Pubdate: Thu, 14 Nov 2002
Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Richmond Public Library
Contact:  http://www.richmondreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704
Author: Chris Bryan

MOST CANDIDATES WANT MORE POLICE

The proliferation of street racing and marijuana grow operations tops the 
concerns of many residents, and most council candidates agree community 
safety is one of the most pressing issues.

To address the racing issue, the solution lies in a combination of 
enforcement and education, according to Richmond First candidate Everett 
MacKenzie. Starting when children first enter school is key, and the 
success of such programs has been borne out, he said.

"I think it's really important," he said. "You just have to look at 
smoking, and drinking and driving over the last 10 years."

In the short term, hiring more police officers should be considered, 
MacKenzie said, and the community should call for stiffer penalties.

"Some people would say more police officers on the street is not the 
solution, but it helps," MacKenzie said.

Richmond Independent Team of Electors Coun. Sue Halsey-Brandt also supports 
education as a means of building up a sense of responsibility early.

Hiring more officers may be necessary, she said, as well as spending the 
money to purchase surveillance equipment, as suggested in a recent RCMP 
report being considered by council.

Richmond Non-Partisan Association Katherine Kwok said parents and schools 
need to educate young people about safe driving, and an outreach program to 
target older youth would also be helpful.

Independent candidate Pat Young also supports education and stronger 
sentences. He said the city should consider traffic circles at 
intersections to interrupt the city's drag-friendly stretches.

RITE candidate Paul Winskell said police need to be provided the necessary 
tools, and school liaison program should be expanded.

The emphasis for liaison officers should be on the peer pressure many youth 
experience in regards to street racing, Winskell said.

The solution to the increase in marijuana grow operations in the city lies 
in building stronger neighbourhoods, most candidates say. Knowing your 
neighbours means also keeping an eye out for suspicious activity.

Young said leaning over the fence every once in a while to say hello would 
go a long way to addressing the problem.

"It's an example of how neighbours don't communicate," he said. "If you're 
going to talk about change, it starts on your street. Talk to your neighbour."

Kwok says hiring more police officers is necessary, as the city grows, to 
deal with the expansion of crime.

Property managers need more freedom to do reference and credit checks on 
potential tenants, Kwok said, and to inspect houses when they suspect 
suspicious activity.

"I'd like to see landlords work more with the police," Kwok said.

Winskell proposes a coordinated approach, working with police, fire and 
utilities to help the city enforce its bylaws. By shutting down illegal 
grow-op in residential homes, this would free the RCMP to deal with the 
roots of the problem, which are gang-related, he said.
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