-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Picking on beggars is shameful politicking
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:56:10 +1200
From: John Minto
To: John Minto

Minto for Mayor

Picking on beggars is shameful politicking

Auckland Council support for a bylaw attacking beggars is shameful politicking by councillors ahead of local elections.

The bylaw is unnecessary and unhelpful.

It’s unnecessary because the behaviour complained of in the bylaw (intimidating or causing a nuisance) would already involve the police and it’s unhelpful because it blames society’s most deprived victims for their plight.

Councillors want to be seen to be busy in the lead-up to voting but it’s just more scapegoating the victims in the most pointless way possible.

Apparently the bylaw is to be policed by Council officers who will be able to refer individuals to other State agencies for help the council says.

“But council officers can do that anyway – they don’t need this bylaw”

“If the council has time to pick on the poor why doesn’t it have time to address the three biggest issues facing Aucklanders – traffic gridlock, unaffordable housing and unliveable wages.”

My campaign is presenting big, bold solutions to these problems and so should the mayor and councillors.

ends

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