Homeless, Municipal

Leadership, Leadership, where for art thou Leadership.

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While it was a refreshing change to finally have heard our City government recognize that Abbotsford has a homeless quandary, they now appear to regret this admission. With the serving of notice, the eviction of the homeless camping in “Compassion Park” and subsequent public statements, there is a dishearteningly familiar sound of the old song and dance performed by the City regarding homelessness, poverty and other social issues. Given that they are moving forward with forming a council advisory committee responsible for addressing social concerns and matters such as the homeless, I expect them to fall back upon that old refrain “we cannot act until we get a committee report – no matter that the situation and need is such that procrastination puts lives at risk. This brings two pictures to mind, first the image of a camel – a horse designed by a committee and secondly, the image of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.

Fiddling around twiddling ones thumbs accomplished nothing, except to allow the situation to worsen and grow. There has been more than enough banal lip service and prevarication on these pressing social issues. Provide some leadership or at least be responsible enough to stop stalling, admit to a lack of any notion of how to proceed, listen to ideas and adopt a policy of not raising barriers but to help efforts by others in the community to address and meet portions of the need.

What is really needed here is Leadership. Take note that Leadership does not involve sitting around ignoring reality, hoping for some kind of miracle or waiting to see which way the people want to head then running to get to the front and an appearance of leadership. Leadership involves having a vision, working to build co-operation and consensus regarding what we want to achieve, A willingness to focus on what we can do, on solutions rather than what we cannot do or how large and complex the problem is. Instead of whining about the responsibility of the Federal and Provincial governments or others, you tell them what you are going to do and what you need them to do. Providing direction to get the citizens of Abbotsford involved in generating ideas, plans and actions, then participating in addressing the needs of their less fortunate fellow citizens. Leading a wide open, far ranging discussion in order to give rise to a compelling vision of how and what we want our community to be. Co-operating and working to contribute to the creation of a community wide movement for change. It is time to accept the challenge, to take action and make our City a vibrant community.

Municipal

This City needs some sense of proper priorities.

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One can only wonder were exactly the heads of our local politicians are buried with reference to their proposed capital projects. A sports/entertainment center, another recreation/community center and a museum/art gallery. Do not get me wrong; these are all facilities that our city can use. In fact, it is only because our local government has demonstrated an inability to properly plan and manage growth and development that these facilities do not currently exist. Which means they will be built at a cost millions of dollars higher than it would have cost with a well thought-out and managed capital building plan.

I would love to see a properly designed multi-use pool built in the city as part of a recreation/community centre. Of course with the city’s track record on building capital projects the citizens are not very likely to get either a well designed venue or good cost management, maximizing our bang for the buck, on any city (mis)managed project. However I have a sense of priorities. When you choose to proceed with only 3 projects, you have to set priorities, not just choosing popular projects. Excuse me, I should say that it should mean not just going with popularity as the way of choosing projects to proceed with. Unfortunately it appears that the city has done this.

As much as I would wish for a new pool, I can see more important needs. The old library in downtown Abbotsford desperately needs replacement. Not only is it inadequate in size, but when the staff warns users not to plug in their laptops because the electrical system cannot be trusted not to fry them – it is time to replace the building. A library may not be a “sexy” project but for students, people needing access to the internet, research, literacy programs, encouraging young people to read and supporting the general public in reading it is a priority. A new library is long overdue.

Perhaps it is that because any new library would fall under the Fraser Valley Regional Library that it lacked any champions at City Hall to point out that a library should be a priority. Or perhaps it is just that those in parks, recreation and culture were much better at political infighting – since all three projects fall under their control. What is clear is that there should have been public discussion and debate about our city’s priorities before any decision on which three projects the city should proceed with, since it is clear from their three choices that neither city management or our elected local politicians have any sense of proper priorities for our City. Of course this would have required leadership and vision, qualities that seem non-existent in our local government on a wide range of social, development, growth and capital projects issues.

Municipal

Recidivism

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Recidivism seems to be the best word to describe the way police are once again treating the homeless. In spite of the claims from City representatives, as reported in the Abbotsford News, that the City and police would be using outreach or social workers to deal with any Homeless forced to sleep in what were deemed “inappropriate” locations this is not what is occurring. Instead the police have quickly relapsed back into their habitual antisocial behaviours of amusing themselves by tormenting the homeless.

Once again it appears that we are facing the total waste of taxpayer dollars as the police squander their time in the pointless harassment of those who have no place to go, while they cry they lack the resources to deal with gangs and violence. A homeless person sleeping in the street is an eye-sore; an armed gang member is a threat to life and limb. Seemingly the City lacks any ability to set priorities in what they should be doing, whether in regards to is truly needed in terms of capital building projects or in setting goals for what the police force should be doing.

Indignant!! That is the best way to describe the effect that this resuming of old police behaviour has had on one of the workers whom the City claimed would now be used instead of heavy handed police (mis)behaviour in order to actually help the homeless get their lives back on track. While the police have never spoken about the homeless to this worker, the homeless have been speaking of repeatedly being awoken and or harassed by the police. Who apparently took the closing of “Compassion Park” as carte blanche for the reopening of “Harass the Homeless Season”.

This police behaviour was such as to result in a suggestion that this unacceptable behaviour required a letter to the editor. Given the reports I had and have been hearing on police activities I had to agree this reprehensible conduct must be denounced. Moreover it needs to stop.

Homeless

Warning Will Robinson! Warning!

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Sometimes I wish I had the robot from the old TV series “Lost in Space” so that I could send him, waving his arms and proclaiming “Warning! Warning!, to get the attention of the movers and shakers of this City. Some weeks this wish is stronger than others. This week it is very strong as a result of reading my Email. On the one hand I read about the ground breaking for “Our Place” a 45 bed shelter and drop-in centre in Victoria with day, residential and outreach programs (a facility of the type that Abbotsford so desparately needs) on the other hand was a communication concerning the possibility of having a meeting at the end of June to begin to consider cold/wet weather shelter plans – with the arrival of October and the winter rains looming ever closer. Remember, not only do we need to devise a stratedgy, we need to make all the arrangements and to implement it.

Having been on the streets through last winters deluges, I know just how important shelter is. I ran into a fellow, 112 days sober, who wanted me to pass along his thanks to Street Hope for his survival and sobriety. He believes firmly that it was only because of the presence of Street Hope, providing dry clothing, food and a place/chance to warm up, that he lived through last winter. Further he feels that not only did Street Hope keep hime alive, but that it was the quiet, non-judgmental support and the chance to talk things out that helped him make the choice to seek treatment for his addiction. Unfortunately, Street Hope was evicted, forced to close its doors. Worse, nothing is currently being done to fill this critical need.

It is easy, and to a certain extent understandable, not to feel a sense of urgency when you have a nice warm place to shelter from the elements and no experience at being at the mercy of the elements. We need a drop-in centre, more stable shelter availability and to maintain human contact/caring. We really need to make haste less slowly.