BOOTING OUT DRUG DEALERS

Residents Rally In Point Douglas

When Milt Stegall asked if there were any drug dealers present in Joe
Zuken Park Wednesday night, no one stepped forward.

Not surprising, given the presence of police, politicians and cameras
among about 150 residents of the neighbourhood of single-family homes
on the west bank of the Red River.

The crack houses are not all gone - yet - in north Point Douglas, but
residents rallied Wednesday to declare that they're taking back their
neighbourhood.

"We're stepping it up. We're using this to put pressure on. They're
not in control - the community's in control of its own
neighbourhood," said Sel Burrows, co-chairman of the Point Douglas
residents' committee.

The residents have bought big time into the Doer government's Safer
Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, legislated five years ago to give
the government the power to shut down properties used for drug dealing.

Family Services Minister Gord Mackintosh, who brought in the
legislation while attorney general, said there have been 258 crack
houses shut down, 28 in Point Douglas alone, thanks to confidential
tips from the community.

While there are similar programs underway in the William Whyte,
Spence, and Mackintosh's own St. John's neighbourhood, Point Douglas
is the first to hold a public demonstration on this scale, said Al
Cameron, manager of the province's public safety investigation unit.

"It is grassroots. It works with you and for you," said Cameron, who
told the rally that it is the residents who know where the crack houses are.

"We know where the crack houses are. The Grade 5s know where the
crack houses are," said Chris Burrows, Sel's wife.

She said residents considered a citizens' patrol or Neighbourhood
Watch, but "we didn't want to do that on a cold night. Who's going to
take care of your kids while you're out?" she said.

So residents filter tips on crack houses through several sources to
ensure anonymity, then pass them on to police.

Sel Burrows said crack houses are easy to spot: "People go in, stay
for three minutes, and they're gone... a lot of taxis coming and
going. The customers are mostly young, but the addicts are a pretty sad lot."

Cameron said there have been more than 100 arrests and 99 per cent of
landlords have been co-operative in evicting drug dealers. There have
been only five repeat dealers among the 258 crack houses shut down, he said.

"Drug dealers, they hate to see things like this happen," said
Stegall, the Blue Bombers' star receiver, who dropped by to show support.

Day-care operator Susan Williams decried the presence of the dealers.
"We have to check the park for sharps, so the kids can play," she said.

Winnipeg school board chairwoman Kristine Barr lauded the kids at
Norquay School, who told Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean about their safety
fears earlier this year.

"We're saying, 'Get out of here... because we're taking the
neighbourhood back,' " Mackintosh said, in a challenge to anyone
standing in the shadows beyond the circle of residents.