[mobglob-discuss] Fwd: [Infoshop News] FW: [ocap] OCAP Crashes Mills Press Conference

[Tom Childs]

Here's one little victory in TO that the local champions for
housing for the homeless can look at as a model to ridicule
the elites who don't have the time of day for homeless
folks.  
TC

Posted by:
>>> gbacque at colosseum.com 2/27/2004 3:16:11 PM >>>


-----Original Message-----
From: ocap-bounces at masses.tao.ca [mailto:ocap-bounces at masses.tao.ca]On

Behalf Of OCAP
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 5:56 PM
To: ocap at masses.tao.ca 
Subject: [ocap] OCAP Crashes Mills Press Conference



OCAP CRASHES DENNIS MILLS PRESS CONFERENCE

On Friday, February 27, OCAP finally got a chance to repay Liberal MP
Dennis Mills for his crass and cyncial dishonesty around the issue of
housing for the homeless. His showpiece press conference on the 38th
Floor
of the luxurious Harbour Castle Hotel around 'Harbourfront
Development'
was brought to a grinding halt by an OCAP delegation.

On November 8 of last year, OCAP took over an empty building at 558
Gerrard to demand that it become housing.  Mills pledged that if we
ended
the occupation before police moved in, he would ensure that the
building
would become social housing within thirty days  - or he would resign as
a
member of  Parliament. Over three months later, the building stands
empty
and no deal has been struck to change that.  That being so, why is
Mills
still here?

The press conference we intervened at could not have been a more
disgusting manifestation of privilege.  In a ritzy hotel, with a
panoramic
 view of the Toronto shoreline, a veritable Who's Who of local
political
and economic elite had gathered to announce their plans for  profit
driven
urban development.  They had expected a seamless exercise in
self-congratulation but the best laid plans of Liberal Ministers and
their
hangers-on do not always go according to the script.

A 30 member OCAP delegation had entered the event and positioned
itself
throughout the room.  Fellow Liberal Art Eggleton kicked the event off
by
declaring his pride in the 'activist caucus' he was part of and
introduced
Mills as a man 'who gets things done'.

As Mills approached the podium, our delegation moved to confront him. 
Why
had he not told the truth? Why did he not turn 558 Gerrard into
housing
and dare until yesterday to still claim on his website that it would
be
converted?  How could anyone take anything he said seriously, when he
lacked the will or ability to open one site for the homeless?  Why was
he
still warming his chair on Parliament Hill when, if he had a shred of
integrity, he would honour his promise and resign?  The angry
questions
and statements gave way to a chant  of 'Denis Mills, Resign' and the
Liberal entouage gave up the game and withdrew from the room.  We made
clear to media and Mills' admirers alike that his written promise to
step
down will not be set aside with the slick ease he had hoped for. Since
he
refuses to leave the stage, we are here to help his departure along.

After the OCAP delegation left the hotel, the monied interests did
their
best to put on a brave face and continue.  Mills had the gall to tell
the 
cameras that he has a vision for 6,000 units of 'mixed housing' for the

waterfront area.  What stock should be put on such a vague promise
coming
as it does from a man who can't open one building for the homeless is
a
rather serious question.  Moreover, given the experiences of poor
neighbourhoods over the last number of years, the mantra of 'mixed 
neighbourhoods' is one we have learned to greet with extreme suspicion.

Condos and upscale housing is where the developers make their money
and
they have precious little interest in housing the poor.  On the
contrary,
the agenda is to socially cleanse poor areas and demolish low income
housing projects so that the central area of the City can be
redeveloped
for the upwardly mobile.  Token and declining percentages of
'affordable
housing' within this process will not prevent the relentless drive to
push
 the poor out and the defence of existing communities must be taken
up.

Mills stands exposed for the faker he is.  He thought to posture on
the
issue of social housing, deliver nothing and come out of the whole
affair 
smelling like a rose. But he miscalculated. The look of fear and
loathing
on his face was a picture we enjoyed on behalf of all those he has left

to sleep on the streets.






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--
Tom Childs - Audio/Visual Resources
Douglas College Library
New Westminster, B.C. Canada
T: 604 527-5713 - Library
T: 604 524-9316 - Lulu Island
E: childst at douglas.bc.ca 
U: BCGEU Local 703
W: http://www.globaljustice.ca 
   
     "There's no way to delay, that trouble comin' everyday."
                                    --Frank Zappa

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