St. Ann's update- Nov. 30th, 2008: where it all stands

St. Ann's update- Nov. 30th, 2008: where it all stands

-

On Monday, Nov. 24th, the 'Crown' stayed the proceedings on the Obstruction charges given to people who were arrested for not voluntarily dismantling their temporary abode after 7:00 AM, as per the city's Bylaw Enforcement Policy. So, Monday night people returned to Centennial Square, where the arrests happened and, again, erected a temporary abode. Talking to the media the next day it was confirmed that the 'Crown' stayed the proceedings because the Bylaw Enforcement Policy is not Constitutionally defendable.

The city took the position that, even though people could not be arrested for Obstruction, tickets could still be given out. Throughout a magnificent 4 days of occupying the ground under the giant Christmas tree we accumulated enough tickets to be arrested for a separate 'civil' charge of having multiple tickets.

We go to trial for this on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5TH, at 9:30 AM in the VICTORIA LAW COURTS (850 Burdett Avenue). If something huge and unexpected doesn't impede the trial it will result in Tavis and I being given a permanent injunction against breaking the 7-7 criminal Policy or Tavis and I charging the city with Harassment which, likely, will lead to the city being found in Contempt of Court. This could be the proverbial 'it'. Violating an injunction, itself, is Contempt of Court and can lead to months and months in jail... and the city being found guilty could lead to 'temporary' replacement of the VicPD by RCMP and a criminal investigation into the workings of City Hall... mayhaps I fantasize... we'll see...

The Supreme Court of BC has found that it is unconstitutional to impede homeless people providing shelter for themselves. If the city wants to have time restrictions on tenting in parks then it must make available space where those restrictions do not exist... and if it does that then let it see the wisdom of facilitating two or three smaller sites and the inception of new zoning laws that would allow for private residents to have tents on their properties. The municipal tent-cities will have provision for growth. Regional tent-cities can not be acceptable lest there is, already, established rule making municipalities the primary guardians for tent-cities.

Policing will be the same as always- each individual tent will be presumed innocent of, until better is known. Less people will be forced to push their stuff around every day. Criminal element will be obvious and localized... good people will see that the role of 'sheriff' is a divinely natural one when flowing through a loving community. There is a 'stoic stand-upness' that is stronger than all rage and assholes and it will become very evident as the tent-cities reputations grow.

In the meantime, people are taking things very seriously. People seem to enjoy milling about and under the Christmas tree at City Hall... a vigil, so to speak, waiting for this FRIDAY. There is a massive hate propaganda being directed at anyone who disagrees with the welfare state. Patience is stronger than all that. May we enjoy letting the dead bury the dead.

in miraculousness,

David Arthur Johnston

Victoria, BC, Canada

Hatrackman@Gmail.com

Home page- http://www.angelfire.com/apes/hatrackman

Journal of the Occupation of St. Ann's Academy (Victoria, BC, Canada)- http://www.angelfire.com/apes/hatrackman/welcome.htm

Comprehensive overview of Victoria Municipal politics- http://electionsvictoria.ca