The Abbotsford Monitor Article Archive

Article Archive - James Breckenridge
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I had not known Hunger took Holidays
Evidently in Abbotsford hunger takes the last summer long weekend off. What else explains the “meal gap” from lunch Saturday August 4th through lunch Tuesday August 7th, a gap of 72 long hungry hours - if hunger was not taking a Holiday that is?

Usually lunch is available Sundays and Mondays, but with hunger on Holiday the fellowship of the organizations that had taken responsibility for serving lunch on those days joined hunger on Holiday.

Imagine my surprise at finding Hunger on Holiday, as my personal experience with homelessness was that hunger was a pretty constant companion, a gnawing worry.

A simple phone call was all that was needed to set in motion the provision of lunch on Monday, that and a willingness to ask some people to volunteer some time to set up and serve lunch.

Which is what made Hunger Sunday so frustrating – another simple call and Sunday 41 for the year could have been covered with those simple, but hunger appeasing bagged lunches.

I suppose that if the sacrifice to serve lunch on this holiday weekend was to much, I should not expect the effort to give warning so those who understand the meaning of commitment could step in and serve lunch.

Hunger, need, suffering and our host of other social ills take no Holidays.

denouement

It was not unexpected for me in the course of this week to today, Friday August 10, 2007, be given a letter from the Salvation Army serving notice to move from residence at the Salvation Army.

My biggest worry about moving on is that at my car is not running well. So if you know someone would could donate their time to get my VW running at least semi-well and passing Air Care or has a station wagon or van (I am not a small person) for sale cheap .... send me an email at homelessinabbotsford@hotmail.com.

Better yet if you know someone who has a place to rent our at a low rental price OR someone who has an employment need for a literate, computer friendly ex-accountant with a passion for bringing about social change. Send them my way or my email address.
Posted by James W Breckenridge on Sunday, August 12, 2007 at 02:22

WHY?
Why?

Why is the City of Abbotsford dragging its heels over giving support to an initiative to help some of the homeless through a card program modelled on Mission’s successful Red/Gold card programs?

Is it not disgraceful enough that once again an initiative to supply basic humanitarian aid in meeting fraction of the life sustaining needs of the homeless and poor in Abbotsford has to be carried forward by so very few caring citizens?

Through the hard work and inspiration of the few involved with gathering the support and resources to launch even this limited, but so badly needed program, a hundred meals a month will be added to the battle against hunger in our city. The program will also provides some other acutely needed items, but will not at this time be able to provide showers.

A proposal, a request, that the city support this program by providing a hundred showers a month has apparently fallen on deaf ears. Not only has the city failed to grant this request, they have failed to grant the courtesy of a reply on the matter to the hard working citizens who are seeking to contribute to the spirit and well being of Abbotsford.

With two recreation centres in the city it would cost the city… nothing but the political will to act in providing showers to the homeless.

A simple, effective action and yet the city does nothing. Why?
Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 at 01:34

…hands in your pockets …

The little ditty they sing on that commercial about bankers always having their hands in your pocket came to mind as I read the sign at Abbotsford Recreation Center about fee increases. And no, it was not the fact that they were charging we citizens more to use the facility on the same day they were cancelling or cutting back access and services.

It is that I have lived in Abbotsford for nigh on two decades, lived through and paid many fee increases, which in all those prior years took effect on September 1. Why was the effective date moved up this year? The only explanation I can think of is that the city coffers have been drained so empty by Plan A, that even the modest extra cash flow from this early fee increase is desperately needed by the city.

I am afraid to ask how long it will be before we face quarterly fee increases or inventive new fees. With quarterly increases the city can claim: “See, we only put your fees up 2.5%!” or disingenuously ask “What are you implying, what do you mean that is over 10% increase for the entire year?”

Just think, if council was to do tax increases on a quarterly basis they could claim taxes only went up 4% this quarter year.

And this is why that little ditty is running through my head.

…hands in your pockets …
Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Friday, July 06, 2007 at 19:03

Big Blue Bus rolls into Abbotsford
I read in the Abbotsford News on Saturday June 23, 2007 about Mr. David Poulette and his big blue bus and would like to extend both thanks and a welcome to Abbotsford. With the growing number of homeless on the streets of Abbotsford there is plenty of need for more compassion and for action based leadership.

