NEEDLE DEBATE A 'PIE-THROWING CONTEST'

Re: It's time to take back our streets (letter, July 26).

Being proactive and coming up with a plan that supports businesses to
prosper and supports addicts to find a way to exit the streets is a
good start.

I have read lots of the responses to "It's time to take back our
streets" and it's a total pie-throwing contest. The solution is so
simple. If city council, the RCMP, Northern Health and the businesses
from downtown sit down at the same table and come up with a plan to
make this work, it will.

The only thing stopping this from happening is controlling people who
won't work together. Kamloops and Kelowna found a way to make this
work.

Revitalization for all the beautiful character buildings that are in
the downtown core would help instead of bars and gambling halls. I
like shopping on Third Avenue; lots of interesting shops and great
deals.

There are ways to support these businesses and that is by doing your
shopping down there and I always see a lot of people down there. The
bakery on George Street is awesome and so are the little shops across
the street. Around the corner is the Needle Exchange and a drop-in for
the addicts to go to instead of just hanging around on the street.

One of things that stops this from happening is the drug dealing that
happens on the streets or in the alleys, people being severely
intoxicated. This would happen even if there was not a Needle Exchange.

These issues are due to lack of policing. What has created the change
in the drug-using population is methamphetamine that is being put in
crack.

I have been clean and sober for 22 years and I have worked with
addicts. I've seen communities and people change.

Gloria Harding

Prince George