A new city bylaw changes the way that the area around City Hall and the Olympic Plaza can be used by the public. This was somewhat a response to the Occupy Movement last year, but it has also affected Art Pawlowski's Street Church. I'm sure many of you have driven by his set-up in front of City Hall, brandished with numerous banners and signs as well as the BBQ for the homeless. This bylaw prevents Pawlowski from setting up his Street Church in the City Hall area.
He released the above video a few weeks ago. In it, he attacks the validity of the new bylaw. There's some video footage of the police officers giving Pawlowski warnings. About midway through the video, he gets extreme and gives a soliloquy that compares our City Hall to Nazi Germany.
Obviously, he's not impressed by the new bylaw.
I'm interested in your guys' opinion on the new bylaw and this situation with the Street Church.
Thoughts?
I've had my own run-in with Artur Pawlowski back from my time working in politics. The man is extremely unstable, and borderline dangerous. There was an occasion where we had to get the police involved.
Used to work in the area, and walked by it numerous times (pretty much daily).
After thinking about the concept of the Street Church now and how I got used to it being there, I find it non-threatening and not impeding anything significant in front of City Hall, nor are the patrons all that unsavoury. Alot of them are homeless or down on their luck looking for a free meal.
Don't like how loud the guy(s) can be there, but nothing to get your panties in a knot over. You stay out of their way, and they will stay out of yours. They are far more subtle than some other crowd gatherings I've seen around there.
New city bylaw and the Street Church at City Hall
