I've phoned tbe Metro Control Room (which is where we should lodge complaints re. traffic or by-law violations) at 021 596 1999 and relayed the contents of Mallix's message. I got a reference number (2009070918) and was told that the message would be relayed to the Displaced Person's Unit, and that someone might/would come around tomorrow to take a look. I tried phoning the DPU myself but the phone rings and is not answered (I tried several possible numbers, including that of Dennis Davies who deals with By-Law Enforcement (021 710 8000) but no reply. I suggest Mallix and others nearby monitor the situation and phone the control room or Inspector Nel (082 302 5436) if the situation worsens. Clearly the City's 'Nuisance' By-Law is being violated: the problem is to get Metro Police to take any action. Clearly, policing is only part of the solution. One needs to look at the socio-economic factors involved, and address the fact that there is no shelter in Obs that puts up homeless people for the night. Hopefully the Obsid will assist with this. I also convene a Social Issues Forum (on behalf of the OCA) which looks at the situation of street people and explores what can be done. Anyone wanting to attend or get minutes of these meetings is welcome to contact me. (We meet at 9.00 at Loaves and Fishes, usually on the 3rd Friday of the month.) There is also a Sector 1 meeting at 7 p.m. this evening (at the Community Centre) which deals with crime-related issues. Insp. Nel presents crime stats for the previous month, and security companies also report. Any Obs resident who is concerned about crime is welcome to attend. Rob Gaylard (OCA/ONW)
On Jul 9, 9:54 am, Mallix <[email protected]> wrote: > I walk to work every morning and on the way I have noticed a bit of a > squatter camp for homeless people starting up in the abandoned > buildings opposite the park in Drake road (off station road). At first > there were one or two people who slept on the veranda outside, and > they looked relatively harmless, but now there are around 5 vagrants, > and some are beginning to hassle people walking past, and a bit of a > mess is starting in and around the building. As always, this will > become more and more of a problem if left alone. Anybody know of a way > to do something about this? Who owns these buildings? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
