'SICKENED' BY HER VISIT TO DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

Last week, I had to drive into the downtown Vancouver area along
Hastings Street and was sickened by what I saw.

I was born and raised in Vancouver, but haven't been in this area for years.

Starting at Clark Drive all the way along Hastings, it was just terrible.

People were lying on the sidewalks wrapped in blankets or old
clothing. Sick and drug-addicted people were sitting on the steps of
buildings with garbage all over the place and drug deals being made
right in the open.

How can the politicians and we, the people of Vancouver, let this go on?

We have a serious problem here, with so many mentally sick people who
need help.

The government closed Riverview Hospital, and most of those people
were turned out on to the streets.

They are forced to panhandle to exist, or else are taken advantage of
by drug-dealing parasites.

The homeless people in Vancouver and surrounding areas need medical
treatment, housing and drug and alcohol-detox centres.

Safe-injection sites where people can shoot up safely are not the answer.

You have to go further with programs that gradually help wean people
off alcohol and drugs so they can have a life again.

We have been blessed with living in one of the most beautiful cities
in the world. And we, and the people who visit here, should not have
to be accosted by panhandlers everywhere we go.

We have had enough research into the problems.

If we can afford all these millions of dollars for the 2010 Olympics,
surely we can spare a few million for those who need help most.

Irene Abramyk,

Coquitlam