Pubdate: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: David Roy DOWNTOWN: SAFE STREETS IS ABOUT INTOLERANCE Re: "Safe Streets is about behaviour," Oct. 14. Bruce Carter and the backroom gang at the chamber of commerce want the streets to be safe for Victorians. Carter says the chamber wants to help folks living on the street be safe by "lobbying hard" for safe-streets legislation. I wonder if it ever occurred to him and the business bunch to ask those living on the streets what they need to stay safe. Just a guess, but I think safe-streets legislation wouldn't even make that list. Street folks aren't keen on laws like this because they are usually used to make their lives even more difficult. Chamber members asked the police to kick these folks out of doorways not too long ago. They had the police harass youth downtown. They didn't even want them outside their shop-fronts when they were closed. So forgive us if we doubt the chamber's sincerity. It's as phony as Government Street. The chamber's concern with "behaviour" is really disguised prejudice and intolerance. David Roy Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin