RICHMOND CANDIDATE KIICHI KUMAGAI CALLS CANADA LINE "CRYSTAL-METH TRAIN"

Former Richmond councillor Kiichi Kumagai describes the Canada Line,
which will begin rolling into his city in November 2009, as a
"crystal-meth train".

Kumagai, who is attempting to return to council with the Richmond
First Voters Society, is warning that the rapid-transit line will
bring not only drugs and addicts but also a wave of crime to the city.

In addition to a police presence in the forthcoming Canada Line
stations, he wants nonprofits like the Richmond Addiction Services
Society and the Vancouver-based Downtown Eastside Youth Activities
Society to be engaged to deal with the situation.

"It's not only a police problem but a social problem we must address,"
Kumagai told the Straight.

TransLink spokesperson Ken Hardie noted that transit police chief Ward
Clapham is a former head of the Richmond RCMP.

"That's my way of saying that there will be a lot of synergy between
the transit police and the Richmond RCMP on this issue," Hardie told
the Straight.

However, Hardie doesn't agree with suggestions that the Canada Line
will bring crime to the city. "The comments that we've seen in media
out of Richmond sometimes presume that there isn't a problem already,"
he said.

Kumagai supports the installation of fare gates in Canada Line
stations, a recommendation that long-time councillor and Richmond
Citizens Association candidate Harold Steves agrees with as a way to
contain potential criminal activity.

But Steves said that concerns being raised by Richmond First are
overblown.

"The Asian community has been really concerned about crime, and so
they're trying to get the Asian vote," Steves said.