MAYORS SEEK POWERS TO FIGHT PUSHERS

Suburban mayors are demanding tough new immigration rules to fight the
drug plague on their streets.

"It's to the point where we have to do something to make Ottawa sit up
and take notice that the refugee program isn't working like it's
supposed to," said New Westminster Mayor Susan Sparkes.

She and Burnaby Mayor Doug Drummond are considering a trip to Ottawa
to lobby federal politicians for laws to fight the blight.

Hondurans control most of the street-level trafficking, and many of
the dealers are here illegally.

Sparkes is also considering seeking special provincial
authority to fight drug traffickers.

"These things are a last resort," she said. "But the Municipal Act
says we can do that to restore peace, order and good government if the
safety, health or even the morality of the community is at risk."

Under the Act a municipal government can ask the province for special
powers that would allow it to do things like close problem businesses
early or impose curfews in some parts of town.

"We may have to simply clear the streets," Sparkes said. "We are not
going to put up with this any more."

She said council has already given the police another $125,000 for
extra officers and overtime for beat cops.

Sparkes said people are becoming afraid to walk down some streets and
businesses are reluctant to come to New Westminster.

Staff-Sgt. Dave Jones of the New Westminster street crime unit said
there are often as many as 20 dealers strung out along Columbia
between 6th and 4th streets.

"We have reduced that quite drastically, but only with constant police
presence," Jones said. "And that is costly."

He said many dealers have moved to New West simply because it's a
quick SkyTrain ride from Vancouver.

One reason dealers cite for going to New Westminster is that it's
safer than Vancouver's Hastings Street strip, which is a 24-hour-a-day
drug bazaar.

"They said our streets are safer," said Jones. "They say our customers
are less likely to just hit them over the head or stab them and take
the money or the drugs. I don't know. Sometimes, we make the streets
safe and what do we get?"

Several drug dealers, all from Honduras, interviewed by The Province
in the Main and Hastings area said they are forced to deal drugs
because they are not allowed to work.

"It's the system, man," said a man in his 30s who admitted sneaking
into Canada and seeking refugee status. "I've got to make some money.
I've got to eat."

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady