Media Advisory: Who is Our City Built For? Rally Today at Vancouver City Hall to Demand Affordability Now!
Vancouver, BC – While Council considers a proposal to rollback requirements for below-market rentals today, hospitality workers and community advocates will be holding a protest this afternoon at City Hall calling on elected officials to stop prioritizing developer profits over housing affordability.
Without a public hearing or opportunity for public input at today’s meeting, Council may approve the second phase of its “fast-track” rental housing plan, allowing larger towers while weakening below-market rental requirements for most new six-storey rental buildings across the city. Council could also allow developers of several previously approved rental projects to walk back their commitments to provide 20% of units at below-market rents – letting developers drop affordability promises that were part of securing city approval.
The rally is part of a broader pushback against development decisions made by Council that fail to address Vancouver’s affordability crisis and increasingly put corporate interests ahead of community needs. The rally comes days after UNITE HERE Local 40 filed a challenge to the Council’s approval of a controversial floating hotel development in Coal Harbour.
WHO: Hospitality workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 40, housing advocates, and community supporters.
WHEN: Today – Tuesday, May 19 at 5PM
WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC.
VISUALS: Workers and supporters marching and chanting with colourful signs and drums.
CONTACT: Michelle Travis, [email protected]., 778-960-9785