Happy Halloween!
by Steve Filipovic
Oh what fun this annual event is! You get to dress up and run screaming into the night trying your best to scare away those things that scare you. Death, taxes, poverty, public speaking, what is it that most scares you?
I have been facing my fears so I am able to see them clearer now. What scares me most right now is that both Dean Fortin and Rob Reid will comply with the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and hire another 60 police officers for Victoria. We don't have a problem with crime, the stats show that it has been going down in Victoria.
We do have another problem and more police can't fix it, because it is not illegal to be homeless or impoverished. We need to spend the $6 million on Housing not Policing. There has been no real increase in the rental stock of Victoria for years and the strain is showing itself both in the high rents of apartments and in the numbers who have given up and ended up on our streets.
This election is boiling down to the issues of Affordable housing and assisting our neighbours in need with the establishment of tent cities. My idea for affordable housing is rent-to-own, set up in such a manner as to distribute equity to those who care for their buildings and create positive neighbourhood relationships; co-operatives and non-profit groups play a big role in affordable housing as well.
My ideas for tent cities are to follow the lessons learned in Dignity Village Portland Oregon and to help those in need to help themselves to shelter and security. That means setting up two or three small tent communities in and around Victoria complete with running hot and cold water and washroom facilities. The people in the tents can form their own committees to establish the rules and enforce them. The police will still be responsible for ensuring that no laws are broken and can be relieved of the duties of moving people along, a policy that is getting everyone nowhere.
Location ideas: Cridge Family center for homeless families, Ellice Street park that has been usurped for housing but nothing has started yet and St. Anne's as it is a provincial property and would help motivate the province into action on these issues.
It is time to start getting excited about electing a Green Mayor. I have been doing very well at the debates and have already handed out over 2000 handbills regarding the importance of affordable housing. It is a message that is going over very well as 60-70% of Victorians are trapped in the high rental market. This election is a choice between policing and housing, I support housing make your voice known!
This election is ours to win! The plan is to network, network, network, tell all your friends and associates. Come out and help in mainstreeting call me to find out where I will be and join in the fun of chasing away our fears and bringing in a new tomorrow. It is as easy as saying hi to strangers and discovering that they feel the same way as we do about so many important issues.
Happy Halloween, be safe and have fun!
Steve Filipovic
Candidate for Mayor
250 216 5903
www.SteveFilipovic.ca
greens@stevefilipovic.ca
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