47 replies to this topic

[Rob Randall]

Mayor Lowe announced this morning the creation of a new task force on social issues.

Saying the status quo was not working and present conditions were unacceptable he proposes three entities:

1) A steering commitee to oversee the project
2) An expert panel
3) A gap analysis team

They will look at solving all issues--homelessness, drug use, social problems, mental health issues and crime. Part of this will include a safe consumption site but not without the other supports, like detox beds etc.

Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe and Police Chief Paul Battersill will oversee the task force with implementation of recommendations by next spring.

Part of the increased enforcement aspect will be the planned installation of a single mobile security camera at hot spot crime locations like 600 block Yates or Cormorant or around the Our Space shelter. Police would monitor the camera in real time in order to apprehend problem repeat offenders. The chief says this needs to be combined with things like community courts and enforcing bench warrants.

I hope that this initiative gets the Province and Feds more involved in solving these problems, not just managing them.

[m0nkyman]

Part of this will include a safe consumption site but not without the other supports, like detox beds etc.

We don't need a safe consumption site :smt093 :smt076

[G-Man]

I like the idea of safe consumption sites for IV drug users but not for people that smoke drugs.

I like that it gets them off the street, it saves the healthcare system money by allowing quick access to hospital beds for those that overdose and those that use these places are easily able to access rehab centres. HOWEVER there is zero point in building these places if there is not excess capacity in the rehab bed side of things. There is little point in bringing people into a setting where it is easier for them to ask for help only to tell them "no problem we should have a bed for you in November!".

[Icebergalley]

Quoting R Randall...

Part of the increased enforcement aspect will be the planned installation of a single mobile security camera at hot spot crime locations like 600 block Yates or Cormorant or around the Our Space shelter.

Is this a wishlist?I

'm surprised that particular locations were specified...

I gather from the media reports that there are still privacy issues that must be dealt with... and I'm surprised that the Chief of Police would be so specific...

[Rob Randall]

The chief would not confirm where the cameras themselves would be located or even the areas they would be targeting but it's no secret where the hot spots are. I took A-Channel's Howard Markson on a tour of the 600 block Yates yesterday on the news.

When they say "strike team" they mean something and when they say "task force" they mean something else.

The task force consists of three entities:

The Steering Committee, comprising of City, business, health and other service providers.

The Expert Panel, mostly health and addiction experts.

Gap Analysis Team, to ensure cost-effectiveness.

The task force will work for 120 days to identify solutions and will report back to the City in October of this year.

At the same time, the police will be stepping up enforcement. The missing piece here is the revolving door aspect. Everyone is aware of this and this is why a pilot project for community courts is taking place in Vancouver. Victoria was passed over for the pilot project but it is hoped it will come here and be an effective justice tool.

[Icebergalley]

Here's a copy of the press release for all to see...

Thursday, May 24, 2007

City of Victoria Takes Action on Street Issues
By City of Victoria
VICTORIA — Mayor Lowe recently announced strategies for tackling the complex, and often interrelated, issues of mental illness, addiction and homelessness.

"We need to break the cycle of mental illness, addiction and homelessness in our community," said Mayor Lowe. "Our goal should not simply be to provide better services for people in need — our goal should be to help people get well and achieve a healthier lifestyle while maintaining public order," he added.

Mayor Lowe announced a two-pronged approach to achieve these goals. On the law enforcement front, more City police officers will be deployed to walk the beat downtown during the peak summer season. These officers will be targeting chronic, nuisance offenders. Their work will be aided by the use of new portable video surveillance cameras. The City will also be hiring a private prosecutor to issue appearance notices, and if necessary bench warrants, for repeat offenders who have been issued multiple bylaw tickets. Through these efforts, the City expects to achieve some legal accountability for chronic offenders and deter would-be offenders.

Recognizing that complex social and health factors contribute to disruptive street level behavior, Mayor Lowe also announced that he is striking a short-term, 120-day Task Force to recommend a service model and business plan to assist those who are mentally ill and/or who have substance use problems in the community.

