Mat Siscoe tells us homelessness number one issue heard while campaigning
St. Catharines' mayor-elect is settling in for a busy four years, including an agenda highlighted with concerns for the homeless, and a budget process that city council begins to finalize next month.
Mat Siscoe tells us homelessness is the number one issue he heard about during the election campaign.
He points out it'll take more than provincial and federal help, it takes increased public focus, as more people are seeing it in front of their eyes.
"I knew this would be an issue in the downtown, because in the downtown people have been seeing the homelessness and the drug crisis growing, and they've seen it with their own eyes because it's in their neighbourhoods. The rest of the city is seeing it now," he says.
Siscoe adds it'll take public pressure to force government to act.
He also wants to act on the city budget, next month, which can take advantage of provincial and federal assistance.
There's a balancing act for infrastructure such as roads and sewers, but also other items he mentioned while campaigning for the job. "I talked a lot about a property tax increase deferral program for low income seniors during the campaign. I want to start the process of getting that put in place. I don't think it can be a quick thing, it's a pretty major undertaking, but I want the process to begin."
You can listen to our interview with Mat Siscoe below.
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