Did Allen Garr run to Vision's defense against Downtown Eastside community activists?
In recent weeks eyebrows were raised around the offices at City Caucus Tower by the rightward editorial shift of long time left wing columnist Allen Garr. A few weeks ago he labeled those who propagate the idea that our home prices are being inflated by mainland Chinese buyers as "racist". Admittedly, this is less of a left/right viewpoint than an over-simplification of the reality of Vancouver's real estate market, but it was likely the first time that Garr and his arch-nemesis Sam Sullivan were singing off the same song sheet.
Then in a pair of recent columns Garr came out swinging – hard – on Downtown Eastside activists who descended on City Hall to interrupt meetings and voice their objections to a new development in their community. The columns in question were Pantages' foes need to check their heads (April 26), and Neighbourhood bully harms Downtown Eastside planning process (May 3rd). In them, Garr labels the group's leader Ivan Drury as a "thug" and a "notorious Downtown Eastside bully".
Setting aside for a moment the fact that Garr based both columns upon third party accounts – always risky when you're damning someone as a thug – why is he suddenly running to the defense of city council in the face of such attacks? When NPA councillor Kim Capri was hung in effigy on the front lawn of City Hall back in 2006 – a far more egregious and hateful act by poverty activists – we didn't hear a peep out of Garr.
Now, when his friends in Vision Vancouver are being criticized by those on the far left, Garr has chosen to go on the attack.
Our readers may recall a video clip we posted in December 2010 showing Vision councillors Jang and Reimer in a meeting with Jean Swanson and other DTES housing activists. During the meeting they spoke candidly about using the activists to "push" on the Provincial government, and to "pull back" at Vision's direction.
Contrast the way Vision were openly manipulating the people involved in DTES community planning, to the way they appear to be condeming them now through Garr. If it doesn't demonstrate the governing party's astonishing hubris, at least it proves that if you criticize Vision, they'll banish you.
It's no wonder that COPE board member and blogger at The Mainlander Tristan Markle blasts Garr, saying he's lost all credibility after his attacks.
Two weeks in a row, Allen Garr has written articles attacking Downtown Eastside community members who oppose the Pantages condo project slated for their neighbourhood. Harold Lavender, a board member of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council (DNC), has called Garr’s recent writings “libelous and horrible articles” filled with “scurrilous attacks.” One would imagine that before publishing something so inflammatory, the veteran columnist would make sure he was on solid ground. Let us examine whether Garr did any investigating, or whether his words are indeed “scurrilous.”
Markle shreds Garr's account of the meetings, claiming they were based upon questionable testimony.
Allen Garr has penned three scurrilous articles against poor people’s movements in the DTES. His interest has been, unfortunately for a professional journalist, to bolster Vision Vancouver and its corporate developer backers. Garr created a counter-factual narrative around the Development Permit Board hearing for the Pantages condo project, despite not being present at the hearing.
Markle's counterpoint to Garr's columns makes for good reading, regardless of where you come down on the developments in question. My early impressions of Marc Williams’ development of 138 East Hastings, former home of the Pantages Theatre, is that it's an inventive project and compatible with the community's goals. But bringing change to a community which has fought it so long is going to be a painstaking process.
After Garr's attacks, what might be even more painstaking is healing the growing rift between Vision Vancouver and DTES activists.
- post by Mike
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Does Garr’s attack truly surprise anyone? Let’s face it, you speak out against the ‘Vision’ machine and they release the attack dogs.
I guess the residents of the DTES have outlived their usefulness – they helped Vision get a second term and well thanks, and screw you.
The DTES is just as disposable as any other neighborhood.
Glad they are finally waking up to the reality.
Now let’s see, City caucus has been and continues to be a shill for the NPA and any other far right group (TPF, CFIB) that comes along.
They are complaining about Garr shilling for Vision. I have read more columns by Garr criticizing Vision that I ever expect to see on City Caucus crticizing the NPA.
There is much ironic here. The one I particularly love is that if the NPA had supported wards, instead of opposing them, they would have more than 2 seats on council. In their hubris, they wanted the whole loaf. Drinking their own KoolAid, they ran a remarkably weak slate for council and a shrill, unappealing flipflopping indivdual for Mayor Well, I guess it got them one more seat on council. Wow!
@Waltyss:
You did read that the original posting was on the Mainlander, right?
Back in 2008, Robertson and Vision USED the tragic death of a homeless woman to garner goodwill. they used the homeless and the poor of the DTES – who they have since trampled on.
In 2011, they had their PAID ‘volunteers’ standing onstreet corners asking what the cause de jour was – guess what, housing affordability was number one. Robertson has walked away from that stating – the City can’t really do anything.
Was good for a sound bite and photo op at that time. Played to peoples’ wants.
Now and again, it is thanks and screw you.
Talk about ‘drinking the KoolAid’ – you swallowed the jug.
Max, get your own metaphors.
When did the mayor walk away from homelessness; when did he say the city couldn’t do anything.
I think it was you and your right wing gong show that attacked him because they said the city couldn’t do anything.
If the Mayor came out for motherhood, your crowd would oppose it. Fair enough but please, Allen Garr is a columnist with opinions (that is what a columnist is). What he is not, unlike this blog, is a shill for a particular party.
Keep drinking it , buddy.
Does the mayor ever come out with anything other than motherhood statements? Even Gerbers doesn’t produce as much pablum.
@waltyss:
Allen Garr not a shill for Vision. Good God, which rock have you been hiding under?
And again, you do realize that the Mainlander first posted the reponse to Garr – and rightfully so. It was another full on ass kissing for Robertson and Vision.
Sorry, love to keep this up with you – but reading about ‘Son of STIR’ and how a whole lot of ‘renters’ are likely to get screwed over – compliments of Robertson and Vision Vancouver.
At least Vision is finally having to admit that STIR was a failure. The only people it helped – the developers that got $$ for….nothing.
Relying on 3rd party accounts, the horror! That would be stronger substantiation than about 250% of the CityCaucus posts over the years.
@Really:
A supposed ‘jounalist’ with the years put inthat Garr has should be fact checking – that is part in parcel of the job.
I’ve worked with journo’s and at the risk of getting ‘sued’ or the paper having to print a retraction (and there is always more to the ‘retraction’ than just the ‘we are sorry’) – there is no way they don’t make the calls.
I’ve met Ivan Drury and he is passionate about what he believes in, but to refer to his as a’thug’ – well, I hope Ivan goes after Garr for liable.
What Garr produced was lazy journalism.
Perhpas Garr can get Robertson to put him back on bee hive duty or have him write some passage of how wonderful Robertson is for another book…..
Thought of The Night
“Allen Garr turns out to be a… Real Gnarl!”
I did a Google search for:
“Allen Garr Respectable Journalist Loses All Credibility”
All I’ve got is this:
“No results containing all your search terms were found.
Your search – Allen Garr Respectable Journalist Loses All Credibility – did not match any documents.
Suggestions:
- Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
- Try different Names.
- Try Respectable Journalists only.
- Try Someone With Credibility. ”
Yeah, I’ll try that next time. Till then though…
We live in Vancouver and this keeps us busy.
Interesting that you praise the Mainlander blogger Tristan Markle when he article contains many many inaccuracies about me and about the submission I made to the Development Permit Board.
Does this mean that you are endorsing his misquotes about where I live, and what I said to the Development remit Board and to Mayor and Council?
It would be similarly interesting Fern if you would provide more specifics as to what you said to the DP Board and Council. I, for one, would like to know more.