Media Advisory: Day 2 of City Hall Encampment
12pm: Workers and Residents to Deliver Petition with over 8,000 signatures to City Hall Urging Vancouver Council to Pause Approvals of Holborn’s “Supertall” Tower Project and Put Affordability First
5pm: Rally to be held at City Hall calling on Mayor Ken Sim and Council to Review and Rescind Parq Casino Slot Expansion
VANCOUVER, BC – Today, hospitality workers, tenants, and Vancouver residents will gather at Vancouver City Hall at 12pm as part of a two-week encampment to deliver a petition signed by thousands of local residents urging Council to postpone approval of the massive Holborn condo and hotel towers until after the October election and prioritize affordable housing instead.
For years, City Hall has justified fast-tracking hotel development by claiming Vancouver urgently needs more hotel rooms for major events like the World Cup. But the hotel room shortage has not materialized. FIFA World Cup hotel demand fell far short of hype, and many hotel workers are facing one of the slowest summers in years. Yet, City Hall is rushing Holborn Group’s proposed ‘supertall’ luxury condo and hotel project through Council despite the project running afoul of the city’s own planning frameworks.
Today’s noon action will be followed by a 5pm rally. Rallygoers will be calling on Mayor Sim and Council to review and rescind their previous 5-4 decision approving the expansion of slot machines at Parq Casino arguing that it reflects the same pattern of putting developers’ needs ahead of community priorities.
“My co-workers and I can’t afford to support our families and live in this city,” said Kirsten Lebrun, a hotel worker at Pan Pacific Hotel. “We need Mayor Sim to prioritize affordability for regular working people over the needs of billionaire hotel owners.”
WHAT: As part of the two-week encampment, workers and other community members will deliver a petition to City Hall (12pm) and hold a rally (5pm).
WHEN: Wednesday, July 15
WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
WHO: UNITE HERE Local 40 members, hospitality workers, tenants, housing advocates, and Vancouver residents.
VISUALS: Signs and stacks of petitions, people marching and chanting with bullhorns.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Speakers will be available for interviews before and after the action.
Background: The City of Vancouver is moving forward with major hotel approvals and other significant land-use decisions while residents face a deep affordability crisis, tenants face displacement, and workers struggle with unstable hours. UNITE HERE Local 40 is calling on Council to pause major hotel approvals until after the October election so voters can hold candidates accountable for their positions on hotel development, housing affordability, and public benefits. According to a recent poll conducted by Stratcom, Vancouver voters favour prioritizing affordable housing over more hotel development by a 3-to-1 margin.
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785