From Len Brown, Mayoral Candidate, Manukau City

Dick Quax Should Take It on the Chin

The Herald on Sunday reports that the Manukau City Council was oblivious to gang-related activities in a former scout hall in Otara for approximately 3.5 years.

The Chairperson of the Community Safety Committee of the Council, Dick Quax said that the Council has to “take it on the chin” for allowing a Council facility to be used as a gang headquarters.

Does this mean that the Chairman of the Community Safety Committee will take some responsibility for this situation?

Not according to the Herald on Sunday.

Committee Chairperson Quax wishes the Police and Project 274 to take responsibility. And in a press release dated 12 March 2007 Mr Quax stated that he would like his political opponent Len Brown to take responsibility.

Over the past 18 months Len Brown has chaired the Otara Youth Action group, mandated by the community to establish Project 274, the community youth working team, to deal with youth involvement in gangs at street level. The team also works with the Police, Turn Your Life Around (TYLA) and Government agencies to reduce gang activity. Mr Brown has also been working actively with similar groups across the city such as Genesis, Tamaki Ki Raro and the Mangere Family Centre to extend this model of community youth work across Mangere, Papatoetoe, Otahuhu, and Manurewa.

“I am proud to be associated with the work and potential of Project 274, and appreciate the integrity and energy of those working solidly at the coalface. Working with good local leadership and 274, together with the many associated organisations across the community is proving effective at that level,” said Mr Brown.

The community however expects the Council also to exercise leadership on these issues. That leadership needs to come from the Community Safety Committee. The community therefore expects Cr Quax, as Chairperson of that Committee to show leadership within the Council and in the communities of Manukau on community safety issues.

"The most disappointing thing at this time of real worry and anxiety for communities across the city is that Dick Quax appears to have nothing to offer. He has stated that he has no tolerance for gangs but strangely form his leadership role in the Council has made no contribution to the discussion on how we deal effectively with gang and drugs challenges. Notably he has been absent from all the discussions in Otara during this time, as well as the cross-ward discussions,” said Len Brown.

Mr Quax may not know this but 274 youth workers, on a daily basis, handle the challenge of diffusing the gang fights, tension on the streets, mediating with leaders, working with the Police and the new Youth Action Teams. They advocate and work inside the community to close down the P labs and tinnie houses, work with our kids in parks, schools, churches and clubs to keep them active and focussed on school and home.

“This work needs the support of communities pulling together and working towards a united goal of minimising gang activity. There needs to be a positive alternative focus for youth so that moves to tackle the burgeoning drugs trade are supported by some ongoing development into the future,” said Mr Brown.

So, in terms of Council leadership, when will Dick Quax get serious about issues of community safety and made a proper contribution. It would be good if he could do three things, listen to those in the community who are actually doing the work, participate in discussions about what works well and what doesn’t and give some positive ideas of his own.

“This will be a challenge for Mr Quax as he has a poor track record in this area,” said Mr Brown. “However it is election year and he may wish to surprise us with a change in his position on community safety like his dramatic u-turn to support free swimming pools across Manukau City.”

“While I won’t be holding my breath, any shift in Mr Quax’s position on issues of community safety would be welcomed by the community and would demonstrate that he has the potential to be part of the solution not part of the problem. I also believe that if Mr Quax made a shift to positively support community safety, it wouldn’t be as politically embarrassing as his recent flip-flop to support the city’s free swimming pools!"said Mr Brown.

ENDS

© Scoop Media