Pubdate: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Chandra Corriveau JUNKIES AREN'T ONLY ONES STEALING CARS To the editor: Interesting to note that Geoff Williams, whose family suffered in a very real way ("Car theft the norm in East Van neighbourhood, say latest victims," July 31), sees the larger issue of the Downtown Eastside drug trade while ICBC, whose focus is the almighty dollar, blames the junkies themselves-a convenient scapegoat. The quote from the ICBC representative, Elizabeth Goldenschtein, implies that the "hundreds of junkies" on Hastings Street are responsible for the rise in car thefts, when ICBC's own statistics don't support that assertion. The Vancouver increase is only about half of the provincial increase. I cannot imagine how a drug addict in the Downtown Eastside can be responsible for car thefts in Victoria, or Prince Rupert. A more logical perspective would be to look for a province-wide trigger-like the B.C. Liberal cuts to social services and the Legal Services Society. Reducing social assistance and imposing a three-week waiting period, thereby putting already vulnerable and marginalized people in even more desperate circumstances across the province, is more likely the cause of increased car theft. Compound that with the B.C. Liberals' gutting of legal aid and the Human Rights Commission so each time poor people are further marginalized they have no legal recourse. Maybe the answer is to stop focusing on the immediate dollar loss and to stop using statistics in such a simplistic and prejudicial manner. Instead we could look to broader and more constructive solutions that address the issue, rather than mislay blame on treatment centres, safe injection sites (no matter what anyone thinks, you can't offer treatment options to someone shooting up in an alley), mental health facilities, alternative rehabilitative measures to address criminality, affordable housing outside the Downtown Eastside, etc., etc. Sadly, by looking at it from a skewed statistical perspective rather than as a complex, systemic problem, ICBC's contention will likely be borne out-car theft will probably rise in Vancouver. Of course, few will look to the courthouse closures across the province, which will draw accused from outlying areas into Vancouver proper. ICBC will just say, "See, more junkies, more car theft." Chandra Corriveau, Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom