Monday evening, the victims of the Mariner Apartment flood received more bad news.
Mayor Russ Arnott told a gathering at an emergency meeting that the Town of Comox can’t help them out at this time.
Can’t? Or won’t?
Our guess is the latter.
Residents from 17 units at the Mariner Apartment in Comox - the entire first floor - have been evicted, due to a massive flood caused by a water main break.
The residents were unceremoniously served with ‘frustrated tenancy agreement’ papers 24 hours after the flood, effectively ending their tenancies and forcing them to find their own alternate accommodations.
In this market? Good luck.
If ever there were a time for a municipality’s council to step up for its citizens, this is it.
These people are homeless through no one’s fault, other than the Town of Comox. It was the Town’s infrastructure that failed. Had that water main not burst, the dozens of affected Comox residents would have slept in their own beds last night, in their own apartments.
We understand that, from a legal standpoint, this is an issue for the insurance companies to work out. Eventually, they will determine whether the Town of Comox is responsible, and if so, to what extent. At that point, Arpeg Holdings Ltd. - the landlords of the building - will, or will not, get financial assistance to cover the massive repair bill. That’s all fine and dandy.
But what about those most affected? Tough luck, apparently.
RELATED: Benefit concert set up for those affected by Mariner Apartment flood
Only one of the affected residents carried tenant insurance. Such insurance can cost $35 a month, or more. That’s not a lot of money, for some. For others, it would remove bread from the table. Most of those living in apartments like The Mariner fall into the latter category.
And yet, the Town “can’t do anything.”
We can’t help but think the Town would react in a completely different fashion if a situation arose that threatened something as important as the BC Seafood Festival. Alternate arrangements would be made in a jiffy.
But these aren’t million-dollar businesses. These are low-income earners. These are seniors. These are “just” residents.
Comox council brags about how the Town is debt-free; it is the envy of other municipalities.
If ever there were a reason to spend some un-budgeted money, this is it.
There must be a “rainy day fund” within the Town coffers that could be accessed.
It’s raining, Comox. Pouring. On your residents.
If the measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members, you have failed in that regard, Comox.
–Terry Farrell