Pubdate: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Malcolm Curtis, Times Colonist Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) DRUGS, PROSTITUTES SOUR WALKWAY'S APPEAL Brian Henry climbs nimbly over a rocky outcropping overlooking Victoria Marina and points out three used drug needles on a grassy niche. The owner of Ocean River Sports on Store Street says the needles are evidence of a lingering problem with drug users behind the Value Village store, where a public harbourside walkway was built last year as part of the marina development. On a rainy day no one's around. But in better weather drug addicts, prostitutes and homeless people still loiter in the area that was cleaned up when the concrete walkway was installed. "It's a civic problem that we need to deal with," said Henry, who has persuaded the city to allow the walkway to be gated at night. Council supported the gate last week on a temporary basis. The walkway extends what the city hopes will become a public path around the entire harbour. It comes to a dead end now behind Capital Iron, where a harbourside parking lot covers land owned by Transport Canada. Further public access is blocked by an asphalt plant that occupies the next plot of land, south of Rock Bay where Transport Canada and B.C. Hydro are cleaning up polluted former industrial land. "As long as it's a dead end people will come here to shoot up," said Henry, who manages the marina on behalf of Legacy, a U.S. company based in Washington state that owns Value Village, a second-hand store. Ocean River runs a store next door to Value Village and operates a kayak rental business from the marina where boats are sold, yachts are anchored and the James Bay Rowing Club keeps its racing sculls. In the morning or the evening it's not uncommon for marina users to see drug users shooting up or prostitutes servicing customers, Henry said. "It's a little disconcerting for people who come upon them," he said. The James Bay Rowing Club reported one of its members, a 14-year-old girl, encountering prostitutes on her way to the marina. When more people start using the area the problem will likely disappear, Henry said. Drug users go there now because it's away from the limelight. But it may show the need for Victoria to provide addicts with safe injection sites, he said. "It's probably not a bad idea." Council has recommended the issue of the gate be reviewed every two years, or sooner if the walkway is extended northward. Henry would like to see the extension, but Transport Canada shows no signs of developing its property behind Capital Iron and Ocean River. Henry said a metal gate will likely be installed next month at a cost of about $4,000. It will be opened and closed by a watchman who lives aboard a vessel moored at the marina, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl