Idealistic solutions have their own problems
Re: “In praise of self-governing homeless communities,” commentary, July 31.
William S. Geimer writes in praise of self-governing homeless communities, giving the example of some in California, such as Camp Resolution in Sacramento.
However, there is an imposed structure there, from the Sacramento city council.
For starters, only RVs or cars that must be elevated off the ground are allowed. No tents. It’s surrounded by a steel fence, and comings and goings are monitored for illegal activities.
In practical reality, there is no guarantee homeless camps will be democratic. The economy of many tent city communities is based on the buying and selling of illegal substances and items, and there are no limits to who can stay or go.
One example was the now dismantled Strathcona Tent City in Vancouver, with up to 400 people. It was run by a self-styled mayor, Sandy Parisian, who was later charged with manslaughter in the death of a 78-year-old woman in the camp.
Here is what he said to a sympathetic reporter weeks before this incident.
“I just live every day now trying to help everyone else instead of myself,” he said, noting he had served time in Matsqui Institution. “It’s easier to take from the community than it is to give back. I’ve got to give back now.”
When the police came to arrest him, they were set upon and attacked by his supporters in the camp, similar to an incident that happened with a paramedic recently on Pandora Avenue.
Encampments like Strathcona are often run by criminals, because criminal enterprise is the community’s economic reason for being.
This is something to consider when proposing idealistic solutions regarding self-governing homeless communities.
David Harrison
Victoria
All three members had obvious conflicts
I am concerned about the legitimacy of the task force established by the City of Victoria to report on the remuneration of city council.
In my opinion, the results of the findings, whatever they were, should be totally rejected.
All three members of this were in a conflicted position.
The former council member on the committee has stated that she thought that being on council was a full-time job and was previously hired by the city to do a council salary study.
The union representative on the committee requires the goodwill of council in future dealings with the city.
The First Nations charity member of the committee relies on grants from the city.
These very obvious conflicts should have disqualified them all from being appointed to this so called task force.
It is interesting to note that there was no representation from either residential or commercial taxpayers in the committee.
Bev Highton
Oak Bay
Victoria councillors could earn much more
Adrian Raeside’s cartoon ridiculing Victoria councillors was mean-spirited.
Yes, they are working part-time at a public service job.
Someone of their skill set in the public sector would earn quadruple of what they are being paid.
While I may not always agree with civic decisions, there are those that criticize and those that lead — and their roles are reversible.
Alan Kaufman
Victoria
Conscription would help in many different ways
I agree with the recent letter advocating conscription for firefighters.
The next logical step is conscription for RCMP and police officers, for doctors and nurses, and for school teachers, to relieve the current shortages of those skilled employees.
Add conscription for teachers to teach these conscripted people.
Add conscription for teachers to teach the teachers.
As a side effect, this increased employment will generate additional provincial income tax to be remitted to the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ minister of finance.
Problem solved!
Melvin Klassen
Victoria
Downtown sidewalks are an embarrassment
Over the years there have been many comments about the appearance of Victoria’s downtown sidewalks. I’m adding another one.
I grew up in Toronto and remembered shopkeepers would sweep and douse water on the sidewalks outside their stores. No one relied on the city to do this for them, or shovel snow in the winter. This was the custom in the United Kingdom, too.
Victoria would look much more welcoming if seagull droppings were washed off awnings. It’s not very inviting if you want to stop for some coffee or other treats. Time for business to step up.
Nana Spence
Victoria
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ has a history of taking away land
Central Saanich mayor and council desire to expropriate land at a price they deemed fair from a company that owns it and plans to build much needed senior housing.
They want the land to build themselves fancy new offices, old folks be damned!
Government taking away land from certain groups for its own use has been done in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½’s past. How did that work out?
Ray Davies
Central Saanich
Distracted driving adds to the woes
Traffic control people wouldn’t let me turn left and the next set of lights made me turn right, so I ended up where I started.
The really interesting part was how long all that took because of the amount of waiting — much of it because the driver in front kept having to look up from their phone to see if it was their turn to go, and then fumble with it before we could start moving.
Maybe some of the dozens of police departments in the area could enlist traffic control people as distracted driving spotters?
Michael Faulkner
View Royal
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