Category Archives: Municipal

Municipal, Snafu

Hockey Nightmare in Abbotsford

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“Pizzuto said city staff were capable of dealing with hockey operations.”

My ten year old niece is capable of dealing with hockey operations – as long as she too is given a blank cheque by the city.

The question is not whether council and staff are capable of dealing with hockey operations but whether they are capable of doing so with competence.

Pizzuto said funding the hockey team is different than coming up with money for roads or the Matsqui pool. “Closing Matsqui would save an operational expense every year,” he (Pizzuto) said.

Let me get this straight, we close Matsqui pool to save a $100,000 operational expense every year but we pay $275,000 of the Heat’s operating expenses plus however many additional hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to operate the arena for the Heat every year.

Matsqui pool yearly operational expenses Bad; the considerably higher Heat/Complex yearly operation expenses Good.

City council and staff’s attempts/threats to close Matsqui pool have become a yearly ritual with never a whisper about the plus side for the community of the pool and “it is in the City’s best interest not to fund those operational expenses”; on the other hand council and staff have demonstrated the determination of lemmings to have the Arena open for business with a hockey team as a tenant – so one hears a mighty chorus from city hall about all the wonderful benefits for the city of the arena operations and it does not matter how many $millions$ operational expenses cost the taxpayers.

The truth, the reality, of the agreement between the City and the Heat lies in Mr. Pizzuto’s statement “This is what it took to have a team in Abbotsford,”

As beleaguered taxpayers recall, at the time Abbotsford’s city council began its mad scramble to put a hockey team into the arena citizens with an understanding of basic financial reality raised the point that Abbotsford City Council had to have the discipline and willpower to leave the arena without a hockey team, if the financial numbers said that was the action in the best financial interest of Abbotsford’s impoverished taxpayers.

Given city council and staff’s demonstrated reckless adventurism when it comes to the finances of Abbotsford any reasonably astute taxpayer has reason to be concerned on that point.

Council was urged to make the decision on whether to sign an agreement with any hockey team (or to leave the arena totally dark) on the basis of the financial numbers – not on the basis of saving council from embarrassment by signing an agreement based on ‘a team at any cost’.

And what kind of agreement did the Abbotsford enter into with the Heat?

“This is what it took to have a team in Abbotsford”

An agreement that will have the taxpayers of Abbotsford out of pocket a city estimated $275,000 this year plus the additional $hundreds of thousands$ of dollars spent to operate the Complex for the Heat to use.

An agreement where it is the taxpayers of Abbotsford that have assumed all the financial risks involved with the operation of the Heat while it is the Heat ownership that will reap all the rewards if the team is successful.

With the agreement the City entered into with the Heat, the City would have been better off to purchase the Heat themselves. Taxpayers are already on the hook to pay for the team if it fails and ownership would have allowed the City to reap the rewards for this risky venture should the team somehow succeed.

“This is what it took to have a team in Abbotsford”

The agreement that city councillors have committed the taxpayers of Abbotsford to, with all the financial risk taxpayers are now on the hook for, was not about sound financial decision making or about the best interests of the citizens of Abbotsford.

It was and is about having a team in the arena to permit council to save face by offering more false promises of profit, at some point in the future if everything goes unrealistically well.

Unlike council I do not favour decision making based on vague promises, although there is always the chance that with the Heat in the building something could go wrong with the ice surface and in making repairs city workers could hit oil and the arena cease to be an millstone dragging taxpayers down into poverty.

As the front page of The Province screamed this agreement is a Hockey Nightmare in Abbotsford because the agreement was signed not because it was good for Abbotsford, but because council was determined to have a hockey team at any cost and

“This is what it took to have a team in Abbotsford.”

Municipal, Snafu

Not another costly ‘profit’.

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We need to ban the word and concept of ‘profit’ from use or even consideration by Abbotsford City Council.

Not only can taxpayers not afford to pay for any more Abbotsford City Council ‘profit’, but the evidence is overwhelming that such a ban would save the beleaguered taxpayer’s of Abbotsford millions of dollars.

The agreement between Abbotsford and the Heat and the statements made by the City illustrate just how important it is to the future financial health of the City of Abbotsford that ‘profit’ be banned.

Here are the things council (and taxpayers) need to consider when the agreement is presented to them Monday March 15, 2010.

“I use the example of a WestJet 747 parked on the tarmac. It can only make money if you use it,” said Abbotsford Mayor George Peary.

It is erroneous assumptions/statements like this that have placed Abbotsford in its current dire financial state.

A little homework would have revealed that scattered across deserts in Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico are 5 aircraft storage facilities full of a broad assortment of aircraft sitting there in storage in order to save money.

I want to introduce Mayor Peary, council and staff to an important piece of financial reality – “a penny saved is a penny earned”. When it is going to cost you more to use Mayor Peary’s 747 than it will generate in revenue you profit by leaving it parked and saving the expenses (losses) you would incur in operating the plane.

“If we didn’t have a team, then where would we be? We’d be worse off,” Pizzuto commented.

As was pointed out by those with a firm grip upon financial reality when the possibility of an AHL team in the Sports and Entertainment Centre first arose – if the costs incurred in having a team in the building are higher than the revenue you generate from having the team in the building you save money – are better off – not having a team.

So Mayor Peary’s statement “The prospect of no hockey team and an empty arena would be a huge drain on the city” is currently inaccurate and untrue. Currently it is having a hockey team that is a drain on city resources, whereas no team and an empty arena would have saved the taxpayers of Abbotsford significant amounts of their tax dollars.

But having an empty arena would be embarrassing to council and city hall so one could hardly expect council and city hall to put the financial wellbeing of Abbotsford and its taxpayers above face saving for council and city hall, could one?

I could, but then I am accounted as one of those ‘nay sayers’ – you know, those citizens who oppose council’s continuing practice of recklessly spending the City into an ever deepening financial black hole. I do admit that I am puzzled as to how being opposed to council and city hall’s financial mismanagement is a negative (nay sayer) thing?

On the other hand attacking those who are asking rational questions and demanding full disclosure of revenues and expenses is a time honoured way of avoiding having to disclose embarrassing facts.

A way to avoid answering questions that would let citizens evaluate the mayor’s claim that “the deal had to get done” or whether this was a ‘deal’ the city should have run away from.

Questions any reasonably astute person would ask before agreeing to such a major financial commitment. Questions, the answers to which will undoubtedly give rise to further questions, as undoubtedly would a close reading/examination of the agreement itself.

Questions such as what is the cost, what are the expenses incurred, in operating the Centre for the Heat as tenants? And exactly how are these costs accounted for? Are they included in the Heat budget as part of hockey operations as they should be or are these costs excluded and hidden in other operating costs of the arena – thus providing a major hidden subsidy to the Heat and its owners?

What happens financially in regard to the concessions vis-à-vis the Heat? Does the City get the profit? Does the Heat get the profit? Just who does profit from the concessions during Heat games, how and what are the numbers?

Questions about attendance projections as the accuracy and reality of these projections have a direct impact on whether Abbotsford continues to pour major amounts of taxpayer dollars into the pockets of the Heat ownership.

Attendance is of particular importance given evidence from the WHL, AHL and NHL suggesting that the first and second years are the best/easiest years for attendance and that attendance declines after that. Take the case of the WHL Chilliwack Bruins who have suffered a 30% decline in attendance from their 2nd year attendance levels.

Is the $5.7 million a) an annual revenue guarantee; b) the point at which the team becomes responsible for expenses incurred; c) the break-even point?

Since we are dealing with Abbotsford City Council and City Hall – exactly how fixed is the $5.7 million fixed? Is the $5.7 million going to remain at $5.7 million or will it, like so many other amounts declared ‘fixed’ or ‘guaranteed’ by Abbotsford Council going to balloon ever upwards? Does it seem reasonable that the Heat expect their expenses to remain at $5.7 million dollars over the ten year period?

Why is “The city’s agreement is similar to standard entertainment deals, which ensure a payment to the entertainer, and a profit-sharing equation for any remaining revenue”? Since we are talking about a hockey team should an agreement not be similar to standard rental/tenancy agreements between hockey teams and cities elsewhere? Is it because in other cities professional hockey teams not only pay rent, but pay rent at a level that covers the costs incurred in operating the arena with them as tenants? Is it because in other cities the City does not pay the professional hockey team to play in their arena?

What other information is contained in the agreement that city council and staff deems that taxpayers ‘Do Not Need to Know’? What arrangement has the city put in place so taxpayers read the agreement themselves in order to arrive at an informed opinion on the agreement?

To understand why those two questions are important you need only read Mayor Peary’s statement concerning whether of not the city is paying the travel costs for other AHL teams to travel to Abbotsford – “The city itself is not making cheques out to the AHL for travel. You have to remember, the AHL took a huge leap of faith to come out this far west”.

It does not matter that the city is not making cheques directly out to the AHL for travel when the city is subsidizing the Heat who are making the cheques out to subsidize travel. Following that logic how long before the city is claiming they did not pay anything to build the Sports and Entertainment Centre – that it was the lenders who paid for the arena and the fact that the city is repaying the lenders does not mean the city paid for the arena.

The truth is that the city, in spite of its promise not to subsidize the costs for other AHL teams to travel to Abbotsford, is subsidizing the travel costs of AHL teams to come to Abbotsford – Reality as opposed to the council’s semantic games.

Truthfulness – a concept that together with financial common sense would have saved the taxpayers the financial pain of the city’s current financial straits.

Speaking of semantic games one cannot overlook that Mayor Peary’s ongoing semantic game of “the decision made by the previous council has given this council a huge challenge” is getting old or alternatively could be a sign of a major problem/worry for Abbotsford taxpayers.

