8/12/2019 Final June 6, 2014 Press Release OCOP.pdf

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NEWS RELEASE

June 6, 2014 - East Vancouver, BC Our Community, Our Plan! Residents Group

Grandview-Woodland Residents Wary of City Plans Say:

Take the Citizens Assembly Back to the Drawing Board

June 6, 2014 - East Vancouver, BC Our Community, Our Plan! (OCOP!) Residents Group

OCOP! members are concerned that the City wants to build dozens of high-end condo towers

across the East Vancouver neighbourhood they love. This would displace low-income renters

and pave over the communitys cultural and heritage values.

This isnt a NIMBY thing about view corridors, said local resident Garth Mullins. This is about

stopping gentrification and displacement. Grandview-Woodland has always been welcoming to

people from all parts of the world. We want to make sure the community remains welcoming

and affordable - not just another homogenous forest of upscale condo towers.

The City now wants to discuss the future of the neighbourhood through a Citizens Assembly.The City recently published itsdraft Terms of Reference for the Citizens Assembly but OCOP!

says, "go back to the drawing board".

OCOP! remains suspicious that the City is just looking for a new way to get buy-in to their old

condo tower Land Use Plan.

Local resident, Zool Suleman said, Im suspicious about the City of Vancouver spending

$275,000 to educate us about our issues". At a recent meeting, Zool said to City planners, We

are the citizens, we are assembled, and with all due respect, all you need to do is listen".

OCOP! applauds the City for seeing that deeper consultation was necessary in the form of the

Citizens Assembly but this plan comes up short. The Assembly should be:

1. Open: According to the City, membership in the Citizens Assembly will be limited to 48and drawn by lottery. Yet, over the past year, many residents have been meeting,

researching, participating in City workshops and speaking at City council meetings. A

lottery system will exclude all this effort, and leave out many passionate voices.

2. Diverse: The Citizens Assembly must also reflect the neighborhood, in all its diversity,paying special attention to traditionally marginalized peoples. This requires an opendoor policy, along with active recruitment of folks who are often underrepresented on

such bodies.

3. Accessible: This is a low income community that speaks many languages. To enablethose not as comfortable in English, the Citizens Assembly should have interpretation

and translation services. Also, a small honorarium should be made available to enable

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/terms-of-reference-grandview-woodland-citizens-assembly.pdfhttp://vancouver.ca/files/cov/terms-of-reference-grandview-woodland-citizens-assembly.pdfhttp://vancouver.ca/files/cov/terms-of-reference-grandview-woodland-citizens-assembly.pdf

8/12/2019 Final June 6, 2014 Press Release OCOP.pdf

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NEWS RELEASE

June 6, 2014 - East Vancouver, BC Our Community, Our Plan! Residents Group

participation from low-income residents. People with disabilities also need

representation.

4. Transparency: In 2013, after a year of consultation with residents, the City suddenlyproposed dozens of condo-towersacross Grandview-Woodland (see Backgrounder).

Some were up to 36 stories tall. OCOP! says, No more surprises. The members of the

Citizens Assembly should write the Report, not an appointee of the City. Council should

deliberate upon it, in an open session, without interference from staff. Residents want

real influence in planning the future of this neighbourhood.

5. Accountable: OCOP! says, open the books. The City plans to spend $275,000 on theCitizens' Assembly, the majority of which, will be spent on expensive consultants. Every

penny of tax dollars spent on engagement with Grandview-Woodland should be made

public.

CONTACT

Garth Mullinsgarthrmullins@gmail.com604.831.6967

Zool Sulemanzoolk@sulemanco.comCell 604-788-3372 (text or call, no messages) Office 604-

685-8472

Web: gw-ac.org (transitioning to OurCommunityOurPlan.Org)

Hashtag: #OurCommunityOurPlan

mailto:garthrmullins@gmail.commailto:garthrmullins@gmail.commailto:garthrmullins@gmail.commailto:zoolk@sulemanco.commailto:zoolk@sulemanco.commailto:zoolk@sulemanco.commailto:zoolk@sulemanco.commailto:garthrmullins@gmail.com