I am livid - City of Calgary are IDIOTS

[Shawnski]

Four years ago, I moved into an apartment condo in Bankview. After searching many buildings, I chose this one. Clean, good rental rates, central.... In my four years here, I have been treated very well by the owners, and they have continued to keep the building clean, with respectable tenants. Not once did they ever mention that my rent was going to go up. It has stayed the same since day one.

This morning, I found a note under my door. The building was sold. OK, no problem, can probably expect an increase in rent with the new owners, as that is not out of the norm. Nope... not even close.

A couple hours later, a knock on my door.... two ladies there from the new "company", which turns out to be Calgary Housing Company, a company that manages low/modest income housing.

I am getting evicted in order that someone with a certain level of income can move in. They will, however, provide me with a small token payment to cover moving costs.

Lovely.

I dig deeper into this "company", which is when I find out it is in fact the City of Calgary (nothing within the package of documents indicated this...), and I find out whom they are going to be helping out with this program. Turns out that not only would I fall into their target group, but in fact the rates that the new people coming in will be HIGHER than what we are currently being charged!!! There are some nice elderly ladies living here too that I am SURE are in financial heaven... they too have to vacate. Everyone does.

So in essence, this government program is only going to be shuffling the deck, moving some modest income people out (about 200 or so) in order to move other modest income people IN. In a nutshell, I now have to find other accommodations (in a very low vacancy rate market) for WHAT?

Bloody governments. I have no problem with a program to help people with housing, but BUILD NEW. Taking the roof from over someones head in this manner is absolute BS.

Bronco... another Liberal that needs to be punted.

/rant

[JBR]

Sucks. Sorry dude!

[Ace]

One would think a much better way to approach this is to simply allow the current residents to stay, and just replace the units as they are vacated.

At the very least let everyone stay until their lease expires.

[ken0042]

How much notice are they giving you? If memory serves they have to give at least 90 day's notice.

Have you talked to your Alderman? Even though we don't have rent control, maybe something can be done?

The other consideration; let's say they do let you stay at about the same rent rate, do you want to be living in "the projects" afterwards?

[RougeUnderoos]

You yourself may not qualify as sympathetic enough a character, but "little old ladies getting evicted by the city" might be good enough to get some media coverage.

"Millie has been living in this apartment for 25 years and now she's being evicted..." or "Tammy, a single mother of 3 children, lives in the area because it's a short bus ride to the children's hospital, where her son Bobby requires twice-weekly dialysis treatments, doesn't know where she is going to live".

That kind of thing is on TV all the time.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Shawnski

Bronco... another Liberal that needs to be punted.

Sorry about this, Shawnski.

Whenever I think of Bronco, I can't help but recall the billboards here a few years ago showing ol' Dave in a grip 'n' grin with Chretien.

Yup, that'll work in Calgary.

[browna]

Apply to be part of the program yourself. Since you believe you qualify...

Argue that you're saving the shell company and thus the City the cost of the moving expense by already being in the building, and of course your willing to accept the higher rent. If you can be a model guinea pig for being a part of social improvement (the goal of the project) AND save money, you got them licked.

Let them play the "social justice/responsibility" game...even in such a project as this, the "bottom line financial" game will still win out in the end.

It sucks, as its pretty much just the optics changing, and, someone at city hall will get a raise, promotion and (the city) will pat iteself on its collective backs in the 2006 annual report for "Curing the issue need for moderate income housing" for implementing this project and similar.

[Shawnski]

Hey, I can fend for myself, this just isn't a good time to do it. The whole reason I am here, and essentially working part time at my own business is so that I can be able to spend more time with my Father, whom isn't exactly in the best health (11:30 O'Clock... if you know what I mean.)

The whole situation stinks to high heaven. ALL they are doing is shuffling the deck, in order to say "We found 'x' NEW low income homes." THAT is so clear it isn't even funny.

And yes, we got our 90 days.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by browna

Apply to be part of the program yourself. Since you believe you qualify...

Argue that you're saving the shell company and thus the City the cost of the moving expense by already being in the building, and of course your willing to accept the higher rent.

Not possible... they are pulling the "renovations" card out. No one allowed to stay while they make some minor upgrades (new windows.)

[ken0042]

I would talk to the other people in the building, see if any of them feel the same way as you, and organize yourselves. First think would be a letter to your Alderman from all of you; and stipulate that you would like to hear back from them within a certain period of time; as time is of the essance here.

If that doesn't work use Rouge's idea.

[Shawnski]

First and foremost, I just needed to vent. Where better than the land of CP? Thank you for allowing me to do so.

Have already sent a scathing e-mail to the City this AM. No reply so far. Yes, I will be speaking to people in the building, too.

What a joke... what an absolute joke.

Tax dollars at "work" again here.

[Flame On]

F*** man that is lame sorry to hear that!
Christ!
We need to form a special Masons like fraternity and take over so we can all live like kings! Good luck Shawnski good luck for your accomodation and with your father.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by fotze

Good luck with that. I have phoned a few times with their new procedure of tracking calls with a tracking number to ensure a response. Nothing.

The only times I had to call 311 I got a response right away. Once my garbage didn't get picked up, and a supervisor came by in a half ton and grabbed it and appologized. Second time was after they had done some paving on 52 st SE by McKenzie Towne; they had left a noticable dip in the road for about 6 weeks. (The new pavement was about 4 inches higher than the old, and there was practically a curb there.) Next day it was fixed.

[Flames_Gimp]

I called 311 on christmas eve at 9pm got a response right away and they were here in an hour to fix the sewer problem.

[Neeper]

Sorry to hear this dude. Hope things work out for you.

[Shawnski]

Just spoke with my Dad. When I was down for Xmas, I sat with him during a chemotherapy session. The word now is that his recent sessions aren't working for him. He isn't going to take any further sessions either.

Damn, please, let this day end.

[Trojan97]

I'll be praying for him (and yourself) Shawnski

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by fotze

That really sucks. Did you guys get the second opinion thing done. My buddies dad went to the mayo clinic when it was too late and they found out it was misdiagnosed from the start and it was fully treatable if caught and treated correctly

Dad has had cancer for almost two decades now. There is no misunderstanding, fotze, although I appreciate your thoughts on it. Before my Mother died five years ago, she had done a wonderful job keeping him healthy through a solid diet and other suppliments. It is a wonder that HE outlasted HER. She was very sudden.

From the ashes of today, come the life of tomorrow. There is nothing left to burn on me today, so I only look forward to the dawn.

Thank you, one and all, for your support. Perhaps the worst day of my life, and I appreciate your support.

[pope04]

Sorry to hear about your Dad, Shawnski. I lost my own father to cancer three years ago or so and it's a tough go. Sounds like he's given it a hell of a fight so far, so don't lose hope.

[Shawnski]

I won't.. ever.. Pope. I love him so much. And the battles he does... I will try to find the link where he played in the Seniors Mens BC Golf playoffs this year and post it. Truly great story.

As for the topic, I just sent a summarization to CTV in Calgary. Will see how this goes by the AM. I am not going to let this one fall. What a crock.

Edit.. btw, I am in the heart of Madelaine King territory. Surprise... surprise...

I found her website and clicked on the e-mail option... got a 404 error. Hmm...