Pubdate: Sun, 05 Apr 2009 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Owen Lydon HASTINGS STREET'S MISERY STUNS AND FRIGHTENS IRISH VISITORS I recently visited Vancouver with my wife and two-year-old son from Ireland and, while we found the hospitality welcoming, we were shocked at what we saw. Having wandered (as tourists do) into Chinatown, we ended up by accident on Hastings Street. The site of scores of shuffling homeless, vacant and rambling mentally ill and drug addicts reminded me of a scene from a George A. Romero zombie film. My wife was immediately fearful and we fled the area. For a city boasting the Winter Olympics, might I suggest that you take a few million out of the kitty and use it to assist these poor unfortunates? I have lived and worked in India and South Africa, so the sight of human misery is not new to me. Unfortunately, this is the lasting image I end up discussing with friends and colleagues here in Ireland when they ask me about Vancouver. Owen Lydon Spiddal Ireland - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin