VANOC officials, Games participants, sponsors, politicians and many members of the media don’t understand the lack of enthusiasm by many Vancouverites as we prepare to “welcome the world”.
I explained just last week why I believe VANOC and the municipal and provincial governments are to blame: they have destroyed the positive feelings felt by so many when the bid was won.
How? By pushing around too many ordinary citizens; they have abused their positions of power to impose inconvenience and disruption WELL BEYOND any reasonable level or any requirement to keep the Games secure and running smoothly.
And once more, I’m not talking about the road closures etc close to venues … but the ridiculous excesses of removing parking along city roadways and shopping streets MILES from any venue.
Is it really necessary to remove all parking and stopping on both sides of not only Broadway, but also Fourth Ave AND even Twelfth Ave … all three of the major east-west arteries in that area , with the prohibitions extending as far west as Yew?? And on Twelfth, eastbound, even where it is six lanes wide, as far as Boundary Road?? Bureaucratic excess, in my view.
Sure, tens of thousands of Vancouver residents affected by the 24-hour “cleansing” may be able to park in their rear lanes or garages … but, with residential parking restrictions also in force on most adjoining streets, it really means thousands of people will be realistically unable to invite to their homes for almost six weeks any guests who don’t want to take hours on transit to get to them.
Not to mention the economic suffering to be imposed on Granville merchants from 60th Ave south to Marine Drive … and Cambie shops (ONCE AGAIN!!) all the way down to Marine Drive.
VANOC, the Province and the City all thought they were dealing with another Beijing: where “authority” could just push the people around for “Olympic” convenience and no one would dare push back.
But disrupting the entire life of almost the entire city is going too far.
If they think people are “negative” now. wait till the societal disruptions and economic losses, because of all the overkill, take their toll on residents and small businesses that are nowhere near Games sites.
And because of the bullying-gone-overboard even Vancouver residents not living on traffic routes or not going anywhere near Games sites will still be impacted severely … and negatively.
I received the following letter from one of my blog readers, whose identity I will protect. But I think his thoughts reflect those of MANY Vancouver residents:
” I got a notice from my veterinarian today telling me that, due to the Olympics, the office will be closed from February 12 to 28, 2010. I don’t recall being warned by the politicians that this kind of thing would be one of the fabulous benefits flowing from the Olympics.
For that matter, I don’t recall them telling us that city staff layoffs starting a couple of days after the Olympics end, the closure of long established facilities like the Bloedel Conservatory and the petting zoo, and higher property taxes this year and for years to come would be some of the benefits of the Olympics, though we now know that these are coming. I also don’t recall being told by the provincial politicians that the Olympics would bring us such wonderful benefits that they would have to reduce budgets and lay off employees but they too are now starting the process to cut budgets and lay off provincial staff.
I went downtown by car on an errand today. This is something I do regularly once a week in non-peak hours, but with the road closures this will not be possible for the next four weeks. Of course I can do it on transit, I sometimes do that anyway, but they have told us that this may involve hours of waiting on station platforms while full trains go past. Do I need to carry a chair and bring food and emergency supplies if I am going to try going downtown for the next month?
The closer the fabulous party for the very rich comes, the unhappier I feel.”
(Name withheld)
THERE you have it … THAT is how many people in the city now feel.
Notice this writer did NOT criticize the athletes or the sporting events. It’s the excessive impact… some of it I believe totally avoidable … and the fear of what’s to come after the bills come in that is fueling the negativity.
Multiply this by a hundred thousand and you can understand why so many Vancouver residents, who originally were excited by the Games, now which them good riddance.
And the saddest part of it all, much of it could have been avoided, with a little respect for the people who will ultimately have to pay all the bills.
Harv Oberfeld
22 responses so far ↓
1 Ron A // Feb 1, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Yes, these Olympics were always a party for the politicians and their friends…the rest of us will suffer and pay…that said, I certainly hope it’s successful.
(Response: That’s it exactly. Almost everyone wants our athletes to do well and the competition to be great. It’s a shame VANOC and the politicians have been so wasteful with public goodwill by imposing almost police state rules and restrictions all around the entire city, with the result too many are no longer enthused. And as you suggest … wait till the bills come in! h.o.)
2 Gary E // Feb 1, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Closures would not have been necessary if DUBYA , Cheney,Regan and Bush senior had not tried to run over the Arab world. They brought on this security Paranoia starting with the world trade center by their actions in the middle east.
