Drug addiction is a major problem in todays society. Drug production helps to fund international crime and terror groups. Drug use affects us all through increased health care and police costs and the social impacts of drug and other addictions are difficult to measure but significant. Addiction problems are widespread and deep, reaching into our schools, workplaces and homes. These are problems that we need to address and should be thankful for all organisations working on these issues within our community.
Turning Point plays a significant role helping people who are well on their way to recovery. It is an organization that has encountered much resistance to a proposed new development in the Ash Street neighbourhood.
While some of the concerns around the size of the proposal may have had some justification, most of the opposition has been stirred up by myths about turning point. I support the work of Turning Point and their choice of location.
Based on the numbers of people who signed a petition opposed to Turning Point on Ash Street a group labelling themselves NIABY (Not In Anyones Back Yard) threatened to unseat any incumbent councillor who supported the proposal. Is it possible for a single issue to do this? With the electoral system we currently use the answer is yes. If a single group could get the support of 12% of eligible voters they could run 8 candidates and sweep council. This seems plain wrong to me and I would like to see consideration of using the voting system proposed by the Citizens Assembly for municipal elections