MEDIA MISGUIDED ABOUT HARM REDUCTION

To the editor:

Re: "Harm reduction advocates target addicts and critics," Sept. 15.

To the editor:

Just wanted to send you a short note to compliment Mark Hasiuk's
column, which paints a very accurate account of what's happened in our
city since this well-intended but misguided Four Pillars strategy was
introduced. It's very nice to see this perspective and some balance
brought to this issue.

Unfortunately, too many in media have bought into the harm
reduction-only focus on our very serious drug issues in this city, and
while they all pat themselves on the back about how non-judgmental and
compassionate they are, lives continue to be destroyed and the
Downtown Eastside continues to crumble.

I can tell you as someone who works in the Downtown Eastside, I have
not seen one bit of a difference down there over these last 10 years.
We continue to commit a disproportionate amount of our police
resources in that neighbourhood.

Tom Stamatakis,

president, Vancouver Police Union