Cortes Currents

David P Ball / Vancouver Coop Radio - The Vancouver Police Department has warned of public safety consequences of City Council refusing their requests to boost budget by millions. Instead, last week councillors froze police spending at last year's levels.

On Sunday, a group of community organizers in Vancouver hosted a virtual teach-in event to strategize their next steps for the local "defund the police" movement.

"All across Turtle Island, Black, Indigenous and communities of colour are all dreaming of abolishing the police," said the online event's host, Vancouver musician Tonya Aganaba, during the event. "I know I'm dreaming of abolishing the police every single night.

"We're dreaming of building powerful structures, organizations and resistance strategies to build a society where all communities and members can grow and thrive … We are excited to be a part of a conversation about what we can build here in Vancouver."

The budget decision went against the city staff's own recommendation to cut the police budget along with most other areas of the city budget, in the midst of the pandemic's debilitating economic shortfall. But the Vancouver Police Board said despite keeping funding the same, costs had risen meaning they would be short funding for over 60 officers next year.

"The Vancouver Police Board has serious concerns regarding the decision," Board chair Barj Dhahan said on Dec. 9, "… and actually results in a $5.7 million shortfall.

"A shortfall of this magnitude is extremely challenging, in particular during a global pandemic, where the police department is facing unprecedented stress in ensuring public safety in Vancouver."

Speakers at the "defund the police" online event included Indigenous land defenders who spoke about police enforcement of injunctions against them, and the history of police abuse of Indigenous people's rights in B.C. and across Canada.

"Anyone living in the cities, or in the rural areas, we're harassed — our safety is violated," said Mayek Manuel with Tiny House Warriors in the B.C. Interior, which is doing "direct action" to block the Trans Mountain pipeline. "Some of the things that's going to engage the police is the direct action we participate in. It does get really scary because we feel at any time we could be shot … Both RCMP and vigilantes could come shoot us dead."

Desmond Cole also spoke, he's an activist and author of "The Skin We're In" and encouraged Vancouver organizers to continue pushing city council on the issue.

"What I'm seeing that what's effective and urgent is the local stuff, because the police are funded by your municipality," Cole said. "Even if the municipality tells you, 'Well we get that money from the province or we get it from the feds,' they're the ones passing the budget, they're the ones controlling the dollars … They have a lot more power than they want you to believe."

---

On the show today we also talk with journalist and academic Gordon Katic. The executive producer of Cited Podcast talks about his new show Darts & Letters, from public intellectuals to populism, Big Pharma's opioid decisions & social change ideas.

Top photo credit: Strathcona, Vancouver, Vancouver City Police doing their thing keeping the kids areas safe by Lee Down via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

David P Ball / Vancouver Coop Radio - The Vancouver Police Department has warned of public safety consequences of City Council refusing their requests to boost budget by millions. Instead, last week councillors froze police spending at last year's levels.

On Sunday, a group of community organizers in Vancouver hosted a virtual teach-in event to strategize their next steps for the local "defund the police" movement.

"All across Turtle Island, Black, Indigenous and communities of colour are all dreaming of abolishing the police," said the online event's host, Vancouver musician Tonya Aganaba, during the event. "I know I'm dreaming of abolishing the police every single night.

"We're dreaming of building powerful structures, organizations and resistance strategies to build a society where all communities and members can grow and thrive … We are excited to be a part of a conversation about what we can build here in Vancouver."

The budget decision went against the city staff's own recommendation to cut the police budget along with most other areas of the city budget, in the midst of the pandemic's debilitating economic shortfall. But the Vancouver Police Board said despite keeping funding the same, costs had risen meaning they would be short funding for over 60 officers next year.

"The Vancouver Police Board has serious concerns regarding the decision," Board chair Barj Dhahan said on Dec. 9, "… and actually results in a $5.7 million shortfall.

"A shortfall of this magnitude is extremely challenging, in particular during a global pandemic, where the police department is facing unprecedented stress in ensuring public safety in Vancouver."

