Shelter security cost city millions
Security guards for homeless shelters have cost the city millions since the start of the pandemic.
Wouldn’t it be more economical for the city to hire its own security guards rather than extending its contract with with GardaWorld?
Bill Binns 16:31 on 2021-04-08 Permalink
It almost certainly would not be more economical. When is it ever more economical to use city workers over private sector workers?
It would be more economical if the victimized and marginalized folks currently experiencing homelessness could leave their free housing in the morning without getting all stabby. Seriously, if you are ever up around 6AM and in the vicinity of Berri Square, watch the chaos that unfolds as the homeless exit their 4 star accommodations in Place Dupuis.
Kate 19:15 on 2021-04-08 Permalink
Bill Binns, it’s always more economical to use city workers. That’s why a city has its own cops, blue collar workers and so on. The problem comes when they try to fix what looks like a short-term problem with temp workers, which then become part of how the city works, at an astronomical temp rate.
Paul 09:46 on 2021-04-09 Permalink
Sorry Kate, I agree w Bill here…it is definitely more affordable to hire a garda-world agent at $35/hr as opposed to hiring them as an employee which likely costs $30/hr + 35% for benefits, plus hiring an additional one for when the first is sick/on vacation, and ensuring they have a supervisor, etc…
Myles 10:30 on 2021-04-09 Permalink
The amount of graft that goes on whenever the private sector gets involved is more than enough to cancel out the savings on their employees meagre benefits.
Bill Binns 10:35 on 2021-04-09 Permalink
@Kate – Well that’s just it. Temporary workers are temporary. When you don’t need them anymore, you can get rid of them for free. It’s technically more expensive to rent a car than to buy one but not if not if you only need it for a month.
Personally, I would prefer this work be done by the police but not because it’s cheaper.
Bill Binns 11:19 on 2021-04-09 Permalink
@Myles – As compared to that paragon of good and honest stewardship that is the Montreal municipal machine? How quickly we forget about Mr 3%.
Kate 21:22 on 2021-04-09 Permalink
Well, Mr 3% is dead, literally. The current administration has problems but massive corruption is not one of them.
I have no idea whether the city could create a security corps who were not police, but could be sent to places like the shelters, to keep order. I have an odd feeling, now that I think of it, that if the city tried to do this, the police brotherhood might kick up an unholy fuss. Hiring private security at high rates from GardaWorld might how the city gets around this.