Gentrification

[Soundy]

"hiptards"

[Gridlock]

Pidgin protesters target new Vancouver restaurant - British Columbia - CBC News

Anti-gentrification protestors who have held ongoing protests outside Pidgin restaurant in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside are targeting another newly opened restaurant in the neighbourhood.

The protests started last night outside a Latin American restaurant, Cuchillo, on Powell Street near Main Street and are expected to continue tonight.

The inside of newly opened Cuchillo on Powell Street in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. (Richard Zussman/CBC)
Protesters are arguing businesses such as Pidgin and Cuchillo are pushing poor people out of the neighbourhood.

"It's a form of exclusion," said protester Tami Starlight. "People can't afford to eat here. Everything around it gets over-priced. Same with the land, the rents go up. There's this ripple effect, that everything goes up."

Starlight said newly refurbished buildings in the Downtown Eastside, like the Woodward's building and the iconic butcher shop, Save on Meats, has had a similar "ripple" effect on the neighbourhood.

But many restaurant operators in the DTES say they are working to make improvements in the low-income community.

On Saturday, Cuchillo co-owner John Cooper wanted to focus on the restaurant and not the protesters gathering outside his business.

"We spent a lot of time we spent over a year on this project. We've put all of our effort into this place," he said. "We've had all of our friends building, throwing lumber in this place, all helping out to make this sort of thing happen."

Vancouver police say they spent last night monitoring the protestors and reminding them not to do anything that breaks the law.

Police have arrested two protestors who participated in demonstrations the Pidgin restaurant.

Hey! They're back.

Hell, they should open a starbuck's down there and just really finish the job and get their panties in a twist.

You know, just for fun, do you think these protesters would allow me to do drug tests on them? Just for curiousity.

[Soundy]

[dinosaur]

yeah, i saw that on the news....they have about 17 teeth between 8 of them.

solid protest effort.

[Yodamaster]

Originally Posted by Gridlock

Pidgin protesters target new Vancouver restaurant - British Columbia - CBC News

That can't not be a porn alias.

[Soundy]

If these lot put half of much effort into swinging a hammer or pushing a broom, as they do into bitching and whining and waving signs and destroying other people's livelihoods, the DTES would be a much nicer place overall than the cesspool it has become.

[Klobbersaurus]

Originally Posted by Yodamaster

That can't not be a porn alias.

i think she comes to my work to get her car fixed, real cheap ass, agreed to a price then when the work is done, starts to say its too expensive and says she wont ever come back then shows up again a few months later

and im not sure if its a woman or a cross dressing man

[Manic!]

Originally Posted by Klobbersaurus

i think she comes to my work to get her car fixed, real cheap ass, agreed to a price then when the work is done, starts to say its too expensive and says she wont ever come back then shows up again a few months later

and im not sure if its a woman or a cross dressing man

Goggled the name.
He/she has had a sex change

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by JKam

Living at home has its perks

Tapioca does not live at home. Unless...you mean his own house. Yes.

[dinosaur]

Downtown Eastside organizations band together to denounce restaurant protests | Globalnews.ca

A group of residents, businesses and community organizations held a counter protest in the Downtown Eastside today against restaurant protests.

The group, led by the Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Area, issued a statement, calling for activists to stop picketing small businesses in the area.

This Spring, activists protested nightly outside the Pidgin restaurant, located across from Pidgin Park at Hastings and Carrall.

They argue the opening of the restaurant is pushing low-income people out of the area. The restaurant space was empty for the past 20 years.

Last week, the same group of protesters started a new picket outside Cuchillo restaurant on Powell Street, located in another previously vacant commercial space.

The group says they respect the group’s right to protest but they cannot support their strategy of “intimidating customers and residents.”

They are calling on the city, Vancouverites and the media “to recognize personal attacks on businesses and individuals are not acceptable no matter what the rationale and should be systematically ignored.”

