Free The Vanishing Track by Stephen Legault Page B

Hadn’t left. Meals on Wheels brought him three squares a day. Did his laundry in the sink, watched The Price Is Right . Crazy. We spent two hundred and fifty thousand dollars getting the place up to code. The owner sold the week after we’d finished. Sold it for $1.2 mil. Now lives in the Bahamas. We’re suing for our costs. The new owner plans to knock it down and build a hundred-unit condominium. Units will sell for half a mil to start.”
    Nancy was making notes.
    â€œMy point is, Ms. Webber, that this is a complex problem. The City can only do so much. We can’t force owners to provide social housing if they want to sell condos.”
    â€œBut you can, can’t you? You can enact bylaws? You can create housing regulations? There are dozens already on the books . . .”
    â€œThe mayor has been exploring these options with council.”
    â€œAccording to your critics, the mayor has been stalling. ‘Dragging his feet,’ I think is the quote I got the other day.”
    â€œCouncil is divided on the issue.”
    â€œDown party lines. The mayor’s party has the balance of power. They could push regulations through that addressed this issue.”
    â€œLike I said, it’s a complex issue, Ms. Webber. The mayor is building support on council, and with other stakeholders, in an effort to address this issue. In the next couple of weeks you should see some dramatic movement.”
    Nancy flipped a page in her notebook. “What about Councilor Chow’s motion to put a moratorium on SRO conversions from low-income housing to condominiums?”
    â€œThat doesn’t sit well with many council members.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œThe mayor favors more of a free-market approach to the situation.”
    â€œChow is a member of the mayor’s own party.”
    â€œLike I said, they are exploring all of the options.”
    â€œAny comment on today’s planned demonstration?” Nancy changed the subject.
    Perry blinked at her. “What’s to comment on?”
    â€œThe rally is to protest what many feel is a police force that is abusive toward homeless people, prostitutes, and street people in general.”
    â€œThat’s really a matter for the chief constable or for the divisional commanders.”
    â€œJohn Andrews.”
    â€œOr one of the other commanders.”
    â€œThe trouble is concentrated in the same area as where the SRO s are shutting down.”
    â€œYou’d have to take that up with Commander Andrews.”
    â€œWell, the mayor is head of the police commission, which is why I had hoped to talk with him today.”
    Perry shrugged. “You have me instead. Mayor West got tied up in something.”
    â€œYou don’t find it strange that there are more than double the number of complaints against the police in Division 2 for excessive force as there are in any other part of the city?”
    â€œI think you’d find that the number of crimes committed in the Eastside is also more than double.”
    â€œAre you saying that the Eastside is experiencing a crime wave?”
    â€œI’m only saying that the Downtown Eastside is a complex area to police, just as it is a complex area in which to solve the problems of homelessness, addiction, and health care. My area of expertise is planning, not policing.”
    Nancy sat back in her chair. “Will the mayor be commenting after today’s rally?”
    â€œI expect so,” said Trish, visibly lightening. “He’ll be there.”
    NANCY WATCHED THE industrial section of Main Street whir past.
    â€œWould you take me across Pender and down Carrall Street, please?” she asked. “And drive by the Lucky Strike?” The cabbie nodded. Nancy checked her watch. She had time to kill. When the cab made the turn onto Pender, she said, “Just drop me in front.” She handed the cabbie the fare and took the receipt.
    Nancy was a