Mayor Peary might I suggest at the next council meeting you look around at the faces on council? You will find that this council is pretty much made up of the members of the previous council. So please spare us the disingenuous blaming of prior councils for current problems while ignoring the fact those previous councillors who are current councillors.

Finally as regards Mayor Peary’s challenge “There is an election in a year and a half time. I hope some of the critics come up with better ideas and run for office”.

Unfortunately by that point in time council will in all likelihood have committed the city to the agreement with the Heat and engaged in who knows what other financial misadventures. As result of which, no matter how much better the ideas new councillors come up with, all the new councillors and council will be able to do is lessen the negative fallout of the decisions and actions of our current councillors.

Still Abbotsford and its taxpayers will be much better off with new councillors with financial common sense and who have enough common sense to know that when you find yourself in a (financial) hole – you stop digging.

Municipal, Snafu

Typical.

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It is … adequate, in a barely sort of way, that Kiwanis has stepped into the hole left by the City’s food concession embarrassment at ARC to provide food and earn some money to fund their good work.

Still, this embarrassing misjudgement is typical of Abbotsford City Hall  and Council and yet again leaves one slowly shaking one’s head sadly at yet another faux pas.

Leaving aside the fact that the only way the public, the people who pay for City Hall and Council’s numerous misadventures, have any idea of what is going on is because the family who operated the Café had an opportunity to share their take on the situation with the public in the newspaper …

As a city you know that in February 2010 ARC will be hosting the Japanese speed skaters and the Russian figure skaters which will mean crowds and foreign visitors; that after that ARC will serve as an Olympic live site with more crowds and (possibly) visitors; so of course the course of action to take, if you are Abbotsford City Hall and Council, is to close down the Café in November

If you are the City of Abbotsford  you don’t wait until after the Olympics to address the situation –– that would be far to sensible. No you close it immediately in order to highlight Abbotsford’s inability to manage something as simple as a food concession

City Hall and Council spend over a hundred $million$ on vanity projects under the mistaken assumption they can buy their way into being considered a ‘Big’ city. They don’t understand that it is the little things, a decent place to have coffee after 11 pm or dinner after the movie or a hot chocolate while watching the skaters at the arena that are important. The little things that are the difference between being a well run, urbane metropolis as opposed to Abbotsford’s maladroit Keystone Kops routine.

Given the secrecy and behind closed door proceedings taxpayers cannot know the details of the dispute between the City and the operators of the Café. In light of the City’s ‘mushroom’ policy towards taxpayers (keep them in the dark and feed them lots of bu**s**t) the best information we have on the matter is the newspaper story giving the facts as the operators sees them.

I do know that, as so often happens, the City has taken actions without any consideration of the effect it will have on the Café. Actions that have had negative financial consequences for the Café; so that the claim the ex-manager waived the rental increase as fair compensation is realistic and believable.

However, the details and who is right or wrong is not what the City needs to focus on. The City needs to focus on answering the question of whether they want a food concession in ARC or not?

If they do not want a food concession at ARC management and council are behaving in a manner that will achieve that goal.

If however they want a food concession at ARC they must move away from their pie-in-the-sky, dollar signs in their eyes behaviours and get in touch with reality.

They could start by speaking to the long term regular pool patrons.

Of course they will need to hurry if they want to find any since more and more long-time pass purchasers are dropping ARC and moving to the less expensive private facilities.

Long term regulars would tell management and council that, in light of the market at ARC and the resulting fiscal realities for the operators of any food concession the city should be focused on the quality of the food and operation and that if the City wants a quality food concession the City will have to be prepared to charge minimal rent.

The reality here is that there were originally two families involved with the operation of the Jolly Time Café but the operation could not support two families. It cannot really support even one family and the operating margins are so thin that wages paid to a non-family worker results in an operating loss. Given the operating realities the market at ARC imposes it is hard to see finding a replacement that provides the quality product the ex-operators provided.

I know it is totally against their standard operating procedures and behaviours, but if city council wants a quality food concession at ARC they are going to have to acknowledge financial reality.

Should city council not want a food concession operating at ARC they are well on their way to achieving that.

Consider, Federal, Homeless, Issues, Media, Municipal, Provincial

Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games Daily Reports

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February 16, 2010 Day -1

Fortune (or whatever is in charge of the weather) blessed the opening of Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games with sun.

Fortune continued to shower favour upon Abbotsford 2010 in providing a fine Shrove Tuesday lunch that included the traditional pancakes and an excellent barbeque repast for dinner.

That the first medalist was awarded on the first day was unusual, especially since it was awarded in the “to dumb to come in from the rain” event.

It should have taken several days to examine and judge all the entries. However with a competitor who fell asleep on the rails and got hit by a train; who, having survived what would be a life changing event for others, kept doing the same old same old – while complaining he was getting the same old same old; and who will not be able to accept his medal because he is incarcerated as a result of behaviour that turned release into months (if he doesn’t turn that into years) of lockup ….

No other competitor was even close to challenging.

Congratulations Mr. T.

