MORE POLICE, GET TOUGH ON DRUG DEALERS, FORUM TOLD

In the wreckage of this week's news which included murders and
beatings, nearly 300 reform-minded Vancouverites gathered yesterday to
hatch a plan to make things right again.

Everyone from business people to social workers, actors to professors
brainstormed solutions to Vancouver's most pressing social issues:
Poverty, homelessness, drug abuse, property crime and aggressive
panhandling.

Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell said the Forum on Neighbourhood Safety
and Livability was a "great way" of coming up with concrete solutions.

"Government can solve this. Government is you," he said to the group.
"We don't need new laws. We've got laws coming out of the ying-yang.
We need direction."

Participants addressed how the city, provincial and federal
governments could create a safer living space.

A report based on yesterday's forum will be sent to city council, as
well as Victoria and Ottawa.

Residents' wish list included more police and providing more social
housing and detox centres for people hooked on drugs and alcohol.
People also wanted better bylaw enforcement and a tougher stance on
drug dealers.

"We can't give up on this stuff. There are solutions," said Coun.
Peter Ladner, who instigated the forum.

"We know how to treat people with mental illnesses and we're not doing
it. We know how to treat drug problems and we're not doing it. We know
how to build housing and we're not doing it. So there are lots of
things we can do."

While crime rates in Vancouver have fallen overall, drug offences have
increased. It was estimated in a city report that 50 per cent of all
crimes such as theft, break and enter and robberies are attributed to
alcohol and/or drugs. And a particularly disconcerting trend is the
increased use of crystal meth among street youth, which can induce
violent behaviour.

Vancouver resident Loretta Woodcock suggested that a portion of all
property taxes should be designated to help fight crime.

Tony Lam of the Chinatown Business Improvement Association wanted more
funding for the mentally ill.

"The government should take care of those people," he said. "They're
human. You don't just leave them on the streets yelling."

Charles Gauthier of the Downtown Vancouver Business Association,
suggested that community courts should be created to deal with small
crimes rather than clogging up the traditional courts.

Police Chief Jamie Graham agreed with repeated calls for more police.
"We need more cops, end of story," he said.

A controversial early retirement program has caused about 50 senior
officers to quit. While there will be about 100 new hires this year,
Graham estimated he needs an extra 300 to 500 officers to bring his
force to full strength.

Among the more frustrated citizens was 82-year-old Eleanor
Hadley.

"I remember when I could walk on the streets and not feel anything,"
she said.

"I have been threatened, I have been assaulted [by panhandlers] on the
corner of Cardero and Davie Street. Why? I don't know, but I was.

"And I'm not the only one."