Pubdate: Fri, 09 Dec 2005
Source: Airdrie City View (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Airdrie City View Ltd.
Contact:  http://airdriecityview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3202
Author: Amy Stewart

CITY EYES PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

An Airdrie alderman is seeking an amendment to the city's business
licensing bylaw to prohibit any adult themed business from opening in
our city.

Alderman Shawn Howard's motion, asking City staff to prepare a report
on the issue, received unanimous support, Dec. 5. The report will come
back to council early in 2006.

"I think that the City of Airdrie needs to make a statement... that we
won't allow those (businesses) in the city," Howard said to council.

Airdrie's current bylaw has no provisions that allow council to
prevent an adult themed business from opening, and Howard sees this as
a major problem.

In the eight years he has spent working with the Canadian Justice
Foundation and through his involvement with police committees, Howard
says he has witnessed the destructive behavior and criminal activity
that is associated with businesses such as strip clubs, escort
agencies and massage parlors acting as a front for prostitution. He
wants to take this proactive measure before these businesses start
opening in Airdrie.

"There is a huge social cost, and as tax payers I don't think we
should have to be paying the bill," said Howard, "I just don't believe
that it's our role as elected representatives to simply rubber stamp
businesses that we know are involved in illegal activity or act as
fronts to move drugs through."

Staff Sergeant Garth Patterson, of the Airdrie RCMP, says he agrees
that these types of businesses are harmful to a community and is in
total support of the proposed bylaw."

They're all part of larger organized criminal activity," says
Patterson, "It's all part of a larger network of prostitution and
drugs. That's exactly what we don't want in our community."

Patterson adds that he will work closely with the Airdrie Police
Committee, City council and Municipal Enforcement to develop this bylaw."

Preventative policing is a cornerstone of our policing strategy...
This is crime prevention," he says.

Howard says he is confident that the residents of Airdrie will support
council in this endeavor, and believes it is the first step in
ensuring the safety of our city."

We want to protect the integrity of our community... It shouldn't be
up to the courts to say what our community standard is."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin