GANGING UP ON CRACK HOUSES

Residents frustrated by the ongoing crime in the Hein Road area
crowded into a town hall meeting on Wednesday night, searching for
solutions to the problems caused by crack shacks in the area.

"Obviously, because of the turnout here tonight, we've got a
problem," said Supt. Bill McKinnon to the more than 175 people who
gathered in the basement of Kelowna Christian Centre.

During the meeting, residents of the Hein, Fleming and Houghton Roads
area expressed their frustration with the crime that comes with the
crack shacks.

"I do a lot of babysitting on the street," said one woman. "Children
can't even go and play in their backyard because people are shooting
needles in the backyard.

"I've tried to do as much as I can on a personal level," said Tina
Blackburn, who "took a chance" and moved to Hein Road five months ago.

The activities on the street "totally wore me down," she said, and
has now listed her townhouse for sale.

Many of the speakers at the event questioned why landlords aren't
being held responsible for what happens in their property.

"There has to be a way to draft legislation for these landlords, to
put their feet to the fire," said Peter Harshenin.

"I absolutely agree," said McKinnon. He said police and the city are
working together to create a new bylaw-similar to one implemented in
Vernon in September 2005--to allow them to shut down crack shacks.

"This is not just a police problem, it is a community problem," said
McKinnon. "We are certainly willing to work with you."

Resident Deborah Guthrie, who has lived on O'Keefe Court for 25
years, called upon residents to work together to clean up the area.

"As a community, we've allowed this street to define our home," she
said. "We have to clean it up. It's just been allowed to get away on
us and no one is doing anything."

The community action was supported by Paddy Hall, who is part of a
group in the Abbott Street area that go out and physically clean the
neighbourhood and walk it regularly, making note of areas that need work.

The City of Kelowna's bylaw department already has the ability to
force owners of unsightly premises to clean up or pay for the
cleanup, said Kurt Szalla of the city's bylaw department.

He added that five crack shacks in the city have been bulldozed recently.

"We have the ability to make life very difficult," he said, noting
they did a cleanup on Hein Road recently and sent the bill to two owners.

However, the executive director of Crossroads Treatment Centre notes
that more services for addicts are needed to truly solve the issue.

"We will not solve this problem until we put resources toward
addiction services and affordable housing," said Corinne Dolman.

In the near future, a committee similar to the one set up by Abbott
Street residents is expected to be formed, said McKinnnon.

"I think we can do something to make it a much better situation than
where it is now," he said Wednesday night.

"I'm confident that something good can come out of tonight's meeting.
It's time for a change. It's time to change Hein Road."