesses alike.
Copyright 2001-2009, Free Daily News Group Inc.