CITY KICKS OFF CRACK CLEANUP

Major Initiative Targets Dealers On 7 Ave.

Aggressive drug dealers along 7th Avenue are the target of a major city
hall crackdown, spearheaded by an alderman who's been personally
threatened. Ald. Druh Farrell, who was "charged at" when she stumbled
across a crack deal on her walk to work earlier this week, said she's not
about to let the drug dealers scare her away, and other Calgarians
shouldn't either.

"I wasn't scared a bit -- I didn't even jump," said the diminutive Farrell,
who said the female pusher who lunged at her was the fourth crack dealer
she'd seen that morning.

"I make a point of walking down Seventh on my way to work ... I want to
know what's going on, and I refuse to be intimidated by it."

The dealer looked disconcerted and cooled her aggression when it got no
reaction, said Farrell, but the encounter has the alderman more determined
than ever to clean up.

A meeting of city enforcement officials, including bylaw and police, will
take place next week in which a strategy will be laid out, focusing on the
dealers and the addicts they prey on.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier said the crackdown is necessary in an area where
such encounters are becoming more common.

"There's an increasing concern and we need to pay more attention to the
area -- not just by police, but other departments," said Bronconnier.

"It's time to clean it up."

One likely strategy will see police patrols bolstered by downtown bylaw
officers, who will monitor streets and alleys for infractions, including
debris, human waste and graffiti, said Farrell.

"It's the broken window syndrome -- if it looks like no one cares, no one
does and we become desensitized," said Farrell.

"We need a dramatic visual improvement to increase public confidence in the
area."

On March 7, Farrell will present city council with a Social Action Plan,
including suggestions for a sobering centre to help addicts and homeless
people targeted by dealers.

Police Insp. Dan Jahrig, who heads the downtown district, said vigilance
has made Calgary one of the safest cities in North America, and he applauds
Farrell for her concern.

"This kind of activity is happening, and the police shouldn't tolerate it,
and the community shouldn't tolerate it," said Jahrig, who is an outspoken
proponent of sending police into the community to work directly with
businesses and residents affected by criminal behaviour.

"If you let it go, it becomes a problem," he said.

"You must deal with the smaller crimes and bylaw infractions so you don't
have a ripple effect down the road."