Bell: Farkas, gutless Calgary council did diddly squat to close detested drug site

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Thanks Mayor Farkas. Thanks Calgary city council. Thanks for nothing.

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They didn’t lift a finger. They did not offer one pinky of support for the closing of the Calgary drug site at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre.

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In the neighbourhood we begged, we pleaded, we just wanted Calgary city council to say they wanted the drug site shut down.

Bell: Farkas, gutless Calgary council did diddly squat to close detested drug site Back to video

We all knew city hall was not in charge of the drug site. It was the Alberta government’s job to shut down the drug site and they took their sweet time making the right decision.

But the provincial government did ask Calgary city council to express what they felt about the drug site. Just give an opinion. It is so bleeding hard.

Years ago, the provincial government, when Rachel Notley and the NDP ran the show, asked for the city’s opinion on the drug site idea and former-mayor Naheed Nenshi offered it without hesitation.

Nenshi reportedly suggested one big drug site. The Notley government agreed and the nightmare began for the many souls living and working in the highly-populated area around the drug site.

Nenshi later did admit that was a mistake. But he wanted more drug sites!

When Jyoti Gondek was mayor, the council majority said squat about closing the drug site. They said it wasn’t their business to decide whether to keep the drug site open or shut it down.

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Everyone knew it wasn’t their job.

All the province wanted was to hear what Gondek and city council thought of closing the site. It’s not hard.

After all, Calgary city council often flaps their gums about what the provincial government should and should not do and usually at great length.

This was a Calgary issue, a drug site that wasn’t working and was actually a danger to individuals causing so many headaches for a large group of Calgarians city council was supposedly elected to represent.

Then Jeromy Farkas was elected mayor.

Many of you dear readers voted for Farkas thinking he was the Farkas of his past city council days, fearlessly taking on the city hall establishment.

You remember that Farkas. You read a lot about him from this scribbler.

Remember this is the Farkas where part of the ward of the city he represented on council was … GET THIS! … right across the street from the drug site.

He knew the ugliness on the street and talked about it and he didn’t like it.

But that Farkas appears to be gone. I don’t know why. Once upon a time I talked to him a lot. Now not so much.

Somebody told me he’s hanging out more with those who see themselves as progressives. You know, the cool kids.

Recently, Landon Johnston, the guy who led the petition to fire Gondek and now is on city council, wanted city council to take a stand and tell us they supported the closing of the drug site.

The vote was close. If Farkas had voted Yes it would have passed. He voted No and the show of support was defeated.

Later on, Farkas talked about needing more details when the details were there for all to see and could have been explained if the mayor picked up the phone.

It was a classic dodge and when the roll was called Farkas sided with the lefties and the mushy middle of city council.

On Friday, the provincial government was in Calgary to announce the drug site would shut down June 30.

Farkas was invited to attend. He didn’t. They had a chair for him if he bothered to come. It was empty.

I was ready with a question.

Mayor Farkas, how do you feel about the closing of the Calgary drug site, especially since on this issue you lost the backbone you once had?

Maybe it’s better he didn’t show up.

Farkas did sit on the comfy couch of early morning TV and he was asked about the drug site and again he dodged the issue peppering his answer with political porridge.

Farkas said he needed more details. Were they moving the drug site somewhere else? Are drug site services going elsewhere in Calgary?

He knew the answers, No and no. It was sad.

But late Friday, after everybody had filed their news stories, Farkas rolls out a statement.

Farkas says he is cautiously optimistic closing the drug site might work.

The good news is addicts will get the help they need to fight their addictions and the neighbourhood got the good news they waited to hear for a long time.

Kids in great numbers will play once again at Central Memorial Park.

People will buy books at Shelf Life Books or grab a meal at Pho Daddy or get a haircut at London Barbers or worship at First Baptist Church and the neighbourhood will hopefully experience less chaos.

Thanks Mayor Farkas. Thanks Calgary city council. Thanks for nothing.

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