Pubdate: Fri, 29 Apr 2005
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Markus Ermisch
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

RESIDENTS PLEAD FOR SAFE-INJECTION SITES

Calls for a safe-injection site were heard at city council this week after 
residents of a downtown townhouse complex complained about a series of 
attempted break-ins and alleyway drug use in their neighbourhood.

"A safe-injection site would be a good thing," said Kerri Carl. "These 
people need a safe site to shoot up."

Carl lives at Westview Village in the 100-block of Nicola Street. Just up 
the block, at the intersection of First Avenue and Columbia Street, is an 
apartment building, which is a "a disgrace to the downtown core," the 
owners of Westview Village wrote in a letter to council.

"As a direct result of the clientele living in the apartment, our 
neighbourhood is becoming increasingly unsafe and the crime activities are 
at an all-time high," the letter states.

To deal with the issue, Westview owners asked council to improve lighting 
in the alley behind Westview Village and to consider a safe-injection site 
for the city.

Carl said a safe-injection site "doesn't have to be in any specific part of 
the city."

Council decided to forward the matter to Pete Backus, Kamloops' crime 
prevention officer.
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MAP posted-by: Beth