Heather du Plessis-Allan: Government must deal with appalling behaviour of emergency housing residents in motels
15 May, 2021 05:00 PM
4 minutes to read
One of the problems is the sheer concentration of people in emergency housing in small areas. Photo / File
One of the problems is the sheer concentration of people in emergency housing in small areas. Photo / File
COMMENT
There was a sad twist in the otherwise happy story of 3-year-old Axle who survived a night in the Gisborne bush alone. Axle and his family - it transpired - were homeless earlier this year, living in a tent.
They had been in an emergency housing motel, but it was a bad situation with drugs and alcohol and people fighting and smashing things all the time, and Axle s mum says she didn t want her kid around that . A tent was preferable.
Govt s $30m Rotorua motel emergency housing shake-up not a solution , says MP Todd McClay
13 May, 2021 06:00 PM
6 minutes to read
The government is to directly contract motels for emergency accommodation and prioritise the welfare of whānau and children. Photo / NZME
The government is to directly contract motels for emergency accommodation and prioritise the welfare of whānau and children. Photo / NZME
The Government will take greater control over the use of Rotorua s motels for emergency housing in a $30million initiative that follows months of criticism. However, Rotorua National MP Todd McClay says it is neither a plan nor a solution.
Letters to the editor: Council should enforce Resource Management Act on itself
4 May, 2021 09:00 PM
3 minutes to read
Rotorua Lakes Council. Photo / File
Rotorua Daily Post
So, Rotorua Lakes Council knew motels housing people for more than 28 days was breaching the district plan and therefore its own obligations under the Resource Management Act. In my view, one could assume the council would have preferred this remain under the radar. However, unfortunately for council, barrister Kevin Badcock unearthed this hands-off approach.
The mayor previously said it was not the council s business to tell motel operators who they could and could not rent their premises to.
Cannon Beach Spring Unveiling Art Fest Returns to N. Oregon Coast
Published 04/12/21 at 6:25 PM PDT
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff
(Cannon Beach, Oregon) – Yet another signpost towards normality is coming from the Oregon coast as Cannon Beach gets ready for the return of its famed Spring Unveiling Arts Festival, happening April 30 – May 2. Galleries are hosting smaller events – but these happenings are returning with popular artists as guests.
The latest works will be on display throughout Cannon Beach with numerous artists all over town.
Plenty of modifications will be in order for this Oregon coast favorite, however, with limited crowd sizes, masks required and there will not be the usual large receptions with food and wine as in the past. But the art will be as engaging as ever.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association's (AHLA) report on the state of the hotel industry in 2021 and going forward is, to say the least, not a pretty picture especially here in Illinois.