Homeless in Abbotsford, BC

A Citizen’s New Year’s Resolution for Abbotsford’s city staff and council:

1. This year let council and city staff adopt a “Can Do” attitude as opposed to their current practice of coming up with a list of excuses on why they cannot do such things as get more grants from senior levels of government to reduce the burden on local taxpayers.

2. Less excuse making, more acceptance of responsibility and a willingness that instead of offering excuses taking corrective actions.

3. Adopt at least minimal ethical standards; council and senior staff had and caused so many conflicts of interest with their behaviour with Plan A that it appears council and city staff currently has no code of acceptable ethical standards. Not to forget ethical questions arising from the deal for the land the arena is to be built on.

4. Resolve to abandon their “easy come, easy go” attitude to taxpayers money and their “tax and waste” management styles. The purpose should be to get the most out of each taxpayer dollar, not to maximize spending by squandering the citizen’s money ill-conceived projects or spending.

5. Adopt sound financial, business and governance practice. Particularly with respect to day to day operations and yearly budgets/spending. If their practices on day to day matters are no better than those they apply to $85 million spending proposals it is reasonable to conclude taxpayers are taxed to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result of council and staff’s spendthrift behaviour. Such things as searching our and going after any possible monies from more senior levels of government, even if it requires a change in plans or practices.

6. Resolve to be in less haste to throw away taxpayers money. They claimed to be investigating getting money from other levels of government and/or other sources to relieve the burden on local taxpayers. But if they are awarding contracts in January ’07, looking to break ground in April or May of ’07 there is no time to investigate or find such funds.

7. Resolve that council and senior staff will, in future, save the taxpayers $60,000,000.00 by doing their homework and practice due diligence when spending City funds, even if this entails a little effort. This way you spend the $15 million Langley will spend on arena and recreation complex and not the $75 million Abbotsford will spend thus saving taxpayers $60 million.


8. Resolve to attract business to Abbotsford and not to drive them away over petty matters as occurred with the Sandman. Better yet, demonstrate to the citizens exactly what benefits we get from our large expenditures on the development office at city hall. Besides Mr. Teichroeb to act as chief apologist and excuse maker for city council and staff

9. Resolve to stop making excuses for why businesses pass by Abbotsford and locate in neighbouring communities and to adopt attitudes and behaviours that welcome and encourage business investment in and relocation to our City. Get out and actively pursue investments in the City that have high tax-base advantages such as office tower/jobs relocated here from downtown Vancouver.

10. Explain to citizens, in a way that makes sense, why it was the city drove the Chiefs out of Abbotsford, and then decided to build a monster sized arena. Would the size and location of an arena for the Chiefs not have been any benefit to UVFV’s bid for University status and if the City is building the arena in support (why else beside the University with all the parking and traffic flow difficulties; why else so over sized a seating capacity) should not the University and Alumni be contributing to the cost?

11. Take at least one (preferably many) actual action with respect to homelessness, poverty, hunger and affordable housing. Words, committees, pointing fingers, making excuses, screaming from the rooftops, crying poor when proposing to spend $60 million more than necessary, none of these count as actions.

12. Actually listen to citizens and address their concerns rather than trying to avoid difficult questions by making statements in support of city staff and council positions that have nothing to do with the actual question posed. Citizens have the right to be heard and should be able to speak at any council meeting, not just those where staff and council condescend to all citizens to ask questions and raise their concerns. Citizen input - a novel concept for Abbotsford to adopt.

13. Council will cease functioning merely as a rubber stamp for the bureaucrats of city hall and begin to represent the best interests of the citizens of Abbotsford, demanding senior staff perform their jobs thoroughly and competently rather than allow them to set a standard of “good enough”. Council will remind them that as civil servants the citizens of Abbotsford are entitled to civility and service.

14. Finally stop patting themselves on the back for Plan A. They spend large amounts of citizens money to trample over citizens rights to equal representation for their position; they spent large amounts of money promoting their position while denying the free speech rights of those who did not agree with them (not allowed to put up “No” literature or materials at “public information meetings” funded by taxpayers). They disdained ethics with a total disregard for the concept of “conflict of interest. They are guilty of gross negligence in their failure to do their homework and practice due diligence meaning Abbotsford will pay $60 million more for an arena and recreation complex than Langley and Langley has a tenant for their arena.

Survivor: Abbotsford

For me the weeks around Christmas have always been a period of desolation and darkness, my focus to simply survive. This past week has been a struggle to overcome the urge to close the blinds, turn up the music and retreat under the covers. It has been an act of self-discipline to merely get out of bed and out the door into the world.

