Speech, Seann Paurini, WCC Candidate, Southern Ward 2010

My name is Seann Paurini. I support any practical plan of action that changes things for the better for families, low-income earners, people with disabilities and senior citizens.

I will advocate for practical cost effective measures that lift the heart and soul of the Southern Ward and Wellington, here are a few of these: I believe in:

Free filtered pure drinking water wells at key locations throughout Wellington city and surrounds

A Community Health Levy on businesses that profit from addictive behaviour, for example, alcohol & gambling

I believe that all alcohol billboard advertising in the Wellington region should be abolished

I think we should resource Maori Wardens to coordinate and assist Wellington’s Walk wise “City Safety Officers” [southern ward - more effective than police]

I will advocate for council to sponsor a discount card for community volunteers, caregivers, paramedics, healthcare assistants & fire-fighters

I believe in community, training and alternative education options whereby children, young people and adults collaborate on projects together

For people living with disabilities & senior folk I will push for an accessible low-cost mobility transport service in collaboration with the District Health Board and the Wellington Regional Council. I will advocate for the return of the mobile library van

Wellington is a rich city with too many poor people in it, and not just financially poor people either, I support greater access to the simple things that bring people happiness and enrich community life. People on low incomes, many senior citizens and folk with disabilities are the people who often miss out in Wellington.

For people on low-incomes I will push for Community Services Card discounts on public transport services, at galleries, theatres and other cultural & creative events

I want to look at employment in the Southern Ward and see what is available for people who want work. I think council does have a responsibility to help people into decently paid, meaningful work, so I aim to develop an employment policy for the Southern Ward and work with community, business, local, regional and central government in making this happen. I will approach the hospital, residential homes and community training & education groups to get this started.

Local government needs to focus on valid, long-term commitment rather than short-term, politically driven and thus wasteful decision-making. To encourage council:

I believe in the evolution of small democracy, with more emphasis on support for representative groups like resident’s coalitions and not-for-profit organisations having significant input into the running of Wellington.

If elected I will actively work alongside not-for-profit welfare & community groups and resident’s associations on realistic and just solutions to some of the problems they see occurring in Wellington; I support non-punitive, community-based answers to poverty, violence, gambling, alcohol & drug problems.

I believe there should be an audit of all local government services to ascertain whether rate payers are getting value for money from private providers of services

I’m interested in introducing and widely promoting a council funded website to keep business focused on high quality provision of goods & services and central government focused on genuine public service.

There you have it, just a few ideas, there are more. I think all of these are people-friendly, practical and possible. I have a document available that explains the rationale behind each policy.

If elected, with anything I do I will be asking myself is this good for our community? You have nothing to lose but you will gain with me on council. I have a strong commitment to social and economic justice. I put people before profit every time.

ENDS

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