VIDEO: Kelowna businessman says council members have become too friendly with developers
He doesn't blame them for it.
Council candidate Anthony Shephard said a friendly familiarity is inevitable.
After years of hearing them make their pitches, Shephard said our council members tend to forget that they should always represent residents, not the developers they see before them.
"I learned when I was taking over businesses that you listen to your customer," said Shephard.
"We kind of have to look at the residents of Kelowna as a customer. We need to give them what they want."
As for that overly friendly relationship with builders?
"It's inevitable," he said. "They get to know them, how could you not get to know the if you meet them 20-30 times a year?"
He believes there's a simple way to address that.
"I think that changing the council out, I think that's not a bad idea," said Shephard.
On homeless, he gives council credit for effort.
"For the most part, I think they've been trying," Shephard said. "Has the problem gotten better? No, no it hasn't."
Until it is better, he said he would like to see more enforcement to make sure that people feel free and safe in all areas of our community.
"I don't think it's unreasonable for people that paid for the parks and paid for the public washrooms to be able to use them," said Shephard.
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