We now have a situation in a SPORTING event that is completely controlled by big business(at whose direction the above mentioned caused this turmoil) for the sake of the almighty dollar. ie; the oilfields.
As I see it the only solution here is to pull big business out of the oilfields in the Arab countries and get them the hell out of the Olympics so that people like myself would be sfe without the Billion + dollar security and all the pet projects that a pro business government has given to their friends at the expense of the public (that’s you and I) purse for which we will be paying for generations.
If big business wants to profit from these Olympics let them pay the whole bloody shot. Not grab our tax dollars and drive up the prices so the average man has to pay for the next 40+ years.
These are the peoples games. Not Gordon Campbells or GM’s or god forbid Cokes.
The one chance I have in life to see the Olympics in what is now my home province has been stolen from me by a puppet government driven by greed.
(Response: Sorry…I think that’s ridiculous. ANYONE who thinks solving the Mid East debacle will end radical Islamic terrorism is deluding themselves. The terrorists want to spread EXTREME Islam and Sharia ANY WAY they can .. in other Arab countries (a female Shiite blew herself up in Iraq today..killing 54 Sunnis), in Chechnya, in India, in Pakistan, in Indonesia, in Africa etc etc … and even in Europe. And nothing less than a surrender of Western lifestyle and values and democracy would satisfy the real Third World War enemy today: radical Islamists. h.o.)
3 Keith // Feb 1, 2010 at 5:07 pm
And what about the rest of the Province. What do we get “out of it”? Absolutely nothing! Except higher taxes.
I personally have nothing against the Olympics in principle and I hope our athletes will do very good. However the manner it is handled by VANOC and the Liberals is so dictatorial. Sometimes I wonder if they have taken a page out of the 1936 Berlin Olympic book.
(Response: Yes ..the rest of the province will also pay for it. But taxpayers there haven’t seen disruptions of their daily lives ANYTHING CLOSE to what is going on in Vancouver and Whistler. h..o)
4 blaffergassted // Feb 1, 2010 at 5:52 pm
And you forgot to mention the cancellation of 2,400 elective surgeries.
(Response: And add to those patients the thousands of family and friends who share their unhappiness. h.o.)
5 Kim // Feb 1, 2010 at 6:23 pm
On your last comment, HO. Elsewhere, our lives may not be disrupted as badly, but our anger is real and justified, we didn’t even get a vote! And travel and other businesses have been affected, as well as provincial funding for everything that is not the circus.
(Response: Yes, I know there is a lot of discontent elsewhere too, esp in light of school, community program and health cuts etc. That’s a province-wide concern. But in terms of daily everyday disruption I think what we are now seeing in Vancouver is a major EXTRA explanation for the unhappiness. h.o.)
6 Norm Farrell // Feb 1, 2010 at 6:48 pm
If IOC want’s something, is anyone prepared to say no? Can anyone say no to the RCMP and the ISU if they want to increase the budget for security yet again?
How about this report from The Telegraph:
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed it has struck a deal with the Canadian border authorities for them to pass on information about drug smuggling involving anybody accredited for the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
But IOC president Jacques Rogge said on Thursday that it was up to the Canadian authorities whether there would be any police raids at Olympic venues, including the athletes’ village.
The deal, which flies in the face of Canada’s strong privacy laws, applies only for the period of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
7 Lynn // Feb 1, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Maybe one way the average law abiding citizen could do is line the streets, turn their backs to the VIP motorcades and moon them!
8 IJ // Feb 1, 2010 at 9:01 pm
On my way home from hospital after my daughter’s surgery, I heard on CKNW that elective surgeries are also going to be postponed another 4 to 6 weeks because of the games. Huh? It’s one thing to close a road, another to deny someone their surgery when they are in pain or discomfort. That’s what they call adding insult to injury!
(Response: And they wonder why people are not embracing it all!! h.o.)
9 Mike Cleaver // Feb 1, 2010 at 9:29 pm
As I’ve said before, if it was possible, I’d be somewhere else for the next month.
We live in Kits and my partner works downtown, 12 hour shifts during the “Limp Dick” games but he’ll have to walk or TRY to take the bus, which we’ve already been warned may take several hours to board.
The entire area around where he works is “off limits.”
No parking or even stopping to drop someone off or pick someone up.
