The Homeless Are Being Removed Once Again

I wish that the media would use the right terms for words because these are not really protesters these are people who have no homes. There fore they have no other place to go to or to store their possessions.

PROTESTORS NEED TO CLEAR OUT BEFORE FRIDAY’S CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY: CITY

Nov 26, 2008

CITY HALL SAYS A SMALL CLUSTER OF TENTS THAT HAVE APPEARED UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN CENTENNIAL SQUARE HAVE TO GO -- BY FRIDAY.

SUPPER TIME FRIDAY IS THE SCHEDULED CHRISTMAS TREE "LIGHT-UP" CEREMONY, SPONSORED BY THE DOWNTOWN VICTORIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

CITY SPOKESPERSON KATIE JOSEPHSON SAYS THE CITY HAS ISSUED THE DVBA A PERMIT FOR A SPECIAL EVENT ON THAT PARTICULAR PUBLIC PROPERTY AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, AND IT WILL SUPERSEDE ANY "RIGHTS" THAT HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS MIGHT HAVE TO CAMP THERE.

IN THE MEANTIME, JOSEPHSON SAYS THE CITY WILL BE MEETING CROWN COUNSEL OFFICE ABOUT ITS DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE TICKETED FOR VIOLATING THE PARK CAMPING BY-LAW.

THE MANAGER OF THE DOWNTOWN VICTORIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THE HOMELESS PEOPLE CAMPED OUT UNDERNEATH THE DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS TREE WANT TO BE HEARD.

BUT KEN KELLY SAYS THE DVBA HAS BEEN PLANNING THIS FRIDAY'S CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY FOR SOME TIME.

“THIS IS A PUBLIC EVENT THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR EVERYBODY IN VICTORIA AND IN FACT GREATER VICTORIA, AND WE TRUST THEY (THE PROTESTERS) WILL NOT IMPEDE THAT. THEY CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON THIS ISSUE. WE, IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ARE LISTENING.”

KELLY SAYS HE HAS ASKED THE CAMPERS NOT TO IMPEDE FRIDAY'S EVENT AND HE SAYS HE THINKS THE PROTESTERS WILL CHOOSE TO COOPERATE.