When did How can I help you? turn into You had better do it or else!. ______ The recent stories reminding us of the events of the Brawl at the Hall (September 3rd 2013) should cause us to question more than just the actions on that day. We need to stop concentrating on the symptoms and deal with the real attack on the body politic. I am going to deal with this in two parts. First, the increased use of security at City Hall, and secondly, the conversion of by-law staff into enforcement officers. 1) Security overkill When did it become necessary for City Council to turn the peoples chambers into a security zone or armed camp? Before September 3rd, what occurred that necessitated the hiring of security guards to police the chambers? Someone list me all the events that preceded the brawl. For decades, City Council was able to function securely with Commissionaires who understood their role was to function as City ambassadors, not as a quasi-police force. For those unfamiliar with Commissionaires,they create meaningful employment opportunities for former members of the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and others who wish to contribute to the security and well-being of Canadians. The Commissioners knew that that they were there to help not control the public. Their mandate is service, and that is exactly what Oshawa needs in spades. The city is spending over $600,000 a year to hire professional security companies whose mindset is security and control. I am not blaming the security staff. They are trained to act in a quasi police manner and that is what they provide. The question I am asking is Why? We need to make City Hall a place where citizens feel safe and welcome, not one where they enter with trepidation and fear.The increase in security has not made the situation safer but has made more people afraid of those who should be there to help. We are seeing Senior staff and Council using the spectre of safety and security to limit access, accountability and transparency of their actions, and that is just plain wrong. 2) The creation of a new policing force in Oshawa. The growth of this security mentality does not end at City Hall chambers. Paralleling this is the transformation of by-law enforcement staff into MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. When did it become necessary for City staff to wear security vests in their day to day duties? When did the attire of our enforcement staff change from that of friendly, approachable, and helpful to that of black shirted security? Who approved that decision and why? Should our citizens not expect that their first contact with by-law should be one of education and assistance? Is Oshawa the wild west that our city staff must send out such a negative message at first meeting? When did How can I help you? turn into You had better do it or else!. This Municipal Enforcement Office is another million plus in taxes that we spend not to serve and educate the public to get compliance but to intimidate our citizens into following the rules. I do not want staff policing our by-laws nor do I want our staff to be placed in confrontation with our residents. We need to eliminate the security company mentality from City Hall and all our operations, and return our staff to what they should be, ambassadors serving our city.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 00:09:33 +0000