DRUGS, SOCIAL ILLS PLAGUE VANCOUVER

Report says 'social incivility' a bigger worry here than in other
cities

Drug dealing, prostitution and homelessness are bigger worries for
Vancouverites than residents of any other Canadian city.

A shocking Statistics Canada report released yesterday showed over 25
per cent of Vancouver's residents believe their city is gripped by
"social incivility."

The findings came as no surprise to Mike Rowlands, 36, who said he's
seen the city's drug and homelessness problems get progressively worse
over the years.

However, he said the problems are mostly centralized to specific areas
of the city -- something the StatsCan report also addressed.

"I think we have a city over here and one over there," he said,
pointing toward the Downtown Eastside, then downtown Vancouver. "It is
crazy . . . [It] is just getting worse."

Danielle Robb, 38, has worked downtown for the past six
years.

She said homelessness is "a huge issue."

"I don't find it to be unsafe, but I know it is there. I'm sure for
visitors it must feel unsafe," Robb said.

The issue is likely to be key in this November's Vancouver civic
election.

Non-Partisan Association mayoral candidate Peter Ladner said his
ruling party is working on its Project Civil City.

"That's something that Gregor Robertson wants to get rid of," Ladner
said of his rival Vision Vancouver candidate.

Ladner said NPA polling shows that worries over drugs and homelessness
are at the front of Vancouverites' minds.

"There are a lot of concerns but we have a whole raft of initiatives
under way," he said.

Robertson said the StatsCan reports shows the Project Civil City is
failing.

"We need to look at the root causes of incivility and take a direct
approach," he said. "Project Civil City is indirect and a waste of
taxpayers' dollars."

Project Civil City is headed by former Liberal MLA Geoff
Plant.

The StatsCan report defined social incivility as behaviour including
loud partying, drug dealing, homelessness and public drunkenness.
Physical incivility included conditions such as excessive litter,
graffiti and derelict buildings.

Almost 20 per cent of Vancouverites reported physical incivility in
their community.

Twenty-six per cent of Vancouverites identified at least one type of
social incivility affecting their neighbourhood.

The report notes perceptions of incivility differ greatly between
neighbourhoods, with residents in central urban areas two to four
times more likely to complain of a problem than residents living in
neighbourhoods outside of the city. Likewise, perceptions varied
greatly between the 12 different cities.

Vancouver NPA city councilor Kim Capri said said she would "never
characterize Vancouver as an uncivil city," she said. "That being
said, we do have issues."