Image: CFJC Today / File

By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Time to get the City back on track

Jan 6, 2023 | 4:29 AM

AS A NEWSMAN, controversy and infighting provide great stories. Always something to talk about and you can always find some angle to chase on a slow news day.

But as a long-time Kamloops resident, squabbling is bad for all of us. It prohibits the setting of goals and strategies to reach them. And that’s why the City has to deal with the friction that’s been around for the better part of a year.

It is time to find a common ground that will allow the interests of Kamloops to move ahead.

Much of the problem seems to centre around comments made by then-Mayoralty candidate Reid Hamer-Jackson. Reid campaigned largely on the idea of cleaning up trouble spots, particularly in the west end of the City.

He talked about Ask Wellness and how homeless shelters and groups running them needed to be accountable. That resulted in lawyers getting involved. Messy stuff.

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And then he talked about making sure some departments in the city’s administration needed to be held accountable. Again, messy stuff.

After the election there was talk the Mayor allegedly asked security staff to have cameras pointed in a way that would provide a view of his West Victoria business. He denies it. If Reid Hamer-Jackson the businessman made that request, fine. But Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson making that request is a no-no. At the very least, the optics are terrible.

It gives the wrong impression to the taxpayers. I’m not sure yet if the Mayor recognizes it. There are many people, I’m sure, who would be more than happy to help him.

He is no longer a rookie. If he hasn’t got it by now, then he needs some guidance. And then he needs to sit down with Bob Hughes of Ask Wellness and whoever else has to be there, and put this bickering to bed. No demands or apologies – put the past behind and have some serious dialogue about what we need to do to go forward.

Then maybe council needs to look at some kind of retreat or planning session to examine some priorities and goals to make them happen. Once that is established, get the administration involved and on board so they can do the jobs they’re paid to do.

We need to get rid of the lawyers. They are not going to help with advancing the City’s needs. Maybe they need to provide advice from time to time, but they need to be in the background, not the foreground.

The Mayor told James Peters on a year-end television show he was willing to talk with people. Mr. Mayor, this is your chance to lead. Don’t wait for someone to come to you, initiate the meeting, through proper channels, and show the leadership we need to get through the struggles we’re bound to face in the next two or three years.

We need to know there’s a team leading us, not a divided group that will accomplish nothing but provide newspeople with a plethora of negative story ideas and a paucity of positive ones.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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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.