12-10-2021, 09:06 PM
Not sure if this video has been posted:
https://vimeo.com/486941338
I have a slightly different take of one element of this video: Jeff Willmer. He was Kitchener's CAO up to I believe 2017 or there about. His initial reaction (at the first clip) really was his personality when running the city. He was instrumental at creating a wage freeze at the city for most of the part-time workers. Many of these people are already marginalized, perhaps lower education, immigrants, etc. I believe the phrase was 'pink circled' -- this meant that these jobs (even if there was a full-time equivalent) had a massive pay reduction, and those who were already working saw a pay freeze that lasted until minimum wage increased in 2017 and 2018. To me, he was a creep because he balanced the cities budget on the backs of hundreds of workers. Obviously unionized staff couldn't be 'pink circled', especially considering that management and councillors had zero issues at giving themselves large pay increases (and reduced work loads by increasing council staff, and hiring more managers). But for those unfortunate "Series 9000', as they are referred to, they got nothing for about 8 years.
Lots of times it's about accountability. We don't always know who is all causing issues. We obviously know that the police cause a lot of issues for immigrants, visible minorities, and the homeless, but you wouldn't always expect to find it from your CAO -- but here we were.
On the bright side, at least he's learned.
One thing that is needed to help end homelessness is for decent paying jobs, especially for those who perhaps have struggles. The city needs to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. They need to focus less on lower user fees, especially in their enterprise division (golf), and less on keeping tax increases to 'below inflation', and focus more on making sure all of their employees are treated equally.
https://vimeo.com/486941338
I have a slightly different take of one element of this video: Jeff Willmer. He was Kitchener's CAO up to I believe 2017 or there about. His initial reaction (at the first clip) really was his personality when running the city. He was instrumental at creating a wage freeze at the city for most of the part-time workers. Many of these people are already marginalized, perhaps lower education, immigrants, etc. I believe the phrase was 'pink circled' -- this meant that these jobs (even if there was a full-time equivalent) had a massive pay reduction, and those who were already working saw a pay freeze that lasted until minimum wage increased in 2017 and 2018. To me, he was a creep because he balanced the cities budget on the backs of hundreds of workers. Obviously unionized staff couldn't be 'pink circled', especially considering that management and councillors had zero issues at giving themselves large pay increases (and reduced work loads by increasing council staff, and hiring more managers). But for those unfortunate "Series 9000', as they are referred to, they got nothing for about 8 years.
Lots of times it's about accountability. We don't always know who is all causing issues. We obviously know that the police cause a lot of issues for immigrants, visible minorities, and the homeless, but you wouldn't always expect to find it from your CAO -- but here we were.
On the bright side, at least he's learned.
One thing that is needed to help end homelessness is for decent paying jobs, especially for those who perhaps have struggles. The city needs to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. They need to focus less on lower user fees, especially in their enterprise division (golf), and less on keeping tax increases to 'below inflation', and focus more on making sure all of their employees are treated equally.