BLOOD, SYRINGES, FECES STAIN DOWNTOWN PARKADE STAIRWELLS

Easypark General Manager Notes Increased Drug Activity

Stairwells in city-owned parkades downtown are increasingly being used
by drug addicts to inject drugs, and as toilets of convenience.

Mel McKinney, general manager of EasyPark, said the drug activity is
spattering the stairwells with blood and leaving them littered with
human waste and spent syringes.

An average of 24 stairwells per day are affected by the drug use, said
McKinney, adding that up to 14 people at one time have been injecting
drugs in a stairwell. "It's a huge problem for us," he said, although
he was unable to point to a reason for the increase in drug activity.

He pointed to the parkade at 150 West Pender as one of the worst lots
for drug use. Others in Gastown and downtown are experiencing similar
activity.

Addicts have threatened customers who entered the stairwells. Threats
have also been directed at security officers and parking staff.

McKinney said a large chunk of EasyPark's $1.2 million security budget
and $900,000 janitorial budget is spent to keep addicts out of the
stairwells and keep the stairwells clean.

On a recommendation from a Vancouver police officer, EasyPark asked
city council to approve $147,000 for the purchase of 50 noisemakers to
be installed in stairwells of five downtown parkades.

The noisemakers, contained in a four-inch square plastic box, emit a
high-pitched squealing noise, which is said to deter anybody from
spending an inordinate amount of time in a stairwell.

EasyPark's plan was to have noisemakers operate between 2 a.m. and 4
a.m. Other locations would have devices that run longer, or solely on
the weekends.

Council rejected EasyPark's request at last Thursday's council meeting
after hearing from speakers that included the B.C. Civil Liberties
Association and Pivot Legal Society.

Both groups were concerned about the effect of the noise on the health
of children and people with hearing aids. Laura Track of Pivot quoted
from a 2008 Health Canada study on the Mosquito, a brand name of the
noisemaker. The study concluded "it didn't seem possible to use the
device for its claimed purpose and still provide the federal safety
code required protection to people with rightful access to the area."

EasyPark has operated a trial with a noisemaker in one of the
stairwells in the parkade at 150 West Pender. McKinney said the drug
activity in the stairwell stopped within 24 hours.

A neighbour complained about the level of noise, so the device was
adjusted to emit a quieter sound, said McKinney.

McKinney shared an email with the Courier from a customer who lives
near the parkade. Mark Klemola congratulated EasyPark for installing
the noisemaker. Prior to the device's installation, Klemola said he
stumbled upon two men having sex in the stairwell. One of the men told
him he would be stabbed if he entered the stairwell.

He couldn't use the elevator because two men and a woman were using it
to inject drugs, he said in the email, which was forwarded to the
Courier with his permission.

"This is just one of many similar incidents that used to occur daily
at this location," he added.

Vision Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang, who is council's representative on
EasyPark's board of directors, said health and safety concerns of the
device have to be addressed before council will reconsider funding the
noisemakers.

"This doesn't mean it's no for good," Jang said. "Once they come back
with a better report of the impacts, then it can go ahead or be phased
in gently."