Sigh! I hate to lose, but there was a good turnout, close to the numbers for our last municipal. Besides, it was impossible to get worked up about the vote results on Plan A when standing in the lobby of the Council Chambers looking through the bank of windows at the snow falling. I could not avoid thinking of all the people I know who would be out on the streets, homeless and trying to survive the night. Not to mention all the city’s homeless that I don’t know, but who also share the city’s streets and face the challenge of surviving the weather. Standing there watching the snow fall and remembering last year when I was on the same streets – let’s just say that it tends to put losing a vote about what are ultimately luxuries for the better off of our city’s citizens in a very different perspective.

This difference in viewpoint was driven home during a conversation with a member of city council. We were shaking hands about the outcome when I commented that I could not help thinking more about those on our city streets than I could dwell on the vote outcome. Just then the council member’s spouse came up to us and stated “that it was very nice that the “pretty” snow was falling on a weekend when it could be “enjoyed” without causing major problems”. In light of our conversation the council member winced at their spouse’s comment. This conversation did underscore the different perspective one gains when one has experienced the streets. It also underlines the willful ignorance of so many of Abbotsford’s citizens. That the spouse of a council member is so unable to see the cruel reality of Abbotsford’s streets, says something about the attitude of council, senior city staff and the citizenry at large.

We are willing to spend $85,000,000+ on buildings to play in, while others wander the city streets. Oh, I forgot – that is somebody else’s responsibility so we can ignore our neighbours plight. The city spent $300,000+ on consultants, $250,000+ on the referendum, $30,000+ (such as city workers on overtime putting back up YES signs blown down) and $60,000+ donated from supporters – but the city has not a penny to spare for those in desperate need.

We had better pay careful attention to taking a look at our values or we will find ourselves, a few years from now, a city with three fancy new buildings – and no more soul than our current behaviours demonstrate. The true worth of a City as a place to live is not in its nice buildings and the amusements it provides for residents, but in its soul and the values the community lives by.

The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win,
you’re still a rat. Lily Tomlin