OPINION: You know, for a man whose whole tagline is “trust me, I’m good at business”, Christopher Luxon still does not understand small business owners.
This week, when asked about the ‘move on laws’ for the homeless in the CBD, he replied, “The bigger issue is like Chuck and Mary coming in for their once-in-a-lifetime trip” and “getting intimidated because someone’s sitting on the doorstep of a shop they’re trying to get into, threatening, shouting at them, abusing them.”
It’s the sort of thing a normal person has to reread twice.
Wow. So much for being a nation that prizes, above all else, creating a fair go at life for every single person regardless of wealth or status.
But also, he’s so clearly trying to impress us, the small business owners. The exhausted backbone of the country who, in Auckland, have seen homelessness almost double under him.
And yes, we’ve spent two unsuccessful years asking for support from the government. But no, not with homelessness specifically per se. But with the rise of antisocial behaviour that’s come with a strange second wave. And, above all, restoring life to the CBD.
Many of the established homeless, especially the street community on K Rd, are fine. Owners know, chat to, and simply work alongside them.
But about two years ago, something weird happened. Not only were there suddenly a lot more new faces, but a separate, strange undercurrent appeared.