Congratulations are also in order for Mr. Harper and Mr. Campbell for medalling (a tie) in the non-homeless “to dumb to come in from the rain”.

There had been no plans to award medals to any non-homeless but when the “to dumb to come in from the rain” award was made numerous competitors and spectators protested that politicians should have been eligible because of the major impact they have on homelessness and poverty levels.

ABHOC 2010 held a meeting ad libitum to hear arguments and rule on this point. The committee felt that given their effect on homelessness and poverty Mr. Harper and Mr. Campbell should be considered but that a) it would be separate from the event that Mr. T had won and that b) given the scope of their duties they could not be judged solely on their exhaustive maladministration of homelessness and poverty.

After considering the state of the province and country, the behaviours of both men and the consequences on not only current but future generations it was impossible not to conclude that both men deserved to be acknowledged many times over for being “to dumb to come in from the rain”.

It was decided to declare a dead heat and award medals to both men when it was decided that because of differences in scale between the federal and provincial government it was not possible to decide who was dumb and who was dumber.

Congratulations to both Mr. Harper and Mr. Campbell!

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February 17, 2010 Day – 2

A glorious sunny day with a forecast of continued sunny and unseasonably warm temperatures, the type of weather that smiles upon the homeless and not just upon the Homeless Games.

It certainly looks as if whatever higher power is in charge of weather, that higher power is sending an unmistakably clear message as to what Canadians should be focused on and what self gratifying amusements they should not be funding by taking funds from the most vulnerable and in need of help citizens.

The weather was perfect for the buggy load out event.

The medal in the cart load out was awarded to a transient person of No Fixed Address who demonstrated an attention to detail, an appreciation for the proper distribution of weight, the center of gravity and who ended up with a visually aesthetic loaded buggy.

The Marathon, Steeplechase and Health Care Obstacle Course events got under way to ensure they are completed by the closing ceremonies. After all they are deal with government bureaucracies.

We received a request from an editor-in-chief not to keep them informed as to the progress of the homeless games and, in the context of the homeless games, informed on the issues of homelessness, mental illness, addiction and poverty.

It was a little disconcerting but it certainly goes to explain why newspapers find themselves struggling.

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February 18, 2010 Day – 3

Final judgment of the camp relocation event was extended overnight from
Wednesday until Thursday to give the judges an opportunity to gather over coffee.

This was necessary as none of the competitors impressed the judges to the point they felt one of the competitors deserved to medal.

It was decided to award the medal to a local homeless person who had shown the tenacity of a dandelion when it came to removal by the City of Abbotsford and its armed troops.

Leaving behind material for the city minions to vent their destructive urges on and appearing to have been defeated and forced to relocate the winner would shortly return to the site to dig up and/or retrieve the buried/cached camp materials and, like a dandelion, take root once again.

Congratulations to Mr. C

The first round of the round table discussion/debate was held.

Given: Canada boycotted the Russian Olympics in Moscow because the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan and that Russia is attending the Canadian Olympics in Vancouver even though Canada is currently part of an Afghanistan invasion.

Discuss the irony and geopolitical change inherent in:

1980 – Russian government warmongers, increasing numbers of citizens live in poverty and substandard housing while the elite lives in wealth and luxury.

2010 – Canadian government warmongers, increasing numbers of citizens live in poverty and substandard housing while the elite lives in ever increasing wealth and luxury.

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February 21, 2010 Day – 4

Pop can Collecting

I wonder how many citizens ever consider just how littered their cityscapes would be if it wasn’t for the homeless (and others) who collect all the cans and bottles citizens litter their cities with?

As noted in the event description special care was taken to ensure all contestants were competing in unfamiliar territory.

Contestants were assigned an area and all had the same time limit of 6 hours.

Judging was provided by the bottle depots as all bottles and cans were cashed in with the winner being determined by who received the most cash.

Congratulations to Mr. J – who not only medaled but had a most profitable competition.

Marathon/Steeplechase update

The games adjudicator received an unexpected and intensive refresher on the Marathon/Steeplechase portion of the Games when mischance placed the adjudicator in the cross hairs of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

The adjudicator struggles to live with mental health issues which have resulted in being on disability (PPMB). Fortunately this means the adjudicator can work part time to earn up $500 a month. Any amount over $500 is clawed back by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

The $500 is vital to the adjudicator as it augments the unrealistic rent allowance provided by the Ministry and permits rental of the private housing required by the adjudicator’s mental health.

26 pay periods over 12 months means that twice a year the adjudicator has 3 pay periods in a single month and will have $225 clawed back. Discipline and frugality are required to, over the course of six months, set aside funds to cover the claw back. It is a hardship but with sufficient self-control is doable.

December 2009’s cheque had the $225 clawed back as a result of declaring 3 pay periods. Salary is to be declared in the month it is received, not when it is earned. Which is to unfortunate because the extra pay period is earned over the six months and declaring it on an accrual basis would result in significantly less claw back..

