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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene)

@pdcityhall.bsky.social

1K followers 9 following 6.6K posts

I will be live-tweeting Regina city council meetings from this account. When the tweets start coming, they will be furious & fast & keep up for hours. Not for the faint of heart. You have been warned.

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · Nov 15

If you're new to what I do, here's how it works…
I go to nearly every Regina city council meeting — well, since the pandemic, I've been attending virtually — and I live tweet what's happening. I can type really fast. It can be an onslaught. Be prepared. You may need to mute. /2 #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 1m

Rashovich manages to bring up fluoride in a discussion of the Safe Public Spaces bylaw. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 1m

Radons: Fact of the matter is people are dying at an alarming rate. Will this bylaw change the numbers? I don't know. Some people don't feel safe. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 1m

Radons: W/in days of us passing this at council, 2 people were arrested for spraying bear spray at animals. I see nothing in this legislation about forced treatment. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 2m

Radons: I've had to go help kids were affected by bear spray at a public event. And I was walking last week & two people were carrying a machete. Fact is, we have a responsibility to everyone in our community. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 3m

Radons: Police said they wouldn't confiscate needles or drugs in small amount. So I commend them for that. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 3m

Radons: I do agree in terms of what Clr Froh already mentioned about provincial govt downloading this onto municipalities. If they're going to make legislation, they should just own it. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 4m

Flores: We're not deciding based on evidence policy. This is politics. Not policy. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 5m

Flores: But the legislation does talk about fines it does talk about imprisonment. I don't feel that's an appropriate way to deal w/ this, people are concerned they will be penalized for having needles & drugs which are related to harm reduction. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 6m

Flores: In conversations, this is akin to a speeding ticket, why are you worried? If that's the case, this won't deter crime. People still speed. So I don't know how this will help. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 8m

Froh: There isn't a single instance of a drug or needle being used as a weapon. Not one. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 8m

Froh: 2 things can be true at once. I have confidence in the RPS. But I have the privilege to not live on the street. I heard from people that whether it's misinformation or fear, this could push people into the shadows where they could die. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 9m

Froh: It is within the provincial government's purview to pass their own legislation. I intend to vote against & abstain again. I saw no community consultation. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 10m

Froh: When we see poor governance & divisive politics, we should call it out. I resent being asked to choose between taking bear spray off the street & addressing a problem that doesn't exist like using drugs or needles as a weapon. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 11m

Zachidniak: I will not be supporting this going to third reading today b/c we should have at least the two week pause to gather more information. This came upon quickly so I just want to make sure there's time to consider it. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 11m

Second reading of the Safe Public Spaces bylaw now. Check for questions from councillors.
Zachidniak: We've heard concerns. There was a request to table it. We've heard announcement from premier that gives credibility to some concerns. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 13m

Zachidniak: My concern is that delegations were raising concern that this bylaw is a first step towards compassionate care so I just wanted clarification on that. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 14m

Zachidniak: What is meant by "compassionate care" is the forced treatment…
Mayor: We have to be careful not to debate something that is provincial jurisdiction. The compassionate care is with the province, not the city. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 15m

Larsen on Moe's recent statements: One article about relocating Moose Jaw shelter, Premier says they will be introducing compassionate care legislation similar to Alberta's. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 16m

Zachidniak: Have you spoken to people w/ a legal opinion?
Larsen: I've spoken w/ 3 lawyers and heard this bylaw will not withstand a human rights challenge so you might want to double check that. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 17m

Larsen: Stigmatizing people does not help treatment. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18m

Larsen says that she has heard that people on the ground are concerned about what this could mean for people. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 20m

No questions for Florence. Up next its Rebecca Granovsky-Larsen. Here is her submission. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 21m

Delegations up for the Safe Public Spaces Bylaw. Florence Stratton speaking first. Here is what she submitted. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 22m

First reading of the Safe Public Spaces bylaw passes 7 to 3. Froh, Flores & Zachidniak vote against. Clr Jason Mancinelli is away. #yqrcc

PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 23m

Up now safe urban spaces opt in bylaw.
They're doing the first reading.
Rashovich mumbles something on mic about "Jason's leaving now for the vote?" Mics go dead. #yqrcc