Burnt-out SUV owned by Kamloops mayor removed while he is in Mexico
CBC News | Posted: December 15, 2023 12:33 AM | Last Updated: December 15, 2023
Fire chief had ordered mayor to remove vehicle, citing safety concerns
A burnt-out vehicle belonging to the mayor of Kamloops, B.C., was towed from his property Thursday while he was away in Mexico.
Kamloops Fire Rescue Chief Ken Uzeloc had repeatedly asked Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson to remove the vehicle, which had been sitting on a used car lot owned by the mayor, citing safety concerns.
"We've had two fires in that vehicle ... [we're] consistently seeing people being attracted to it to try to shelter in it," Uzeloc said in an interview with CBC News Tuesday.
"I've deemed it a fire hazard. I've asked for it to be removed. If it's not, I will take steps to remove it."
WATCH | Mayor defies orders to remove burnt-out vehicle:
But Hamer-Jackson refused, saying he was licensed to store vehicles on his property and the focus should be on preventing people from starting fires in the first place.
That sentiment is in keeping with a theme that the first-term mayor was elected on, arguing Kamloops has been overrun by crime and vagrancy and vowing to work to clean it up.
That has brought the mayor into conflict with several organizations, including social organizations that work with vulnerable people.
Shortly after being elected, Hamer-Jackson was asked by B.C. Housing to stop dropping into shelters and facilities unannounced, saying his visits were disruptive to front-line staff and people using the spaces.
Hamer-Jackson has directly blamed nearby social housing buildings, which sit across from his car lot, for some of the problems he has personally experienced as a business owner.
"There's fire all over the place," he said. "We've got to deal with people who are struggling with mental health and addictions. We've got to get them better."
But Uzeloc said he was motivated to order the car removed solely by public safety, with an interest in reducing the likelihood of new fires causing injury or death.
Asked if he would be paying the tow truck bill, Hamer-Jackson instead repeated his concerns over the state of the city.
"We live in graffitiville. There's graffiti all over the place ... I got a ticket for that," he said. "I could spend millions or thousands and thousands of dollars [on bills], but not getting to the right place. We need to deal with the problem."