Item AAAB3471 - The Strathcona Property Owners' and Tenants' Association : [interview with executive members]

CALL NUMBER: T3163:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : SPOTA interview PERIOD COVERED: ca. 1957-1970s RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-10-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Bessie Lee (SPOTA president), Tom Mesic (past president and founding member), Mary Chan (founding member), and Anne Chan (executive member) recall the beginnings of citizens' opposition to City Hall's plans to demolish most of the houses in Strathcona for urban renewal in the late 1950s and the 1960s. First meetings with Chinese Benevolent Society (CBA); attempts to organize resistance to; selling property to city. Early meetings. Margaret Mitchell's contribution to starting SPOTA. Bessie Lee's original approval of plan shown at public meeting. Problems with plan: low payment for houses did not allow ex-owners to buy elsewhere; old age pensioners and those on fixed incomes forced into high-rise low-income housing projects; Chinese forced to move out of area because they did not like projects. Bargaining method used by city. Meetings at Strathcona School: Margaret Mitchell and Darlene Marzari urge concerned citizens to join new group, SPOTA. Methods used to achieve success where earlier CBA-affiliated group failed: bilingual members reduce need for costly lawyers; canvassing door-to-door; pairs on executive to ensure greater participation. Second public meeting drew 600. How Tom Mesic got involved. TRACK 2: General state of disrepair in neighbourhood. Mary Chan: organizing to maintain Chinese way of life. Shirley Chan's contribution to SPOTA; working with social services people -- Margaret Mitchell, Darlene Marzari, Michael Harcourt, Penny Stewart. Original SPOTA group included the Chans, Sue Lum, Wong Yuen, Mrs. Sam Lum, Louise Fung. Lack of confidence in residents at their being able to tell City Hall what to do. Group strategy meetings. Jonathan Lau's contribution. City planner Gerald Sutton-Brown delays access of SWC report to City Council. SPOTA enlists help of B.C. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Campbell. Birmingham & Wood report to City Council. Paul Hellyer visits; freezes urban renewal program. Morris Eagan chairs first Working Committee.; CALL NUMBER: T3163:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : SPOTA interview PERIOD COVERED: ca. 1957-1970s RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-10-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: SPOTA constantly sought clarification from Working Committee and referred everything back to General Meeting. Additional help from lawyers Harcourt, Joe Wai, consultant David Spearing, social; researcher Dick Nan, social worker and interpreter Jonathan Lau. Harry Con points out financial injustices to get honorariums for active members. Strathcona Rehabilitation Committee (SRC) meets with new Housing Minister, Robert Andras, who insisted city recognize community participation in decisions. Strathcona accepted as fourth level of government on SRC. Further crises: freeway controversy, firehall site, Columbia-Quebec Connector. SPOTA's contributions to planning: linear park concept, in-fill housing. SPOTA is now watchdog for community re: further city planning. (End of recording) [TRACK 2: blank.]