Vital Signs Questionnaire; the questions and my answers.

Here is the link   www.vitalvernon.org/shawn-lee-1 Enjoy the read!
Vote for Shawn Lee for Vernon City Council. Cheers

Is it Council`s Fault?

Homelessness, illicit use of drugs, and associated criminal activities, are not new to our city but certainly have come to a head recently. Does the City of Vernon share in the responsibility for this situation? Perhaps, but I think it is unfair to single out one jurisdiction and point the finger. IHA, Mental health, Social Services, and the RCMP all have dealings and responsibilities with this abiding social problem.

Perhaps the City could be held accountable for not making their request for help more urgent and timely. Recent activity by the Activate Safety Task force brought the seriousness of the problem faced by members of our community to the forefront. This increased awareness will hopefully lead to some positive measures by those with the mandate to protect all members of our community.

As a member of council I would support an effort by Council to bring interested parties together to seek to ameliorate the situation. 

The recent task force itself recognized the paucity of input from such invaluable groups as the IHA, Mental Health or the Vernon Social Planning Council. This social problem with have no quick and easy solution but with the good will and cooperation of all, some solutions will surely be found.

Criticism of The Activate Safety Task Report.

Just noted the Infotel release of the council candidates responses to whether they supported the task forces recommendations to city council. Many candidates chose not respond. This I understand. Dangerous ground to offer criticism when emotions were running high. I stand by my responses as reported by Infotel. To this news sites credit they choose to print my response in its entirety. Here is the link  infotel.ca/newsitem/seven-vernon-city-council-candidates-critical-of-the-activate-safety-task-force/it56250

Does Vernon need a purpose built City Council?

I noted the other day on line a comment that was somewhat alarming. It went something like this; "what we need is a purpose built council". Perhaps there exists a group of like minded people who would like to see Vernon go in a particular direction. Such a group could  persuade a number candidates to run as a slate. Candidates of such a coalition  would encourage their supporters to vote for members of their group with the hope of gaining control of the new council. A slate of candidates is smallest manifestation of party politics which I believe is not in the best interest of the City of Vernon. 

By only voting for their slate their supporters do not dilute their votes by voting for other candidates which in reality would be votes against themselves. This practice greatly increases their chances of getting elected.  I ask the question does a slate exist in the Vernon municipal election? 

If such a group of candidates exists there is only one thing I can say for sure, I am not part of it. Usually slates are very open about their affiliations and likewise with their agreed upon agenda for the coming term.  Perhaps this hypothetical slate is trying to be low key, to keep things quiet. By being quiet the organizer of the slate has the best chance of being elected or re-elected as the case maybe.
I do think it would be wise to elect a group who have already have made their minds up on many issues. Such a council would limit debate and would approach many issues with their minds already made up without all the information. That is what a purpose built would look like. Vernon does not need such a Council.
What I believe Vernon needs is council made up of independent folks with a wide range of experience; open minded individuals willing to engage in honest open public debate. I believe such council would be more likely to make timely decisions with the greater good in mind.
I want to be part of a such a Council. Please vote for Shawn Lee

Will The New RCMP Officers actually result in more police presence in Vernon?

I believe that Vernon has been well served by the members of the RCMP who serve in our regional detachment. The maintenance of an adequate number of members is an ongoing challenge for the chief constable. He has to deal at any given time, with constables who are sick, away on stress leave or on maternity leave. It isn’t always possible to replace those officers who for whatever legitimate reasons are unable to work. Thus the numbers on active duty can vary highly depending on the above factors and the unique demographic of our local force.

Therefore we have the appearance of a chronically under staffed police force. Is the solution simply to add more officers to our local detachment? You might think so but I think a more useful question would be how are the forces we now fund deployed? Are they visible to the public they serve and protect? Are the known to us? Are they known to our children? Are they known to the business community? Are they known to the homeless? By known I mean respected and trusted? Is the force we now fund being used to best advantage?

Much of modern policing keeps these dedicated officers behind desks, writing reports, or waiting in provincial courts to testify. Surely there must be ways to streamline these necessary duties so our officers could get back on the street and in our neighbourhoods where their presence will foster the security and safety we all seek?