Since I am probably mentally healthier than I have ever been in my life, having the riptide caused by the season drag me down into a mental funk is remarkably disconcerting. I had hoped for an easier time this Season but … sigh. Fortunately one of the programs I have recently attended dealt with the concept of recognizing triggers (the Season) and a wellness toolbox holding “tools” to employ when things are not going well.

One of the “tools” I now have is being more involved with people and the community. I have “places to be and people to see”, providing motivation to get out the door instead of cranking up the music and dwelling in woe. Still with two weeks or so to go until the doldrums of the Season are behind me it behooves me to pay attention to good things.

It was in this “see the positive” mind-set that I read another letter in the Post (of December 22) from a friend upset by comments that had been made about me in an earlier letter to the Post. Looking at this new letter from a positive perspective provided a real positive boost as the hours wound down to Doomsday aka Christmas Day.

There was a time when reading B’s original letter would have started up the squirrel wheel in my mind, wounded me and had me carrying around a resentment – looking for “pay back”.

I had a new and very different reaction when I read it. I laughed out loud, thought of the inaccuracies and fallacies contained within B’s comments, entertained thoughts of verbally slicing and dicing B and then – I just let the matter go. At the time I was opposing Plan A, OK I still oppose Plan A - but that is another article, and when I asked myself “how important is it?” – it wasn’t.

Laugh. What would have been a grievous wound to my ego, weighing me down and eating at me until I had to strike out spitefully, meant nothing to my newly hard-won self-esteem. You do all this work, take uncounted small steps and it is only when something like B’s letter happens that you see the progress you are making. Evolving, not only in improving my mental health but in becoming the person I want to be.

My friends were more upset at B’s venom than I was, at least two of them to the point of writing to the Post in defense of me as a person. Good friends: a bonus from the hard work on mental health and the accompanying improvements in me, that learning about myself and how to make positive changes has given rise to. I am unable to change other people, but I can certainly change myself and how I react to the actions of others.

Reality is that if you choose to stand up and be counted, to question the establishment and to advocate for change in the way things are done you have to accept that members of the old boys network or beneficiaries of the status quo are not going to be happy with you.

When you see the need for change and are passionate about bringing it about, whether in you own mental health/self, Abbotsford’s damaging policies, behaviours and business practices or the province’s or country’s social and financial policies it is very easy to attract critics. Making friends who will stand up and defend you is a whole different kettle of fish and is most informing to those who do not know you.

So when bleakness threatens to become overwhelming this Season I will choose to focus on: the progress I have made on myself, my mental health and on continuing to make personal progress; reveling in the challenges presented by the positive changes I plan to make in the city, province, country and even the world itself; and on treasuring the gifts of friendship I have been given.

www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

We ALL pay...

The appalling ignorance of basic economic reality demonstrated by recent letters and comments based upon the erroneous assumption that only those wealthy enough to own property pay into city tax-coffers does help explain the poor decision making by voters for municipal, provincial and federal representatives.

Everybody pays. Those well off enough to own property merely see the direct costs of the tax on their property in a much more in your face manner. It would appear that most fail to appreciate the hidden city taxes everyone pays. The most easily visible of the non-property owner’s property tax payments is the portion of rent that pays the landlords rental property taxes. One can be sure that landlords who can will pass any tax increases to their tenants.

Only the most gullible would believe that business and commercial taxes are not passed on to the consumer – whether they own property of not. It is unfortunate that all non-property owners could not take all their business to other jurisdictions and demonstrate to the property owners just how much they contribute to city coffers – without the benefits of property ownership to offset the city’s constantly increasing appetite for tax revenue.

One can build a solid case for the fact that the homeless and poor are unfairly burdened in being required to contribute a much higher proportion of their income to city coffers than the much better-off property owners. The basic deductions and differing tax rates at the federal and provincial levels is intended to address the unfair effect taxation has on the poor and those living in poverty. There are provincial and city property tax rebate programs for the poorest of the property owners, but none for the effects city taxes have on those to poor to afford property.

Of course this ignorance is particularly appalling in those who call themselves business people, especially leaders of various business organizations within the city. Although I suppose in the case of the Downtown Businesses the special treatment this area receives, at the expense of other taxpayers, warps their view of who pays into the city coffers and thus into their pockets.

It is just unfortunate for so many of the taxpayers who fund this largess that it failed to cause them to consider the effect driving the poor and homeless out of downtown and into other parts of the city would have on the lives of residents of these areas.

Or perhaps it was just another example of the growing practice of failing to actually think before forming conclusions. Even a situation that appears as simple as who pays into the city’s coffers is more complex than a superficial glance would suggest. Whether financial, social or some other aspect of the decisions, challenges, issues and problems we as a City, Province or Country face they all have a complexity that demands thoughtful consideration. We as a community, as a society, can no longer afford the luxury of not paying attention to what reality IS - as opposed to making decisions based on what we want to believe are the facts.

Time after time people complain about politicians lying, then vote for the politicians who tell them the lies they want to hear or believe. Citizens need to become questers who consider carefully and are willing to vote for those who, while one may not like everything they say and would prefer to believe something else, when examined with careful thought and consideration are found to be not only truthful but aware of the reality of our streets and country.

It is time we begin to stop, examine, learn and think before deciding. Otherwise financial, social and the multitude of other complex problems such as homelessness will simply continue to grow into overwhelming crises. Or we will continue to burden ourselves blindly and unheedingly with politicians mirages such as Plan A.

In Keeping with the Spirit of the Season - so to speak.

I got a chuckle from the reports on the Christmas tree kafuffle at Seattle airport. The chuckle arose from annoyance at all the e-mails and newspaper letters from people demanding we keep Christ in Christmas and suggesting I (we) are un-Canadian of un-Spiritual if we do not support their exclusionary demands.

OK, I admit to a little smugness over these self-labelled Christians being reminded that this season “belongs” in part to an earlier faith in Judaism. Lest others feel the need to stake their religions claim to this season, I concede that this Season traces it roots back to early pagan Winter Solstice celebrations. In fact the timing of Christmas is a result of the early christian church feeling the need to have a celebration at year’s end/turning to allow them to compete against the pagan faiths for followers.

The “it is OUR season” ranting has reached a level of annoyance such that I cannot help being amused at anything that serves to hoist these self-labelled Christians on their own petard by establishing earlier claims to the season for other Faiths and belief systems. I have grown tired of this holier than thou, this is OUR celebration, exclude those who do not believe exactly what we do attitude of these self-labelled Christians.

The point of my rant, ahem – scolding, and the reason I refer to these people as self-labelled Christians is that their behaviour shows a total lack of understanding of what the season is truly about. The fact is that the Seattle Rabbi who set the kafuffle off shows more understanding of the Season in urging the return of the trees – without his demand being fulfilled.

The Christ who comes at Christmas is about and for others, bringing a spirit of renewal and love. This season is about forgiveness; new beginnings; love for our fellow man; about the lesson of the Good Samaritan; treating others as we would want to be treated; about sacrifice for others; above alleles it is Inclusive.

Christmas is about OTHERS! It is not about or belonging to ME, as the “it belongs to us Christians” as the attitudes of these mistaken, self-labelled Christians suggests. Actions have consequences. In their self-centered beliefs and actions these theologues miss the raison d’être of the Season.

In behaving this way they, like Lewis Carroll’s Marley and Scrooge, “labour upon the chains they forge and of their own free will gird about themselves”. For in truth their Spirits do not go forth among their fellow man but are locked within the confines of their personal religious beliefs and their money-changing (hands) temples. To them Marley’s lament “Mankind was my business!” is nothing but a line from an old story.

Christ was and is about caring for others, sacrificing so that mankind could lead Full, Happy, Loving and Free lives. Mankind was Christ’s business.

Take a moment to reflect and meditate upon yourself and the season. Should you find that you have forgot about your fellow man, forgetting the design behind the season, you may want to take a look for the chains you have forged and meditate upon what Christ would have you do to break your chains and set your Spirit free to walk among your fellow man.

May the love and Spirit of the season fill your Soul, spill over and call blessings upon yourself, family, friends and your fellow man throughout the New Year.

Hmmmmmmm.

Ouch! A friend called Sunday to smack my nose for being to hard on the City in my letter on Extreme Weather planning. It made for an interesting discussion. Although, when the major contribution by the City to Extreme Weather planning, in the main part, is to not put up barriers …

While my friend is correct that the City has come a ways in both awareness and attitude, but there is so much more they must come to perceive, to gain some understanding of and needs that call for action that letting them rest on their “laurels” is just not good acceptable. The temptation to avoid these messy issues by hiding behind “Social Advisory Committees”, “Regional Social Committees”, Social Planners and so on is great that we must continue to (cattle) prod them to keep moving and into action.

The conversation served to highlight just how much one’s perspective on housing, poverty, homeless and addictions is affected by one’s position on the “have nothing to super rich” scale of material possessions.

I can see and understand where my friend and the other involved, caring citizens see so much progress made and being made. I can also see and understand where my many friends, both homeless and poor as well as those involved directly in helping the homeless and poor, see no progress made and nothing happening.

