11779 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

I think they just did that few days ago.

 

This is not about restricting movement, it is about not inviting people in the first place. Any fool could foresee that offering free housing, free food, free phones, free drugs, etc, etc would attract people to the city. It was so obvious in fact that the Mayor and many members of council had to lie about it and misinterpret survey results to try and keep the public in the dark. 

 

It is great that through organization and what was no doubts hundreds of hours of meetings and consultation Burnside-Gorge managed to prevent the Province from dumping even more people into their neighbourhood (for now). As the buses in Nanaimo, Duncan and other towns across Canada load up with even more people that won't last. I am sure that Vic West thought that they were 'safe' as well based on discussions they had with the Province but alas nothing lasts forever.

[Victoria Watcher]

This is not about restricting movement, it is about not inviting people in the first place. Any fool could foresee that offering free housing, free food, free phones, free drugs, etc, etc would attract people to the city. It was so obvious in fact that the Mayor and many members of council had to lie about it and misinterpret survey results to try and keep the public in the dark. 

 

It is great that through organization and what was no doubts hundreds of hours of meetings and consultation Burnside-Gorge managed to prevent the Province from dumping even more people into their neighbourhood (for now). As the buses in Nanaimo, Duncan and other towns across Canada load up with even more people that won't last. I am sure that Vic West thought that they were 'safe' as well based on discussions they had with the Province but alas nothing lasts forever.

 

this is what i have been saying for the last year.

 

i have asked anyone to challenge me on the fact that victoria is the most generous jurisdiction in all of north america for homeless.  and nobody pointed to a "better" place.

 

and now we have the most homeless of any place in all of north america.  funny how that works.

[Awaiting Juno]

the current providers do not even provide once-daily information to the 211 system.  good luck getting them to be more transparent.

 

What about a bylaw requiring them to report the number of available spaces on an hourly basis between 7PM and Midnight - so that bylaw can arrange to bring people to those spaces when they're available. As a perk, it would end the habit of tourists seeking to use our parks inappropriately.

[spanky123]

What about a bylaw requiring them to report the number of available spaces on an hourly basis between 7PM and Midnight - so that bylaw can arrange to bring people to those spaces when they're available. As a perk, it would end the habit of tourists seeking to use our parks inappropriately.

 

No bylaw required at all. The City could have every agency reporting available spaces by the end of business today if they wanted. All they would have to do is tell providers that each day they failed to accurately report occupancy any future funding would be reduced by 10%. Once that number hit 50% then all future funding would be cut and their permissive tax exemption eliminated.

 

Mission accomplished.

 

The problem is that nobody wants to report occupancy or else the public would find out that there are plenty of available spaces most nights and that camping can therefore be eliminated per the court's direction.

Edited by spanky123, 21 April 2021 - 10:35 AM.

[A Girl is No one]

Wow - a lot to unpack here.

I speak to what I know and experience.

I live in Burnside Gorge, so I am very familiar with the issue of supported housing and emergency shelters being “dumped into the neighbourhood”. I say “dumped” because there is no better term.

Several facilities were opened without any sense of trying to integrate or work with the community or operate with any accountability whatsoever. It was appalling.

Our community was in crisis. We because “the centre of crime” for the city. We knew it was bad, but found out how bad things had changed in the community from an off the cuff remark from the VicPD Spokesperson. It was and is still bad.

I formed, together with others a Facebook group, “Burnside Gorge Neighbours”. Today we are 600 strong.

We advocated, engaged and worked with the Burnside Gorge Community Association.

We campaigned door to door, street by street to enhance the block watch program.

We recorded and reported any and all activity that was detrimental to the community.

We assisted those in crisis situations - such as women in distress walking down our streets crying in some sort of psychosis or people, dazed and cognitively impaired, walking into major Streets and at risk of being struck by vehicles. It was and is a group to make our community safer.

We realized from the beginning we were going to have to make the best of the situation.

We did.

Our community enhanced our Community Advisory Committees. We engaged our MLA. We frequently talked to our community resource officers. We became active and adept.

Burnside Gorge learned a lot. It has a lot of knowledge it can share.

My understanding is our community leaders tried to share this with VicWest, but they are unable or unprepared to listen at this time.

I totally understand their concerns and fears. I live it.

My recommendation is for VicWest to request a meeting with their council liaison.

They should organize and engage.

They should be heard.

And BC Housing and the operator of the facilities in that community need to listen and respond to concerns.

The city needs to listen and address concerns.

We need to learn frock past mistakes and ensure they are not repeated in VicWest as the facilities open.

I’m happy to facilitate any discussion or share our lessons learned with anyone.

The reality is screaming and yelling won’t help. The government shuts down. You HAVE to get the lines of communication open.

I have a problem with this.
I’ve been down this road. It’s very difficult, requires a lot of personal time and leads to very little results if any. I know people in the Burnside-Gorge area that are burnt out from this approach.

I don’t think it’s an acceptable solution.

People work, raise their kids, volunteer etc. They pay taxes and expect a few things in return, the main one, which is government's first responsibility IMO is to have safe communities. No one would object to homeless housing if unlike all the examples we have seen, they didn’t bring crime, drugs, feces and needles etc.

It’s not acceptable to push the responsibility of trying to keep the neighborhoods safe to those who are busy working to pay taxes.

[Mike K.]

Is this who BC Housing is looking to find homes for? 38-year-old men assault developmentally challenged youth, causing life-altering injuries?

Or are they seeking homes for the people who tried to keep the girl from being helped, and assaulted officers to protect the 38-year-old who had viscupusly assaulted a 15-year-old girl?

