Upshaw and Mclaughlin (SP)

[HeavyHauler]

How dare these two use this tragedy as a Political grandstand. HOW DARE THEY!

[Captain Awesome]

How dare you not go into details about what you're posting about.

[MikeCMcLoughlin]

The facts are that Kelowna is number three in Canada for violent crime. Tyler Newton had a long criminal record. He was on the bus because a judge had given him freedom but the only form of transport he was free to use was to ride the bus. We need measurable results in a reduction in crime if this community is going to feel safe. As Sean said, politics didn't cause the problem, but politics can be part of the solution. Both Sean and I want Kelowna to be a safe place to live and take a bus. That is why we organized a rally for transit security. You can accuse of grandstanding but you can't accuse us of not taking the safety of this community seriously.

[jswiftkelowna]

This recent tragedy was more of an issue of mental health, drugs and addiction, and even an issue of our criminal courts and how they handle dangerous offenders. It is less of an issue about whether or not public transit is safe.

That is why we organized a rally for transit security. You can accuse of grandstanding but you can't accuse us of not taking the safety of this community seriously.

So, okay... this was grandstanding. The question would be, do you think any other candidate takes public safety less seriously than you two do?

[HeavyHauler]

Mr. McLoughlin. This is the first ever murder on a Kelowna transit bus, and you are treating this like a typical scummy politician. Turning somebodies heartbreaking loss into your political gain. You've lost my vote, and from talking to his closest friends, after seeing this, have lost their vote as well. Go beat your chest and grandstand on somebody else's grave please.

[MikeCMcLoughlin]

It appears you may have known the victim and that you know people who have known him. I am very sorry for your loss. This is a terrible tragedy. It must be very difficult for those who know the victim and I respect that.

Having said that we organized the gathering on Monday because people in this community depend upon transit and some people feel afraid now to take the transit. We wanted to hear from them.

We invited all the candidates to come to the event to hear from people that feel afraid on our transit.

At the event, a lady came forward who is a Commssionaire. She does security for City hall. She encounters people affected by the lack of security on the transit system. She told the story of an elderly transit rider who was robbed at knife point 10 days ago. With her help the RCMP were able to apprehend the thief.

Because we invited the media, this lady was able to share her story and the positive ending that it had. CBC reported her story. It was on the news on Monday evening. CBC chose not to mention Sean or I. And that was a good thing. This ladies story was the focus of attention and that is what we wanted to happen.

We were not grandstanding, but we were doing what we feel this community needs done and that is gathering people together to share their stories and to work towards positive outcomes.

It is very tragic what happened last Thursday and heart go out to the victim and his family. To honor him and to make Kelowna a safer place to live, work and travel on the bus needs to be the focus of our efforts and your efforts.

Please pass my condolences to the victims friends.

[PDT]

It's really sad that someone has to die before public safety is taken seriously by some politicians. Ask any Kelowna bus driver and you'll see what they have to deal with on a regular basis. Here are some of their stories that have made the news:

Mar 28, 2014 - Bus driver attacked
Oct 25, 2013 - Transit stabber gets two years
Jul 16, 2013 - Bus driver assaulted on weekend
Jul 3, 2013 - Bus driver stabbing reaction
Sep 7, 2012 - Teen attacks bus driver
Jun 5, 2009 - Bus drivers battered and bruised
Aug 8, 2008 - Bus driver assaulted by youth
Jun 8, 2008 - Transit driver assaulted
Mar 4, 2008 - Transit drivers assaulted
Mar 7, 2006 - Transit Driver Assaulted

[KelownaResid]

by PDT » 8 minutes ago
It's really sad that someone has to die before public safety is taken seriously by some politicians. Ask any Kelowna bus driver and you'll see what they have to deal with on a regular basis. Here are some of their stories that have made the news:

In larger cities bus drivers are protected by a glass shield so passengers can have no physical access to them. Could this be implemented in Kelowna?

[HeavyHauler]

Mr. Mclaughlin, you have my ear.

In a 100% honest political answer (I know, oxy-moron) How high on your list was public transit safety before my friend was murdered?

I highly doubt that you would have organized a gathering, and even known about this lady you speak of had this not come up prior to election.

