PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE. THANK YOU!

CHAI (Calgary Housing Action Initiative) presents:

A PROTEST AGAINST SOCIAL INJUSTICE
Peaceful Protest Against Public Behaviour Bylaw Unfairly Targeting the Less Fortunate

Having done too little to create affordable housing and new shelters to accommodate the homeless, the City is now about to fine them (up to $10,000) and jail them (up to 6 months) just for existing: for loitering (including panhandling), urinating on public property (no public washrooms outside establishments) and putting their feet up on benches (sleeping outside), when they are given NOWHERE TO GO! PLEASE come help us tell Council how unfair this is before they ratify Bylaw 54M2006 on Monday November 20!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20 2006
12 NOON, STEPS OF CITY HALL
BRING placards flags noisemakers drums guitars voices HOPE!

I was thinking that if the City of Calgary won't provide public toilets then we as concerned citizens will have to build them. So considering this, I have bought a low-flow dual flush toilet (I was already planning to replace our toilet). I'm still trying to find a large box (maybe a frigde box) to use. But on Monday we'll build our own Port-A-Pottie for all Calgarians to use including the homeless. Please mention this in the press release if another one is going out on Monday.

Our city understands this issue around toilets. Check out the 2005 document to revitalize the East Village: Urban Revitalization: Public Toilet Alternatives for the East Village and the Downtown. I quickly glanced at the document but gravitate towards the hygience palace service centre model. I do not know where the city is a consulting the community on this approach.
http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/cns/centre_city/public_toilet_alternatives.pdf

I think the bigger issue is creating a fair bylaw that works for everyone. I understand our city has to act, and postponing this bylaw to go through a fairness filter and intergate actions with the urban revitalization might be a start.

Take a look at Fair Calgary brief report policy that looks at the bigger picture when the city makes new bylaws...the policy was discussed on November 1st, 2006 and you can look at the brief report.