This month rather than a notice of deposit the adjudicator received the dreaded “If you are still in need of Assistance, (despite having filing ‘the stub’ with yes ticked to the question: are you still in need of assistance?) please come to the office to speak with a worker. Your cheque has been held & you may be asked to submit further information.” A notice which does wonders for those dealing with anxiety, stress and panic disorders.

The adjudicator was told the adjudicator needed to file a third pay period in January because the pay periods (which end on a Saturday) were the 2, 16, 30th. When the adjudicator stated that that was not the date payment was received and that December’s cheque had been reduced as a result of declaring 3 pay periods the adjudicator was told that the adjudicator had not claimed three pay periods in December.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder is among the issues the adjudicator deals/lives/struggles with and so the adjudicator retains copies of all documents. So when the adjudicator returned with the requested pay slip for the pay period ending January 30th (paid February 5th) the adjudicator had documentation that showed December 2009’s cheque had been reduced by $225 as the result of declaring three pay periods.

Presenting evidence that 3 pay periods have been declared and that December’s cheque was reduced by the $225 claw back – resulted in a demand for a bank statement.

To get monthly bank statements cost money, money anyone on assistance does not have to spare – the adjudicator cannot afford to waste limited funds on bank statements.

Because of the discipline and financial management required to survive, occasionally a printout of ‘the last ten transactions’ is printed off the bank machine to ensure the accuracy of the adjudicator’s personal accounting records of the bank balance. The last such audit printout showed that payment for the first two January 2010 pay period was received on the following Fridays.

There was a note put on file to prevent this from happening again. A note that joins the previous notes put into the file in order to “prevent this from happening again”.

The assistance levels in BC are so out of line with the actual costs of living that any unexpected, untimely reduction in cash flow starts the fast downward spiral to homelessness.

The threat to being unable to pay March’s rent and insurance is where the stress, anxiety and panic is rooted – the threat of a return to homelessness and becoming ensnared in a downward spiral of mental health.

Thankfully there is an ability to print off cheques on a timely basis so the adjudicator was able to have the security of having March’s rent safely in the bank.

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February 20, 2010 Day – 5

The buggy distance event was held today with each buggy loaded with 100 litres of water. While the midpoint check in location was set the routes competitors took to and from the midpoint was left to them to choose. This freedom of choice is because the shortest route is not necessarily the fastest when pushing a loaded cart.

Tampered water seals result in disqualification. An attempt to ‘Rosie Ruiz’ results in disqualification for the competitor and the driver has their vehicle impounded for 48 hours to encourage them to see the error of their ways.

Congratulations on his medal to Mr. B

The buggy sprints were also held today. The medal was awarded by the judges on the basis of time and entertainment value.

Congratulations to Ms S on her medal

Advantage was taken of the excellent ‘in favour the homeless’ weather to hold a round table outside to soak up the sun.

One homeless gentleman opened the discussion by speaking of a mindset that is focused on oneself, all about ME, the pursuit of exhilaration, the pursuit of what feels good, of getting high and that ignores the cost in its pursuit of that high.

The mindset of an addict.

How society and government, while pointing fingers at those with drug addictions lives in total denial of its own addictions and addictive behaviours such as the Olympics.

Focused on self gratification by holding the Olympics, telling itself lies – “it is about tourism, business …” to justify pursuing its self gratification. Stealing from its own children by increasing the deficit they will inherit and reducing the level of government services they will inherit/be able to fund, Ignoring the cost cuts in services to the most vulnerable in society – the elderly, the handicapped, women, children, the mentally ill, the mentally challenged, those suffering the scourge of addiction ….

We have become a society were the operating value of “greed is good” has led to a mentality of deserving and instant gratification, the mentality of an addict that ignores cost and consequences.

The consequence of the cuts to services and services unfunded is going to be deaths by neglect. Like any addict the government and society will deny these deaths, telling themselves whatever lie is needed – as any addict does.

Denial does not, will not, change the Reality of those deaths, of the consequences of this behaviour.

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February 21, 2010 Day – 6

No competitive events were held today. This day had been for ice events using city facilities. However, Abbotsford City Council has made Abbotsford city facilities the most expensive in the city. In some cases significantly more expensive that the fees at private facilities.

As a result long time pass holders have switched to the private facilities to save money and many families and citizens simply cannot afford to use the facilities or play sports. This while the city gives those who are well enough off to have $400 to spend on a year pass can save 31%.

There was discussion of fundraising. However, since paying the city’s usury user fees meant subsidizing a professional hockey team (the Heat) and subsidizing ever bum in the seats at the Entertainment and Sports Centre, it was decided not to hold any ice events.

Leaving competitors free to attend the Super Sunday services, listen as Joyful Noise made its joyful racket and partake of the magnificent brunch that followed. Or attend other worship services of their choice.

It also left the afternoon free to attend the Blue Bus collect a bag of foodstuffs to take home and enjoy soup, sandwich and coffee.

