‘Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose:’ Anderson reacts to failed motions

Nov 26, 2019 | 5:20 AM

It wasn’t what Coun. Scott Anderson was hoping for Monday night after two of his motions failed to garner any support from council.

The two motions that were brought to defeat would have seen an end to camping at Polson Park and subsequently open the city hall plaza for temporary encampments. The second motion would have shortened the temporary camping times from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

In an exclusive interview with Vernon Matters, Anderson said he wasn’t entirely surprised with the final vote.

“Yes and no. I mean part of the intent was to make it harder to camp here frankly, and I guess council decided on compassionate grounds maybe to not do that. But my argument to that is on compassionate grounds. We have to have compassion for all the citizens of Vernon, the great majority of whom would like to use Polson Park and many of whom can’t or won’t,” Anderson said.

During Monday’s meeting council was critical of Anderson’s motions.

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Coun. Brian Quiring first pointed out that many social services agencies like the Upper Room Mission, and the Salvation Army food bank, aren’t open until 9 a.m.

“The people that are using those services and facilities are just going to end up going there earlier and I can’t see it being good for the downtown,” he said.

Closing camping at Polson Park and allowing camping at city hall also struck a sour note.

“I don’t feel like you are offering a solution Scott. You are literally shifting these people, who are already in an unfortunate situation, in front city hall. So you are saying we are giving Polson Park back to the people but we are taking city hall away from the people.” said Coun. Dalvir Nahal.

Quiring argued the motion would spell out a number of issues, namely the effect on businesses.

“I don’t want people camping at city hall. Look at the problems Polson Park creates for the Fruit Union mall, look at the proximity of the Fruit Union to Polson Park. There’s a lot of distance between where they are camping and the impact to the Fruit Union Plaza.” Quiring said.

“They are not going to want to camp at city hall. No one’s going to want to camp here. RCMP right here, bylaw right here, who’s going to camp here? They are going to camp at other parks,” he added.

Despite the rejection of the motion, both Quiring and Coun. Kari Gares said they would be open to closing Polson Park to temporary encampments.

“Polson Park used to be, and probably still should be, the gem of Vernon, and I would love to see Polson Park back to its original glory,” said Gares, who suggested building more recreational facilities to increase foot traffic.

Speaking to Vernon Matters after the defeated vote, Anderson said he would be open towards a motion in the future that would exclusively ban camping at Polson Park.

“I think there’s some potential for making Polson Park a no-camping zone. I don’t think there’s potential for bringing people here {to city hall} which is kind of unfortunate because I would like to have the issue right front and centre in front of the political class,” he said.

As for if he feels sad that the motions didn’t pass; Anderson explained that’s politics.

“Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose and it’s all in the vote count. I don’t take these things personally at all. I have good rapport with the folks on council. That wasn’t always true in the past but now it is and some days folks follow my lead and sometimes they don’t,” he said.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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