[Imc-newsroom] SQUAT 'on-the-road-to' VICTORY DEMO Tues 12PM City Hall (fwd)

[Mark Enslin]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2002 12:17:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ontario Coalition Against Poverty <ocap at tao.ca>
To: ocap at lists.tao.ca
Subject: SQUAT 'on-the-road-to' VICTORY DEMO Tues 12PM City Hall


POPE SQUAT VICTORY DEMO!
POPE SQUAT VICTORY DEMO!
POPE SQUAT VICTORY DEMO!

12 PM
TUESDAY
AUGUST 6th
at City Hall (Queen & John)

On Thursday July 25, the Ontario Coaltion Against Poverty and allies
occupied one of the many buildings that sit needlessly empty while people
live and die on the streets. With overwhelming community support for the
action, city council was forced to pass a motion on August 1 requesting
the province turn the land over to the city to be converted to affordable
housing. OCAP and the squatters won 1510 King St. W.!

Join in a victory demonstration on Tuesday, August 6th, to celebrate the
winning of 1510 King St. W., and support a delegation of OCAP allies and
supporters who will go into City Hall and continue the negotiations to
have the building converted into self-managed social housing. The fight
for housing continues!

=====

Motion J(40) August 1st, 2002

Request for transferral of ownership of 1510 King St W.

"Where as in celebration of the visit of Pope John Paul II to the City of
Toronto, bringing with him the message of justice and 'love thy
neighbour'; and

Where as, in the honour of the Pilgrims who visited Toronto with their
hope and faith for a better world;

Now therefore be it resolved that the City of Toronto request that the
province of Ontario, the owner of the property at 1510 king StW transfer
the title to the land of the City of Toronto for the purpose of creating
affordable housing units;

And be it furthur resolved that the local councillor and the Mayor's
office be consulted on the development of this project, if the province
passes over title of the land;"

And be it further resolved that the necessary provisions of Chapter 27 of
the City of Toronto Municipal Code be waived to permit introduction and
debate of this Notice of Motion at the meeting of Council to be held on
July 30, 31, and August 1, 2002."

Amendment moved by Korwin-Kuczynoki:

THAT MOTION J(40) BE AMENDED BY ADDING THE FOLLOWING: "that the transfer
of title in the city of Toronto for affordable hoousing be conditionional
upon the present occupants immediately vacating the premises at 1510 King
Street West."

=====

OCAP's August 2nd Press Statement in Response to Motion J(40):

1) The province has not yet claimed ownership of 1510 King St W. In order
to avoid bureaucratic foot-dragging we will not leave 1510 King St. W.
until it is determined that the Province of Ontario or the City of Toronto
hold title of the property.

2) There are individuals living at 1510 King St. W. who are homeless and
have no where else to go. OCAP will not walk away from these individuals
and leave them in the street.

3) While it is a sad state of affairs when it takes a local organization
like OCAP and homeless people to physicially open an empty building to get
the City of Toronto to act-- they have finally and reluctantly done the
right thing. However, there are many empty buildings throughout Toronto
similar to 1510 King St. W. If the City fails to act on these as well,
OCAP most certainly will.