Downtown Eastside activist “Homeless Dave” says on twitter that two pickets are planned for tonight; one at 6 p.m. outside Pidgin and the second at 7 p.m. outside Cuchillo.

So....we wanted this restaurant to sit empty for another 20 years?

I really don't understand these protests. What are these people wanting? Social housing? They got it. Now, don't they need places to work?

I am glad to see these businesses are fighting back. Some times turning your head and ignoring these assholes won't work. Kudos to them for letting these anti-gentrification asshats know they are no longer going to lay down and take this abuse.

[stewie]

"Downtown Eastside activist "Homeless Dave” says on twitter that two pickets are planned for tonight; one at 6 p.m. outside Pidgin and the second at 7 p.m. outside Cuchillo."

lol, those two combined made me laugh.

this can be like the movie demolition man lol, the city grows and flourishes, while those who don't like it can go live in the sewers and eat rat burgers.

[GLOW]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

Downtown Eastside organizations band together to denounce restaurant protests | Globalnews.ca



So....we wanted this restaurant to sit empty for another 20 years?

it makes a good place to squat when it's empty

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by stewie

"Downtown Eastside activist "Homeless Dave” says on twitter that two pickets are planned for tonight; one at 6 p.m. outside Pidgin and the second at 7 p.m. outside Cuchillo."

lol, those two combined made me laugh.

this can be like the movie demolition man lol, the city grows and flourishes, while those who don't like it can go live in the sewers and eat rat burgers.

Fellow greetings, brother stewie. Be well!

[rsx]

Honestly these fuckers are damn annoying.

I wish our citizenship was earned through military or civil service. These self-entitled cunts are bringing down people who are trying to make a living.

If you're homeless or want to collect a welfare check, you should do something for the country, help build the countries infrastructure, protect the border, clean up a neighborhood or something.

[Euro7r]

Damn sick and tired of hearing these assholes bitching and whining about how these businesses are opening up and pushing low-income people out. No one is pointing a gun to their head and forcing them to go to these restaurants.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Talk about low income housing.
Recently the place I work for started providing cable service to a newly built low income housing. You wouldn't believe some of the things that happen in that building.

Installer went into the suite to do the install, have to stop because the suite is not safe to enter, by not safe I mean, there are needles everywhere, trash all over the place, rats, mice etc etc..... There are poo stains on walls, it smells like garbage + washroom and maybe some weed. Too many times we can't complete the install and have to rebook even then when we remind them the place needs to be safe enough for installers to be inside the people there never ever cleans up the suite lol.

Oh and also they complain, complain and complain. How come I can't get movie channels? HD channels are expensive!, Why can't I get a HD PVR for free? I don't have a credit card to put on file (note we only take Credit card info and don't actually charge anything on it for deposit), and I also don't have enough cash despot for a HD PVR I have the right to get one for free etc etc....... One guy even complain that it is his basic human right to have HD channel provided for free.

The best part is when they call in over 80% don't even remember where they live lol so you can guess how hard it is to actually open an account for them.

[dinosaur]

^^ Just a little side-note to that...

I obviously see a lot of people looking for places to rent. Some times they are really nice people but they are unfortunately looking for something I don't have to offer...often times we will get to talking and they will ask me what they should be looking for when they look at places. I tell them:

-Check the bed bug registry. Don't be concerned if the building HAD bed bug...look at what the comments say in regards to how the problem was handled.
-Try to avoid any place under $800 (that is the cut-off for Social Assistance which means there is a good possibility the building is full of welfare people)
-Always sign a proper RTA, even if it is a basement suite.

AND FINALLY...

NEVER rent a place (apartment building-basement suites don't count) that includes cable! These places are made for people who can not get cable....ie: no money, no credit, shaw/telus/bell account already in collections.

The perfect storm is a 1 bedroom for $750 that includes cable. You will itch yourself to sleep while your neighbours chase the dragon...I guarantee it!

[T4RAWR]

Originally Posted by rsx

Honestly these fuckers are damn annoying.

