Hi Johan and Gwenaelle Firstly, Ursula has indeed left Obsid - the email came from Brian, not Ursula. Brian uses Ursula’s old email address, [email protected], hence the confusion.
Secondly, Obsid is not a political organisation in any way at all. We do not align with the DA or any other political party. We work with local government, whoever their political masters may be, as our role is simply to act as a “top-up” service for the Observatory community. Most of our work is done in the unglamorous areas of cleaning, social services, and helping with public safety. I must emphasise in very strong terms that neither Obsid nor any contractor for Obsid has ever forcibly removed homeless people anywhere at all. Doing this is illegal, and also immoral. On the contrary, we work closely with homeless people, to help them, as most homeless people live very difficult lives. Our social field worker, Kenneth Roman, spends all his time on the streets of Obs, day and night, working to help them. We have programs that assist homeless people medically, with placement programs to get them into shelters and back to their families, and also assist with food programmes, and in winter we have a program to help homeless people deal with the cold and wet. We even host an annual Christmas lunch for the homeless! Our security officers do not use force against homeless people, or anyone else; they do not have a mandate to give homeless people a tough time, as Johan asserts. So, no, Johan, we do not discriminate against homeless people. In fact, our programs to help them are probably the most comprehensive in the metropole. This probably explains why so many homeless people remain in Obs, and don’t migrate to other areas. Here’s an explanation why you not get support from others in Observatory for your campaigns against Obsid; you’re wrong, and the community knows it. Gwenaelle - if you are really interested in helping with the social issues that are such a part of the Obs fabric, we would welcome you to attend our Social Issues Committee meetings. You’ll find a group of people who are motivated by a genuine desire to help and build a better life for those less fortunate in our community. Please email me or call the Obsid office at 0214487090 to find out more. Regards Justin PS The reason why some Observatory parks are fenced and locked is nothing to do with Obsid. We did not fence the parks. This was a community initiative, led by Observatory residents fed up with the parks being taken over by anti-social people who used the parks as open toilets, and places to use drugs and drink. I remember the Station Road kids park before it was fenced. The grass was overgrown, and when I walked there, I regularly found used hypodermic needles lying in the grass, along with broken bottles, and human excrement. The playground equipment was broken down. Nobody ever brought their kids there; who in their right mind would want their kids to play in a place where running in the grass was a life-threatening experience? The fencing of the parks created an environment where people can safely walk their dogs or play with their kids without fear of anti-social and dangerous behaviour endangering them. Now the park always has kids in it; its a happy, friendly environment thats a genuine asset to the community, as are the other fenced parks. Anyone can get a key, they just need to pay a deposit. Justin Ashley Vice-Chairperson: Observatory Improvement District [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> 0826080088 > On 19 Feb 2015, at 8:58 AM, Johan Beaurain <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Gwénaëlle > > You must be new here in Obs. Welcome in Obs. > > Thank you for that little protest email. I am so glad to see that there are > still some people whom are shocked when they experience such blatant > discrimination against homeless people. > > You asked about the email we received from Ursula van Stavel. Ursula van > Stavel is the strong woman here in Obs. She is employed, or she used to be > employed by the Observatory Improvement District (OBSID). I am not sure what > the current situation regarding her employment is, because I once heard a > rumor that she left OBSID. > > The residents of Observatory established OBSID. They agreed to pay money or > extra tax (on a monthly basis) into a bank account to establish OBSID. OBSID > do now act and behave like as if they are the government here in Obs. OBSID > are enjoying the full support of the DA government in the Western Cape. > > You asked ‘What is meant by "deal with vagrants" or "do a clean up"?’. My > understanding is that it means exactly what it says. They will be picked up > and they will be taken away to somewhere else where they will be given even a > tougher time than what they had on the streets of Observatory. > > OBSID are using the monthly contributions paid by residents, to employ > security staff whose job it is to give homeless people a tough time on the > streets of Observatory. > > My experience is that they have an almost open mandate to discriminate > against homeless people in almost any way they like. > > I have already tried to take these issues up at the formal structures, but > all my attempts failed due to lack of support from others in Observatory. > > Best regards > > Johan Beaurain > > > On Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 2:50 PM, Gwénaëlle Dereymaeker > <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > Thanks for all the useful info. I hear the concern of many residents > regarding litter being left out in public spaces, whether my homeless people > or homeowners, which I most certainly share. I certainly do not support any > individual urinating on public property, but I am a bit surprised at the > wording used in Ursula's email below. Is this a City of Cape Town notice? > What is meant by "deal with vagrants" or "do a clean up"? We're talking about > human beings after all, aren't we? > Also, I may be wrong, but in half of the pictures sent by James, we just see > people sitting on benches? Why is this a problem? > > Thanks > Gwen > > On Friday, February 6, 2015 at 8:27:29 AM UTC+2, Ursula van Stavel wrote: > > For information. Let's get those calls flowing in to the city. >> The city has created a specific hotline number 0800 87 2201 to deal with >> vagrants. You can call this number at any point and they will log the >> complaint and give you a reference number. They then send a field worker out >> to address the problem. If there is no resolution then the problem is >> escalated to the DPU team to come and do a clean up. Sadly this team works >> on a reactive complaint basis and does not have the staffing numbers to be >> proactively dealing with the problem. As a result the more complaints