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regards
Jim Routledge - 250 616 2151
Twitter: @JimRoutledge
Facebook: Jim Routledge for Mayor
www.jimroutledge.com
6021 Hammond Bay Rd, Nanaimo V9T 5M4
Monday, October 24, 2011
Petition authorized City WIde
YES PETITION GOES CITY WIDE
As author of the Nanaimo North Supportive Housing YES Petition - I am authorizing any one in Nanaimo to sign it. This has clearly become an issue to everyone in Nanaimo.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLOWING LINK TO SIGN THE PETITION IN FAVOUR OF THE UPLANDS PROJECT
www.petitiononline.com
Nanaimo North-Supportive Housing YES Petition, hosted at PetitionOnline.com
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Tenant Age Question - Uplands Supportive House
Good question was raised last night at the Concerned Citizens about the Uplands Supportive House meeting about the age of the tenants that may be occupying the facility. I would like to offer the following information & analysis in support of my comments that a "Fairway Woods" type facility (ie seniors oriented age 55--64) is a valid option.
The following 2 links are to the actual Expression of Interest (EOI) documents. The first is the main specification of what is being called for and the 2nd is clarifying some details in response to questions that came in on 1)
This is very similar to the process of a tender call for construction of a school or anything. The main requirements come out and addenda follow to clarify details.
1)
http://www.bchousing.org/resources/Call_documents/PHI/Nanaimo_DufferinUpland_2011/Nanaimo_DufferinUplands.pdf
2) http://www.bchousing.org/resources/Call_documents/PHI/Nanaimo_DufferinUpland_2011/EOI_1070-1112-525_Addendum_1.pdf
The only age related reference in the specification that I can see is on page 2 of 1).
"Proponents are encouraged to identify opportunities to house a mix of target groups including street youth (ie. 18-30 years of age) and women with children who are at risk of homelessness"
Ok, so this means what?
I say that "are encouraged" means "please try but if you dont, you will not be ruled out just for that reason"
So I can see good reason to think that a "Fairway Woods" type proposal (ie.age 55+) would be a valid option for Uplands at this time.
Am I missing something?
The following 2 links are to the actual Expression of Interest (EOI) documents. The first is the main specification of what is being called for and the 2nd is clarifying some details in response to questions that came in on 1)
This is very similar to the process of a tender call for construction of a school or anything. The main requirements come out and addenda follow to clarify details.
1)
http://www.bchousing.org/resources/Call_documents/PHI/Nanaimo_DufferinUpland_2011/Nanaimo_DufferinUplands.pdf
2) http://www.bchousing.org/resources/Call_documents/PHI/Nanaimo_DufferinUpland_2011/EOI_1070-1112-525_Addendum_1.pdf
The only age related reference in the specification that I can see is on page 2 of 1).
"Proponents are encouraged to identify opportunities to house a mix of target groups including street youth (ie. 18-30 years of age) and women with children who are at risk of homelessness"
Ok, so this means what?
I say that "are encouraged" means "please try but if you dont, you will not be ruled out just for that reason"
So I can see good reason to think that a "Fairway Woods" type proposal (ie.age 55+) would be a valid option for Uplands at this time.
Am I missing something?
Leadership - time to step up
I found 2 things remarkable about last nights Concerned Citizens meeting:
1) the high number in support - 1/4 to 1/3rd of the crowd stood up at the beginning of the meeting to indicated support for the project in response to Moderator Mark MacDonald's request
2) a missing link - I saw nothing of the one person that I came to see & hear
I was asked to respond to 4 questions/issues coming from last night:
1) Council has been "too" behind doors about this whole process
The "whole process" is hard to understand in this case - there is a simple part of it that could have, much like the HST, been introduced much better. It was known some 3 years ago that 5 supportive homes would end up being built next door to "someone". A campaign to educate "residents" that would be "next door" to the locations, could have been rolled out. I know that the locations were not known then - this simply does not matter, I would tell everybody as if they were, going to be next door. Had it been started years ago we would not have so many stuck in quicksand on this - desperately trying to find straws to grasp that will lead them somewhere comfortable and also to understand "what went wrong" & "why didnt I know more"
2) no public meetings have taken place to allow the residents to talk on these issues and learn what is going on.
