Homeless, rough sleepers and beggars have often been used as a shorthand by some for decline in the city centre. For some, it’s evidence of the state's increasing failure to provide support people at vulnerable points in their lives; for others, the continued presence of rough sleepers being permitted is a sign of a lack of social rules. This week the government seems to have firmly fallen in with the latter.
They are set to implement legislation that would empower police to implement ‘move on’ orders, which, if issued, would require you to vacate public areas or face up to $2,000 in fines or 3 months in prison.
The move has garnered huge criticism with many viewing the move alongside the governments cuts to emergency housing and support services leaving people with no where to go other than prison.
Another move that has flown a little under the radar has been the amalgamation of the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the local government functions of the Department of Internal Affairs into a single ministry. This amalgamation has alarmed critics who are concerned that the government's track record on climate and environmental policy spells ill for this new agency.
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Wire Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the amalgamation of key ministries into a mega ministry but began by talking about the expansion of police powers with move-on orders.
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