MAYOR WANTS IDEAS, NOT QUESTIONS

There was no shortage of stories Monday night illustrating how drugs, crime
and homelessness have affected the lives of everyday Maple Ridge citizens.

What was lacking, though, according to many who bolted early from the first
in a series of meetings, was a free-flowing exchange of ideas and opinions
between the audience and the large panel of experts and decision makers on
stage at the ACT.

Both MLAs, the MP, RCMP, city staff, a provincial judge and Crown Counsel,
were among those on hand to hear what's on people's minds when it comes to
crime and other pressing local issues.

But for at least one woman who turned out for the meeting, her question
surrounding what the provincial government might do to provide more
resources for people trying to get off the street didn't get past Mayor
Kathy Morse.

Housing consultant Sheila McLaughlin, posed the question to MLAs Ken
Stewart and Randy Hawes, explaining that in her opinion lack of government
funding and the recent housing boom has "exacerbated" the homeless problem
and more affordable housing is needed locally. She wanted to know what
Hawes and Stewart thought about the problem.

She never got a response.

Morse said more access from the public wasn't given to the panel because
the inaugural meeting was all about gathering ideas and hearing people's
concerns - the time for finding answers and solutions will come at the
three future meetings planned for Sept. 30, Oct. 18, and Nov. 1.

"This (was) an introductory meeting and we had to set some parameters,"
Morse said Wednesday, adding the next meeting will have a different format
and ample opportunity will be given to people to put questions and
suggestions forward.

Besides, continued Morse, putting hard questions to the politicians in such
an open forum would likely yield little more than "a litany of I'll get
back to yous."

The format for the upcoming sessions will take on a "roundtable,"
roll-up-the-shirt-sleeves style, explained Morse, with many of the same
panelists on hand again in a more intimate atmosphere.

In the meantime, when asked if she thought she might have been too
restrictive with handling people's comments and questions Monday, Morse
replied that perhaps "my enthusiasm outweighed my better sense."

Criticism of how the meeting was handled aside, the meeting did hear a raft
of examples from people directly affected by what many consider Maple
Ridge's biggest problems - rampant drug use, daily home break-ins, and a
highly visible population of people living on the streets. And for the most
part, the mood of the people is that something has to be done quickly.

"We've been doing a lot of talking but we haven't come up with a lot of
solutions," said local resident Dennis Boileau.

"I feel very vulnerable in my community," added one senior woman, who said
her home has been broken into twice and that she was inside her house the
second time thieves broke in.

Another man said his wife no longer feels safe in Maple Ridge and
"something has to be done to address the problem and not sugarcoat it to
make things seem better than they are."

Generally there was a strong sense of frustration, as people see few
consequences for the petty crimes being committed in their neighbourhoods.

Derek Klassen said he had only lived in Maple Ridge three weeks before his
home was broken into.

"They're taking everything we own," he said.