Speakers at the "defund the police" online event included Indigenous land defenders who spoke about police enforcement of injunctions against them, and the history of police abuse of Indigenous people's rights in B.C. and across Canada.

"Anyone living in the cities, or in the rural areas, we're harassed — our safety is violated," said Mayek Manuel with Tiny House Warriors in the B.C. Interior, which is doing "direct action" to block the Trans Mountain pipeline. "Some of the things that's going to engage the police is the direct action we participate in. It does get really scary because we feel at any time we could be shot … Both RCMP and vigilantes could come shoot us dead."

Desmond Cole also spoke, he's an activist and author of "The Skin We're In" and encouraged Vancouver organizers to continue pushing city council on the issue.

"What I'm seeing that what's effective and urgent is the local stuff, because the police are funded by your municipality," Cole said. "Even if the municipality tells you, 'Well we get that money from the province or we get it from the feds,' they're the ones passing the budget, they're the ones controlling the dollars … They have a lot more power than they want you to believe."

---

On the show today we also talk with journalist and academic Gordon Katic. The executive producer of Cited Podcast talks about his new show Darts & Letters, from public intellectuals to populism, Big Pharma's opioid decisions & social change ideas.

Top photo credit: Strathcona, Vancouver, Vancouver City Police doing their thing keeping the kids areas safe by Lee Down via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

David P Ball / Vancouver Coop Radio - The Vancouver Police Department has warned of public safety consequences of City Council refusing their requests to boost budget by millions. Instead, last week councillors froze police spending at last year's levels.

On Sunday, a group of community organizers in Vancouver hosted a virtual teach-in event to strategize their next steps for the local "defund the police" movement.

"All across Turtle Island, Black, Indigenous and communities of colour are all dreaming of abolishing the police," said the online event's host, Vancouver musician Tonya Aganaba, during the event. "I know I'm dreaming of abolishing the police every single night.

"We're dreaming of building powerful structures, organizations and resistance strategies to build a society where all communities and members can grow and thrive … We are excited to be a part of a conversation about what we can build here in Vancouver."

The budget decision went against the city staff's own recommendation to cut the police budget along with most other areas of the city budget, in the midst of the pandemic's debilitating economic shortfall. But the Vancouver Police Board said despite keeping funding the same, costs had risen meaning they would be short funding for over 60 officers next year.

"The Vancouver Police Board has serious concerns regarding the decision," Board chair Barj Dhahan said on Dec. 9, "… and actually results in a $5.7 million shortfall.

"A shortfall of this magnitude is extremely challenging, in particular during a global pandemic, where the police department is facing unprecedented stress in ensuring public safety in Vancouver."

Speakers at the "defund the police" online event included Indigenous land defenders who spoke about police enforcement of injunctions against them, and the history of police abuse of Indigenous people's rights in B.C. and across Canada.

"Anyone living in the cities, or in the rural areas, we're harassed — our safety is violated," said Mayek Manuel with Tiny House Warriors in the B.C. Interior, which is doing "direct action" to block the Trans Mountain pipeline. "Some of the things that's going to engage the police is the direct action we participate in. It does get really scary because we feel at any time we could be shot … Both RCMP and vigilantes could come shoot us dead."

Desmond Cole also spoke, he's an activist and author of "The Skin We're In" and encouraged Vancouver organizers to continue pushing city council on the issue.

"What I'm seeing that what's effective and urgent is the local stuff, because the police are funded by your municipality," Cole said. "Even if the municipality tells you, 'Well we get that money from the province or we get it from the feds,' they're the ones passing the budget, they're the ones controlling the dollars … They have a lot more power than they want you to believe."

---

On the show today we also talk with journalist and academic Gordon Katic. The executive producer of Cited Podcast talks about his new show Darts & Letters, from public intellectuals to populism, Big Pharma's opioid decisions & social change ideas.

