Pubdate: Fri, 26 Mar 2004
Source: Burnaby Newsleader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Burnaby Newsleader
Contact:  http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1315
Author: Greg Knill
Referenced:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n499.a08.html

RESIDENTS LOOK FOR HELP

The Sad Reality About The Issues Raised In Our Front Page Story

Neighbourhood under siege is that they're nothing new. For more than a
decade chronic drug use, petty crime and prostitution have been a
fixture in the Kingsway corridor. The intensity of the problems may
ebb and flow, but the issues never disappear.

So it was with some cynicism that I listened this week to a couple in
my office explain their fear and frustration.

"This has been going on for years," I told them.

And then I caught myself.

Was that supposed to make it better? Was that supposed to make a
difference to them?

Almost every evening residents in the area draw the blinds on their
homes and surrender their streets to the pimps, prostitutes and their
customers. In the morning, they thread their way to schools and parks,
only to find the disgusting residue of this trade: used condoms and
dirty needles.

It's no way to live. And the fact that it's been going on this long
doesn't make it any better.

Finding a solution, of course, is a whole lot harder than recognizing
the problem. If it were easy, it would have happened by now.

Attempts have been made. There's been the get-tough approach, where
the police beef up their presence, arrest johns and run stings against
the prostitutes. Unfortunately, this uses police resources so it's
difficult to sustain. And invariably it just drives the problem to
another neighbourhood.

Then there's the neighbourhood approach. Residents - often armed with
little more than flashlights and good intentions - attempt to
discourage the hookers and drug dealers from using their streets by
making it difficult for them to do business. Nice idea, but it's not
the way most homeowners want to spend their Friday evenings,
especially when the retaliations begin.

Invariably these actions bring calls for a more holistic approach,
where everyone but the resident is seen as a victim in need of support
and society 's understanding. Suddenly the debate shifts from keeping
condoms out of the playground to the origins of prostitution.

So what can be done?

The good news is that the residents are raising their concerns at a
time when city hall has made clear its intent to address the problems
of the Edmonds area. Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan has already
established a task force aimed at ridding the area of nuisance buildings.

But the key to a successful effort will be a co-operative and
collaborative effort. It's not about pointing fingers or portioning
blame. It's about finding solutions that will give residents back the
neighbourhood they live in and pay taxes in.

Next week we'll look at some options.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin