Usually I'm fairly upbeat and see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
A decision our city council took recently saddens me because it did not support a group of people who not only need support but deserve it.
For some time native individuals and groups have been talking about establishing a Friendship Center. Many other cities have aboriginal friendship centers and many different groups have established friendship centers. A friendship center sounds like a good deal to me.
So the group set up a plan as to what the Friendship center would do. They set up a business plan. They researched funding.
Next came finding a site for the center. This is where the wheels fell off the bus. 20 sites were considered. Of course, a site was chosen. But could they have chosen any worse site. A site was found in an industrial land which also encroached on some park land. Now this site is away from other groups and transportation would be a problem . Buses don't run to industrial areas in this town. This would be a lose lose situation.
So my take on this is that it's the same nonsense as John A. Macdonald practiced when aboriginals were put on reserves. Find the poorest , junkiest land and make it a reserve. If it's got stones...give it to the Indians. Make sure there's lots of bush and sloughs. Throw in a little alkali. So our city is behaving like governments of 150 years ago.
I believe the Center should be in a main part of the city. It allows easy access for friends to gather and also go to other facilities. Other friendship groups have very suitable sites. Elks, Moose, Foresters, Legion, Masons all have centers. They earned and deserved good sites and have made good use of them. None of them are put a way in an industrial area.
Sometimes there is just a right thing to be done. Forget about all the whiners and NIMBYs. Something needs to be done right. Let's just suck it up and do it. Quit worrying about getting elected to council again . Just do what has to be done.
I don't blame you for feeling upset about this. It sounds very unfair.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's something we can't let pass by even if it won't be changed.
DeleteI hope your political leaders come round to your way of thinking so this can get done properly.
ReplyDeleteWell, this was a done deal. Many presentations and hearings were held.
DeleteAmazing how close to what we did with native americans here in the states
ReplyDeleteIt was all the same deal. We shot all the buffalo so it would be easier to put them on reserves.
DeleteIf enough people get together to help a solution shouldn't be hard to find.
ReplyDeleteThis is a done deal. I agree a good solution shouldn't be hard to find.
DeleteThis does sound like blatant discrimination. I hope it gets fixed.
ReplyDeleteIt's really sneaky!
DeleteThis is most unfair and WHO is responsible for finalizing the decisions to allow this to even be possible. What a slap in the face - I understand the politics only to well, as we had a similar situation here with the decisions made "behind closed doors". Our local community never got a vote or a voice - like everybody that had an opinion were not permitted to speak. Decisions made for the community that only a handful of people made a chunk of money off and to heck with the people in the town. Its just sad that one feels like taking the next step towards anger and aggression towards those behind the closed doors and then the table gets turned towards the innocent citizens who get to pay higher taxes from an already very poor town. I am one of those that speak up with several others. We have done our homework and see what would work best, however, we are not on the money making end of the deal and our "citizen" ideas to make things work better for all are criticized as negative. Its only not negative when a certain bunch are making money?? I do understand and certainly hope its not too late for the right thing to be done. Excellent, however sad post Red - this is one of the reasons I visit with you - you are one of the few that will express " how it is".
ReplyDeleteOur council is very good about doing business in the open. There were many hearings on this issue. Some of it involves money. You and I know that if you take the money out of the equation much better decisions are made.
DeleteIs there any recourse for this problem? Will it come up for another vote or is this already a done deal? Keep me posted, Red, if anything is done to rectify this injustice.
ReplyDeleteIt's a done deal. However , done deals sometimes fall off the tracks. It's a very backdoor kind of stuff. Many people would think that they are doing good.
Deleteno doubt, if public transportation is not available to the site, it will be underutilized or a 'throwaway'. and that's just a shame.
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly right about under used and throw away and then who gets blamed for the failure.
DeleteWhat an injustice! I agree with you they are probably afraid they won't get reelected so are taking a safe way out. Terrible.
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
¸.•°❤❤⊱彡
There are also some influential people who pushed hard on this one and the friendship guys didn't have a lot behind them.
DeleteHope they don't throw in the towel. Since they researched it so well, perhaps a solution will come forward. These types of projects always have more naysayers than supporters, but that does not mean they cannot be done.
ReplyDeleteThis is typical of many politicians. INcluding ours who blocked me! He sent me a long rant claiming I'm spouting rhetoric!
ReplyDeleteYou go, Red. Maybe someone will listen. Write a letter to your paper. Make some noise! You cannot be alone.
I am feeling rather alone here, with the Algonquin Land Claims. But I keep ranting. We are kindred spirits!
I couldn't agree with you more, Keith. This is a terrible decision because it further marginalizes a group of people who need to be supported in full view.
ReplyDelete