Elderly homeless woman camped on footpath for weeks sparks political blame game
An elderly woman who spent three weeks camped on a footpath in the Southport CBD has sparked a political blame game. READ THE INSIDE STORY
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A homeless woman in her 70s sleeping rough and protected by six shopping trolleys. On the busiest corner of Southport CBD’s Chinatown — for three weeks! How does this happen?
Division 6 candidate Samantha Delmege puts up photographs on her Facebook page.
She said retailers were contacting Southport councillor Brooke Patterson without success.
Cr Patterson denies this. She films a video post for her Facebook page with the trolleys in the background and in an update explains the homeless would be relocated to social housing.
Your columnist interviews Ms Delmege. She says her plan is to be more contactable, like former long serving councillor Dawn Crichlow, renowned for walking the CBD.
“Dawn was heavily involved with community, she still is. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Go back to open-door policy,” Ms Delmege says.
Council insiders reckon Dawn had the longest Register of Interests of any councillor because she was a member of so many groups.
Fans of Cr Crichlow say Dawn was to Southport what Katherine Hepburn was once upon a time to Hollywood.
To Ms Delmege, Dawn is first and foremost her sister-in-law.
So Cr Patterson was asked to respond to Ms Delmege’s remarks.
“Quite frankly, if Southport had been left on that same trajectory, it would now be looking like the encampments of San Francisco,” Cr Patterson replied.
Interestingly, she added comments from Victoria Towers resident Dave Gilmour.
“So much rubbish. I could not believe the state of the CBD when I moved here (when Dawn was councillor),” he wrote.
“As a long-serving police officer, I could not get my head around the neglect and lack of policing. The place was becoming third world. I dealt with Dawn, It appeared to many that the CBD had been abandoned. She promised the world and gave nothing.
“The CBD is now well on its way to achieving its potential thanks to the hard work of Brooke Patterson. A far cry from the filth and out of control behaviour of the drunks, druggies, itinerants inherited from her predecessor.”
So to continue the Hollywood theme – this is Ms Hepburn, no slouch on horseback, facing John Wayne with a Gatling gun, or Leonardo DiCaprio with his flame thrower.
Your columnist asked for a response. Dawn is keeping her gunpowder dry.
Ms Delmege said: “I will ensure that each and every single day is focused on the community and the residents and not derogatory comments targeted at the wonderful work Dawn did for 29 years as the councillor. Leaving future generations with wonderful legacies we can all enjoy for decades to come.”
Recent photographs show Dawn and Ms Delmege at the embroidery club, laying wreaths at the invitation of the RSL on Remembrance Day and at fishing club awards.
Cr Patterson has one opponent — that’s Ms Delmege. But now in reality there’s another.
We are close to Christmas Eve. My thoughts are about a woman in her 70s sleeping rough in Chinatown. Almost a month. Can anyone answer my first question?
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