As a councillor I would support all measures that would get our police out of the “office” so to speak and into our community. I believe that an increased presence would actually result in less need for enforcement and paradoxically free up more time for “presence”. Please vote Shawn Lee for Vernon City Council. I believe that Vernon has been well served by the members of the RCMP who serve in our regional detachment. The maintenance of an adequate number of members is an ongoing challenge for the chief constable. He has to deal at any given time, with constables who are sick, away on stress leave or on maternity leave. It isn’t always possible to replace those officers who for whatever legitimate reasons are unable to work. Thus the numbers on active duty can vary highly depending on the above factors and the unique demographic of our local force.

Therefore we have the appearance of a chronically under staffed police force. Is the solution simply to add more officers to our local detachment? You might think so but I think a more useful question would be how are the forces we now fund deployed? Are they visible to the public they serve and protect? Are the known to us? Are they known to our children? Are they known to the business community? Are they known to the homeless? By known I mean respected and trusted? Is the force we now fund being used to best advantage?

Much of modern policing keeps these dedicated officers behind desks, writing reports, or waiting in provincial courts to testify. Surely there must be ways to streamline these necessary duties so our officers could get back on the street and in our neighbourhoods where their presence will foster the security and safety we all seek?

As a councillor I would support all measures that would get our police out of the “office” so to speak and into our community. I believe that an increased presence would actually result in less need for enforcement and paradoxically free up more time for “presence”.

I believe that Vernon has been well served by the members of the RCMP who serve in our regional detachment. The maintenance of an adequate number of members is an ongoing challenge for the chief constable. He has to deal at any given time, with constables who are sick, away on stress leave or on maternity leave. It isn’t always possible to replace those officers who for whatever legitimate reasons are unable to work. Thus the numbers on active duty can vary highly depending on the above factors and the unique demographic of our local force.

Therefore we have the appearance of a chronically under staffed police force. Is the solution simply to add more officers to our local detachment? You might think so but I think a more useful question would be how are the forces we now fund deployed? Are they visible to the public they serve and protect? Are the known to us? Are they known to our children? Are they known to the business community? Are they known to the homeless? By known I mean respected and trusted? Is the force we now fund being used to best advantage?

Much of modern policing keeps these dedicated officers behind desks, writing reports, or waiting in provincial courts to testify. Surely there must be ways to streamline these necessary duties so our officers could get back on the street and in our neighborhoods where their presence will foster the security and safety we all seek?

As a councillor I would support all measures that would get our police out of the “office” so to speak and into our community. I believe that an increased presence would actually result in less need for enforcement and paradoxically free up more time for“presence”.  www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/212810/1.1-mil-for-6-new-cops

Thoughts on the Mayors Forum .

It was was most informative to hear each the Candidates respond to questions formulated by the Chamber and DVA. As candidates for city for Council we have received the same four questions. I will post my own responses later.
When four people are asked the same questions their answers start to blend. My approach for evaluating the candidates for mayor centers on whether they have two qualities. Firstly does the candidate understand civic government and workings of council? Being a new Mayor will be like drinking from a fire hose: a lot to decide and delegate in a very short order. Knowing the essentials will help.
Secondly does the candidate give me the impression that he would be able equitably chair a council meeting? There is great deal of information and protocols  needed at one's fingertips and then there is the camera. There needs to be balance of tolerance and direction by the Mayor which will lead to an open atmosphere, fostering honest debate, insightful questions and timely decisions.
Remember to vote Shawn Lee for  Vernon City Council Cheers

Vernon taxes: when will we ever catch up?

I was recently asked about what could be done to hold the line or reduce taxes in the City of Vernon. This is a good question. If you include the infrastructure levy (a separate line item on your city tax bill) we have had well over 3% tax annual increases through most of the last two councils. The spending on staff will increase this coming budget year with the addition of six new officers to the regional detachment of the RCMP that calls Vernon home (a little over a million) over a 1% increase on that line item of the overall budget.

I question whether these magnitudes of tax increases are sustainable. Each increase compounds with the last until the financial burden on families and businesses becomes a deterrent for growth and prosperity. I am beginning to wonder if we have crossed that line. 

The argument is made that we are playing “catch up” from when previous administrations kept taxes artificially low by postponing what needed to be done to maintain the” bones” of our city. That may be true but what I think Vernon tax payers would like to know is whether we are ever going to catch up and be able to return to more modest increases that reflect the actual growth of our local economy and the earning power of our residents and businesses?Or is it possible to hold the line or spend less as a city?

As a member of Vernon City Council I will seek positive answers to these questions. Please vote for Shawn Lee Vernon City Council