I feel for all the businesses and services along these routes, shown in orange on those maps put out by the games Gestapo.
The cost of this entire affair is going to be enormous and ongoing for years.
10 Janice E // Feb 2, 2010 at 12:05 am
Amen to your letter writer and you, neither of you could have said it better for many, many of us.
(Response: It speaks to their arrogance that these reps “of” the people really became the reps of the “Olympic family” and their hangers on and rolled over the citizenry all over the city. NO ONE has yet explained why Olympic participants and visitors can’t experience real life and Vancouver the way that the rest of us do all year round. I’m sure no athletes arrive at their venue 10 minutes before they perfom …but at least an hour ahead. Do they really need special traffic lanes 24 HOURS A DAY even if that means killing business/parking for MILES of local stores for an entire month! h.o.)
11 Tom W // Feb 2, 2010 at 1:23 am
A simple solution for people unable to find parking during the restrictions will be to park your car in a no parking/no stopping zone and let it get towed. Car won’t be of much use during the Olympics anyways and, the towing and storage fees are likely to be about the same cost as alternative parking arrangements.
Thankfully I work from home so won’t be impacted by this absurdity til the bill comes due after the games.
(Response: Or you could park it in Stanley Park near a washroom facility.. pay the $6/day parking fee ..and rent it out as “waterfront Olympic accommodation” for $1,000/night. h.o.)
12 A Dave // Feb 2, 2010 at 3:51 am
From CRAB park today, I was watching Waterfront Road leading under Canada Place, where there are three checkpoints set up now. If a car or truck is suspect after the first two “interviews”, they have to pull off and drive into these big white tents, where they presumably get a thourough going over like a bomb check. Having been to Russia and East Germany/Berlin back in the 80s, this gave me quite a sense of deja vu.
Nearby, my Downtown Eastside neighbourhood is now subject to constant foot patrols, helicopters, and even a spy plane was seen passing back and forth over the city today.
I fear that my perpetually guilt-worn frown is going to land me in the klink for no reason whatsoever as I head to the store for milk.
We can now claim, with no hyperbole whatsoever, that we are living in a police state for the next month.
I don’t think anyone expected this kind of excess and insanity when we voted in the plebiscite.
(Response: You’re right…no one expected this kind of city-wide disruptions. I want the Games to be safe .. but I believe what we are witnessing is what happens when our elected officials abandon their responsbility to us and just hand over care and control of the city to an organization like VANOC and the various police forces. The result: well beyond security issues … citizens are being pushed around and abused in their homes and businesses MILES away from any venues… just so the ELITE can have Special Privileges. It’s a good lesson for us about what life is like in dictatorships … and we should NEVER forget who did this to us … on the right, and the left. h..o)
13 Skookum1 // Feb 2, 2010 at 4:52 am
Dave Zirin writing in Sports Illustrated:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/dave_zirin/01/25/vancouver/index.html
14 Crankypants // Feb 2, 2010 at 7:23 am
It just keeps getting better and better. Fortress, the hedge fund that sort of owns Intrawest, is apparently shaking down Ottawa for $90 million before the games begin. The story broke in The New York Post, was carried on CBC’s website and on Global’s late night news.
Is this Athlete’s Village all over again?
I’m glad I am attending nothing associated with this circus. Vanoc is suggesting that it may take up to 3 hours to go through security for every event. Add to that the length of time it will take to get anywhere, and one has to conclude that those people that tried to buy tickets and got shut out are the big winners.
I also fear that the security they are throwing at this will still not be sufficient to stop someone from creating havoc should they so choose. Meanwhile the law abiding citizens will pay with loss of freedoms and countless businesses will pay with either a big hit to their bottom line or maybe into extinction.
(Response: What struck me is WHY did this Canadian story break in the New York Post? h.o.)
15 Norm Farrell // Feb 2, 2010 at 7:49 am
They have installed, apparently, 900 security cameras throughout city and mountain sites. I wonder what other technology has been purchased secretly from the almost $1 billion security budget that is hidden from examination.
Sonic cannons? Multi-shot tasers? Armed aerial drones? Thermal laser pain beams? Armored personnel carriers? Tanks? Specialty munitions? Laser microphones?
Who can say no, when no needs to be said?
