Outrage shames officials of a British Columbia city into an apology and a promise to remove manure from the homeless camp.
For spreading chicken manure on a popular gathering spot for the homeless in an apparent attempt to drive them away, a British Columbia city has apologized.
Abbotsford City Manager George Murray said in a statement Wednesday that he takes "full responsibility" for the tactic, which sparked outrage from the homeless and their advocates.
"I am deeply sorry for our actions," Murray's statement said, according to Abbotsford Today, which first reported the story.
"The City will be removing the manure from the site and working closely with our community partners and the people impacted over the next few days to collectively resolve this issue."
Homeless activist James Breckenridge had assailed the city for dumping the manure on the downtown Gladys Street homeless camp near the Salvation Army.
"I have stood on it, and smelled it, and had a good look at it," Breckenridge told The Province after visiting the manure-filled camp. "From my point of view, it's a new low — using manure, especially chicken manure, in light of bird flu. We had to destroy a million birds in the Fraser Valley because of avian flu."
Breckenridge said it was the latest in a series of nefarious tactics used by the city to try to keep the homeless moving.
'SHAMEFUL ACT'
Abbotsford Today Editor Mike Archer also skewered the city in an opinion column Thursday titled "An Offensive, Despicable, And Shameful Act."
"This City has a long and well established tradition of chasing its poor and downtrodden with police dogs, moving them day after day, taking their belongings and ensuring they have nowhere to go, no one to turn to, no hope left," he wrote.
The British Columbia city of Surrey used a similar tactic in 2009, spreading chicken manure on the grass, along sidewalks and in an empty city-owned lot beside a busy resource center for the homeless, according to CBC News. The manure was removed following an outcry from community members.
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| cbc.ca. James Breckenridge, an advocate for the homeless in Abbotsford, British Columbia, was outraged that his city put chicken poop in an popular gathering spot. |
For spreading chicken manure on a popular gathering spot for the homeless in an apparent attempt to drive them away, a British Columbia city has apologized.
Abbotsford City Manager George Murray said in a statement Wednesday that he takes "full responsibility" for the tactic, which sparked outrage from the homeless and their advocates.
"I am deeply sorry for our actions," Murray's statement said, according to Abbotsford Today, which first reported the story.
"The City will be removing the manure from the site and working closely with our community partners and the people impacted over the next few days to collectively resolve this issue."
Homeless activist James Breckenridge had assailed the city for dumping the manure on the downtown Gladys Street homeless camp near the Salvation Army.
"I have stood on it, and smelled it, and had a good look at it," Breckenridge told The Province after visiting the manure-filled camp. "From my point of view, it's a new low — using manure, especially chicken manure, in light of bird flu. We had to destroy a million birds in the Fraser Valley because of avian flu."
Breckenridge said it was the latest in a series of nefarious tactics used by the city to try to keep the homeless moving.
'SHAMEFUL ACT'
Abbotsford Today Editor Mike Archer also skewered the city in an opinion column Thursday titled "An Offensive, Despicable, And Shameful Act."
"This City has a long and well established tradition of chasing its poor and downtrodden with police dogs, moving them day after day, taking their belongings and ensuring they have nowhere to go, no one to turn to, no hope left," he wrote.
The British Columbia city of Surrey used a similar tactic in 2009, spreading chicken manure on the grass, along sidewalks and in an empty city-owned lot beside a busy resource center for the homeless, according to CBC News. The manure was removed following an outcry from community members.