Aaahh the Blue Bus. In a city full of churches a church from Aldergrove has to come to Abbotsford to feed the city’s homeless, poor and hungry on Sunday.

*************

February 22, 2010 Day – 7

Travelling between points in the Valley is oft necessitated, for a variety of reasons, while a lack of money can make getting where one needs to go an interesting problem to be solved.

The travelling competition was moved up to today to allow the competitors to benefit from the sunny weather. The adjudicator did opine that it would be more reflective of normal winter conditions to wait until Wednesday as scheduled, since the forecast is for rain.

The urbicolous destinations chosen were Chilliwack and Mission for the different travel problems they present.

The medalist for the Chilliwack competition biked to and from Chilliwack, having the home field advantage of making this interurban journey on a near monthly basis.

Congratulations on your medal Mr. J – nice to see you looking so health as well.

There is regular bus service (the valley connector) between Abbotsford and Mission although roundtrip fare can present a challenge – particularly with the competition being rescheduled 2 days earlier.

The results were protested but the adjudicator ruled that while the winner did have assets that afforded her obvious advantages, this fact was a reflection of the reality of life where some are more equal than others. Otherwise there would not be people working 60 hours a week at three jobs just to keep their heads above water while so called leaders draw large salaries while ignoring the economic hardships increasing numbers of Canadians struggle with.

After all: “How unfair the fate which ordains that those who have the least should be always adding to the treasury of the wealthy.” Terence

So – congratulations Ms. G.

While the protest was being considered another matter came to the attention of members of ABHOC 2010 – an article titled Counterpoint at http://www.matthewgood.org/2010/02/counterpoint/.

That this came to ABHOC 2010’s attention at all attests to fate as the endless chain of causation, whereby things are.

ABHOC 2010 members were present to observe the events related in the commentary, indeed several members of ABHOC 2010 were questioned about the influx of homeless from Vancouver as a result of Olympics and homeless being bussed out of Vancouver.

Answering truthfully that there had been no massive influx, that in fact if anything the arrival of homeless from Vancouver was less than in prior years and that there had been no bus loads of homeless arriving in Abbotsford from Vancouver.

Not a real surprise given the increases in shelter, food and service resources in Vancouver – increases that did not occur in Abbotsford.

We are speaking of homeless, and those who have been homeless, in Abbotsford who have 5 – 10 – 10+ years of experience with homelessness in Abbotsford.

She, the questioner, was clearly not pleased with these replies and insistently repeated her demand for stories about homeless displaced by the Olympics and tales about busloads of homeless being driven out of Vancouver to Abbotsford and other outlying destinations.

When she was again told this was not happening she moved on to other homeless to repeat her questions and when they replied that this movement of homeless had not been happening she moved on to the next cluster and when that again failed to produce the answers she was seeking she moved on out of sight around the building.

Leaving the homeless she had spoken to speculating as to how long it would take her to find someone who would tell her what she so clearly was determined to find someone to tell her – without regard to the truth she clearly did not want to hear.

In about 15 – 20 (30?) minutes she returned around the building with someone, climbed into her car and drove off with that someone who apparently was telling her what she had set out to hear.

While it may make for dramatic storytelling there is not a large flood of displaced homeless, no busloads of homeless pouring into Abbotsford.

Going from homeless person to homeless person until someone tells you what you want to hear is not listening. Searching among the homeless until one finds what one wants to find is no different than the behaviour of politicians and bureaucrats.

If we are to address the issues of homelessness, addiction, mental illness and poverty we need to hear the voices of the homeless, addicted mentally ill and poor – even if those voices are not telling us what we want to hear.

Most notably when those voices are not telling us what we want or expect to hear.

*************

February 23, 2010 Day – 8

The queuing competitions went Tuesday.

Best use of time came down to choice between knitting and self improvement (Step 4, CBT to deal with social anxiety and impatience/anger).

Self improvement was chosen since it needs to be done just as one must queue to get things done.

Congratulations Mr. P.

Most creative use went to the gentleman who used a running monologue and conversation with himself to move to the front of the queue. Nice job, good technique.

Congratulations Mr. L.

On Tuesday night’s news there was Heritage Minister James Moore stating that they needed to keep the funding for “Own the Podium” from ending.

“Own the Podium” is the plan that was drawn up to provide support to athletes so that Canada would win more medals than any other country at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The federal government supported this plan over the ten years since the 2010 Olympics were awarded Vancouver and funded it with millions of dollars and a Conservative Cabinet Minister endorsed continued funding.

A federal Conservative government that refuses to support and/or fund a national housing plan or address child poverty in Canada.

Spend millions training athletes to win medals – Yes; spend hundreds of millions, even billions, to build venues for the athletes to compete on to win those medals – Yes; Spend money to feed the hungry or house the poor and homeless – NO!

There beside Mr. Moore stating that they needed to keep the funding for “Own the Podium” from ending was Mr Campbell, BC’s dogmatist premier.

Mr. Campbell under whose misgovernance BC has led Canada in child poverty rates six years in a row, has ‘achieved’ the lowest minimum wage coupled with the highest cost of living and has assistance rates that result in people living on incomes well below what the government itself calls the poverty line, despite Mr. Campbell’s boasts about the strength of the BC economy.

Spend millions training athletes to win medals – Yes; spend billions, to build venues for the athletes to compete on to win those medals – Yes; Spend money to feed the hungry or house the poor and homeless or address child poverty in BC – NO!

Interesting – in a catastrophic way – set of priorities.

*************

February 24, 2010 Day – 9

Medals for the ‘Marathon’ and ‘Steeplechase’ were awarded today.

The Marathon:

Was awarded to a 40 year old gentleman whose EI had run out and who found himself facing an unexpected reality – social assistance is not in any way about assistance, about helping people get back onto their feet.

Even if he had managed to plod his way through the forms in a timely manner he would still have lost his apartment as a result of the unrealistic rental and living allowance levels set by Housing and Social Development.

One is torn between sympathy and a sense of justice/karma being served; justice/karma at a taxpayer getting a rude awakening as to the reality of the social safety net in BC.

Should Prime Minister Stephen Harper keep up the economic policies his government is pursuing many more taxpayers are going to have the opportunity to face with this harsh reality.

Congratulations Mr. Average Joe (anonymity having been requested)

The Steeplechase:

The judges acknowledge that the medal was awarded to an old favourite barrier raised by the system; a barrier that some members of ABHOC 2010 have personally had to surmount.

The medalist in this category is another recent victim of the Harper conservative government’s priorities and economic policies who has had the unpleasant experience of gaining personal knowledge as to the inadequacy of BC’s social safety net.

He just had not realized how mind bogglingly bureaucratized, jump-through-the-hoops the system was; having assumed the primary focus of the system was about getting employment

Not having had success in his job search to date, he had decided he needed some help with job hunting skills, resume etc and had started the course at Triangle. This is an excellent course for getting one’s job hunt on track (the course is excellent in many other aspects as well).

When he informed Social Development of what he was doing he was told that he was suppose to be looking for work in order to continue receiving assistance and that attending the course at Triangle was not ‘looking for work’.

This individual had been searching for work with no luck and had, rationally, thought that taking a course to improve his job search skills was a wise course of action to find employment. He had forgotten that he had left the real world and entered another dimension, the dimension and unreality occupied by the Liberal government and Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

In that reality one is not proactive in ones job search, but rather one must spin ones wheels until such time as the system decides you need to attend Triangle in order to improve ones skills and ability to find employment. A barrier of illogic numerous others have encountered.

Congratulations Mr. P – the look on your face was priceless.

*************

February 25, 2010 Day -10

Fate, The Force, Higher Power … whatever appellation one uses for Petaybee (PTB – Powers That Be [in charge]) continued to shower their favour on Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games.

Normally the Thursday 5PM dinner is hosted at Faith Bible (through the generous spirit of the congregation) but appropriately Petaybee arranged matters such that the congregation of Faith Bible needed to use the Church themselves, returning the Thursday night BBQ to its original outdoor location.

THE appropriate location for the closing ceremony (dinner) of the Abbotsford 2010 Homeless Winter Games.

Petaybee continued to show its favour and support for the Homeless Winter Games through the weather by the absence of rain on the BBQ, even though there were rain showers in the area.

Is it not strange how, when you are walking the right path things seem to fall into place and when someone(s) are walking the wrong path, making wrong choices, their path is strewn with obstacles and headaches?

Homeless Hobble:

The state of ones feet is a major consideration for the homeless and poor who depend on their feet to meet all their transportation needs. Indeed, given the harsh living conditions ones overall health is a concern – and under stress from daily life and living conditions.

The medal in this category goes not to a member of the homeless community but to the Florence Nightingale who, through caring, compassion, generosity of spirit, time and patience has built a relationship with the homeless; nursing not just their feet but tending to their physical health, mental health and spirit.

A relationship in which the homeless tell others that they need to see our medalist when they have medical issues. A relationship such that they will go to a doctor (a task with which our medalist will aid) and even endure the obstacles and attitudes of the Hospital when our medalist stresses the need (insists, nags) for them to go.

The effect of simple caring on the homeless and their health is profound.

Thanks Ms. N.

Health Care Obstacle Course:

dinsdale-on-health-care

Health care is problematic for the homeless as these two typical cases highlight.

Physical: A homeless gentleman had his back go out and was forced to drag himself to the road to flag down help. This is a gentleman who’s last ambulance ride to the hospital was 30 years ago after a car accident, who does not abuse drugs or alcohol or the medical system.

Yet the ambulance attendants did not believe him when he related these facts, one attendant insisting he had taken the homeless gentleman to the hospital just weeks before.

The staff at the hospital did not believe him either, treating him unprofessionally and with disrespect, refusing to believe he was there solely because he was in agony because of his back.

