Millions spent, but poverty in city is still not reduced
Dear Editor,
The headline on this article got my attention, given that
the city is already facing a 4% property tax increase just to continue the
status quo. Now, another non-profit in the "Poverty Industry" is
coming to council for millions to operate yet another "Community Food
Centre" where anyone can get a free hot meal, like a soup kitchen, and
other value added services like freed locally grown food. Why on earth do we
need a place to teach teenagers how to cook food, don't they do that in the
public school system, not to mention parents, even if you only have one of
them?
Further into this story I found out that another lump sum of
$200,000 will be handed over this year, and a $200,000 dollar expenditure,
going forward, per year will be added to the 2016 budget as an expense.
So Taxpayers will put in most of the money while retaining
zero control over this operation, and poverty will not be reduced. Nobody even
mentioned a business plan, other than they will somehow magically raise
millions from the private sector. Good luck with that.
Downtown has many places to get free food, clothing and a
hot meal. This city spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year trying to
reduce poverty, yet this "Industry" continues to expand, as if it had
a life of its own.
Over the years I have learned two important things in this
regard. The best way out of poverty is a full-time job. And you can't legislate
how people spend their money, no matter who gives it to them.
I look forward to walking over to the new food centre and
score a free, locally grown, chef cooked meal, as they don't care who you are,
or how much money you make. I like my steak medium rare. What's for dessert?
Respectfully,
Mark-Alan Whittle
Hamilton Mountain
