I find it interesting how the City of Duncan is trying to downplay their incredibly bad decision to open a shelter at the old Ramada Inn site.
We all know the horrific effect the Warmland Shelter has had on the Lewis Street neighbourhood. Chronic drug dealing and drug abuse, arson, vandalism, assault and robbery. Businesses have had to close down, while others have been burned down. This section of the highway corridor is crime central with business owners having to spend thousands on six, eight, or 10 ft. iron gates and fences.
Yet here we go again, another shelter to bring all of the above to the south end of the Duncan business corridor in addition to the neighbourhood that is less than one block away.
Duncan City Council has the gall to trot out the director of planning who makes a lacklustre attempt at convincing us this is a good idea. Obviously real world experience indicates the patrols that will be sent out to discourage bad behaviour do nothing and Duncan City Council will have created problems for more businesses and another neighbourhood.
Mayor Michelle Staples and city council know this, yet continually vote for these initiatives that have a negative effect on our city.
Furthermore, one has to question the small turnout at the council meeting on this matter. Did the city council keep this meeting under wraps to avoid the massive public attendance and pushback that has taken place at every other past such meeting?
Mark Williams
Duncan