In announcing the Task Force Mayor Lowe said, "Despite everyon's best efforts, what we are doing is not working as well as it could — we need a community-owned solution to the problem."

The Task Force will be chaired by Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe and will be responsible for developing a comprehensive, integrated, client-centred service delivery model, with the objective of implementing this model by next spring. The Task Force will be comprised of three teams, including a:

Steering Committee to oversee the preparation and review of recommendations and action plan for improved mental health and addictions service
Expert Panel to undertake best practice research and develop a comprehensive model(s) that targets supports to the most vulnerable in Victoria
Gap Analysis Team to provide an inventory and costing analysis of existing services and a business plan to finance the recommended model

A process to directly involve those experiencing these issues will be defined and included as part of the overall work of the Task Force.

[TheVisionary]

Oh great, another government task force to study the social deviance of society to death. The only task force this and any other city needs to solve or contain social problems is a task force with batons and shields, while exercising force. A detention system for long term, permanent warehousing of persistent problem people would help. Force them to work in the detention centres to help make up the chronic labour shortages. The Chinese and Russian governments and of some other countries are so much more advanced at social control than we Canadians are.

The tax payers want actions, not wasting more of our tax money on more studies that don't do much. Staring at the addict, theft, vandalism problems isn't going to make it better. Studies are basically look good PR that stall for time. :smt013

[Baro]

Yeah, i sure wish life in Canada was more like China.

[Holden West]

Everyone's weary of the "send the deviants to camp" talk. It's a lazy man's substitute for constructive dialogue since,

a) it'll never be implemented
b) It legally can't be implemented
c) it doesn't work in countries where it is implemented

It's as foolish as the eco-nuts that say the solution to the energy/environmental crisis is to ban capitalism and the internal combustion engine today. As long as you're beating that drum you actually guarantee nothing will ever get accomplished. I don't know, maybe you do it because you get a kick out of butting heads against people you regard as "lefties". Whatever the reason, it's getting old, fast. It doesn't make me angry, it just bores me.

[TheVisionary]

Everyone's weary of the "send the deviants to camp" talk. It's a lazy man's substitute for constructive dialogue since,

a) it'll never be implemented
b) It legally can't be implemented
c) it doesn't work in countries where it is implemented

It's as foolish as the eco-nuts that say the solution to the energy/environmental crisis is to ban capitalism and the internal combustion engine today. As long as you're beating that drum you actually guarantee nothing will ever get accomplished. I don't know, maybe you do it because you get a kick out of butting heads against people you regard as "lefties". Whatever the reason, it's getting old, fast. It doesn't make me angry, it just bores me.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local politicians and others read this forum. I'll keep head beating them until they get off their ass. The "squeeky wheels gets the grease". The more squeek, the more grease.

Oh, I'm bored too. Like my co-workers, I'm bored of the downtown crack heads and their friends. We'll vote with our wallets until those in charge wake up to reality. The downtown business associations are going to sue the Needle Exchange/landowner for nuisance inaction, a class action. That's probably the joint results of other pissed off people like me brow beating the system until they move. You feel my constant *****ing doesn't have an effect? I'm sure there are many others waiting in the wings to get "fired up"? Squeeze their supportive agencies until they dry up and blow away. :smt019 :smt019

[gumgum]

And in case the glorious words above has piqued the interest of all the local politicians out there reading this forum, here are some more of his invaluable quotes:

As for my signature, It's a conglomerate of the phrases from the Tiberian Sun computer games series (Brotherhood of NOD), and the idea of World Federation from Starship Troopers, and the real life: World Federalist Movement, Council on Foreign Relations, Bilderburger Group, United Nations.

There one way of keeping criminals and crime at bay. Arm yourself with lots of guns and be prepared to blow away intruders with ice cold efficiency, surround your home with concrete walls topped with embedded broken glass, barbed wire, sharp spiked iron gates. Of course a few attack dogs would be a nice touch.