Top photo credit: Strathcona, Vancouver, Vancouver City Police doing their thing keeping the kids areas safe by Lee Down via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - When Jeff Levine purchased the155 acre property 14445 Sarah Point Road in Bliss Landing, he planned to use a tiny portion of it for a business venture. Ministry of the Environment staff helped him develop the proposal. They told him that the ideal sit for a wood waste landfill was land that had previously been clearcut or was a forest industry site. Levine had a four acre parcel that fit both categories. It had been clearcut three years ago. A sawmill had once stood there. In addition, the site was close to the ocean which would make it easy to barge wood waste in. Ministry staff said he needed to submit the name of a proposed waste wood site, so they could see how his operation would work. So he used the old Interfor mill site in Squamish as a model.

He does not have a contract with them. In fact, Mr Levine does not have a contract with any wood waste site anywhere. If his proposal had been approved by the Ministry of the Environment, he had planned to seek customers from old mill sites.

In wake of the resulting public protest, he has aborted the idea. As Mr Levine told Cortes Currents last night, “I have to live in this community.”

When he withdrew his proposal, last night, Levine wrote “It is unfortunate that false information was intentionally distributed stating that the wood material was toxic waste. This is simply not true. This was an application for disposal of non-hazardous wood material, in accordance with Provincial guidelines and by Qualified Environmental Professionals.”

“The constructive feedback and ideas of the local community are appreciated. Although all Provincial requirements for this type of facility have been met, it is the concerns of the local community that has prompted the decision to withdraw the application with the Ministry of Environment, effective immediately.”

Photo credit: A sawmill by r berndt via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - When Jeff Levine purchased the155 acre property 14445 Sarah Point Road in Bliss Landing, he planned to use a tiny portion of it for a business venture. Ministry of the Environment staff helped him develop the proposal. They told him that the ideal sit for a wood waste landfill was land that had previously been clearcut or was a forest industry site. Levine had a four acre parcel that fit both categories. It had been clearcut three years ago. A sawmill had once stood there. In addition, the site was close to the ocean which would make it easy to barge wood waste in. Ministry staff said he needed to submit the name of a proposed waste wood site, so they could see how his operation would work. So he used the old Interfor mill site in Squamish as a model.

He does not have a contract with them. In fact, Mr Levine does not have a contract with any wood waste site anywhere. If his proposal had been approved by the Ministry of the Environment, he had planned to seek customers from old mill sites.

In wake of the resulting public protest, he has aborted the idea. As Mr Levine told Cortes Currents last night, “I have to live in this community.”

When he withdrew his proposal, last night, Levine wrote “It is unfortunate that false information was intentionally distributed stating that the wood material was toxic waste. This is simply not true. This was an application for disposal of non-hazardous wood material, in accordance with Provincial guidelines and by Qualified Environmental Professionals.”

“The constructive feedback and ideas of the local community are appreciated. Although all Provincial requirements for this type of facility have been met, it is the concerns of the local community that has prompted the decision to withdraw the application with the Ministry of Environment, effective immediately.”

Photo credit: A sawmill by r berndt via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - When Jeff Levine purchased the155 acre property 14445 Sarah Point Road in Bliss Landing, he planned to use a tiny portion of it for a business venture. Ministry of the Environment staff helped him develop the proposal. They told him that the ideal sit for a wood waste landfill was land that had previously been clearcut or was a forest industry site. Levine had a four acre parcel that fit both categories. It had been clearcut three years ago. A sawmill had once stood there. In addition, the site was close to the ocean which would make it easy to barge wood waste in. Ministry staff said he needed to submit the name of a proposed waste wood site, so they could see how his operation would work. So he used the old Interfor mill site in Squamish as a model.

He does not have a contract with them. In fact, Mr Levine does not have a contract with any wood waste site anywhere. If his proposal had been approved by the Ministry of the Environment, he had planned to seek customers from old mill sites.

In wake of the resulting public protest, he has aborted the idea. As Mr Levine told Cortes Currents last night, “I have to live in this community.”

When he withdrew his proposal, last night, Levine wrote “It is unfortunate that false information was intentionally distributed stating that the wood material was toxic waste. This is simply not true. This was an application for disposal of non-hazardous wood material, in accordance with Provincial guidelines and by Qualified Environmental Professionals.”

