News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Drugs A Concern Downtown |
| Title: | CN ON: Drugs A Concern Downtown |
| Published On: | 2006-12-13 |
| Source: | Standard Freeholder (Cornwall, CN ON) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-12 19:43:02 |
DRUGS A CONCERN DOWNTOWN
When Christine Skrypnyk looks around her downtown neighbourhood, she
sees a lot of drug activity she doesn't want her teenaged children
getting involved in.
About 20 other downtown residents like Skrypnyk voiced their concerns
about drugs loud and clear to the Cornwall police during their final
town hall meeting Tuesday night.
The town hall meetings were held in part to teach citizens about
crime prevention, but to also learn about the top safety issues in those areas.
"Drugs, drugs and drugs," one woman replied when Police Chief Dan
Parkinson asked for the top three concerns they had.
"This area is a more rental area," Skrypnyk said. "I find (criminals)
much more bold, more out there, in your face. They have dogs to back them up."
Parkinson said the residents' concerns about blatant drug use, drug
houses and drug deals were not issues brought up in the previous town
hall meetings, which covered west- and east-end areas of town.
"When we look at our list (of most common crimes), drugs don't even
show up," Parkinson said. According to police statistics, 911 hang up
calls are the biggest problem in the downtown area. Unfortunately, he
said police don't have the ability to charge a 911 prank caller under a by-law.
"Why is (the downtown) the most troubled area when it comes to
crime?" Parkinson asked, to which many people cited sociological and
economic reasons, like poverty and alcohol abuse.
"We also see a lot more domestic disturbances here, and we didn't see
that in St. Peter's or Riverdale," he said. The police chief gave
them tips like locking their doors at night, or having a camera
trained on the home.
Most residents said they thought the police already knew about the
drug problems they say are prevalent in the downtown core.
And others said they are pressing to get rid of such problems because
they're tired of living in a neighbourhood with a bad reputation.
"It brings the neighbourhood down," said Richard Taillon. "It makes
the neighbourhood unsafe."
"You want to live in a nice neighbourhood."
When Christine Skrypnyk looks around her downtown neighbourhood, she
sees a lot of drug activity she doesn't want her teenaged children
getting involved in.
About 20 other downtown residents like Skrypnyk voiced their concerns
about drugs loud and clear to the Cornwall police during their final
town hall meeting Tuesday night.
The town hall meetings were held in part to teach citizens about
crime prevention, but to also learn about the top safety issues in those areas.
"Drugs, drugs and drugs," one woman replied when Police Chief Dan
Parkinson asked for the top three concerns they had.
"This area is a more rental area," Skrypnyk said. "I find (criminals)
much more bold, more out there, in your face. They have dogs to back them up."
Parkinson said the residents' concerns about blatant drug use, drug
houses and drug deals were not issues brought up in the previous town
hall meetings, which covered west- and east-end areas of town.
"When we look at our list (of most common crimes), drugs don't even
show up," Parkinson said. According to police statistics, 911 hang up
calls are the biggest problem in the downtown area. Unfortunately, he
said police don't have the ability to charge a 911 prank caller under a by-law.
"Why is (the downtown) the most troubled area when it comes to
crime?" Parkinson asked, to which many people cited sociological and
economic reasons, like poverty and alcohol abuse.
"We also see a lot more domestic disturbances here, and we didn't see
that in St. Peter's or Riverdale," he said. The police chief gave
them tips like locking their doors at night, or having a camera
trained on the home.
Most residents said they thought the police already knew about the
drug problems they say are prevalent in the downtown core.
And others said they are pressing to get rid of such problems because
they're tired of living in a neighbourhood with a bad reputation.
"It brings the neighbourhood down," said Richard Taillon. "It makes
the neighbourhood unsafe."
"You want to live in a nice neighbourhood."
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
