Its time to address some problems

Everyone in our city supports a good cause. Its what makes Wellington a real community.

Providing housing for those who need it – is something everyone wants our council to provide.

So why is it our resources (built from funds we have entrusted our council with) have been left in a state of decay? Because  that is the environment we have provided the less fortunate in our city.

Over the past few weeks I have met some wonderful residents of our city. And I have seen the priority our council have provided them.

Their apartments are leaking, their floors are rotten, or they suffer from serious mould problems.

But instead of prioritising funding to the residents of our city, we see money wasted on monuments, unnecessary roading through manners st, and other various developments.

Is this a council you are proud to have voted for?

Where are our priorities. Surely the well being of our citizens should come first.

Safety in our city is also a real concern.

Today I meet a local resident who had been beaten up by a group of teenagers only metres from his council apartment. He was now scared to venture out from his home – to even do his laundry. And what was the council doing to combat this horrific incident? According to this elderly gentleman, absolutely nothing.

Its time our council was pro-active and came up with real solutions to some very real problems, that to date it has attempted to sweep under the carpet. More can be done. Bans are for lazy politicians and won’t protect anyone from being attacked. We need to get to the root of the problems.

Its time we had a council that cared about its citizens. That put the safety and well being of our community first.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/the-wellingtonian/3893158/The-Wellingtonian-editorial-Time-for-serious-action-on-liquor, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2683897/Youth-crime-unexploded-time-bomb

Our youth

What is our council doing for our youth?  Are we using our resources to their full potential? Or has council been silently under resourcing investment in our youth?

Well if library funding cuts are any indication, then yes they are.

We need council policies for youth that provide positive outcomes, not bans that will get them into trouble with the law. As young people become more positive, productive, and independent, the whole community benefits.

Libraries are one aspect of engaging our youth in educational activities. But there are others. Here are a few success stories, that perhaps we could develop in Wellington.

In Nelson they have started up a program that matches troubled teenagers with abandoned animals. And the results are amazing. Teenagers who have had nothing to do apart from wander the streets looking for trouble have found a new purpose in life. This is something our council and local SPCA could also do? Lets make it happen.

In Luton they have developed a community trust in partnership with other charities and central government, to engage with youth in order to improve abandoned and misused spaces, often associated with trouble. By engaging youth to adopt and improve their own spaces, it became their space. And if they own it, then it will be looked after and not be vandalised by graffiti. Because lets face it, graffiti is a reflection of a youth wanting identity, acknowledgement and  purpose.

In the UK they have developed a national activity-based social inclusion programme for young people called “positive futures”. It uses sports programs to engage youth (and their families) in positive activities. Steering kids away from crime, drugs, and alcohol misuse.

In Bristol, the council developed a “go places do things” webpage, and actively engaged with local schools (and parents) to increase participation in activities outside of school. We should be seeking more council brokerage of community opportunities in volunteer and sports activities.

Our council needs to be pro-active in assisting local clubs to grow their memberships. We need to be in active partnership with schools and clubs. And as I have said before, supporting local sports clubs in their governance, administration, and marketing.

Because, if we address the source of our problems, we won’t need to ban anything.

http://communityspacechallenge.org, http://www.posfutures.org.uk, http://www.goplacesdothings.org.uk, http://www.thenelsonark.co.nz/programmes.html

Solutions banned

Council recently proposed a city wide ban of liquor in an attempt to hide an unsightly problem that has come from a small group in our community. A booze ban is already in place in central Wellington, Aro Valley and the Mt Victoria lookout.

Not surprisingly, the majority of people in our communities spoke out against such a heavy handed response. Who wants to be arrested for having  a glass of wine or beer at a picnic or BBQ, in one of the many parks of Wellington.

As a compromise, council voted to extend the current liquor ban area to Mt Cook and Newtown, but not the entire city. So much for addressing the real problems and trying to figure out why its happening in the first place.

A city wide ban is a complete cop out. But some in council still wanted it.

Real courage is addressing the issue and working with those communities that require a real solution. Sweeping it under the carpet, is just lazy and heavy handed. Get off your hands council, talk with all the parties, and find a real solution that works for everyone.

Surely someone in the community must know why its happening. They might even have a few ideas on how to reverse this unwanted drinking culture. Its amazing what can happen when you talk with people.

And isn’t it amazing to see that council are now beginning to be concerned about not listening to their communities. Well some on council. Others still think they know best. Amazing how an election focuses the hearing. But all a bit late, I would have thought, given councils record of not listening for the last three years. Especially for those who voted to ignore our voices (how they voted is at the bottom of the newspaper article, if you want to hold them accountable in the forthcoming election).

It also appears some on council have really lost the plot? Instead of a civil and informed debate we get intimidation and bullying. If our council are unable to set a good example, how can they judge the conduct of others?

Some voters have already aired their dismay over the councils pitiful performance, observing:

“Perhaps it’s time for the mayor (and some councilors) to seriously consider stepping down from council with a little dignity, because this is not only embarrassing, it’s also not conduct one expects from people supposed to be representing our city.”

And another, observing:

“The broom needs to be swept through the council chambers this election.”

I agree.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3847716/Mayor-loses-on-city-wide-liquor-ban, http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=25746