I wish our citizenship was earned through military or civil service. These self-entitled cunts are bringing down people who are trying to make a living.

If you're homeless or want to collect a welfare check, you should do something for the country, help build the countries infrastructure, protect the border, clean up a neighborhood or something.

are you in the military or civil service?

[finbar]

Originally Posted by stewie

"Downtown Eastside activist "Homeless Dave” says on twitter that two pickets are planned for tonight; one at 6 p.m. outside Pidgin and the second at 7 p.m. outside Cuchillo."

lol, those two combined made me laugh.

this can be like the movie demolition man lol, the city grows and flourishes, while those who don't like it can go live in the sewers and eat rat burgers.

Next protest I'm off to Cuchillo, the tapas look good.
Thanks protesters for turning me onto new eats

[stewie]

Originally Posted by rsx

Honestly these fuckers are damn annoying.

I wish our citizenship was earned through military or civil service. These self-entitled cunts are bringing down people who are trying to make a living.

If you're homeless or want to collect a welfare check, you should do something for the country, help build the countries infrastructure, protect the border, clean up a neighborhood or something.

Originally Posted by T4RAWR

are you in the military or civil service?

I think its a good idea, do a minimum 2-4 year service in the army. if things don't work out for you in life...stay in the army and get jobs and training through them.

I'm not in the military for several reasons right now, but if I had to, I would, wouldn't complain at all..id be happy to do it.

[rsx]

Originally Posted by T4RAWR

are you in the military or civil service?

No, but if being a citizen required a 1-2 year commitment, I would do it.

[T4RAWR]

[dinosaur]

yeah...im good without mandetory military service...

[Gridlock]

Originally Posted by finbar

Next protest I'm off to Cuchillo, the tapas look good.
Thanks protesters for turning me onto new eats

I know for me, the taste of over-priced trendy food can only be complete if I wash it down with the tears of displaced residents.

[Gridlock]

Well suck me sideways.

The Mainlander | ?Cuchillo? Restaurant: Another knife in the heart of the Downtown Eastside | Part I

This is the manifesto against the Cuchilo restaurant.

The Downtown Eastside is historic, pivotal and contested terrain in Vancouver’s axis of real estate, power and oppression. It’s a place that breeds popular resistance to colonization, concentration camps and consumerism. Immigrant rights organizing and women’s centred activism have always been at the forefront of anti-colonial and anti-racist movements, and in particular First Nations sovereignty struggles. Here in the Downtown Eastside, communities created social justice coalitions to end sexual violence against women, locally and across British Columbia and Canada, and it is here that activists fought to create Insite, Canada’s first and only safe-injection facility. Aboriginal women’s leadership is the central force in the fight for social housing, and was essential to exposing the crimes of serial killer Robert Pickton, as well as the negligent complicity of the Vancouver Police Department and the R.C.M.P. Without their constant vigilance and activism, our neglectful governors would never have admitted to their botched investigations of missing and murdered women, which we now know were the direct result of “blatant failures” and “systemic bias” against this community by the supposed enforcers of law.

I'm torn. I mean, Miss Rose Colored Glasses here seems to describe a sense of community to the area that I just don't see. And maybe I'm wrong...maybe this restaurant is being used to prop up the values of the building owners real estate holdings. And maybe Vancouver doesn't need yet another trendy area where the same 10 developers build condos over whatever was there.

But maybe they can be wrong too? Maybe its not a sense of community. Maybe its a sense of desperation passing itself off as community. Maybe in between asking for social housing, and increased welfare rates and more insites and all these things that can be handed out...maybe a little bit they can ask for a hand up too?

This article is frustrating to me on multiple levels.

This one: Activists, Anarchists, Arson, Political Theatre And Mayor Gregor Robertson's Peter Principle... | genuiNEWitty

Interesting look at how the hell we have gotten here and how these same core group of protesters have been involved over and over again.