SULLIVAN TAKES HARD LINE ON CITY HOMELESSNESS

New Project In Vancouver Aims To Tackle Street Problems Leading Up To Olympics

VANCOUVER -- Saying a growing problem of public disorder has put
Vancouver "at the tipping point," Mayor Sam Sullivan promised
yesterday to clean up the streets of the city in time for the 2010
Winter Olympics.

In announcing 'Project Civil City', Mr. Sullivan said the goal is to
eliminate homelessness, bring an end to the open sale of drugs on the
streets and stop aggressive panhandling within 10 years.

He promised at a minimum to reduce those problems by 50 per cent by 2010.

Those three issues were identified as major problems in Vancouver
through public forums this year and in a recent online city hall
survey that generated more than 2,400 responses.

One month ago, a dozen business leaders wrote to Mr. Sullivan,
Premier Gordon Campbell and Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling for
government action "to effectively address the crime and street
disorder crisis that is now endangering our community."

Mr. Sullivan's project contains 10 steps aimed at "public disorder,"
which is broadly defined to include issues ranging from litter on the
streets to the wide-open drug market that exists in the Downtown Eastside.

"The issue of public disorder is on everyone's lips, and it's time to
galvanize our community's interest into action," Mr. Sullivan said.

"We have about 1,000 days until the world arrives, and I can't think
of a more important legacy from the Games than a more civil city."

Mr. Sullivan and Councillor Kim Capri, who has spearheaded a public
dialogue on the issue, will present their plans to council in a few
weeks. "If our Civil City approach is approved by council next month,
it will be the first time we've had clear targets to reach the goals
I've outlined," Mr. Sullivan said.

"Setting targets will become a catalyst for getting the provincial
and federal governments, our community, the not-for-profit sector and
our citizens motivated to take action."

Among the recommendations:

Allocate at least $1-million from the Olympic Legacy Fund in the 2007
civic budget "to enhance the civic response to nuisance and annoyance
complaints." The funding could cover the hiring of new by-law
enforcement officers and prosecutors.

Provide $300,000 from the city's 2006 contingency reserve to hire a
commissioner and establish a new office to implement Project Civil City.

Establish a "leadership council," that would have federal and
provincial cabinet ministers sitting alongside civic officials.

Warn bar owners and patrons of the city's troubled entertainment
district on Granville Street that the area faces "a 60-day countdown
toward significant improvement in public order." Failure to improve
could see opening hours for bars brought in line with other Greater
Vancouver jurisdictions. Some 57 downtown bars, pubs and cabarets are
currently open until 4 a.m. Outside the entertainment district, bars
close at 2 a.m. Vancouver Police have complained about public
disorder in the three-block area and recently called for a network of
closed circuit surveillance cameras along the street.

Conduct a benchmark analysis of the level of aggressive panhandling,
open drug sales and drug use, and homelessness in the city. The study
would also include a "litter audit" and an analysis of complaints
about "public nuisances such as motorcycle noise."

Have the Vancouver Police Board "adopt policies that will increase
the street presence of our existing police force."