Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrambler
I still don't fully understand there point though. How would have not getting the Olympics improved their lives? I understand that a lot of money is going into it, but had South Korea won the bid, would have that money been used to build affordable in the Downtown Eastside or anywhere else for that matter, I don't think so.
The thing is, if they built affordable housing, the only thing that would bring is even more low income persons, drug addicts and the like. Affordable housing needs to be available everywhere to avoid that and I just don't how that is possible. I'm afraid that's a cycle to which there is no end.
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That's what confuses/frusterates me as well. I know its cliche, but my parents came here with no English and barely any money. They buster their ass through nothing but hard labor and now I'm priveleged enough to live comfortably. It happens all the time, I know dozens of immigrants who have done the same. They all tell me that they would kill to have arrived in Vancouver during this time with all the jobs available. Don't like the cost of housing? Perhaps look into somewhere where it's more affordable. You're simply not going to solve anything by lowering the standards so the addicts/slackers can have a place to comfortably slack and be junkies.
I disagree that it'll take a miracle for them to be out of downtown. It'll just take time. They'll keep getting pushed out of downtown eventually. The land value on the buildings held by the slumlords is just too damn lucrative to not sell for development. Look at the south area by the Granville st. bridge (near the Penthouse). That was an absolute hell hole full of hookers and junkies, and has now cleaned up alot thanks to all the new highrises. Ditto for Yaletown.
I would sooner understand someone from say Prince George or Kelowna, or somewhere like that protesting because they're footing a bill that does nothing to benefit them.