“The constructive feedback and ideas of the local community are appreciated. Although all Provincial requirements for this type of facility have been met, it is the concerns of the local community that has prompted the decision to withdraw the application with the Ministry of Environment, effective immediately.”

Photo credit: A sawmill by r berndt via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - A numbered company called 1265209 B.C. Ltd. intends to a develop a wood waste landfill at Bliss Landing, just across from Cortes Island on the Malaspina Peninsula.

According to their environmental protection application, filed by Strategic management Consultant Jeff Levine on November 17th, “The maximum rate of industrial wood waste residue discharged from this facility will be 375,000 m3 over a 15-month period. The operating period for this facility will be 8am to 5pm 5 days per week. The refuse discharged, will contain saw dust, wood chips, hog fuel, end cuts of wood less than 1 metre in length, dredging’s of wood waste, sand, gravel, rocks, inert waste and inert cover material. All material will be non-hazardous and covered through intermediate cover material until the landfill is completed (15 months) and a final low-permeability cover will be put on top and soils and vegetation will be replanted.”

The matter was brought before the quathet Regional District Board on December 8th. According to a report in the Powell River Peak, Powell River City director George Doubt calculated the project works out to moving 81 dump truck loads of wood waste, with a pup trailer, per day, five days a week over a 15 month period.

To which qRD planner Julia Dykstra replied, “They are planning on barging it from the Squamish area to the actual location and they are not proposing any road use over the Sarah Point Road at all.”

>>> Where the waste is coming from

Some opponents of the project are concerned that “the waste materials are coming from a site in Squamish that is notorious for contamination from industrial activity, including a nearby mine.”

The wood waste comes from an old Interfor sawmill site in Squamish, which was operational during the 1980s and 90’s. Waterfront Landing is on the eastern shore of Mamquam Blind Cannel, across from downtown Squamish. The city plans to use this former industrial site for mixed density housing, a marina and a park.

In their description of the proposed Waterfront Landing park, the city states, “previous industrial use has led to some site contamination.”

According to a 2019 article in the Squamish Chief, Municipal environmental co-ordinator Caroline Ashekian informed the Squamish council that “the waste wouldn’t contaminate the area but it could result in structural instability.”  

>>> Tla’amin approval

On November 18th, Levine, notified the quathet Regional District that, “We have completed the required First Nation consultation and have received a letter of support for the project from the Tla’Amin Nation.” 

>>>

People concerned about the project have until this Wednesday, December 16th, to send in their comments

Email Mr. Jeff Levine - [email protected]

1265209 B.C. Ltd

CC: the Ministry of Environment - [email protected]

Application No. 110495 / 397189

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - A numbered company called 1265209 B.C. Ltd. intends to a develop a wood waste landfill at Bliss Landing, just across from Cortes Island on the Malaspina Peninsula.

According to their environmental protection application, filed by Strategic management Consultant Jeff Levine on November 17th, “The maximum rate of industrial wood waste residue discharged from this facility will be 375,000 m3 over a 15-month period. The operating period for this facility will be 8am to 5pm 5 days per week. The refuse discharged, will contain saw dust, wood chips, hog fuel, end cuts of wood less than 1 metre in length, dredging’s of wood waste, sand, gravel, rocks, inert waste and inert cover material. All material will be non-hazardous and covered through intermediate cover material until the landfill is completed (15 months) and a final low-permeability cover will be put on top and soils and vegetation will be replanted.”

The matter was brought before the quathet Regional District Board on December 8th. According to a report in the Powell River Peak, Powell River City director George Doubt calculated the project works out to moving 81 dump truck loads of wood waste, with a pup trailer, per day, five days a week over a 15 month period.

To which qRD planner Julia Dykstra replied, “They are planning on barging it from the Squamish area to the actual location and they are not proposing any road use over the Sarah Point Road at all.”

>>> Where the waste is coming from

Some opponents of the project are concerned that “the waste materials are coming from a site in Squamish that is notorious for contamination from industrial activity, including a nearby mine.”

