WAR ON STREET CRIME

Re: Drug use 'out of control' in core ward, Dec. 12.

I had the honour of running for municipal council in Rideau-Vanier
ward this fall and received enough voter support to come within a
whisker of unseating the incumbent. Ward 12 voters made it Ottawa's
closest race, with a margin of just 203 votes.

Councillor Georges Bedard was bewildered by the close outcome. I have
the answer: It's the drugs and ensuing crime. My main campaign
message was the need to reduce street crime, particularly the runaway
drug dealing that takes place in Vanier. Criminals have become so
complacent with the city's seeming lack of enforcement that many
transactions take place in the open and no effort is made to conceal
the constant trafficking at local crack houses.

This problem makes victims of us all -- our neighbourhoods and the
most vulnerable, the homeless. We have stood by watching the
deterioration of Rideau Street and the Byward Market area, not to
mention our residential communities. Other crimes such as
breaking-and-entering, prostitution and extreme violence follow in
the wake of this decay. Many people are blind to the seriousness of
the situation and the damage being done to our city.

It is time for our elected officials to assume leadership and stop this.

A special enforcement unit? You bet. A city priority? Absolutely.
These are the answers, and the messages our sleepy councillor seems
to have woken up to.

And if Mr. Bedard needs help, I, along with many of our ward
residents, will be right behind him.

Anyone interested in joining a citizens' coalition to reduce street
crime can e-mail me at brucemccon@yahoo.ca, or call 613-298-1984.

Bruce McConville, Ottawa