- "Offer concessions and compromises on those things that you have previously determined to be negotiable." 1
- Community based strategies, prepared and organized by City Hall and presented by "community supporters" of drug addict housing will include initiatives such as community education, community out reach, community advisory boards, with predetermined concessions and incentives.
- Why is City Hall planning to spread drug addicts all over Vancouver?
- Keep repeating the same clear message. 3
- Engage the media in the production of "good news" stories.
- Use local newspapers to assist with public education and promotion of your organization.
- Develop a good working relationship with the media. Invite media on a housing tour of your existing facilities. 4
Guided tours of apartments that are not specifically like Fraser St. are meaningless as they are tours of something other than what is proposed.
- "If public meetings are required invite supporters along with neighbours ..." 5
- "Ensure supporters are some of the first to speak as this may help set the tone for the meeting." 6
- Comments from the Fraser St. residents was that many of the local residents never got a chance to speak. The microphone was constantly dominated by outside the neighbourhood drug addict supporters especially brought in for this local meeting. Who brought these supporters in? Fraser St. residents believe City Hall did.
- Niaby has great concerns about "expert opinion" provided by City Hall. Supportive expert opinion must be backed up with facts from peer reviewed medical journals. Expert Opinion provided by City Hall on the Fraser St. drug addict apartment, as we've discovered can be misleading.
- Be prepared for an onslaught of propaganda from City Hall.
- Be prepared for the "good news stories" which have nothing to do with whether or not large apartment buildings for addicts spread throughout Vancouver will be effective.
- Be prepared for "community supporters" who are professionally organized and coached by public relations consultants to engage you with "community consultation".
- Be prepared for townhall meetings and open houses that are designed "to get their message across", where local residents are manipulated by professional mediators.
Published July, 2006. Revised February 2007.
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