ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia, June 6 (UPI) -- The city manager of Abbotsford, British Columbia, apologized for spreading chicken manure over a popular gathering place for the city's homeless.
City workers spread the manure over the area in an apparent bid to drive homeless people out of the city, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Wednesday.
"I am deeply sorry for our actions," City Manager George Murry said in an email. "As city manager, I take this situation very seriously and retain full responsibility for the manner in which we dealt with this incident."
The incident was brought to light by James Breckenridge, a local advocate who wrote a column about the manure in the Abbotsford Today. Breckenridge accused the city of waging an "ongoing war on the homeless," driving them "from spot to spot around Abbotsford like nuisance animals."
He said the city has failed to provide viable alternatives to camping for the homeless.
Murray said the city will remove the manure from the site and will work on options to resolve the situation.