(Response: It is clear some of it is ained at potential terrorists and I have no argument with that; other is aimed at protestors/crowd control and some of this worries me … and I beleive the extra cameras will be left in place after the games ..not turned on …but ready in case any of you step out of line? h.o)
16 A. G. Tsakumis // Feb 2, 2010 at 10:07 am
Superb analysis Harv.
Let’s stop at the exorbitant ticket prices. This is NOt an event for everybody except the very wealthy and the idiots we re-elected…by default.
(Response: Well, if people are willing to pay the ticket prices … that helps cover the enormous costs. But you and I know a lot of what is going on is not really necessary, but is being done just to cater to the “privileged” … at the cost of the those who will ernd up paying a huge portion of the bills. h.o)
17 rs // Feb 2, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Gary E,
I don’t think you can lay blame entirely upon “DUBYA , Cheney,Regan and Bush senior.” Perhaps you’re too young, or you have forgotten the tragedy that occured at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. No — I’m not defending the aforementioned, I’m just saying the difficulties staging the Olympics, or any event of such magnitude, goes much further back and much deeper than your abridged view of events.
18 Lynn // Feb 2, 2010 at 9:18 pm
rs,
I beg to differ. The lane closures and intense security has NOTHING to do with Munich. According to folklore the Moussad took care of that problem. No, this has everything do with clearing a path for the self annoited vip’s and to pad the bottom line of the security firms.
19 Mick // Feb 4, 2010 at 5:17 am
What they fail to add to this story is the disgusting truth about the Politicos and all their buddies feeding at the taxpayer trough to the tune of millions. For example taking over (a whole .. h.o.) Hotel for the Olympic committee. Sending millions of dollars worth of Olympic tickets to their compatriots along with hotels and expenses to gain future votes and considerations. The hugh expense of 3 cruise ships at Ballantyne pier housing the 5 ring circus Gestapo. Yes Mr & Mrs taxpayer , just smile and be happy – you won’t have to pay the bill till later and we can spread it over the next 50 years because that is precisely how long it will take.
20 SharingIsGood // Feb 5, 2010 at 3:40 am
Did you see today’s Guardian, Harvey?
Our Premier was on the national news (CBC or CTV) defending the Vancouver Olympics as not costing more than what was budgeted. I didn’t find him believeable, perhaps some gullible folks may.
Vancouver’s Olympics head for disaster: Two weeks before the games and with police officers on every corner, Vancouver is far from an Olympic wonderland
Comments (202)
Buzz up!
Digg it
Douglas Haddow guardian.co.uk, Sunday 31 January 2010 15.00 GMT Article history
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/jan/31/vancouver-winter-olympics-police
(Response: The real stories ..and games … will be those after the Games, when the bills come in by the billion and when the teachers, hospital workers are told there’s no money for any wage increases. h.o)
21 the dude // Feb 5, 2010 at 5:00 am
You can add to the list of disruptions: all the people who’s work has been shot down for the olympics because they are either in a high traffic area or within distance to game venues (hastings park), all school childrenn who will miis on their education, teachers who will miss salaries and parents who will spend fortunes to care for those out of school children… just to reduce traffic on the road!!!
This is the Biggest party this place has ever had, we are all paying for it, but none of us are invited. When its all over guess who cleans up?
(Response: Wait till all the bills come in!! The party will be really OVER! h.o.)
22 RS // Feb 5, 2010 at 5:44 am
Lynn,
Your denial won’t change the historical record and the fact that enhanced security protocol and increased security budgets for staging the Olympics began their steady escalation following Munich. It was the end of the innocence.
(Response: Make no mistake.. the Olympics have long been exploited fror political purposes (Hitler 1936 eg). But despite all kinds of world conflicts, the Islamic terrorists showed what barbarians they are by kidnapping and killing totally innocent young athletes in Munich. And just think of all the damage they have done in the world since then … ruining air travel is only a tiny part of it. And despite what the anti-Israelis always say, it really has NOTHING to do with Israel. Radical Islam’s aim is control of the Arab world first … by any means necessary: the proof is they have killed overwhelmingly more Muslims than even Israel ever has. And their ultimate goal is extension of Islam worldwide and destruction of the Western way of life … like democracy, women’s rights, etc. And if they could strike the Olympics in Vancouver, they would … that’s why despite all my critiques of the way the Olympic management has made mistakes, I appreciate the need for huge amounts of extra security. h.o.)
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