DRAMATIC INCREASE NOTED IN DRUG USE, VIOLENCE

Re: "Victoria's street crime leaves tourist shocked," letter, April 12.

My wife and I are longtime residents of downtown and, being retired,
walk around the downtown and harbour areas almost every day. We used
to walk around at any hour we felt so inclined and never had any
worries, but in the past 10 years or so we've noticed a dramatic
increase in out-in-the-open drug use and drunken violence.

The new police chief expressed his opinion that the drunken youth are
the big problem. He is mistaken. Many of our friends and previous
co-workers who live in the suburbs will not come downtown even during
the day, and their reason is simple -- they have the perception that
it's an area infested with druggies at all corners. We used to try to
dissuade them but they are, sadly, not far off nowadays.

We have voiced our concerns before, but have had the feeling that they
were just shrugged off as just another case of NIMBYism. Perhaps with
the letter by a longtime repeat visitor, City Hall may finally wake up
to the damages that the lax street-level drug policies are making.

Do we want the downtown area becoming another Hastings Street, as it
is rapidly emulating? Do something now before it's too late.

Denis Corbett

Victoria