23/0713 – 10:03 – CBC News this morning revealed the contents of some of the emails it obtained through an FOI request surrounding the Abbotsford Chicken Manure Homeless Incident.
UPDATE 23/07/13 – To catch James Breckenridge being interviewed by CBC News at 11 am click here.
To catch his interview with Global News later today click here.
The story, publish at 4:26 am, July 23, identifies several individuals and departments discussing in the incident.
[excerpt] Emails obtained by the CBC through an access to information request show that managers from the city’s bylaw, forestry and parks departments were all involved.In one email, dated June 3, Eric Fong, a City of Abbotsford forestry official, refers to an agreement between officials from Abbotsford’s bylaws and roads departments “to spread the chicken manure around [a] tree to deter homeless encampments being set up under it.”
He emailed the city’s acting director of parks services, James Arden, for approval to go ahead with “the manure dump” the following morning.
Arden approved the request within minutes, noting: “I am glad that we were able to get the product for free and avoid cutting down a healthy trees [sic] to see if that resolves the issue,” he added.
[Full Article]
The CBC story also states, “Despite the claim in the email, Const. Ian MacDonald of the Abbotsford Police Department said no police officers were present during the dumping of the chicken manure at the Gladys Road site.”
CBC To Reveal Contents Of Chicken Manure Emails – UPDATE
22/07/2013 – 20:00
Emails obtained by CBC News of City of Abbotsford staff on the matter of the Abbotsford Chicken Manure Homeless Incident through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request appear to reveal which managers signed off on the decision to poison the homeless with chicken feces Abbotsford Today has learned.
The emails reportedly cover the time leading up to the incident, first reported in a column by advocate for the homeless, James Breckenridge,on Abbotsford Today, June 5, as well as the period after the incident.
City Manager George Murray told Abbotsford Today June 10 that the Salvation Army and a number of other parties had met with City officials, prior to the incident, to discuss the idea of spreading chicken feces.
PR and Advertising manager for the Sally Ann Deb Lowell
The Salvation Army, through its advertising public relations representative, Deb Lowell has said the organization knew nothing about the dump beforehand and that, as soon as they saw it happening they phoned the City. There has been no explanation why the city waited until the next day, after the media began phoning in response to Abbotsford Today‘s coverage, to act.
Monday night CBC News interviewed the original source of the story, James Breckenridge, about the emails. Today has not seen the emails nor do we know when the CBC will be publishing their story.
The emails will be very interesting. The mayor accepted full responsibility for the chicken manure, but apparently that means no censure or disciplinary action required. If you accept responsibility there should be consequences, but we’re all still waiting.
Rick Jes Says:
what the hell goes on in that town ?????
From Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Today-Media/447088788677534?ref=hl
You would be surprised, what goes on behind closed doors…
I can assure you, the people elected to oversee the operations
of the city follow the direction of a select few developers/business
people in this city, who have their own agenda, which does not
inc. the taxpayer, except to pick up the tab for their so-called
priority projects.
Those,w ho wanted the homelss moved immediately with assurance
of not coming back are so-called “lying low” at this time and it
cost a couple of city staff their jobs.