Public meetings could have been part of a campaign to involve the community once the decision was made, once the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Province was signed. I took this signing as a clear statement of what the City, the Council & the Mayor wanted. Going forward: lesson learned, be prepared. Perhaps round table discussions televised on shaw, neighbourhood meetings with Mayor, public meetings to just talk & listen. A communications "department" in the Mayors office might also help get information out clearly, accurately & in a timely manner. The city has a voice for its role in operations, what about one for the role of public policy?
3) There is alot of misunderstanding about what is proposed for the area.
Good point - Understanding starts with the process. It still needs to be more clearly explained, in terms average people get. What is the process of building a Supportive House. Who does what, when & where do we (a city like Nanaimo) fit in the process. Then I can start to see the options that are possible and which if any I'd prefer.
For me this part has been particularly interesting because I did come to realize after much independant work, that yes the "experts" were doing a good job, they are skilled and that the "process" was in fact working just fine. I could start to get back to my life with some confidence that I really was "doing the best I could do" by trusting "the process"
I spoke with Mark last night - a newcomer to Nanaimo, 40ish resident of Nanaimo's North End, just moved from Toronto with a teacher wife and their 7 & 9 yr old children. He is in IT and like me, used to work for IBM. He was very concerned about the issue having 7 & 9 year old children and a teacher wife in any drug related environment. It was hard for him to understand and accept the process as it exists with this issue. It is different than the type of process he & I found in a corporate IT environment. I could empathize with him.
In Corporate IT, Construction or Commerce in general for that matter, the Solution goes looking for the Need. Needs are defined and specified. This is the other way around - the Need goes looking for the Solution. An "End to Homelessness" is the goal. The route to that goal is to support the people working actively with the problem. The non profits operators drive this process, they step up and propose Housing models that they want, that will work best. These non profit operators are people who live in our community too, they have kids and elderly people in their lives too, they know the importance of safety & security. They are way ahead of me on this. The best I can do is to support them, passionately if need be.
4) While everyone says they are all interested in helping homelessness the only input I see coming from the community is when they don't want homeless people in their neighbourhood. (my opinion)
Again - its all about communication and "leadership".
The success in Victoria with Cool AId & Fairway Woods, Olympic Vista and many others was in large part due to the respective Mayors of Victoria, Langford & Saanich becoming "champions" of the homelessness cause. Especially in Victoria - this came back to me repeatedly from staff and non profit group people.
Mark the IT guy from Toronto, said to me last night the most poignant statement yet in all my weeks of research.
"All I am looking for is someone to provide calm and reasoned assurance that this is being done properly"
I thought John was going to be there. I was there to support him.
I had no speech, I was dressed in cycling gear. I spoke as a neighbour, about my search leading to something that I could live with and that I believe it is still an option for us.
However poorly prepared, I was prepared to take over the role advocating for this project. I did the best I could. It is what I want for my neighbourhood and my city. I want other things too but this is a huge first step in the right direction.
What else can I do?
Friday, October 21, 2011
Who will WIN in The Supportive Housing Debate
Who said: A society is measured by how it treats its weakest members
This has been stated in several ways for over 100 years by various indiviuals, including (but not limited to) Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Dostoyevsky, Truman, etc.
Very recently by Cardinal Roger Mahony (1998):
This has been stated in several ways for over 100 years by various indiviuals, including (but not limited to) Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Dostoyevsky, Truman, etc.
Very recently by Cardinal Roger Mahony (1998):
"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members ; the last, the least, the littlest."
The past few weeks I have heard many concerns for the frail and weak, the impressionable and defenceless, and even the honored and decorated in this world, my world, Jimsworld. I have listened and learned, for anything that I was missing, for new information.
The feasibility study of the facility I like, has been in important hands, the question is has it been read, have people seen the hook that got me. The hook was that one line that said ""General acceptance of tenants and the building by the neighbourhood"
I feel obliged to share some bigger thoughts - the "Why I think its good" thoughts, the "whats in it for anyone" thoughts, the "WHO WINS" thoughts. I had sat down with a very knowledgeable person on the "Stop the Drop" issue a couple months ago and had explained my feelings, that in general terms, I can accept defeat on an issue if I can see that someone somewhere is getting something they want - that there is a net benefit to the community even if there is none to me or even a perceived cost to me.
So who wins here with the Uplands Supportive Housing - The no longer homeless tenants win, thats fairly obvious. The construction community that gets to build it wins, again obvious. The operators, support workers, building management people - there is work there for them. The business that supply, fix & dispose things, they win. Now it gets thinner.
I suggest the "industry of care providers" win because of extending the range of service.
Kids win because they see their adult role models doing something, not just talking, not just preaching but actually moving, growing and changing something.
Elders win for much the same reasons - they see the adult population truly moving, not just writing a cheque - moving in a real tangible way towards the freedom & success wars were fought and won for.
Adults win because something important is off their list - making the kids & elders happy, being constructive, positive and responsible.
The community wins because they spend their money & time efficiently.
The neighbourhood wins because of being able to include, to be able to give, tolerate, welcome, & help.
I suggest we all win if a way can be found to make this work.
Now can we please move on - I do have another bridge to build :)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Concerned Citizens - please include me...
From: Jim Routledge <routledgejim@shaw.ca>
Date: October 20, 2011 5:31:58 PM PDT
To: info@whatswrongwiththispicture.ca
Bcc: Goody Niosi <gniosi@shaw.ca>
Subject: Re: We want to know where you stand on the Uplands Low Barrier housing site
Good question Katia - Sorry for not saying hi today at Mon Petite Choux, I realized it was you were at the table beside me but you were pretty busy. Still I should have said hi, that is after all the second time we have been close enough to be introduced, my apologies. Perhaps the 3rd time I will get it right.
1. Where do you stand on the issue of the Uplands Low Barrier housing?
I am in favor of it. It can be a constructive, positive, synergistic addition to our neighbourhood. I have seen ones that I like and am willing to work hard to make a good one happen here. The operator selection process is underway - I am currently collecting information that I would like to share with you on both 1) who is going to be analyzing the tender respondents & 2) how the analysis will be conduct - ie. what objective criteria, weighting, variables & subjective considerations etc. 3) the timing of the analysis process and results. I have much to share. I need a phone number - I am wondering how to connect with you.
2) Are you for or against the development?
I am for it: Apart from the benefits to the homeless people involved. There is $36.5Million is being handed to us. This is serious money to me at least. If we don't find a way to say "yes please", we lose it. There are no ifs or buts, no delays, it is "yes please" or nothing.
The spin off effects of this for the "supportive care industry" including medical services will be significant. Apart from that, I can see that a demonstration of willingness to deal with social issues professionally & efficiently, will attract people to our community. There are many good examples of communities doing just that. Good schools, stores, recreation, water & waste treatment facilities are not the only thing that community selection decisions are based on.
I have a commitment tomorrow evening - I cant be at the Oliver Rd session.
How about Serious Coffee at 7:30am tomorrow?
Regards
Jim Routledge
On 2011-10-20, at 9:45 AM, info@whatswrongwiththispicture.ca wrote:
1. Where do you stand on the issue of the Uplands Low Barrier housing?
I am in favor of it. It can be a constructive, positive, synergistic addition to our neighbourhood. I have seen ones that I like and am willing to work hard to make a good one happen here. The operator selection process is underway - I am currently collecting information that I would like to share with you on both 1) who is going to be analyzing the tender respondents & 2) how the analysis will be conduct - ie. what objective criteria, weighting, variables & subjective considerations etc. 3) the timing of the analysis process and results. I have much to share. I need a phone number - I am wondering how to connect with you.
2) Are you for or against the development?
I am for it: Apart from the benefits to the homeless people involved. There is $36.5Million is being handed to us. This is serious money to me at least. If we don't find a way to say "yes please", we lose it. There are no ifs or buts, no delays, it is "yes please" or nothing.
The spin off effects of this for the "supportive care industry" including medical services will be significant. Apart from that, I can see that a demonstration of willingness to deal with social issues professionally & efficiently, will attract people to our community. There are many good examples of communities doing just that. Good schools, stores, recreation, water & waste treatment facilities are not the only thing that community selection decisions are based on.
I have a commitment tomorrow evening - I cant be at the Oliver Rd session.
How about Serious Coffee at 7:30am tomorrow?
Regards
Jim Routledge
On 2011-10-20, at 9:45 AM, info@whatswrongwiththispicture.ca wrote:
The Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo are canvassing candidates standing in the General Election to find out the following:
1. Where do you stand on the issue of the Uplands Low Barrier housing? Are you for or against the development?
2. Do you think that the City has an obligation to freeze development and consult with the Uplands and Hammond Bay Area communities before development commences?
We request a paragraph of no more than 200 words be submitted in response to our questions. We will only take the first 200 words of any response, so please be succinct.
Sincerely,
The Concerned Citizens of Nanaimo.
Days of Pete Maffeo
Good to see some familiar faces at the pool this morning. One was out of place though.
I have been a regular early morning pool guy pretty much since day 1, back in the 80's. Then it was Beban Park only. When the Aquatic Centre opened 10 years ago I switched over to it because of the gorgeous, gorgeous big hot pool. Sometimes I have to switch back due to closures. Faces have come & gone with a few regulars enduring, at each place.
I had an urge to visit Beban this morning to give a "Win with Jim" campaign button to Les, the first supporter of my Supportive Housing-Yes petition. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/6025Upla/petition.html I met Les in the gym, did my workout and then went to the pool. There I see Joe. Joe is an Aquatic centre guy, a fellow hot tub snob. I have learned little over the years about Joe other than he had a shoe repair business on Bowen near Northfield that closed 10 years ago when he retired. This morning I asked him, why are you here. He touches his eyes and speaks in a still deeply Hungarian accent: "my eyes", "walk from corner", "sickness".
It comes clear enough that 2 months ago he was diagnosed with Altheimers, that his vision & balance was failing, he had fallen. He was coming here now because he could. Driving was no longer an option. I asked him if I could do anything. He said no. There was nothing I could do.
I asked him who was mayor when he came to Nanaimo. He said Pete Maffeo. This is before Frank Ney. Joe has been here in Nanaimo for 54 years. He came from Hungary in 1957, escaping the Communist system on his 4th border crossing attempt. He said it was difficult to move but he did. He owned and operated Simon Shoe Repair.
I told him that I was running for Mayor, that I want a bridge to Newcastle Island and places for the homeless. He seemed to think that was ok but was really more concerned with trying to read the letters on my button. I told him to keep the button, that my name was on it and if he needed anything to have someone call me.
It brought tears to my eyes to realize that I cant make Joe happy, I cant fix him or give him what he really wants. I can only do the best I can do.
I have been a regular early morning pool guy pretty much since day 1, back in the 80's. Then it was Beban Park only. When the Aquatic Centre opened 10 years ago I switched over to it because of the gorgeous, gorgeous big hot pool. Sometimes I have to switch back due to closures. Faces have come & gone with a few regulars enduring, at each place.
I had an urge to visit Beban this morning to give a "Win with Jim" campaign button to Les, the first supporter of my Supportive Housing-Yes petition. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/6025Upla/petition.html I met Les in the gym, did my workout and then went to the pool. There I see Joe. Joe is an Aquatic centre guy, a fellow hot tub snob. I have learned little over the years about Joe other than he had a shoe repair business on Bowen near Northfield that closed 10 years ago when he retired. This morning I asked him, why are you here. He touches his eyes and speaks in a still deeply Hungarian accent: "my eyes", "walk from corner", "sickness".
It comes clear enough that 2 months ago he was diagnosed with Altheimers, that his vision & balance was failing, he had fallen. He was coming here now because he could. Driving was no longer an option. I asked him if I could do anything. He said no. There was nothing I could do.
I asked him who was mayor when he came to Nanaimo. He said Pete Maffeo. This is before Frank Ney. Joe has been here in Nanaimo for 54 years. He came from Hungary in 1957, escaping the Communist system on his 4th border crossing attempt. He said it was difficult to move but he did. He owned and operated Simon Shoe Repair.
I told him that I was running for Mayor, that I want a bridge to Newcastle Island and places for the homeless. He seemed to think that was ok but was really more concerned with trying to read the letters on my button. I told him to keep the button, that my name was on it and if he needed anything to have someone call me.
It brought tears to my eyes to realize that I cant make Joe happy, I cant fix him or give him what he really wants. I can only do the best I can do.
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