Invisible No More -- Part Two

Wondering what's happening with the Fortis gasline plan for Buchanan Road?
The preamble to Deb Fisher's successful petition to install gas is here.

Deb recently contacted Peter Hill of Fortis to ask how it was progressing.
His reply was:

"Rick, the local Planner, has the list of names (from the petition) for pricing.  We're focusing just now on getting the (gas)main across the creek on Ricardo Road to John at VegPro.  (It's) All moving in the right direction."

That's encouraging for Buchanan Road residents!
Thanks again Deb!

It'll be worth it!

Looking forward to hearing from Fortis...

Wayyyyyy Too Many Committees

Tackling the homeless situation in cities is tough.
But I'm convinced adding one or two--or five--new committees to discuss the issue is a waste of time.

All these committees "study" the issue, and end up coming back with the same opinion(s) that the elected mayor and council considered...so round and round they all go.

The following quotation is  Castanet's take on Vernon City Council's meeting...count the number of committees that are studying this problem:

"It took about an hour for the list of recommendations created by the Activate Safety Task Force to be read at the Monday afternoon City of Vernon council meeting.

There were eight recommendations all explaining possible solutions to issues that plague downtown Vernon.
Most of the issues brought up were in some way related to Vernon's street entrenched population.
Annette Sharkey, executive director of Social Planning Council of the North Okanagan, along with the Partners in Action Committee  have been following the process of the Activate Safety Taskforce very closely and have looked at the recommendations put forward.
"The driving force of the organization [Social Planning Council] is the Partners in Action Committee who problem solve, set up action teams and then follow through on solutions," she says, adding that she understands why downtown businesses are frustrated.
"The Partners in Action Committee understands the fear, anger and frustration that some local businesses have experienced as a result of the lack of shelter beds and the need for more treatment and recovery programs."
"It is not okay that people are forced to sleep in alleys and doorways or that businesses have to clean up feces and garbage every morning."
Sharkey wants to see more longterm solutions to Vernon's housing crisis.
"Due to the urgency of the current situation, the Activate Safety Taskforce focused on immediate concerns and the role of enforcement in the community," she said. "The Partners in Action Committee works closely with the Bylaw Department and the RCMP through the COOL Team (Camp Okanagan Outreach Liaison Team) and knows that there is a huge demand on enforcement services."

"If more resources are put into enforcement, we will continue to work closely with these officers."
One recommendation to council by the Activate Safety Taskforce was regarding public washrooms.
Both the Partners in Action Committee and the Activate Safety Taskforce agree that safer public washrooms are needed in the downtown area.
"The Partners in Action Committee has long been an advocate for more public washrooms in the downtown core and have been equally frustrated by the vandalism with our current location," Sharkey said. "The current washrooms were meant to be a temporary measure so new washrooms with a redesign focused on security would be welcome."
Washrooms with an open top, bottom and blacklight was recommended to council.
The Partners in Action Committee hopes there will be more open communication between downtown businesses and the service providers.
"Immediate strategies are needed to support local businesses and non-profits in the downtown core," Sharkey said. "Working closely with the Bylaw Department and RCMP, addressing the lack of public washrooms, promoting the services of the Community Safety Office and providing a communications bridge between frustrated businesses and service providers are all valuable strategies. "
To date, Partners in Action has focused on longer-term solutions.
"More shelter beds and affordable housing as this is ultimately how we will resolve the crisis permanently," Sharkey says.
Turning Points Collaborative will open a new modular 46-bed shelter this summer and a 52 unit supported housing apartment in the winter of 2019.
The Social Planning Council has arranged a presentation from Interior Health to City Council on July 23 to provide information and updates on current strategies and to answer any follow-up questions."


So...how many?

Partners in Action
Turning Points Collaborative
Social Planning Council
Activate Safety Taskforce
Bylaw Department
RCMP
COOL team 
Community Safety Office

Eight!  EIGHT!

oh, yes...and the Mayor and Councillors.

 

Canada's American Friend

Wish we could write to this Bruce fellow to thank him? 
Me too.

Here's what the American wrote:

"Some of you may have noticed that Canada is going through some trying times with the US President. Despite running a trade surplus with Canada, he feels we are taking advantage of the strongest economy in the world and has not been his normal charming self. 

Here is Bruce Lindner, one American’s take on the situation. 

Have you ever stopped to consider how lucky we Americans are to have the neighbors we have? Look around the globe at who some folks have been stuck sharing a border with over the past half century:
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North Korea / South Korea
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West Germany / East Germany
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Greece / Turkey
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Iran / Iraq
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Israel / Palestine
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India / Pakistan
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China / Russia
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We’ve got Canada. Canada. About as inoffensive a neighbor as you could ever hope for. In spite of all our boasts of “American exceptionalism” and chants of “America first,” they just smile, do their thing and go about their business.
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They’re with us in NATO, they fought alongside us in World War I, World War II, Korea, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, Afghanistan, the Kosovo War and came to our defense after 9/11. There was that one time when Canada took a pass on one of our wars: Vietnam. Good call.
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They’ve been steady consumers of American imports, reliable exporters of metals and petroleum products, partnered with NASA in our space missions and all they’ve asked of us in return is to be respected for who and what they are: Canadians.
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That’s what I call a good neighbor.
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But the King of Chaos couldn’t leave well enough alone. Based on his delusions of perpetual victimhood, out of the clear blue, he’s declared economic war on Canada. On CANADA! For no goddamn reason, other than the voices in his head told him it was a war he could win. So why not?
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Trump went ahead and imposed his tariffs. Trudeau retaliated in kind. And now this morning, the White House is preparing a new wave of tariffs in retaliation for Trudeau’s retaliation. It’s just a temporary spat, right? Except for that smile on Vlad’s face in the Kremlin as the NATO pact unravels a little more with each passing day.
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Again, we’re talking about Canada. Our closest ally, friend and neighbor.
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On behalf of an embarrassed nation, people of Canada, I apologize for this idiotic and wholly unnecessary attack. Please leave the back channels open. We the People of the progressive persuasion stand with you. The people of the conservative persuasion stand with Don and Vlad’.

Thanks Bruce Lindner!

This Canadian is grateful for that.

 

Frightening Photo

Today's cover story from the Morning Star had the hair on my neck standing up.

If a photo can "say" a thousand words, then this photo of two children, eight-year old Anneke and 10-year old Luc VanderVelde, walking to school on Silver Star Road fills me with fear.

Why aren't these children safely inside a school bus?

The story is here in the Morning Star.

Silver Star Road is notorious for speeders, and its narrow lanes--without the benefit of a bike and pedestrian path on either side--often see large truck traffic too.

Rather than repeat the newspaper story here, the gist is that some parents are now having to fork out $300 annually per child because their home is outside the school "catchment" area.
That's $600 for Mrs. VanderVelde.
Annually.

It occurs to me that the system is failing.
I simply cannot imagine any school bus driver leaving a youngster at the side of the road, having picked up other children whose parents have paid the fee.

"So why do we--including those without children--pay ever-increasing school taxes annually,"  Kia would've asked, "if there's not enough money to get kids there safely."

Yes, why indeed...


So what were school taxes used for?