Richmond News
City council is not a theatre or a carnival.
This was the stern message from Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie after applause and chants of “no drugs, no drugs” broke out in chambers after a tearful presentation opposing a safe-consumption site in Richmond at Monday night’s city council meeting.
“I can tell you I’ve been doing this since the mid-’90s and this is the first time I’ve had that kind of reaction here in the city council,” Brodie said. “It’s not going to happen. Is there anybody who doesn’t understand that?”
He said there would be no “demonstrations” in council chambers, and the only way to give input was to get on the speaking list and tell city council “what’s on your mind.”
“This is not some kind of theatre or a carnival,” Brodie said. “This is a very solemn occasion where we are making important discussions and decisions for the city.”
City council proceeded to hear about 50 delegations for four hours on a motion to ask the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to explore having a safe-consumption site in Richmond. …