Watchdog group calls for Kamloops ‘town hall’ amid nuisance, encampment fires
A Kamloops city hall watchdog group is calling for a public forum amid social issues, sparked by a set of fires over the weekend.
Kamloops Citizens United asked the City to organize a town hall so officials can respond to “unscripted questions” from the public.
“The people of Kamloops deserve to feel safe and be heard; and our elected officials have a duty to listen directly, openly, and respectfully,” a May 26 email to city officials read.
READ MORE: Kamloops and Kelowna firefighters wrestle with increasing ‘nuisance’ fires at homeless campsites
A May 24 fire at Kenna Cartwright Park was visible across the city as it grew to roughly a hectare in size, and it is suspected to have started near a homeless encampment. Another fire was sparked near Schubert Drive the next day in an area also frequently used for encampments.
According to Kamloops Citizens United, the common denominator among the fires is “the drug-addicted homeless.”
The group also criticized the influx of supportive housing units over the past several years, suggesting the “system seems broken and unaccountable” as social issues like crime, poverty and fires at camps continue on Kamloops streets.
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“In light of this, Kamloops Citizens United formally requests that City Hall organize a genuine, public town hall meeting on behalf of concerned residents,” the email to city council read. “We are calling for a transparent forum — one where city leaders, BC Housing representatives, and relevant decision-makers engage with the public, respond to unscripted questions, and take responsibility for the outcomes of their policies.”
The watchdog group was formed last fall, spurred with efforts to challenge the City’s decision to borrow millions for civic facilities through a counter-petition rather than a referendum. The court challenge failed earlier this year.
Kamloops Fire Rescue did not respond to iNFOnews.ca when reached for comment on the weekend fires.
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