Setting the Record Straight on Homelessness, Addiction and Public Safety
In recent weeks, claims about my record on homelessness, encampments and local charities have been circulating on social media. I shared this response on my own channels and I'm posting it here so residents can read my position in full, in my own words.
Caring about people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges has never meant accepting encampments, illegal drug use or unsafe behaviour in our parks and public spaces. I have always believed we can have compassion for people while maintaining clear expectations for how our shared public spaces are used. Public spaces should be free of crime and safe for everyone. And as a region, we need to stop fighting with each other about homelessness and addiction and start putting that energy into implementing the long-term solutions our community desperately needs.
Yes, I have supported Green Wood Coalition and other local causes from music to education to healthcare. I’m not ashamed of that. From 2019 through 2022, the fundraising referenced here helped provide holiday meals to people, housed and unhoused, who were experiencing hunger.
When the pandemic hit and in-school breakfast programs closed, I started a mobile student nutrition food program to make sure kids were still being fed. I recruited volunteers, raised funds and delivered food hampers. And you know who one of our community business partners was through all of this? Lucas and The Market & Smør. They accepted donations, helped source fresh produce and gave us space to pack food hampers. Green Wood and several other charities benefited from that partnership, and The Market & Smør also donated food to the Community Fridge.
And yes, I voted against a motion that would have singled out Green Wood Coalition and Moms Stop the Harm and prohibited them from accessing the Town’s community grant program for the remainder of the Council term. I stand by that vote. Voting against excluding organizations from even being eligible to apply for a community grant is not an endorsement of every position, program or action associated with those organizations. Applications should be considered on their merits and against the criteria of the program. That’s why we have policies in place to govern municipal programs. Besides neither organization had submitted proposals for municipal funding at that time or since. Let me say that again, no funding was given (it also wasn’t asked for).
And, much to everyone’s disappointment apparently, I have never funded or volunteered with an encampment or an unsanctioned tent.
I also believe our parks belong to the entire community, encampments are not an acceptable housing solution, and illegal drug use in public spaces should not be normalized. This isn’t a new position. As recent as 2023, I was part of the Council that unanimously supported enforcing our park bylaws and prohibiting encampments. I’m very supportive of the crime enforcement strategy that Chief Leather is rolling out.
On the topic of sleeping cabins, Council supported exploring the sleeping cabin model from December 2022 to April 2023. I’m glad we did. I’m glad we asked questions and allowed for community consultation because it gave Council the information we needed to make an informed decision. After that work was completed and the proposal came back for final consideration, Council unanimously (that includes me) did not support moving forward with it. The public record reflects this. Please stop misrepresenting this.
I am not a flip-flopper. As an elected official, I have evolved through a pandemic and an opioid epidemic. I think most of us have. We’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, where compassion without accountability can fail people, and where enforcement alone doesn’t solve the underlying problem. I have also become a mother in this time, which also evolves my perspective on so many things in the community.
That’s not a mask. It’s the honest truth.
Leadership isn’t about dividing Cobourg into people we care about and people we don’t. We can insist on safe public spaces while expecting governments and service providers to address homelessness, mental health and addiction with solutions that actually work.
And one final thing. I have lived a life of service and volunteerism completely outside of politics. I’ve been interested in joining Rotary for quite some time, and suggesting that my involvement is some kind of campaign ploy is unfair. Whatever your personal or political opinion of me, please leave Rotary and the good people who volunteer their time serving this community out of it.
I have relationships with, work alongside and meet with people across the political, social, business and community spectrum. I don’t agree with everything they say or do, and they certainly don’t always agree with me. Nor should they. Don’t we want people around us who challenge our thinking and broaden our perspective? The range of people I know, meet with, work with and learn from doesn’t compromise my leadership. It makes me a better person and a stronger leader. To anyone reading this, I would love the opportunity to meet with you too.
My record is eight years long. I’m happy to stand behind it.
And I’ll continue running a campaign focused on what I believe Cobourg needs next: safer streets, stronger neighbourhoods and a community that works for everyone.
Respectfully,
Nicole Beatty
hello@nicolebeatty.ca
289.251.3171
