Unlike the policies of former Mayor Sam Sullivan to ticket the homeless, of which Mike Klassen was a supporter, the City of Vancouver is a different place under new leadership these days.

Mike Klassen of CityCaucus and NPA “fame” has claimed that Mayor Gregor Robertson “blames” a rookie cop for a inappropriate ticket to a man sleeping in a tent.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Here is the VPD’s explanation of the incident:

Vancouver – A by-law ticket issued to the occupant of a ‘red tent’ in the 300 block Main St on April 22 will be cancelled. The ticket was issued by a newly graduated officer who had not yet been briefed about the Vancouver Police Department’s policy of deferring enforcement and management of people camping or tenting in City parks or on sidewalks to the City of Vancouver.

Steps are being undertaken to ensure that all new members will receive refreshers on all current VPD policies.

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Constable 1920 Lindsey Houghton
Media Relations Officer
Community & Public Affairs Section
Vancouver Police Department | Beyond the Call

The City of Vancouver has initiated a distinct departure from the days of Sullivan’s infamous “Project Civil City,” where the homeless were targeted and ticketed by the police, under the direction of the NPA Mayor and Council.

Gregor Robertson has simply echoed the comments directly from the VPD, where a rookie officer was not entirely aware of the new approach being taken IN TANDEM by the City of Vancouver and the VPD to treat people on the streets with respect and compassion rather than as criminals.

Mike Klassen has expressed his affinity and association with the NPA, past and future.  He was a huge backer of Sullivan during the time where Project Civil City became the main focal point of tackling the problem of homelessness on our streets.  He is also someone who uses complete creative license with his editorials.

The fact is that this Mayor and Council have outlined a strategy to eliminate street homelessness by 2015, and are well on their way towards doing so.  This is not only about opening shelters, or securing commitments for longer-term housing options, but just as importantly, changing the attitudes shown to people living on the streets by the powers that be.

This is a political directive that echoes the Vision Vancouver approach to politics: governing with a heart.

Nowhere does Klassen comment about the policy of ticketing the homeless.  In fact, he conveniently glosses over it in favour of trying to create a conspiracy where none exists.

So, until Klassen addresses the issue at hand, and specifically references his opinion on the practice of ticketing the homeless in the name of “public order,” then his words serve as little more than empty attacks against a potential future political opponent.