Jim Dixon - Council Candidate

[Jim Dixon]

I'd like our council to arrange, or I would volunteer, to attend trials and hearings related to any crime on the Westside and ask the courts to impose restitution and community service in the form of cleaning up garbage off our highways, removing graffiti off hillsides, walls, et cetera.

I REALLY like this idea. How can this be done? ie, how can it become the sentence? wouldnt there have to be supervisors or something to ensure the work was being done? what would happen if the work wasnt being done, would it be lengthened until...?

It isn't easy, but any victim can, at the sentencing or hearing before, request restitution. I use to do this on behalf of corporations defrauded out of x$'s - while yes, corporations probably tip more than the restitution requested, it soon became a deter ant within the company. Often times a letter to the Crown Prosecutor asking for restitution was enough.

This would be a step to wards re-lighting community involvement. In the olden days, folks would get together to build a house or whatever, that was used for the community - why cant we do that ourselves? aka Habitat for Humanity, but with a municipal bent. Couldnt we get things we need without spending tons and tons of moola?

I think they were called barn raising's Money? First, there is the municipal share of the Fines Revenue - estimated this year to be around a quarter of a million. Second, we need only look outside our municipal borders at other communities to see how they are doing bit. Even look across the border and though it is a different court system, it isn't that hard to make change here.
I would be more than happy to lobby our provincial Solicitor General, speak to a UBCM meeting to garner support and lobby the feds to kick in funding fora 'pilot project' and we all know what happens with pilot projects - they become longer projects.

There is federal and provincial money available for crime prevention projects. We just need to ask for them.

We also have in our community, what some call 're-treads', retired RCMP officers willing to work for a little extra - perhaps as armed street beat? Most community service exists - we just need to ask for more of it. Community service is not always supervised and unsupervised community service, cleaning graffiti off a wall, picking up the enormous amount of garbage off the sides of our roadways, needn't be supervised - just that the work is checked. Judges that order community service usually tack on an 'or else' clause - such as the fine doubles, or a warrant is issued and time will be served et cetera.

SIDEBAR: A Judge in the U.S. sentences teens to cleaning alley ways, and he makes a parent do it with them. This works well, and has the teen feeling more remorse because their parent is sentenced as well. It is not The answer, but it's one of many that can be Incorporated into a City with a Council that has the interest in stepping out of the doldrum circle and doing something different.

It's not The answer, but it's worth a try.

Jim

[hereiamagain]

Hi Jim, thank you very much for those thoughts. I've been musing over them and I was wondering about those "retreads" (what a lovely name!):

what about giving some sort of property tax break to those folks who provide a needed community service? I dont know much about math, but it seems likely that if someone were to help out the municipality, it would make sense to try to help them out too.


The westside weekly had some questions in there that a few candidates answered, but you and Peter had blank boxes, can you please tell us why?

and on another note:

How do you feel about the wage issue? If we are so tight for money (as a municipality) why are we even entertaining wage increases? There is something there that doesnt make sense to me.

[Jim Dixon]

Hi Jim, thank you very much for those thoughts. I've been musing over them and I was wondering about those "retreads" (what a lovely name!):

The term is used with great affection and respect. I learned of this term from a ex RCMP supervisor. I broached the subject because I hope it is something that our council and RCMP consider investigating as the start to a more effective and productive crime prevention program.

what about giving some sort of property tax break to those folks who provide a needed community service? I dont know much about math, but it seems likely that if someone were to help out the municipality, it would make sense to try to help them out too.

An interesting idea. Managing it might be an administrative nightmare but that aside, those that don't have the time, perhaps because both parents work, have kids in hockey, dance lessons or other extra curricular activities might find it hard to provide needed community service. Th en those that have the time, but don't would feel penalized - and am certain would come out voicing just that.
But, I think it matters too by just what you mean by "needed community service"?

The westside weekly had some questions in there that a few candidates answered, but you and Peter had blank boxes, can you please tell us why?

I can't speak for Peter, but me - it was a simple slip of the calendar. Our deadline was "by 12 noon, Friday, November 7". I had it my mind to do it Saturday morning, which I did, and just before sending it, checked, and saw Friday. My fault.

and on another note:

How do you feel about the wage issue? If we are so tight for money (as a municipality) why are we even entertaining wage increases? There is something there that doesnt make sense to me.

Well, I seriously doubt you, I or anyone reading this can expect even a 10%, let alone 16 - 18% increase in pay any time soon. With the stormy economic climate raining down layoffs, higher heating costs this winter, et cetera ad museum, especially with an probable Westside construction slow down - is it a good time to be rewarding people for a job well done with a pay increase.

That said, I and others are not privy to union agreements, agreements made twixt Westside and RDCO, or what agreements/contracts were penned at the time of hiring. It might be something that we were locked into at the start - I don't know. But as a councilor, I would be more careful with our money.

Finally, I don't believe in giving people a raise simply because it is that time of year. I believe in paying people for the job they did, not what someone else did (as in parity). Yet, is the raise bringing them up to where they should be, or does it take them above where parity is? We do have other priorities - IMHO.

Jim
250.769.5080

[hereiamagain]

Hi Jim, thank you for those comments - re: the WW - it might be a good thing in some ways because people will be curious (like me) why there was nothing there. I hope on your website you have reference to this forum because you have a lot of good things posted here, and the communication you have done with those who have posted is excellent.

An interesting idea. Managing it might be an administrative nightmare but that aside, those that don't have the time, perhaps because both parents work, have kids in hockey, dance lessons or other extra curricular activities might find it hard to provide needed community service. Th en those that have the time, but don't would feel penalized - and am certain would come out voicing just that.
But, I think it matters too by just what you mean by "needed community service"?

well, to keep things simple and to parallel what we already have (somewhat) - citizens on patrol do school zones with their handy dandy truck that measures speed. I know not all the folks that participate in COP are retreads, but if there could even be one present who had the authority to write tickets or whatever - I know its more complicated than that to get the ticket passed in the court system (ie machine requirements/calibration etc). But even something as simple as doing the speeding in the school zones - their kids would be in school, time of service would be from 10-2 pm - that sort of thing. Just throwing thoughts out there. Another could be stop checks - people coming home on Friday nights and being checked for impaired. You know?

Thank you for being point blank on being fiscally responsible.

[Jim Dixon]

Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone for their kind words, calls, and support. Also, congratulations to all candidates for taking the time and effort to help our democratic process, for bringing issues and ideas to the forefront and for your belief and contributions to our community.

I hope everyone continues to be involved in our new city and help the new council by supporting them through the many ways available to everyone such as- attending meetings, participate in open houses, joining committees or running to be appointed to commissions.

Take care - see you in three years