[MikeCMcLoughlin]

In the previous week, Sean Upshaw and myself held a press conference outside the RCMP station in downtown Kelowna calling for measurable results in the reduction of crime in the City. We committed to additional resources for the RCMP, fast tracking the police services building and addressing underlying issues such as poverty and substance abuse. I am attaching our press release. Unfortunately, the event was overshadowed by the events taking place in Ottawa on the same day. Kelowna Now did run with a piece and here is the link. http://www.*bleep*.com/news/news/Local_News/14/10/22/Prosper_Kelowna_Proposes_Three_Fold_Strategy_to_Reduce_Crime

So we were just talking about Public safety and the need to address it when the tragedy happened on the bus. That is why we went with an event to gather people. This was something we were already in conversation with the media and the voters.

So yes, public safety was a high priority although specific transit issues were not being discussed until the bus murder.

[Partmanpartfish]

"Unfortunately, the event was overshadowed by the events taking place in Ottawa on the same day. "

How dare that maniac go on a rampage, kill a soldier and steal Mike's and Sean's thunder!

There will always be crime and bad things will always happen no matter how much money we throw at the police. We could become a nation of jailers like the US with almost 1% of their population behind bars. How has that worked for them?

Mr. Newton was not on that bus because of the courts. He was on that bus because the courts can only do what the law allows. If you believe drug dealers should spend their lives in prison, you'll have to take that up with Mr. Harper.

It's terrible the way some people are exploiting Mr. Rosales' death.

[Lady tehMa]

Mr. Newton was not on that bus because of the courts. He was on that bus because the courts can only do what the law allows. If you believe drug dealers should spend their lives in prison, you'll have to take that up with Mr. Harper.

It's terrible the way some people are exploiting Mr. Rosales' death.

Exploiting? I'd say it is shining a light on a problem long overlooked.

As for drug dealers spending their lives in prison - they should. Until they can come out and behave as responsible citizens within the confines of the law. Those who find the law too confining and want to do their own thing have no place in our society; that reason is what increases crime. Don't have enough? Steal it. Want to do illegal drugs? Deal them and kill your customers. Those who feel that laws don't apply in "some" ares often feel that if they are breaking one, why not break every single one that interferes with how they want to live their lives? Drug dealers and users are scum - they take and take and never give anything back to society.

Compare and contrast the life of Mr. Morales, who worked and gave and lived his own life with respect and kindness. And when the two lifestyles met on that bus, it wasn't Mr. Morales who walked away.

[Mtn Biker]

The facts are that Kelowna is number three in Canada for violent crime. Tyler Newton had a long criminal record. He was on the bus because a judge had given him freedom but the only form of transport he was free to use was to ride the bus. We need measurable results in a reduction in crime if this community is going to feel safe. As Sean said, politics didn't cause the problem, but politics can be part of the solution. Both Sean and I want Kelowna to be a safe place to live and take a bus. That is why we organized a rally for transit security. You can accuse of grandstanding but you can't accuse us of not taking the safety of this community seriously.

You say that like others don't want Kelowna to be safe. As if you're the only one. You say that like no other current or past councillors have made crime a priority. Maybe instead of having developer friendly councillors and mayors, we can elect some people who put people and citizens first . . . why don't you comment on how you would do that? Instead you infer that the actions of one violent person is the fault of current city councillors? Pretty weak.

[MikeCMcLoughlin]

You say that like others don't want Kelowna to be safe. As if you're the only one. You say that like no other current or past councillors have made crime a priority. Maybe instead of having developer friendly councillors and mayors, we can elect some people who put people and citizens first . . . why don't you comment on how you would do that? Instead you infer that the actions of one violent person is the fault of current city councillors? Pretty weak.

Here is the text of our press release concerning Crime Reduction. The reason I have not posted it to this point in this discussion is I am sensitive to Castanet Forum rules regarding politicians taking advantage of the forum to blow their own horn. But... Since you asked... here it is!

Media Release (10/22/2014) Kelowna

Prosper Kelowna announce threefold Strategy to reduce crime in Kelowna.

Mike McLoughlin and Sean Upshaw, Candidates for Prosper Kelowna, are announcing a threefold strategy to crime reduction in Kelowna that will prosper the well-being and safety of the community. This strategy includes adequate police staffing levels, fast tracking the construction of the Police Services facity and addressing the root causes of crime such as poverty and substance abuse.

Recently the Conference Board of Canada rated Kelowna as a “D” in the area of community safety. The city was third worst in Canada for violent crimes and second worst for drug related crimes. Community safety concerns were a primary reason why Kelowna was rated as mediocre in attractiveness to new immigrants.