Is this who Mayor Helps says neighbourhoods should welcome as their new neighbours?
Suspect Sought After Missing 15-Year-Old Choked In Tent In Beacon Hill Park, Responding Officers Assaulted

April 21, 2021 - File: #21-15214

Victoria, BC – Officers are working to locate and arrest a 38-year-old suspect after he assaulted a missing 15-year-old in his tent in Beacon Hill Park last night. During their investigation, responding officers were confronted by those camping in the park, who obstructed officers’ and paramedics’ attempts to transport the victim to medical treatment. Two officers were assaulted, and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Patrol officers were called to Beacon Hill Park, near Douglas Street and Circle Drive, by BC Emergency Health Services paramedics and Victoria Fire Department firefighters, for assistance as they responded to a medical call. When the medical responders arrived they learned that a 15-year-old had been assaulted and choked in a tent at that location, and called for officers.

Officers attended and located the victim, being treated by paramedics for non-life-threatening but potentially life-altering injuries from the assault. Numerous people who are camping in the park stood close by and were interfering with the victim’s medical treatment. Officers learned the suspect had left the area.

When officers attempted to speak with the victim, numerous people who are camping in the park began to intervene, urging the victim to not speak with officers, to not go to hospital for medical treatment, and to leave the area. They began confronting the officers and paramedics and continued to urge the 15 year-old victim to leave the area, physically grabbing the victim and pulling them away.

Having significant concern for the victim’s safety, officers apprehended them under the Child, Family and Community Service Act. A struggle ensued between those camping in the park, the 15-year-old victim, and officers. Officers called for a “code 3” response and additional units responded to assist.

One officer was bitten and another struck in the mouth with spit while the victim was carried to the ambulance and secured for transport to the hospital. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment without further incident.

As they continued their investigation, officers learned that the victim is developmentally delayed and had been reported missing from home. Other officers were working to locate the victim at the time they were discovered in Beacon Hill Park.

The suspect, a 38-year-old man with numerous recent charges, including assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and breaching court ordered conditions, has been identified. Officers are working to locate the man and take him into custody.

Officers do not believe there is a risk to the wider public at this time, but are working to locate the suspect now.

This file remains under investigation.

If you have information about this incident, please call our VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 ext 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

[A Girl is No one]

“ The suspect, a 38-year-old man with numerous recent charges, including assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and breaching court ordered conditions, has been identified. Officers are working to locate the man and take him into custody.”

And then what? Back in his tent in the park tomorrow? Ready to assault someone else?

[Nparker]

He's probably been moved up on the list to receive housing.

[kitty surprise]

Is this who BC Housing is looking to find homes for? 38-year-old men assault developmentally challenged youth, causing life-altering injuries?

Or are they seeking homes for the people who tried to keep the girl from being helped, and assaulted officers to protect the 38-year-old who had viscupusly assaulted a 15-year-old girl?

Is this who Mayor Helps says neighbourhoods should welcome as their new neighbours?
 

 

I would really like Stephen to weigh in.

[A Girl is No one]

This kind of situation is nothing new. It has happened in every tent city, from the court house tent city to BHP.

Mayor and council are fully aware of this (except maybe SA since he is so new).

[Mike K.]

I would like to see a motion brought forward by council to bring BC Housing to the table and discuss their plans with sincerity and out in the open, and who they plan to locate into residential neighbourhoods.

Today’s news has sent shockwaves across this city. And asking residents to lobby BC Housing to not place ruthless child-abusing criminals next door to homes with children should not be a burden placed on the taxpayer but a responsibility of elected officials on behalf of their constituents.

I want to know why a man with a long criminal history who choked a defenceless 15-year-old deserves our compassion. I want to know what makes him different from the man who murdered Makayla Chang.

[Victoria Watcher]

 I want to know what makes him different from the man who murdered Makayla Chang.

 

nobody has been convicted of that crime yet.

[Stephen Andrew]

you expect saanich to say "hey we really like what victoria is going through, let's get on the program!"

give your head a shake.

I have been shaking my head for several years.

It’s bad policy by Victoria to have all the services and resources in the city. We need to distribute. We can do that through incentives or otherwise. It needs to change. That’s what I’m saying.

[sebberry]

I see Ben is having fun on social media today.

 

 

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[Love the rock]

I have been shaking my head for several years.

It’s bad policy by Victoria to have all the services and resources in the city. We need to distribute. We can do that through incentives or otherwise. It needs to change. That’s what I’m saying.

We need to cut all the duplicated services not redistribute them . Not growing the poverty support industry over and over again . 

[On the Level]

I see Ben is having fun on social media today.

 

He picked the day a 15 year old is choked and left with life altering injuries to post a defund chant?

[rmpeers]

I see Ben is having fun on social media today.

Even by his standards, this pompous rant seems in poor taste, given the incident in Beacon Hill Park.

[rmpeers]

He picked the day a 15 year old is choked and left with life altering injuries to post a defund chant?

I guess we should be thankful he didn't issue a statement praising the campers who attacked the cops and tried to stop the victim from getting medical treatment.

[Tom Braybrook]

I see Ben is having fun on social media today.

it reads better with this reply included

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[max.bravo]

There’s nothing compassionate about enabling criminals, addicts, and the mentally ill to continue hurting themselves and others.

All our “compassionate” policies help no one- they do harm- to the homeless; to our community, and to the rule of law. The only benefit is to virtue signaling politicians. And the poverty pimps.