HOW CAN LANDLORDS BE RESPONSIBLE?

I am writing this letter in response to the City of Penticton's draft
bylaw # 2004-71. I am totally disgusted by the mayor's "blinders"
attitude when it comes to this bylaw. Although I am in total agreement
that something has to be done with respect to grow ops and the drug
problem in this city, I am not in agreement with the onus and total
costs and responsibility being placed on the landlord or owner.

Since when should anyone, landlord or otherwise, be held responsible
for the illegal activity of others? Even the Young Offenders Act does
not hold parents responsible for their child murdering someone.

This bylaw, as written, effectively puts the total responsibility and
costs of the grow op on the property owner to the extent that, in the
extreme, the city could assess fines and penalties under this bylaw
which could effectively give them the right to sell your property
under the Property Tax Law.

I am totally opposed to this bylaw, not because I don't believe that
we have a drug problem in this city, as I am fully aware as a resident
in the downtown core that we have one, but that they are putting the
responsibility on the wrong people and effectively turning law-abiding
citizens into criminals.

What would I like to see?

Landlords rewarded under the TIPS program for reporting grow ops, not
penalized;

Landlords afforded the opportunity, under the Tenancy Act, to remove a
tenant immediately for illegal activity rather than the current law
requiring a 30-day written notice;

That if inspector Fudge and Mayor Perry want an education program in
place with respect to eliminating grow operators in this city, perhaps
they should look at an advertising campaign that states, in essence,
that: "In this community, landlords are part of the Community Watch
Program and you will be reported immediately if you are discovered to
be operating a grow op or involved in any other illegal activity."

However, that will only work with the cooperation of the city and
RCMP, which, at this time, I don't feel they are willing to look at.

I realize that our names are appearing fairly frequently of late in
the letters to the editor section of the paper. This is because we are
sick and tired of the city trying to force things down our throats,
only observing those bylaws or items that they perceive are benefits
to them, ignoring the rights of the people or enacting bylaws or
voting for actions they feel will garner them the benefit of the
majority of votes in the next election. As a taxpaying citizen of this
city, I am not going to take it anymore and will stand up and fight
for what I believe in.

I am willing to fight for what I believe is right and show council
that they do not have total autonomy when it comes to what is done in
this city.

They are elected officials of the city, paid by the citizens of this
city and are responsible to do at all times what is right, in the best
interest of and the most benefit to, the people of this city.

I strongly feel that we currently have a mayor in power, who, although
perhaps well-intentioned, does not have the best interests of the
majority of the people at heart.

He ... does not appear to have the ability to understand or sympathize
with the common man.

When it comes to this bylaw, I feel that the mayor cannot see past his
dislike, or hatred of, the drug problem.

Although I don't like it either, I agree that something needs to be
done about it, and am willing to help eliminate them by helping those
being paid to enforce the laws that Canada and the province enact
against this illegal activity. I am not willing to sit back and allow
city council, or anyone else, to try force me to jeopardize my
hard-earned retirement investment, risk losing my retirement funds, or
just plain help themselves to my hard-earned money, without a fight.

With that said, I am starting a petition against bylaw 2004-71, and
although I realize it may be perceived as "too little too late" my
convictions are strong that doing something is better than doing nothing.

I intend to be at the meeting on Oct. 18, when they decide on whether
to pass this bylaw or not and I am requesting the help of the citizens
of this city to obtain as many signatures, or as many letters, as
possible to present either prior to or at the meeting to be able to
show that we are not the only ones objecting tot this bylaw.

Please help me to take a stand against this totally biased bylaw or
forever hold your peace on the repercussions it will impose on you as
a landlord.

I am including a fax number in this letter so that anyone agreeing
with me and wishing to add their name to the petition can fax me a
note which includes their name, address and signature stating they are
objecting to the passing of Bylaw 2004-71 and I will include them in
my presentation to council.

I realize that the final passing of this bylaw is scheduled for Oct.
18 and that leaves us very little time to try to show council that
there are objectors to it. Take a stand, fax me your letter of
objection and afford me the opportunity to present it Oct. 18.

Dianne McEvoy,

Penticton