MAYORS VOW TO FIGHT CRIME, DRUG DEALING: Newly Elected Lower Mainland Mayors
Pledge Change As They Are Sworn In For New Terms.

Mayors in the Lower Mainland's largest cities attacked the twin plagues of
crime and drugs in inaugural speeches Monday aimed at offering hope to those
who feel threatened in their own neighbourhoods.

``I believe drug users are sick and pushers are evil,'' Vancouver Mayor
Philip Owen said bluntly. ``Anyone who trafficks in human misery by selling
illegal narcotics should be dealt with harshly.

``The trafficking and consumption of illegal drugs on our streets and in our
parks is totally unacceptable to the citizens of Vancouver.''

Richmond Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt announced a city task force on drugs and
crime will be established early in the new year.

``Safety from crime is the most important factor for Richmond residents in
determining their own quality of life,'' Halsey-Brandt said.

``Studies have shown that the number one community safety concern expressed
is violence and fear of violence. Property crime, such as home break-ins and
auto theft, is also of great concern to our residents, and often connected
to drug-related offences.''

Mayors and councillors elected in Nov. 20 civic elections were sworn into
office in most B.C. municipalities on Monday.

By tradition, the inaugural meeting is a chance for mayors to articulate a
vision for the upcoming three-year term, and recount previous
accomplishments, amid the pomp and celebration of a crowded council
chambers.

Several mayors cited the advent of the new millennium in their speeches, but
the major emphasis for most councils was on crime.

The crime rate in B.C. declined four per cent from 1997 to 1998, according
to statistics compiled by the provincial government. Violent offences such
as sexual and other assaults were down.

But the number of drug offences increased three per cent over the same
period.

And a high-profile string of home-invasion robberies in Vancouver and the
suburbs has exacerbated the public's perception of rampant crime.

Frustrated at the inability of the RCMP to supply enough recruits to fill
vacant positions in the detachment, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum repeated his
proposal that a city police force may be the only way to effectively combat
crime.

``Ultimately council must review other options if we are to ensure the
safety and welfare of our citizens. This council will not shy away from
examining alternatives such as our own city police force.''

Burnaby Mayor Doug Drummond described drug-trafficking and the criminal
exploitation of children as ``key public safety issues.''

``Burnaby is facing some major community health and safety issues related to
drug-trafficking and exploitation of our youth. The protection of our
families, our communities, and our neighbourhoods is a top priority for the
city and this council.''

The region's big-city mayors hastened to add that both the provincial and
federal government have major roles in this anti-crime crusade.

``We will require the assistance and cooperation of other levels of
government,'' Drummond said.

Delta's new mayor, Lois Jackson, eschewed tradition and chose not to deliver
an inaugural address.

It is a symbolic gesture by Jackson, a long-time Delta councillor, who said
she is postponing her speech until January because she wants to hear about
the priorities of the rest of council. Three of seven council members are
from rival political slates.

Meanwhile, mayors in three Lower Mainland municipalities -- all marred over
the past three years by a lack of council decorum -- promised a new era of
stability.

In Langley Township -- where voters fed up with council dysfunction ousted
John Scholtens in favour of low-profile independent candidate Kurt Alberts
- -- the new mayor dedicated most of his inaugural address to the theme of
council cooperation.

Alberts, the township's former director of planning, coined the phrase
``Service delivery without politics,'' which he hopes will come to represent
how this council does business.

``Council's responsibility is to deliver services in accordance with the
needs of the community,'' he explained. ``I think, as a council and a
community, we can do a much better job of delivering the service without the
politics.''

West Vancouver Mayor Ron Wood said he looked forward to working with ``a
functional, decisive council.''

Wood defeated Pat Boname, who struggled to get council to work together.

In White Rock, re-elected Mayor Hardy Staub pledged to work towards a
climate that ``builds trust between this council, staff of the city and the
public.''

In Coquitlam, Mayor Jon Kingsbury flexed his new-found political control on
council by unveiling tentative plans Monday for a hefty tax increase to
begin to finance much-needed road improvements and replenish depleted cash
reserves.