CRACKDOWN DIVIDES WHALLEY

It's been eight months since Surrey's mayor launched a campaign to
clean up crime in Whalley and the effort is playing to mixed reviews.

The crackdown is centered on "the strip," a two-block stretch of 135A
Street, between 106th and 108th streets that has been a notorious
hangout for drug dealers, addicts and hookers.

Businesses in the area around the strip are generally happy, although
there are complaints the push on 135A is driving the problem into
adjacent streets.

Some police actions in Whalley are being challenged by the B.C. Civil
Liberties Association and, while some residents echo those concerns,
most believe the city is on the right track.

Even those who are at once the targets and beneficiaries of the
crackdown - the people who live on and around 135A Street - are
divided in their opinions.

Mike Cooper has been living on the strip for a few weeks after a
dispute with his roomie forced him to move out of his home.

Some street people complain they're being harassed by police, but
Cooper has no complaints there.

"They haven't treated me bad, but I can't speak for everybody
here."

Cooper said he feels safer on the strip since the clean-up campaign
started, but he thinks more should be done to help street people,
particularly drug addicts. He believes the city should establish a
safe injection site.

"Why don't they do what they do in Amsterdam and set up a place where
people can get off the street to do it? It would cost some money, but
if they had somewhere to go they wouldn't be doing drugs in front of
these stores," Cooper said.

Kristie, who wouldn't give her last name, said the strengthened police
enforcement hasn't made any difference to her.

"Ask anyone out here if they're happy to be here, they'll say no.
Nobody wants to be here, so what's the point?"

The 30-year-old, self-confessed drug dealer and former prostitute said
Thursday she was leaving Surrey in a few days to live with her father
on Vancouver Island.

"I sell dope. I used to work the streets (as a prostitute) but I
started ripping off all my dates. The word got out and pretty soon I
couldn't get anymore dates. My old man's in jail, but when he gets
out, he's coming to the Island, too."

There, the pair plan to kick their drug habits and straighten out
their lives.

Kristie has lived on the street in Whalley for four years, but
wouldn't say how she got there. Kristie is also pregnant and stoned.
Very stoned. She wouldn't say what drugs she uses, but her arms are
scarred by needle tracks. The baby swelling her belly will be her
third child, she said, refusing to say where the other two are. "You
don't need to know that. They're fine."

Now, Kristie said, she just wants to get off the street and out of the
life. Wished good luck in turning her life around, her response was
pointed.

"I don't need luck. It was shitty luck that got me here in the first
place."