In September, the Fraser Institute praised Kelowna as one of the most efficient cities in Canada in the allocation of police services. A 2010 Police Resources Report from Stats Canada listed Kelowna as the lowest ratio of officers per 100,000 population in all of Canada.

These two facts indicated that Kelowna is under investing in Crime Reduction. A report to City Council stated the Kelowna Detachment is understaffed by at least 20.5 officers. Reducing crime rates requires a substantial investment into additional policing resources, the Prosser report concluded. The RCMP have recommended to Kelowna City Council an increase in membership of 22 officers by 2015.

Sean Upshaw said, “Kelowna needs to invest in police staffing to reduce the crime rate in the city. Our city needs a highly trained seasoned force to move us from 3rd worst in Canada to the safest city in Canada”

When asked about a TaxPayersFirst proposal to save money by hiring community safety officers instead of RCMP, Upshaw replied, “Hiring unequipped “rent a cops” as TaxPayersFirst proposes will not save us money, but will only deteriorate an already efficient Police force. Do we want to risk community safety to save a few bucks by freezing taxes in Kelowna? We need to freeze crime not taxes.”

Secondly, Kelowna is slated to break ground for a new Police Service Facility in 2015. The new building will be about 90,000 square feet. It is designed to accommodate the current functions located at Doyle, Windsor Road and the offsite storage locations as well as growth in staffing levels over the next 10 years.

Mike McLoughlin says, “We need to fast track the construction of this building so that it is substantially completed by April, 2016. It is not just a jail, as some suppose, it is first and foremost a Public Safety Facility. The entire region will benefit from and share in the costs of this facility. Stop haggling over variances at City Hall and cut the red tape. Our city is becoming a less safe place to live while red tape drags out the process of completion. The present building was built in 1962 and is outdated and crowded and expensive to maintain. We need a new facility sooner rather than later.”
When asked why April, 2016, McLoughlin replied, “That is the date the trio accused of allegedly killing Red Scorpion gang leader Jonathan Bacon in a brazen daylight shooting in Kelowna will go to trial. Kelowna will be under national scrutiny during the 6 month trial. Substantial completion of the Police Services facility will send a message that Kelowna takes crime very seriously and is committed to investing substantial resources towards its eradication.”

Bacon was gunned down outside of the Delta Grand Hotel in August 2011. The jury trial is slated to start April 4, 2016 and will last six months.

Sean Upshaw stated that the third approach would be to address underlying issues driving the crime rate such as poverty and lawlessness. “It is generally recognized that there is a strong correlation between drugs and/or alcohol, poverty and the proliferation of crime. Estimates suggest that as much as 80% of crime is directly linked to drug or alcohol addiction. Prosper Kelowna is committed to the wellbeing of every citizen in Kelowna. By prospering the community we can alleviate some of the underlying root causes of crime.”

“Studies in cities such as New York have demonstrated that if a neighbourhood is kept in good repair the level of criminal activity goes down. One need only to walk down Lawrence and Leon Avenues to see why our problem of crime is getting worse. Sometimes City Park has open drug use which goes unenforced, Large segments of Bernard Ave are boarded up and therefore magnets for crime. Allow the city to grow economically, build up affordable housing density and gentrify the downtown core and crime will go down in Kelowna. Give the RCMP and other city services, fire departments, the tools they need and we will have a Prosperous Kelowna,” says Sean Upshaw.

Quick Facts

+ The City of Kelowna invests 24 cents of every tax dollar to Police Services.
+ The Kelowna detachment has a total of 250 officers covering Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and surrounding rural areas. A total of 165 of those officers are funded by the City of Kelowna.
+ In 2010, Kelowna ranked third nationwide for incidents of domestic violence.
+ In 2012, Kelowna had 8,875 crimes for every 100,000 people, up six per cent since 2011. That gave Kelowna the highest crime rate of the 33 major cities tracked by Statistics Canada in 2012. In contrast, Metro Vancouver, with 6,958 crimes per 100,000 people, has the seventh-highest crime rate.
+ In 2013, RCMP Kelowna detachment had hired 19 additional officer since the release of the Prosser report.
+ In 2013, there was a 12 per-cent reduction in the crime severity index and 13 per cent reduction in overall crime, in Kelowna according to Stats Canada.

[MikeCMcLoughlin]

Don't tell me I am getting the last word here in this discussion. Surely there is much everyone could take issue with. Any discussion is welcome!