DAY 14 - Daily Diary

FLUX PHOTO

Hunger striker Homeless Dave has lost a pound a day over the past two weeks. At a "weigh in" at Vancouver City Hall today, Dave tipped the scales 14lbs lighter than when he launched his open-ended hunger strike against gentrification in the Downtown Eastside.

A thinner but still upbeat Dave slipped a letter with his demands through Gregor Robertson's door, the mayor being 'out' when Dave and about 50 supporters dropped 'in.'

Dave's three main demands are social housing on the Sequel 138 condo site, housing and a wellness centre at the old cop shop at 312 Main and an end to gentrification in the Downtown Eastside and City instituted policies to make it happen.

Up the hill to City Hall with Shurli, Alice, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and Dave.

Photos:  http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/photo/hunger-strike-weighs-city-hall/16997





 

Link to letter delivered to mayor: http://dteshungerstrike.blogspot.ca/2013/04/letter-to-mayor.html

Back in the DTES:

Dave writes:  “i think it went better than great--i think we did a little of both, giving ballem a hard time – we were mostly nice now--so now it really begins...so tired--still deciding if i'm going to picket tonight--it's up in the air right now--but see you all at tomorrow at sequel and cop shop pickets -- hope i did ok today--everyone else did amazing.  ps i think this quote is like our community:  “Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” Oscar Wilde

DTES resident of Latin American decent says:  “I really liked what we did today.  Usually I feel naked.  Exposed, when I try to fight something.  It’s different when there are lots of us together. I’m in this. See you at picket tomorrow.”

Dave tweets:
homeless dave: ‏@homelessdave0 DAY 14 #DTES HUNGER STRIKE: THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED PUSH ME IN WHEELCHAIR TO @MayorGregor OFFICE ESPECIALLY UPHILL #VANPOLI #BCPOLI

Don of Union of BC Indian Chiefs tweets: 
UBCIC: ‏@UBCIC As City Manager walked away, "NO HOMES! NO PEACE" filled the halls. @homelessdave0 continues his hunger strike. #yvr @MayorGregor
Georgia Straight article:
http://www.straight.com/news/369251/hunger-striker-homeless-dave-brings-downtown-eastside-demands-vancouver-city-hall