Ron Gallo, Moving into Politics
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“I don’t know as much as the other councillors who have been in front of you” said Gallo on the Meisner program, “I want to be one of the people asking questions and finding solutions.”
“There are issues that are outstanding that have been outstanding for a number of councils, and I want to know why they are still outstanding.”
He cites some of those issues as infrastructure and snow removal, “The snow removal has to be reviewed, one thing I would like to know is if the machinery is ready to roll. We all know the snow is coming.”
When talking about increased user fees and utility bills, Gallo says “That’s the shell game, if the money needs to come in to fund something, it needs to be up front.” He says some of the money currently being spent may be better spent elsewhere, such as the dollars spent on consultants.
The new storm water utility is to come into effect next year, “The storm water utility would be something I would like to look into a little more” but says there needs to be funding to improve the pipes under the ground, “It’s another tax.”
When it comes to homelessness, “There is not much that can be done on a city level.” He adds that if there needs to be more lobbying of the Provincial government for more, then they will have to lobby the Provincial government for more.
He says there are some at the Council table who are transparent, but would like to open up the flow of information “I’m approachable, I’m a people person, I want to say hello, I want to find out what their concerns are what they’re displeased with.”
Gallo also supports infill, “We have a very big footprint right now, I don’t think it’s expansion as much as fill that we need to worry about.”
Comments
What can be done for the homeless, the question should have been why do we have so many homeless. I think our downtown has been destroyed. In todays Citizen it looks a CNC prof. thinks we should bring in more ,so much for a PAC.
The reason we have so many homeless is because when the olympics were on in Vancouver they were given a free bus ticket and cash to come to Prince George. Precedent has been set and we are known as the homeless friendly town. Downtown has more drop-in centers, soup kitchens and shelters than one can imagine, so yes your right its doomed. Nobody is wanting to be in the downtown core when you get hassled by hookers and panhandlers. Screw the PAC until we can get a handle on our infastructure, take care of the needs before the wants.
There is no answer as to what to do with the homeless. As long as PG remains to be the hub of premium social services all within a convenient walking distance of one another, the homeless will continue to locate here. It’s not that hard to figure out what has happened.
That interview was pretty painful to hear. Ron wasn’t prepared at all. I’m all for new people stepping forward, but I don’t believe Ron is informed enough.
Do you have proof of that occurring DoubleNickel? That sounds like a bunch of internet rumour BS to me.
Another thought, are you sure you’re not confusing Alberta’s late Ralph Klein buying one-way bus tickets for their welfare recipients to move to BC?
Two reasons the downtown core is in the shape it’s in is courtesy the Planning Department and Business Licensing Department. Between these two clowns someone thought it would be a good idea to allow all the not for profits to open up in one area of town “the down town core”. Put them all on 12 month notice that they will no longer be allowed to operate where they are and move them out and spread them out (along bus routes). Change the zoning to allow only one not for profit per city grid square. Will this raise a stink? Yes it will but it will thin the heard greatly and change will be a notable improvement.
While we are at it the needle exchange and go back into one of Northern Health’s buildings and out of the core lock stock and barrel. They serve a purpose but not at the cost of our alleys and parks being littered with needles and junkie supplies behind and in front of our remaining local businesses in the downtown.
The RCMP need to be “actually patrolling” the downtown and “jacking up the junkies”, it’s a criminal act, so arrest them and make it so unbearable to be jacked up that they “move along”** (**coining star wars storm troopers). Enough with this bleeding heart crap, time for some tough love, you don’t like being shaked down, go somewhere else.
Time the heat was turned onto the “out reach facilities”, they need to step it up or shut down. The people are tired of this “helping the community” but not really doing “anything” to make a visible change for the federal and provincial dollars they collect.
Yup it sounds harsh but fact of the matter is it needs to be said in clear English by someone wishing to effect change in the city, so far I haven’t heard this from anyone wanting an additional pay cheque on the tax payers dime.
Was downtown at noon and saw a police van across from the Fire Pit its sad that we have to use our resources in this way, something has to be done but not move it into residential.
The Klein government offered one time bus tickets to anywhere other than Alberta, published in local papers back a loooong time ago and has become an Urban Legend all over the place but this also happened last year – Hawaii now offers a one time free one way seat on a plane or cruise ship to anywhere other than there to their homeless. Maybe it is time for PG to do so. It is a program so you can get back to where you have extended family that can help you back on your feet on the outside but a get out of Dodge on the inside.
So, Professional, why is your name not on a ballot somewhere? I’d vote for you any day. Good points.
The city has waved the white flag and surrendered to the street dwellers. Park on 1st Ave. for example- say they are going to all but level it because of constant illegal activities. A better approach is to direct the police to tour park on a regular basis and bust people for even a minor infraction. If they spend every second night in the gray bar hotel the message will eventually get across.
Grizzly2 Thanks for the kudos. I think I can instill a bit more motivation by invoking thought and logical conversation in a venue like this for now. I will let you know what I am up to before the next election 2018.
Sparrow Yes the park “Millennium Park” is just a fenced off lot now, no park, no junkies, no hookers and another eye sore to the down town area.
Shucks, its our turn to have the winter games now, so lets give these people bus tickets to other towns too. Somewhere warmer for them.
I say move all the non profit, social services into one block square, preferably east of Queensway and then perhaps we can get more attractive businesses in their place.
We do need a lot more housing downtown if we want to attract more business there. Successful inner cities have all kinds of second and third storey apartments. It is a proven winner.
So….should we pass a law that says anyone moving to PG from this day forward has to live in the stink bowl ?
DI Says “So….should we pass a law that says anyone moving to PG from this day forward has to live in the stink bowl ?”
That is kinda the move in the right direction. What would be more appropriate is to STOP wholesale approval of developments on the edges of town that continue to tap out the infrastructure and start to encourage more in-fills and tear downs. Create preferred development zones within the existing infrastructure and dramatically increase the development and hookup fees outside the development zones.
The city already has an “OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN” – OCP.
Planning does not follow it nor does city council.
It has talked for years in the plan for infill.
If certain people want something put somewhere, than the city will find ways to change bylaws in the OCP etc. It is not rocket science here.
Administration in this city hall need more accountability and for what the public has seen over the past few years, this will not happen.
And people wonder who is actually running the city?
The OCP is not a legal binding document. It is only a guidance document.
That’s right, the OCP is not a “legal binding document”.
There lies some of the problem.
It is for guidance only and it shows Admin and Council can’t even use common sense when there is guidance. Oops. My bad there actually are a few running the show….
It is a good thing that the OCP is only a guidance document. You wouldn’t want council to be handcuffed by a rigid document that would likely not work for every situation.
Thus allowing the city to do what ever they want. The OCP is a meaningless document that was produced to give the citizens a warm and fuzzy feeling. All the input and dollars to produce from taxpayers were a waste allowing no other say from the people.
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