DOWNTOWN CODE OF CONDUCT OFFERS NO REAL SOLUTION

If the new code of conduct for behaviour in downtown Victoria (see story on
Page 3) promised a revolutionary approach to street-level problems, we'd be
the first to jump on board.

The trouble is, the code is far from being revolutionary. It's not even
that original. As such, it promises to become just another empty measure to
control growing problems on the streets of the downtown core.

One clause in the 16-point manifesto suggests that businesses and social
agencies screen people entering their premises for illegal drugs.

Clause 10 follows in a similar fashion, banning patrons from "carrying
alcohol or drugs other than in areas licensed for those purposes."

These clauses will merely keep the ne'er-do-wells on the street, where they
are already seen as a problem.

Clause No. 7 states that "there shall be no tolerance for criminal
activity," as if merchants and social service agencies are putting up with
crimes and vandalism now.

The list goes on. There's a "do not disturb" clause for noise emissions,
yet most street people (no matter how seedy or inebriated) are quieter than
your average float plane.

Clause No. 1, 11 and 12 state that business owners should clean up graffiti
and refuse from outside their premises. Most business owners do that now
anyway - if they're smart.

In addition to the obvious ones, there are a couple of other items that may
just make things worse.

No. 13 encourages businesses to hire private security guards, but makes no
mention of the cost. The same can be said of No. 7, regarding calling
police anytime there's a problem. But anytime there's additional
enforcement, there's a cost attached. It's not fair to expect police to
pour more resources into downtown enforcement than they already do. The
Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce members should know better than anyone
that nothing in this world is free.

No. 14, which talks about discouraging loitering and panhandling, has the
potential to create an "us vs. them" environment downtown. Now, there's a
problem. Preventing people from making few bucks in change - let's remember
that the courts have ruled against anti-panhandling bylaws - will simply
add anger to the mix.

Downtowns problems are too complicated to be solved by a two-page manifesto
from the business community.

The Oak Bay News doesn't have the solution and neither does the Chamber of
Commerce. So maybe it's time our readers weighed in on the debate. Send
your ideas to the Oak Bay News, 818 Broughton Street, Victoria B.C., V8W
1E4 or e-mail us at oakbaynews@vinewsgroup.com.

vice providers was somewhat dubious when the Greater Victoria Chamber of
Commerce put forward its draft proposal of a code of conduct for downtown
businesses and social agencies.

Greater Victoria Cool-Aid Society CEO Carol Finnie said she and her
co-workers "were automatically suspicious" that the code, which lays out
more proactive security and enforcement procedures for downtown businesses,
might unfairly target homeless and street people.

Upon further review, she admitted that the code was "pretty good" and would
likely serve its intent of insuring that people did not loiter around
downtown businesses.

Finnie said Cool-Aid was involved in the first few drafts of the code but
the chamber put on the finishing touches.

While Finnie was pleased with the finished product, several downtown
merchants approached by the Victoria News declined to comment on the
proposed code for fear of antagonizing those outside the shops.

The detailed 16-point code, offered by the chamber for city councillors'
perusal last week, sets out the expectations for businesses, social
agencies and the city concerning fire standards, health regulations, city
licensing, traffic and parking, zoning and neighbourhood impact studies.

It also requires businesses and social agencies to discourage loitering and
soliciting and to immediately report aggressive panhandling to police.

In addition, the code encourages businesses or downtown service
organizations to employ security personnel to patrol premises to fight
ongoing problems with mischief, noise or alcohol or drug use.

"We want to take back our streets and make them safe for everyone who lives
and works in downtown Victoria," said Denyce Burrows, co-chair of the
chamber's street issues committee.

Chamber president Dr. Rebecca Grant, and Bill Taylor of the YM-YWCA of
Greater Victoria, representing the 20 downtown service agencies, presented
the draft version of the code to Mayor Alan Lowe and council at the
committee-of-the-whole Thursday.

"In an unprecedented step of cooperation, Victoria's social agencies have
worked side by side with the chamber to build this code and now it's time
for the city of Victoria to adopt it," said Grant.

"I can think back to eight years ago when there wasn't any cooperation
(between businesses, social service agencies and the city)," said Coun.
Helen Hughes. "This really is a step in the right direction."

Lowe said that the council sees the value in everyone working together.

Gerald Hartwig of Hartwig Industries Inc., co-chair of the chamber's street
issues committee with Burrows, said the code was aimed at drug-dealers,
their hangers-on and the street culture as well as the businesses that
cater to them.

"If you've got a business that caters to that (crowd), you're not part of
the problem, you're going to be part of the solution," said Hartwig.

He contended that .01 per cent of the population is controlling the
downtown area while 55 per cent of the downtown businesses pay for close to
100 per cent of the property taxes.

Hartwig said he would continue to push for the amalgamation of the Greater
Victoria police forces as another way of getting more control of the
downtown core.

"It was really good to start working with the social agencies to work on
this (code of conduct)," he said.

The committee-of-the-whole voted to receive and to look at the report for a
month before discussing it.