Dear Editor
I am a 70-year-old man living in Valley View Towers II. I suffer from COPD and have had five heart attacks. My days on this planet are numbered My doctor tells me COVID-19 would be a certain death sentence for me. There are many other seniors in this building whose health situation is similar to mine. Nearly everyone in this building is living in constant fear for their healthy, safety and their very lives.
As most people were sound asleep this past Saturday night, the people in our building were again subjected to an all-night booze party. This is nothing new. It has been the case here for the past two years and it is not improving.
In the past year, vehicles have been stolen and vandalized in our parking lot. Expensive bicycles and battery chargers from scooters have been stolen from a secure area in the building. Drunken visitors and prostitutes are coming and going daily from the building. Management says, “Don’t let them in.” For some reason security is now the tenants’ responsibility.
Just a little over a week ago, someone vomited on the front step of our building. The office was notified. Several days later it was finally cleaned up by one of our residents. This Sunday morning, I cleaned up poop from the elevator left after the all-night party. This is the third time I personally know of when there was human feces found in the elevator after a drunken party, and, no, it was not chocolate.
Many residents and even family members have spoken to the general manager and board members about these serious security problems. All we get is lip service. In the past two years there have been petitions sent to the minister in charge. The past MLA was contacted and many meetings were held with the MLA and senior officials from Regina. Promises were made and money was wasted. Moving the designated smoking area three times, removing trees, pouring concrete, knocking down walls and installing un-monitored TV cameras has all done nothing to make this place any safer. What we need is either a live-in caretaker or on-site security. A board that cares and a manager with some experience, ability and compassion for the people who are trying to make this their home would also be a good start.
The mask policy in this building is a joke. There is a handful of tenants who never wear masks. Outside visitors stream in and out of the building day and night. Many tenants, their family members and essential works won’t use the elevators for fear of what they might run into.
Does the management, board and the government not know what is going on here? You bet they do. So does everyone else living in North Battleford.
It’s hard to believe the government of Saskatchewan is serious about fighting COVID-19 when they can’t even protect the health and safety of its residents in a government-owned and operated facility.
When you are sitting down to enjoy a little quiet time over the Christmas season say a little prayer for the seniors in Valley View Towers II. That appears to be the best help we might get.
Merry Christmas.
Les Turner
North Battleford
