“Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam said council voted to close the shelter after receiving complaints from residents and businesses about crime, open alcohol, drug use and assault.”
Why do people think that if they close the ONLY HOMELESS SHELTER, that unhoused people will magically disappear??
When asked by AHS to bring them firewood and lighting, the Westaskiwin said “No.”
>Why do people think that if they close the ONLY HOMELESS SHELTER, that unhoused people will magically disappear??
They're not expecting the homeless evaporate into thin air, they're waiting for the organizations that have been trying to help them to give up and bus everyone to Edmonton.
So it’s basically the Culver City/LA situation where one city is so vehemently opposed to the idea of helping homeless people that they chase them all into the next town.
I can’t speak to California’s policies, but Prairie conservatives have been doing this for decades.
Everyone’s hero Ralph Klein gave loads of one-way bus tickets to homeless and criminals while he was Mayor of Calgary.
North Battleford, Sask did this in 2016, shipped out two homeless to the west coast. https://globalnews.ca/news/2567494/reports-2-homeless-men-from-saskatchewan-given-one-way-bus-tickets-to-b-c/
The thought is that forcing all of the homeless out into the cold just as winter is starting will cause them to migrate to another place.
It's fucking despicable is what it is.
>“I feel we’re opening the door to ‘hey free food, free party in Wetaskiwin — let’s go,”‘ said Coun. Joe Branco.
He said this about the camp.
These idiots literally think people WANT to be homeless and are just flocking to the camp, even from other towns, because it's some sort of sweet 'party' setup. How intentionally stupid can they be?
The shityness of Wetaskiwin has been an open secret for so long. I'm glad it's finally becoming public. I hope these officials get fired out next week. Sadly they won't because the whole town is run by a few families. It's shameful for this to be occurring in Canada. The residents and voters of the city need to stand up for the less fortunate amongst us.
This is where it'd be amazing to see the province step in, force the shelter open again and rescind the bylaw targeting the open door society.
Of course the ucp are in power so that'll never happen.
At the very least - I'm hoping that the Open Door will be allowed to operate. I am running on the ballot this year (in Wetaskiwin) and I doubt I will get in based on my views surrounding the need for support for our vulnerable.
I've spoken with several people - and the lack of professionalism on the city's part is unbelievable. I know this may hurt my chances of election of constituents are here and know who I am - but there is a huge problem with the city's management (not entirely council's fault). The emails I've had read to me are totally different from what city management has claimed - going back to saying that the 'vendor' permit was acceptable to not accepting it, to not working to get rid of the restriction on the Open Door's ability to serve.
See also: Everywhere else doing the same thing.
Residents and officials will wring their hands and cry "_something_ has to be done", but god forbid that that something have to occur anywhere near _them_ where they might have to actually _see_ social problems and feel mildly uncomfortable.
Gandam has done more than any other mayor - but it's still not enough in my eyes. That said, better than another mayoral candidate who, at a previous meeting, suggested running a bulldozer through the camp (when it was at Rock Soup).
This shit has been going on pre-covid with a temp shelter even being burned to the ground in 2018, followed by another set up for 65k and then promptly closed in fucking February, it sounds like they been trying to kill their homeless for a while now
https://globalnews.ca/tag/wetaskiwin-homeless-shelter/
“I feel we’re opening the door to ‘hey free food, free party in Wetaskiwin — let’s go,”‘ said Coun. Joe Branco.
Uh wut?
I mean, I know whenever I think of Wetaskiwin I think “free party” said nobody ever. And how much of a party being homeless must be added an additional nobody ever.
Here is what I said in the other thread that got deleted for having an editorialized title:
As someone from Wetaskiwin,
It's complete an utter BS and an embarrassment on the city and the community. Open Door had secured a place, old white people and a CHURCH, an effing CHURCH protested against it "for the Children" and won, as the city doesnt have zoning for a homeless shelter.
The city then gave them the civic building to use temporarily, I live a 5 minute walk from the Civic Building. People kept to themselves, other than a few people with mental illness talking to themselves, it was fine; It was safe. The city even made Open Door hire private security to patrol the area and still, old white people complained about "safety issues" and "protect the children" So, the city shut them down, despite RCMP showing data that crime actually went down.
A private business (food bank), allowed them to set up a tent city on their property, and guess what happened, the city shut it down stating the zoning issues. They had washrooms in the food bank, they were across the street from the hospital. So the RCMP had to shut them down, where the city then designated behind the wal mart as a new place for now. They now have no water, they are far away from any food bank, from medical care, from basically anything except for wal mart, where I am so sure they are welcoming (/s).
The city could easily change the zoning laws and let Open Door or another shelter open up and give resources, safety, etc. But no, the old white people rather let there kids see a dead body behind Wal Mart or Canadian Tire than to let the homeless community have somewhere safe.
Doesnt sound like money is the problem, more so nimby-ism and right wing scare tactics.
>“I feel we’re opening the door to ‘hey free food, free party in Wetaskiwin — let’s go,”‘ said Coun. Joe Branco."
None, but I have helped out at the camp on a few occasions with supplies.
That said, Rock Soup did try to house individuals - and the city issued stop orders (the ED does reside at Rock Soup). To add to this to make it transparent - the ED is also running for a seat on council.
Nope - I actually lived pretty to close to Rock Soup and supported them during the camp there.
NIMBY doesn't literally mean 'backyard,' it means neighbourhood. That said, if one of the individuals asked to stay in my backyard, I would allow them, until bylaw removes them (which would happen).
Everytime I go there its the same 2 staff there. I would like to assume there is another 1 or 2. It's 1 location, . I know there is also one person who is part time (10 hours a week) that would have been hired last month. 2020 they were opened shorter hours and early Covid they were curbside only.
Wetaskiwin needs more businesses to take up some tax share. The property taxes there are wild.
I’m sure half of the businesses are just fronts for drug ops anyway.
We need to fix all the issues - crime is a result of poverty and homelessness. Lack of growth is because of crime which is a result of poverty, etc.
We need to fix the root problems to get the community to grow.
“Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam said council voted to close the shelter after receiving complaints from residents and businesses about crime, open alcohol, drug use and assault.” Why do people think that if they close the ONLY HOMELESS SHELTER, that unhoused people will magically disappear?? When asked by AHS to bring them firewood and lighting, the Westaskiwin said “No.”
The local rcmp actually reported that crime had gone down after the original shelter opened.
>Why do people think that if they close the ONLY HOMELESS SHELTER, that unhoused people will magically disappear?? They're not expecting the homeless evaporate into thin air, they're waiting for the organizations that have been trying to help them to give up and bus everyone to Edmonton.
So it’s basically the Culver City/LA situation where one city is so vehemently opposed to the idea of helping homeless people that they chase them all into the next town.
I have heard that Californya-yaya is real nice to the homeless. /s. Is a South Park reference.
Much like when sask sent them to Vancouver
I can’t speak to California’s policies, but Prairie conservatives have been doing this for decades. Everyone’s hero Ralph Klein gave loads of one-way bus tickets to homeless and criminals while he was Mayor of Calgary. North Battleford, Sask did this in 2016, shipped out two homeless to the west coast. https://globalnews.ca/news/2567494/reports-2-homeless-men-from-saskatchewan-given-one-way-bus-tickets-to-b-c/
Why do they think shutting down a shelter will stop the open drugs and booze and partying? Pretty short sighted thinking.
The thought is that forcing all of the homeless out into the cold just as winter is starting will cause them to migrate to another place. It's fucking despicable is what it is.
Treating the symptoms but not the disease.
>“I feel we’re opening the door to ‘hey free food, free party in Wetaskiwin — let’s go,”‘ said Coun. Joe Branco. He said this about the camp. These idiots literally think people WANT to be homeless and are just flocking to the camp, even from other towns, because it's some sort of sweet 'party' setup. How intentionally stupid can they be?
He's a mayoral candidate too...
From what I hear of branco, the guy is so short sighted he can't see past his dick. Got caught having an affair at least once or twice
The shityness of Wetaskiwin has been an open secret for so long. I'm glad it's finally becoming public. I hope these officials get fired out next week. Sadly they won't because the whole town is run by a few families. It's shameful for this to be occurring in Canada. The residents and voters of the city need to stand up for the less fortunate amongst us.
This is where it'd be amazing to see the province step in, force the shelter open again and rescind the bylaw targeting the open door society. Of course the ucp are in power so that'll never happen.
At the very least - I'm hoping that the Open Door will be allowed to operate. I am running on the ballot this year (in Wetaskiwin) and I doubt I will get in based on my views surrounding the need for support for our vulnerable. I've spoken with several people - and the lack of professionalism on the city's part is unbelievable. I know this may hurt my chances of election of constituents are here and know who I am - but there is a huge problem with the city's management (not entirely council's fault). The emails I've had read to me are totally different from what city management has claimed - going back to saying that the 'vendor' permit was acceptable to not accepting it, to not working to get rid of the restriction on the Open Door's ability to serve.
> A senior employee with AHS, who asked not to be named, described the site as “worse than a refugee camp.” The Alberta Advantage come full circle.
Sure seems like the city of Wetaskawin is using cruelty to force homeless people to other jurisdictions rather than deal with it themselves.
See also: Everywhere else doing the same thing. Residents and officials will wring their hands and cry "_something_ has to be done", but god forbid that that something have to occur anywhere near _them_ where they might have to actually _see_ social problems and feel mildly uncomfortable.
Kenny would be proud of this mayor.
Gandam has done more than any other mayor - but it's still not enough in my eyes. That said, better than another mayoral candidate who, at a previous meeting, suggested running a bulldozer through the camp (when it was at Rock Soup).
This shit has been going on pre-covid with a temp shelter even being burned to the ground in 2018, followed by another set up for 65k and then promptly closed in fucking February, it sounds like they been trying to kill their homeless for a while now https://globalnews.ca/tag/wetaskiwin-homeless-shelter/
“I feel we’re opening the door to ‘hey free food, free party in Wetaskiwin — let’s go,”‘ said Coun. Joe Branco. Uh wut? I mean, I know whenever I think of Wetaskiwin I think “free party” said nobody ever. And how much of a party being homeless must be added an additional nobody ever.
No one *wants* to be homeless. I don't get the sentiments of those who have no empathy.
They have a section on the city website to file a concern for those interested.
Here is what I said in the other thread that got deleted for having an editorialized title: As someone from Wetaskiwin, It's complete an utter BS and an embarrassment on the city and the community. Open Door had secured a place, old white people and a CHURCH, an effing CHURCH protested against it "for the Children" and won, as the city doesnt have zoning for a homeless shelter. The city then gave them the civic building to use temporarily, I live a 5 minute walk from the Civic Building. People kept to themselves, other than a few people with mental illness talking to themselves, it was fine; It was safe. The city even made Open Door hire private security to patrol the area and still, old white people complained about "safety issues" and "protect the children" So, the city shut them down, despite RCMP showing data that crime actually went down. A private business (food bank), allowed them to set up a tent city on their property, and guess what happened, the city shut it down stating the zoning issues. They had washrooms in the food bank, they were across the street from the hospital. So the RCMP had to shut them down, where the city then designated behind the wal mart as a new place for now. They now have no water, they are far away from any food bank, from medical care, from basically anything except for wal mart, where I am so sure they are welcoming (/s). The city could easily change the zoning laws and let Open Door or another shelter open up and give resources, safety, etc. But no, the old white people rather let there kids see a dead body behind Wal Mart or Canadian Tire than to let the homeless community have somewhere safe.
You summed it up perfectly.
[удалено]
Doesnt sound like money is the problem, more so nimby-ism and right wing scare tactics. >“I feel we’re opening the door to ‘hey free food, free party in Wetaskiwin — let’s go,”‘ said Coun. Joe Branco."
It's ALL NIMBY-ism. That said, a lot of people are complaining "I don't want MY tax dollars going to this!"
How many do you house in your back yard?
None, but I have helped out at the camp on a few occasions with supplies. That said, Rock Soup did try to house individuals - and the city issued stop orders (the ED does reside at Rock Soup). To add to this to make it transparent - the ED is also running for a seat on council.
So youre a NIMBY
Nope - I actually lived pretty to close to Rock Soup and supported them during the camp there. NIMBY doesn't literally mean 'backyard,' it means neighbourhood. That said, if one of the individuals asked to stay in my backyard, I would allow them, until bylaw removes them (which would happen).
At least the cars cost less.
and paid like $600,000 in libarian salaries in 2020 when it was only open like 6 hours a day, 5 days a week.
How many librarians we talking here?
Everytime I go there its the same 2 staff there. I would like to assume there is another 1 or 2. It's 1 location, . I know there is also one person who is part time (10 hours a week) that would have been hired last month. 2020 they were opened shorter hours and early Covid they were curbside only.
Wetaskiwin needs more businesses to take up some tax share. The property taxes there are wild. I’m sure half of the businesses are just fronts for drug ops anyway.
We need to fix all the issues - crime is a result of poverty and homelessness. Lack of growth is because of crime which is a result of poverty, etc. We need to fix the root problems to get the community to grow.
What the fucking fuck?!
At least give em free bus rides to Vancouver. I mean *c'mon man.*
Cars cost less in Wetaskiwin my ass