Nuclear powered, diesel powered or powered by rubber bands doesn't matter to me as long as they show me...us the money. Money talks, bullshit walks.
As for the other person who said drunk sailors cut back on her sleep, there's plenty of time for sleep when you are newly wed, or beyond nearly dead. A colleague said Victoria is not a great party town because the newly wed and nearly dead are all "home in bed".
I miss big cities parties like in Calgary, Vancouver, LA, Hong Kong, Las Vegas. It was so exciting going back to my room with my buddies all partied out and boozed up, after the casino. Then the female companionship isn't bad either.
I guess there are a few things I value: making money and having fun with cool people, prefereably with fat wallets, cheque books, credit cards.

If buffets allowed me to take food home, I'd clean them out.

Yeah, downtown seems like an urine soaked huge homeless shelter. If this situations contiunes to slide and get more dumpy, everyone who is anyone worth noting will be living Uptown and stay away from Downtown, except for business that can't be avoided.

I would prefer not have to lock up any person in a state run forced labour camp with mean looking armed guards and defence barriers. However, I can't entirely rule out that possibility if civilization continues to descends farther into chaos and unruleliness. As a means of keeping order and the barbarians from bringing down all of civilization, I would support any means necessary to this task. Letting things slide as it has been doing is unacceptable.

Yes, this great man is lives here, on this island.

In this city.

Here.

[G-Man]

Don't put it all one page it is too much even for me.

[Holden West]

You may laugh, but I believe Visionary should be allowed to speak his mind, because its important that all young people between the ages of 12 and 18 be given a chance to express themselves on a public forum. You may snicker at his sophistication, but I believe when he enters his 20s he will see the world in a different light.

[Caramia]

But my eyes are bleeding.

[Holden West]

^Yes, but think about how you were at 16. Smart-ass, all-knowing. Now look at you. Sitting on a log in a woolen bathing costume.

[Caramia]

Wool is still warm when wet.

[VicHockeyFan]

You may laugh, but I believe Visionary should be allowed to speak his mind, because its important that all young people between the ages of 12 and 18 be given a chance to express themselves on a public forum. You may snicker at his sophistication, but I believe when he enters his 20s he will see the world in a different light.

[Rob Randall]

The public can attend:

The Mayor's Task Force on Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions will present their findings to Mayor Alan Lowe and City Council at a special council meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, October 19, 2007 at City Hall. A media panel will follow.

Struck by Mayor Lowe in May, and chaired by Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe, the 120-day task force has developed a service delivery model and plan to address the needs of Victoria's homeless population.

An expert panel of health professionals from across North America has assessed Victoria's current needs and existing service delivery model, reviewed best practices from other cities that have successfully reduced homelessness, and developed a comprehensive model aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness in Victoria.

In addition, a Gap Analysis Team, composed of representatives from various levels of government, City staff, private sector and community organizations, has developed an inventory and cost analysis of existing services and a business case for the recommended service delivery model.

[Rob Randall]

The report was released this morning and can be found here:

http://www.victoria....rc_brcycl.shtml

Unfortunately, it is only in .pdf and it is very large but I hope you get a chance to review it.

Basically, the program cost is around $17,500 to $47,000 per person per year, which is less than what we are currently spending on our "at risk" population ($50,000 per year per person in policing, health etc.) In addition there are the hidden costs of private security and cleaning, loss of business and tourism revenue and the unquantifiable cost of a decrease in the quality of life of all citizens and visitors.

VIHA has committed $7.6 in additional funding including four [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assertive_Community_Treatment:342cb]Assertive Community Treatment[/url:342cb] teams.

I'll try to answer any questions or comments you have.

[Mike K.]

Thanks for the update, Rob.

But which end of the cost spectrum did the panel suggest was a realistic expense (if they did that at all)? $17,000 and $47,000 is an extremely vast range to play with and doesn't end far from the estimated $50,000 we're supposedly already spending.