they >> receive about a specific spot then the more action they are able to take and >> they will add it to their top hot-spot watch list. >> > > > On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 9:23 AM, Brian Amery Coo <[email protected] <>> wrote: > Thank you James. It is so good when a citizen joins in the struggle and takes > positive action. > Playing the blame and complain game is much easier but it doesn't achieve a > thing. > > On Mon, Feb 2, 2015 at 8:29 PM, James Cowley <[email protected] <>> wrote: > Attention: Candice Bossr - as per this email - Kindly, the email stream for > your response and action. > > Andrew is correct re Sports, Recreation & Amenities under Hartleyvale Stadium > - Candice Bossr - 021 448 8652 <> - management of usage, maintenance, > lighting, security, fencing, enquiries, watering etc > > Brian planted the succulents via OBSID etc. > > Yes indeed, sad sights and situation at the Observatory Village Green needing > attention - see attachments. > James > > On 2 February 2015 at 16:33, Andrew Fife <[email protected] <>> wrote: > I seem to remember when it it was redeveloped, it fell under Sports & Rec. > (Candice) > > On 2 February 2015 at 16:23, Marlin Forbes <[email protected] <>> wrote: > Then that's probably the problem: it's nobody's problem. > > The other smaller parks dotted around OBS are beautiful as you say. It's just > sad that our most visible stretch of open ground is so shabby and unloved. > > I'll ask Paddy, thanks for the info! > > > On 2 Feb 2015 16:17, "Rosemary Robins" <[email protected] <>> wrote: > > > > I COULD be wrong, but I don't think the Village Green is the responsibility > > of City Parks. Ebrahim does Barrington, Kiddies and Arnold - with > > conscientiousness. For many years there has been a debate as to who is > > responsible for the Village Green. I believe OBSID will know. Or try > > Paddy............. > > > > On Mon, Feb 2, 2015 at 2:35 PM, Marlin Forbes <[email protected] <>> > > wrote: > >> > >> On Monday, 2 February 2015 12:50:31 UTC+2, Treevor wrote: > >>> > >>> The inconvenience of getting a key must be seen in light of the fact that > >>> we have many homeless folk living on the village green an surrounds. I > >>> had an accidental altercation with a homeless guy on saturday and got his > >>> blood on me via a cut...i have no idea what diseases this guy carries but > >>> its a worry that one cannot venture to main rd without encountering these > >>> regulars and one is forced to squeeze past beggars and stalls on the > >>> sidewalk. Also the village green is now an homeless camp site. > >> > >> > >> The village green has become a bit squalid. The plants get urinated on > >> regularly, and the fences are nets for catching all the litter that gets > >> left there. > >> > >> The grass doesn't seem to ever get watered, and there is not one single > >> attractive thing anywhere. The most it ever gets used for is soccer or the > >> odd martial arts training class. > >> > >> If we want it to be more than an eyesore, it needs to be looked after a > >> little bit better. Those guys that hang around there are not just > >> temporarily down on their luck, they've been sluiping around Obs for > >> years. They need to be moved out of there, and ObsID should patrol. Or put > >> a fence up. > > -- > OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room > ---------------------------------------------- > 021-447-1066 <tel:021-447-1066> 072-063-1653 <tel:072-063-1653> > > For all emergencies please dial 10111 > > ---------------------------------------------- > ONW: 082 081 0142 <tel:082%20081%200142>, ONW email: [email protected] <> > WEB: www.obswatch.org.za <http://www.obswatch.org.za/> > ---------------------------------------------- > > 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 > https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en > <https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en> > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] <>. > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout > <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. > > > > -- > > Kind regards > > Brian Amery > Chief Operating Officer > Observatory Improvement District OBSID) > > Tel. 021 4487090 <tel:021%204487090> > Fax :0866394005 <tel:0866394005> > Cell: 0825749830 <tel:0825749830> > > Address: 41 Station Road,Observatory,Cape Town ,7925 > > > > -- > > Kind regards > > Brian Amery > Chief Operating Officer > Observatory Improvement District OBSID) > > Tel. 021 4487090 <tel:021%204487090> > Fax :0866394005 <tel:0866394005> > Cell: 0825749830 <tel:0825749830> > > Address: 41 Station Road,Observatory,Cape Town ,7925 > > -- > OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room > ---------------------------------------------- > 021-447-1066 <tel:021-447-1066> 072-063-1653 <tel:072-063-1653> > > For all emergencies please dial 10111 > > ---------------------------------------------- > ONW: 082 081 0142 <tel:082%20081%200142>, ONW email: [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]> > WEB: www.obswatch.org.za <http://www.obswatch.org.za/> > ---------------------------------------------- > > 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] <mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from > this group, send email to [email protected] > <mailto:obsnw%[email protected]>. For more options, visit this > group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en > <https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en> > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout > <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. > > > -- > OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room > ---------------------------------------------- > 021-447-1066 072-063-1653 > > For all emergencies please dial 10111 > > ---------------------------------------------- > ONW: 082 081 0142, ONW email: [email protected] > WEB: www.obswatch.org.za > ---------------------------------------------- > > 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 > https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en > <https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en> > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout > <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. -- OPS [Obsid Public Safety] - 24/7 control room ---------------------------------------------- 021-447-1066 072-063-1653 For all emergencies please dial 10111 ---------------------------------------------- ONW: 082 081 0142, ONW email: [email protected] WEB: www.obswatch.org.za ---------------------------------------------- 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 https://groups.google.com/d/forum/obsnw?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