Not surprisingly they found nothing wrong with his back and unprofessionally sent him on his way (when he needed bed rest) without medication – so he had to endure the agony of a bad back. It has been near a month and it is still painful, for others whose backs torment them, to watch him walk.

Mental: Oh, they just left.

Duh! You have someone who is in mental distress and just how reasonable (or professional) is it to expect them to sit for hours in the waiting room to see someone then sit hours more until someone from psych comes down to take them to the ward?

The last time someone from ABHOC 2010 took someone who was clearly in distress to the hospital it was only because the ABHOC 2010 member was willing to spend the hours necessary to keep the person in need calm that the person got the help they needed.

Enlightened medical care uses peer support workers to help those in distress through the system and has systems in place such that it is not a 4+ hour obstacle course to be admitted to psych (or the hospital). But then in civilized and enlightened counties medical care and adequate resources are available – enlightened and civilized nations are not further reducing already inadequate resources.

The medal here goes not to a specific individual but to those (unfortunately) very rare individuals who will invest hours of their time to get someone the care they need.

Afterword:

The problem ABHOC 2010 has with Vancouver 2010 is not about the Olympics (OK we are not supportive of fat cat IOC members and the excess focus on commercialism) and Olympic competition themselves but about the costs and how governments (and thus citizens) have chosen to pay for the costs of hosting the Olympics.

At their root the Olympics are about entertainment, the entertainment of watching the pageantry and competitions.

Extravagant entertainment spectacle is a LUXURY and should come well after NEEDS on the public spending priorities list.

That is not true for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. They have been purchased with credit (deficits) and cutbacks or non-provision of necessary services. Cutbacks and non-provisions that will continue into the future; with the most vulnerable in our society paying the price for a luxury they could not afford to partake of.

It comes down to a question of what kind of society one wants: the dog-eat-dog, greed and mean spiritedness that underlie America OR a society that honours the principles of neighbourliness, caring and helpful spiritedness that I associate with Canada and Canadians before the recent decades of Americanization began?

If it is a return to Canadian values than tell politicians your wishes in this matter and if they do not listen – find someone in your community who is honourable and supports these values, get them to run for office, then support and vote for them.

Canada remains a democracy, despite a Prime Minister, Premiers and local politicians who act as if it was a dictatorship – until they come around to lie to voters so they can return to their dictatorial ways.

Exercise your Rights, Exercise your Voice and help take back Canada from wannabe Americans – returning it to Canadian values and the True North Strong and Free.

Caveat emptor, Municipal

I missed Olympic bribery in Abbotsford’s Budget.

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No Mayor Peary, most emphatically NO – spending $50,000 of taxpayer’s money was neither well done nor worthwhile.

However it was typical profligate spending behaviour by Abbotsford city staff and city councillors.

Fortunately I take my shoes off at the door when I first step inside and so had no shoe to throw at the television as Mayor Peary stood there on the news proudly boasting of successfully bribing the Japanese speed skaters and the Russian figure skaters to practice at Abbotsford Recreation Centre prior to the Olympics with $50,000 of taxpayer’s money.

As much as I need to swim to maintain mobility and minimize the pain and mobility problems my back causes, I can no long afford a monthly pass because Abbotsford city council has chosen to make city facilities the most expensive places to exercise and recreate in Abbotsford.

It is not just me. Many men, woman, children and families cannot afford to swim or skate at city pools and rinks. Increasing numbers of families cannot afford to have their kids participate in sports activities such as soccer, swim teams etc because of the usury level of fees the city charges for the use of playing fields and facilities.

At a time when health professionals are stressing the need for participation in sports and recreation to exercise for health, the City of Abbotsford is pursuing fee structures, behaviours and policies that not just discourage exercise but out and out deny or severely limit access to city recreation and exercise facilities for the poor.

Ironic is it not? The city is paying the Japanese speed skaters and the Russian figure skaters to use a rink that many of its citizens cannot afford to, using exorbitant taxes and fees charged citizens to pay for this latest council superfluous and spendthrift frittering away of taxpayer dollars.

This type of spending is why Abbotsford is the third most expensive city in Canada to live in.

If this expenditure was such a benefit to business in Abbotsford, as the Mayor implies with his claim of a $150,000 economic benefit, why did council not raise the money from the business community?

Could it be because as businessmen the usual financial and/or economic sophistry used by governments to justify this class of wasteful spending does not impress, nor mislead them?

As if it was not bad enough that I cannot afford more than minimal access to city facilities because of the need for excessive fees to subsidize a professional hockey team, now users of city facilities are subsidizing nations (Japan, Russia) and their nation sports teams?

Let city staff, council and anyone else who thinks spending $50,000 to induce the Japanese speed skaters and the Russian figure skaters to ARC is a good use of the Abbotsford’s limited funds ante up the $50,000.

Then lower the fees for ARC to reflect that $50,000 so that the increasing numbers of those who are not well off can afford to use ARC’s facilities for exercise and enjoyment.