The wood waste comes from an old Interfor sawmill site in Squamish, which was operational during the 1980s and 90’s. Waterfront Landing is on the eastern shore of Mamquam Blind Cannel, across from downtown Squamish. The city plans to use this former industrial site for mixed density housing, a marina and a park.

In their description of the proposed Waterfront Landing park, the city states, “previous industrial use has led to some site contamination.”

According to a 2019 article in the Squamish Chief, Municipal environmental co-ordinator Caroline Ashekian informed the Squamish council that “the waste wouldn’t contaminate the area but it could result in structural instability.”  

>>> Tla’amin approval

On November 18th, Levine, notified the quathet Regional District that, “We have completed the required First Nation consultation and have received a letter of support for the project from the Tla’Amin Nation.” 

>>>

People concerned about the project have until this Wednesday, December 16th, to send in their comments

Email Mr. Jeff Levine - [email protected]

1265209 B.C. Ltd

CC: the Ministry of Environment - [email protected]

Application No. 110495 / 397189

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - A numbered company called 1265209 B.C. Ltd. intends to a develop a wood waste landfill at Bliss Landing, just across from Cortes Island on the Malaspina Peninsula.

According to their environmental protection application, filed by Strategic management Consultant Jeff Levine on November 17th, “The maximum rate of industrial wood waste residue discharged from this facility will be 375,000 m3 over a 15-month period. The operating period for this facility will be 8am to 5pm 5 days per week. The refuse discharged, will contain saw dust, wood chips, hog fuel, end cuts of wood less than 1 metre in length, dredging’s of wood waste, sand, gravel, rocks, inert waste and inert cover material. All material will be non-hazardous and covered through intermediate cover material until the landfill is completed (15 months) and a final low-permeability cover will be put on top and soils and vegetation will be replanted.”

The matter was brought before the quathet Regional District Board on December 8th. According to a report in the Powell River Peak, Powell River City director George Doubt calculated the project works out to moving 81 dump truck loads of wood waste, with a pup trailer, per day, five days a week over a 15 month period.

To which qRD planner Julia Dykstra replied, “They are planning on barging it from the Squamish area to the actual location and they are not proposing any road use over the Sarah Point Road at all.”

>>> Where the waste is coming from

Some opponents of the project are concerned that “the waste materials are coming from a site in Squamish that is notorious for contamination from industrial activity, including a nearby mine.”

The wood waste comes from an old Interfor sawmill site in Squamish, which was operational during the 1980s and 90’s. Waterfront Landing is on the eastern shore of Mamquam Blind Cannel, across from downtown Squamish. The city plans to use this former industrial site for mixed density housing, a marina and a park.

In their description of the proposed Waterfront Landing park, the city states, “previous industrial use has led to some site contamination.”

According to a 2019 article in the Squamish Chief, Municipal environmental co-ordinator Caroline Ashekian informed the Squamish council that “the waste wouldn’t contaminate the area but it could result in structural instability.”  

>>> Tla’amin approval

On November 18th, Levine, notified the quathet Regional District that, “We have completed the required First Nation consultation and have received a letter of support for the project from the Tla’Amin Nation.” 

>>>

People concerned about the project have until this Wednesday, December 16th, to send in their comments

Email Mr. Jeff Levine - [email protected]

1265209 B.C. Ltd

CC: the Ministry of Environment - [email protected]

Application No. 110495 / 397189

Tan Mei Xi/Vancouver Coop Radio - A single-family home may be our current vision of ideal housing but that picture is no longer realistic, says housing advocate Bruce Haden.

The non-profit organisation Urbanarium, of which Haden is a board member, recently released a report promoting 'Missing Middle' housing as one of the solutions to Vancouver's housing crisis. The report uses the term 'Missing Middle' to refer to multi-family housing types denser than duplexes and smaller in scale than condominium buildings.

"We live in a planetary environmental crisis... and all of us will have to contribute to solving that catastrophe," said Haden.

"One of the villains of the planetary crisis is the single-family house. It's a tough thing to say, but it's the reality... It's the most environmentally expensive way to house people."