Since anyone who has not had their head buried in the sand was and is aware that part of the growing numbers of homeless on Abbotsford streets is due to migration from Vancouver it was not a surprise that Mr. Poulette was aware of this flow. What was a surprise, a most pleasant surprise, is Mr. Poulette’s response to this knowledge. He acquired a second bus, followed the homeless and provided leadership to get a few local churches involved with his program.

In a City that prides itself on being one of the most affluent in Canada; that prides itself on the number of churches within its borders; that prides itself on being a “Christian” community; that prides, nay boasts about, being the most giving (donations) city in Canada; the need for the big blue bus demonstrates exactly how hollow this pride, this false pride is.

A Vancouver resident sees the increase of homeless in Abbotsford, from downtown Vancouver and heads out to Abbotsford to provide caring, compassion and food. And a badly needed example and lesson for the citizens of Abbotsford on caring, compassion and simple Christian charity.

Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 00:20

A letter to the residents of Clearbrook:
While I cannot say I share exactly your frustration over recovery houses, homelessness and crime problems, I can say I too am intensely frustrated over recovery houses, homelessness and the crime fallout from the way people and politicians continue to fail to exercise basic common sense in responding to the situation.

I concur that we need a recovery house policy, not to appease citizens but to protect the addict(s) in recovery who are seeking safe and supportive housing to continue their journey of recovery. Having witnessed the damage and pain that results for those who have the misfortune to end up in one of the houses that has nothing to do with recovery, I whole heartedly agree that we as a community owe it to those seeking recovery to ensure that is what they will find at a recovery house in our City.

What I find so frustrating is the continued failure of people and politicians to exercise common sense by asking some basic and obvious questions, then proceeding to address the issues raised by these questions. So here are some questions for the residents of Clearbrook to think about – and to demand the City answer.

Where are the displaced residents from houses that close going to go? Why would those who find themselves “released to homelessness” do anything other than join the ranks of the homeless who currently call the Clearbrook area home? There are no services, resources or housing to draw them away from the Clearbrook area, an area they are familiar with.

Have you considered the effect that dumping between 100 and 200 newly made homeless onto the streets of Clearbrook will have on the area? If you think you have problems with crime, homeless and addicts in the area now, what do you think is going to be the result of tossing large numbers of additional people onto the streets?

Are you prepared for the newly made homeless to take up residence in sheds, yards, parks, doorways, under trees and bushes, on the sidewalks etc? These people are homeless why would you expect them to just disappear? Where else do the homeless have to go?

Why is it that when these points were raised with the City over a year ago, when they first began to work on recovery house regulations, they have failed to address the most basic and pressing question of what/where are you going to do with those released to homelessness?

What kind of neighbour, what kind of citizen are you? Are you about solving these problems or are you about chasing them to some other part of the City, into someone else’s backyard as the homeless were harassed out of the downtown and into Clearbrook?

What is the point of the City chasing the homeless, the poor from residential neighbourhood to residential neighbourhood when they have no other place to go but around in circles, from spot to spot within the City? Would it not be common sense to provide leadership, support and political will to provide viable alternatives for housing, support and recovery?

Do you want to continue to act thoughtlessly or to act with purpose in pursuing long term, solution focused policies? Do you want these problems and issues to continue endlessly into the future, worsening year by year, or do you want to achieve the goal of the issues and ending these problems?

Think about it, then demands the city, provincial and federal governments begin to act with thoughtful common sense…
Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 17:12

Tax refugee??
As his neighbours can tell you Mark Taylor has sold his home in Abbotsford and purchased a larger new home in Langley.

While I cannot say that Langley’s lower taxes are what have drawn Mr. Taylor there, it is certainly ironic that after playing a leading part in inflicting a heavy tax burden on the taxpayers of Abbotsford Mr. Taylor is himself fleeing to the lower taxes of Langley.

Perhaps it is merely that Mr. Taylor is seeking a community where he will have no problem finding a public pool to cool off in should our weather ever heat up to summer temperatures. Langley and many other smaller communities, have more indoor and outdoor pool facilities than Abbotsford. They probably also have enough common sense to hire people who have experience building pools and know what they are doing, thus avoiding extended shutdowns as is happening with Centennial Pool.