June, July and August so many people are on holidays, at different times, everything goes on hold until sometime in mid-September. Currently we are into the Christmas/New Year season and pretty much on hold again. Understandable? Yes and No.

When you and yours are inside and fed vacations and the holiday season seem fair, deserved and necessary. When you and yours are standing in a cold December rain – vacations, holiday seasons and things moving forward with glacial slowness are just more barriers to improvements to your survival and regaining a life worth living.

1/3 of the year wasted on vacations and the holiday season. Something accomplished years down the road. These do nothing about the cold December rain falling on your head today or in providing support, encouragement and help in getting your act and life together – today or tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow …

So while I can see and understand my friend’s point and point of view, sometimes it is so hard to stay reasonable and positive. Particularly in light of my current economic state, balanced on a financially secure/unstable pivot point so very close to returning to being homeless. Sometimes I find I have to bite my tongue to not scream “Get your pampered asses in gear” or to give in to the urge to round up all the players, stand them in the cold December rain and deny them access to any resources other than those available to the homeless and poor.

All in hopes of communicating to them some understanding of the urgency and frustration I feel. Instead I take a deep breath, recite the serenity prayer and put pen to paper (so to speak) in hopes of educating and widening peoples understanding and perspectives.

Oh yes. In answer to the question posed about what I want from the City? I want them to bring to filling the basic living needs of those suffering poverty and homelessness the passion, the commitment, the marshalling of resources, the rallying of the public, the unlimited use of city staff and funds, the rush to put needed facilities/buildings in place – even if it requires borrowing millions of dollars to do so, “putting the arm” on local “donors” and the willingness to go to any lengths to get their way that they behaved with for the luxuries of Plan A.

Kudos to the Extreme Weather Team

Mr. Dave Murray deserves kudos not only for the hours he put in preparing a plan for and during the Extreme Weather the City experienced but for the example he sets for having one’s priorities in order. He used Food Bank funds to fill the pressing need for mattresses and sleeping bags, knowing the need to replenish these funds would cause extra work. Lives saved vs. extra work? Sadly, experience has shown that all too few in the City have this same generosity of spirit.

With the severity of the snow, cold and wind-chill the Extreme Weather the City experienced had the potential to KILL. Imagine the field day the national media would have had with people freezing to death, from lack of charity, on the streets of a City that prides itself on the number of churches it has.

How should we say thanks? Those who regularly support the Food Bank say thanks, in the most meaningful of ways, with every donation and hour volunteered. For others: why not drop by and say “Thank You”, help in replenishing the funds expended providing shelter from the killing cold and/or help to ensure that the Food Bank has sufficient stocks on hand to not only meet the Christmas Season demands but also sufficient food to make it through the post-holiday bleak period.

I want to take a moment to also offer Kudos to the many volunteers who put in so many volunteer hours to keep the Salvation Army open 24 hours a day during the crisis. And to Dave W. for his decision to keep the building open those 24 hours. I want to make special mention of Mr. Chris O’Neill who put in countless hours helping in the early morning with work caused by the extra people staying at the shelter and spent many more hours serving coffee to keep the Redemption Café open six extra hours a day.

Fortunately we will never know how many lives these citizens, so generous in spirit, saved. Which is, in the end, the best thanks they could get.

Hippocratic Oath?

I thought of Kevin George Ellis the other night and the abysmal way MSA Hospital treated this dying man (see tribute to the fallen http://www.somethingcool.ca/backissues/073106). Even worse than the way they treated Kevin is the fact that they continue to deliver substandard health care to the homeless putting their lives at risk. And, in the case I am thinking of, perhaps putting the health of the general public at risk.

One of the members of the homeless community has staff infection. The hospital gave him medication and sent him on his way – knowing he was homeless. I am not a doctor but from all the reports I have read of staff infection outbreaks in hospitals it sounds extremely infectious and easy to pass along. Now X is considerate enough that he warns people of his infection rather than trying to hide it. One could wish the medical professionals in Abbotsford had such ethical behaviour.

X also understands why, especially in the vastly overcrowded conditions caused by this life threatening weather he should not be in the Shelter. What I, and others, do not understand is why he is not in the hospital until he is fully well. Instead he is walking around the city leaving a trail of staff germs behind to infect unknowing members of the public. At the very least this would seem to be very questionable public health behaviour. Given the severe weather outside it is definitely a humanitarian issue. Just how many more unfortunates will the hospital contribute to the death of? How many dead will it take until the Fraser Valley Health Authority shows leadership and insists that MSA fulfill its purpose and deliver good healthcare to ALL suffering illness?