Wednesday, August 06, 2008

A simplistic notion

Coun. Jack Gilroy is a pretty casual guy, who is known more for giving people hugs than he is for climbing aboard a soap box. So it was a bit of a surprise when he went all law-and-order and demanded stiff action over Polson Park's persistent drug trade. "Why should our kids be chased out of the park by an element we can control?" he said. And Gilroy certainly has a point as both dealers and users are making their way into what is traditionally known as Vernon's Jewel in the Crown. It used to be that criminal activity was restricted to those hours when the gates were locked and the park was closed, but that doesn't appear to be the case anymore. Gilroy has received numerous complaints from people, including grandparents. "There is open drug use and we need to watch it closely," he said. For Gilroy, the solution is to turn Polson Park into a red zone (under court sentencing, an individual can be ordered to stay out of a particular area. If they are found there, they are considered to be in breach of their sentence and they can be arrested).

There are currently two red zones in Vernon – around Cenotaph Park and the Upper Room Mission – and while activity there has been minimized, it's likely they have fuelled problems elsewhere, including Polson Park. And the reason is that any druggies who can't set foot in Cenotaph Park or near the mission need somewhere to go. Creating a red zone doesn't wipe out crime, it just moves it on. It's a reality the RCMP is well aware of. "You can have a problem and red zone it, but soon you could look at the map (of Vernon) and it could all be red zone," said Insp. Steve McVarnock during a recent report to city council.

Coun. Juliette Cunningham is also concerned that restricting criminal activity in commercial areas or parks could spill over into residential neighbourhoods. "All it does is push the problem further and further out," she said. And it's already happening as residents in the area of 27th and 25th avenues complain they have been experiencing more crime since the red zone was initiated at the nearby Mission. Cunningham suggests red zones create a "false sense of security" for merchants, and they do. First, anyone who isn't legally allowed to be there would have to be caught by the police first, and unfortunately officers can't sit there all day. There is also the fact that not every criminal has a red zone prohibition attached to their sentence. There is no easy answer to dealing with drug addiction or crime, and it requires a multi-pronged approach.

Obviously, enforcement is the first step and the police and bylaw enforcement officers must be allowed to deal with those individuals flaunting the law. But beyond that, there is a need to get to the root cause of why people are addicted, and that's the bottom line as theft and prostitution are, in some cases, directly the result of people needing cash to feed their habit. Nothing is ever going to get better if people can't access programs that deal with abuse issues, low self-esteem, employment, disabilities, a lack of housing or any of the other reasons that lead them to drugs. Obviously there will always be some who don't want help and enjoy the lifestyle they're in, but there are others just waiting for an opportunity to move towards a new life.In the end, crime and drugs are complex issues and Gilroy's simplistic plan to expand red zones in Vernon will do absolutely nothing to help.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The root cause must be addressed
Rolke is spot on

People on drugs are VICTIMS first and foremost and we as a society must decide whether we are our brother's keeper and come to their assistance or reject them and think that by pushing the sad situation under the carpet it shall go away!


It won't

Gilroy is showing a simplistic reactive behaviour towards a very serious problem that involves us all and affects every strata of society

We have those victims in every one of our communities and in every social strata and we need to approach the problem with sensitivity and care
Most of these victims are crying out for help

So let's help them

They are part of the human family

Anonymous said...

As part of the human family, can they not then behave themselves under the same social mores that the rest of us adhere to. What I am talking about here is robbing us to get the money to pay for their problem. Even for those of us not directly impacted by their abuses, we end up paying more for insurance. Where does the cycle end?

The bottom line is that rather than treating these people as victims maybe we should start looking at their situation as a choice that they made. Their choice which the rest of us end up paying for. They can also choose not to continue with a lifestyle that impacts on their fellow citizens and start taking responsibility for their poor choices.

Anonymous said...

You make some very valid points

Some are indeed capable of making choices as you suggest but there are some who are not in that situation and the reasons they are in such a situation are varied so that we could have a system for help in place that could deal with each case on its own merits

I do not think that you can dismiss our children with one brush stroke

We need to be a caring and sensitive society that does the right thing for those in crisis

Some are also in need of mental health help

It is so sad to see so many of our children[for everyone is somebody's child] turfed out into the streets without any support or hope

The Campbell government is directly responsible for the appalling situation in our Province by a deliberate policy of turfing on to the streets the mentally ill without any help being available

such an approach does not save us money and it creates havoc on our streets

Such

Anonymous said...

The above are all good comments and express an understanding, but from past history did anyone expect anything but simplistic from Coun. Gilroy.

Anonymous said...

'Tis the Pluto School of Logic from Popeye the sailor man!

Anonymous said...

For far tooooo many years society has felt sorry for people who do not make good choices in life...it is never their fault.,...It is time to hold all people responsible for themselves....instead of enabling them why not put prevention in place.
Teach them from grade 1-12 how to make responsible choices. Obviously, there are always some who this doesn't work for but there would be far less if prevention was the rule instead of finding excuses for them after they have fallen too far from norm.

Anonymous said...

Not as black and white as you suggest!