Possibly it is the many other sports and recreation facilities and programs that the citizens of Langley enjoy that the citizens of Abbotsford lack that motivate Mr Taylor’s relocation. If so perhaps Mr. Taylor should be raising the matter or these recreational inadequacies with …… himself as Abbotsford’s parks, recreation and culture head honcho.

Undeniably his move does suggest that a white elephant of an arena is not a deciding factor, even someone responsible for foisting it upon Abbotsford, in making Abbotsford is a “must live” community. Just as clearly Langley’s lack of said white elephant is no deterrent to people moving there.

Apparently Abbotsford is fine place to take an exorbitant salary from, just not somewhere you want to live. A comment on Mr. Taylor’s opinion of the outcomes of the actions he and the rest of Abbotsford City Hall have wreaked upon our poor (much poorer) City?
Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 18:19

Defiling Canada's Honour
I have always been proud to be a Canadian. Proud of our history, our behaviour, the reputation and perception of Canada held by countries and people around the world. That is until lately.

Mr. Harper is not the first prime minister I thought more closely resembled the southern end of a northbound horse. I have often found prime ministers seemingly out of touch with the reality of life for many working, poor and homeless citizens. Lacking in even basic logic, leadership, vision and of questionable intelligence one still had to admire the political sophistication and gamesmanship that made them Prime Ministers.

Perhaps it is that Mr. Harper is the first true ideologue we have had leading Canada.

What ever it is that causes his behaviour on the international stage it needs to stop. Whether Mr. Harper begins to behave rationally or is removed from office by his caucus, party or Canadian voters his policies and behaviour internationally must be changed now.

Where once Canada was respected, consulted and sought out because of its conduct, guiding principles and earned respect, Canada is now becoming an international outcast, a war mongering bully whose word is questionable.

At the just finished G8 summit Mr. Harper was already backing away, making hackneyed excuses, from the global warming agreement he had just made at the summit. There he stood in front of the cameras at the first post climate change press conference already justifying not enforcing or meeting the agreed upon emissions reduction targets.

I stipulate that I do not know if it is lack of understanding of basic scientific principles, adequate grey matter to understand those basic scientific principles, simple denial or a pathetic need to curry favour with George Bush by parroting his climate change obfuscations.

I do know that leadership is about making hard choices for the long term good of the nation and the world. Worrying about and making excuses based on short term disruptions and costs that can be handled while ignoring the potential disaster of failing to act, is short sighted political and ideological opportunism totally lacking in leadership.

We must accept that there will be costs to correcting our ecological behaviour, reach reasonable targets and goals with our European allies and be a trustworthy partner in striving for a better future for our country and children. The costs and consequences of not acting are far higher than that of thoughtful action taken now. Just as there are costs and consequences of being seen by the international community as a country whose words and promises are worthless.

I do not care if on a personal level Mr. Harper demonstrates he is not trustworthy. I do care when his actions so damage the Honour of Canada as to injure our standing and perception around the world and erode my pride in being Canadian.


Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 14:27

Two items making the news ...
...Friday June 1st caught my attention.

First was the firing of BC Lottery Corp CEO Vic Poleschuck. It was refreshing to see someone earning an overly generous salary at taxpayer’s expense actually be held accountable for bad management, a lack of judgment and lying to the Minister and public about the real facts concerning BCLC.

Of course it leaves me wondering: in light of the fiasco of Centennial Pool; writing a letter to the public and signing the mayor name; the lies told about Plan A (e.g. - actual advertising was 250% higher than claimed); the reduction in city services; the reductions of maintenance at city facilities (and who knows what that will cost us in the longer term?); uneconomical, bad business practices; bungling management; not an iota of judgment; – just why is it that Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Theichroeb and Mr. Taylor are not packing their bags and heading off to join Mr. Poleschuck on the unemployment line?

The second news Item concerned the Vancouver Convention Center’s massive cost overrun - $300+ million and climbing. In fact this project may well run 100% over budget ending up with a price tag closer to a $billion$ than to the original contract price. The government is still unable to even guess at what the final price will be because it is still negotiating that with the Contractor, the contractor they signed the original contract with at half of what it will end up costing the taxpayers.

