(Image credit: CFJC Today/File photo).

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Mandate community service for vandals, mess-makers

Jul 6, 2022 | 4:40 AM

LET’S BUST A MYTH about street people.

I mean the homeless as well as those who are housed in shelters but spend a lot of time on the street. The myth is that “the rest of us” regard them as worthless and undeserving, as low-lifes.

That’s not the way it is. “The rest of us” base our opinions on actions, not appearances. We don’t want our community vandalized, are disgusted when human feces appear on sidewalks. We worry when business owners are threatened in their stores.

We’re dismayed when windows are broken, and when we’re verbally harassed.

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By no means do I suggest all street folks do these things but for those who do, it comes down to lack of respect for others and for community. If the street folks would respect the community that has offered them food and shelter, if they didn’t make such a mess, that would be good enough for us.

Given their circumstances, it’s asking a lot for them to have anything resembling community spirit. I know this. Major crimes, of course, have to be dealt with by the criminal justice system. For the minor ones, which are almost as disheartening, maybe there’s another way to make a difference.

I was interested to hear BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon talking recently about the blockading of highways and bridges in Vancouver by environmental protesters. His idea was that they should have to put in a large number of community service hours.

Maybe such an approach could be applied to those who make a mess of Kamloops. Put them to work cleaning up feces, needles, broken glass, and litter. Try to get the message across that if they respect the community, the community will welcome them.

That probably sounds naïve, and it’s certainly no panacea. No doubt, there’s a bag full of bureaucratic and legislative reasons it can’t be done. But maybe it’s worth adding to the conversation.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.