The reason this should be of interest or concern to Abbotsford’s beleaguered citizens is that the contractor is PCL. The hospital reasonably on budget is a P3. The convention center 100(+?)% over budget is government to PCL. The Abbotsford projects are – government to PCL.

Clearly PCL has the ability with government contracts to double the cost. We need someone to oversee the projects to ensure large cost overruns do not occur. This means City Hall’s demonstrated criteria for letting contracts, the lowest bid or being “nice guys” in not an appropriate way to make a choice to protect the citizens of Abbotsford interests.

On projects the size of Plan A we should expect to be paying $4 – $5 million to the company we choose to protect our interests (and pocket books) in overseeing the construction. You get what you pay for and paying less than this does not get you the oversight you need. The unreasonable bid council accepted for oversight gets you rubber stamping and potentially 100% cost overruns. Council needs to revisit their decision on the contract to oversee the construction in order to ensure proper construction oversight.

If they are building Plan A the least they could do is do it with sound business and management practices – and at least an iota of sound judgment and common sense.


Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Saturday, June 02, 2007 at 17:15

MLAs should strike so we can see if we miss them.
Just had to share this gem by Regina - James W. B.

Our local MLA Mike de Jong was on TV recently, calling NDP leader Carole James ‘hypocritical’ for her stand on the Liberals’ salary and pension bill.

The report also showed de Jong’s leader, Gordon Campbell, decrying ‘gold-plated pensions’ when he was opposition leader.

De Jong is a tad perplexed since James has cleverly managed to put the spotlight back where it belongs – on the greedy and hypocritical Liberals themselves.

Why can’t MLAs be like all other self-respecting workers and go on strike until we, as taxpayers, come up with a reasonable rate of increase for them?

Then we could find out whether we would actually miss them or not.
Posted by Regina Dalton on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 17:30

No easy answers/
Crime-ridden Clearbrook issued a call for an interesting variation of the NIMBY syndrome, calling on the City of Abbotsford to solve their crime problems by driving this mayhem into other neighbourhoods. With neighbours like that …

Although one can see why residents advocate this course of action, since many of Clearbrook’s current crime problems arise as a result of actions by the Downtown Business Association (DBA), it remains a very un-neighbourly way to behave and ultimately self-defeating.

While the previous paragraphs have a certain tongue-in-cheek component, at their core is a solid truth. The police are not a solution, clearly demonstrated by Clearbrook’s current difficulties. Months ago, when the DBA was using the police to drive many of the homeless out of the downtown area and away from their survival support systems, I pointed out all they were really doing was being bad neighbours, inflicting their problems on their neighbours throughout the city.

It is currently Clearbrook’s misfortune and massive headache that they are the victims of the major portion of the fallout of the Downtown Abbotsford Businesses behaviour. That the calamity currently befalling Clearbrook is thanks to the DBA, is no excuse to solve Clearbrook’s problems by inflicting them on another neighbourhood. All the police would do is chase the problem out of Clearbrook into someone else’s backyard – nice for Clearbrook, hard on the sacrificial neighbourhood.

The uncomfortable, perhaps even painful truth is that the only way to solve these problems, as opposed to just inflicting them on someone else, is to stop repeating what we have done over and over ad nauseum to no avail, and begin to act with thought, planning, deliberation and commitment to actually end the problems with housing and support services that have led to Clearbrook’s miseries.

It is not by accident that Clearbrook, with no social support such as the Food Bank or Salvation Army, is being laid waste by crime. Lacking any support the homeless and those living in poverty must in effect pillage the Clearbrook neighbourhood for their daily survival. We can either keep the homeless et al moving from neighbourhood to neighbourhood like a ravaging Mongol horde until they arrive back at their starting point in downtown old Abbotsford OR we can take intelligent actions.

Insanely keep doing the same thing over and over hoping for a different outcome this time OR think and act to end homelessness. Choose, although it does seem a pretty clear choice to this citizen.
Posted by James W. Breckenridge on Friday, May 25, 2007 at 19:18

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