CHIEF ASKS CHINATOWN LEADERS TO LOBBY CITY

Chinese leaders who support the Vancouver police crackdown on drug dealers
in the Downtown Eastside were encouraged Tuesday by Chief Constable Jamie
Graham to express their views to Mayor Larry Campbell and council.

While Graham stopped short of saying they could influence council to fund
overtime costs to extend the three-month crackdown, he said it was
important to let decision-makers know the positive effect of the city-wide
enforcement team.

Last month, council rejected the police department's request for $2.3
million in overtime costs to extend the enforcement campaign until the end
of the year. However, police are expected to present council with a
progress report in early June. At that time, councillors could either
reject a secondary request for more funding, decide to reallocate funds
from the city's budget, or dip into a contingency fund, said Geoff Meggs,
assistant to the mayor.

Even without further funding, Graham promised the leaders that police will
maintain a presence in the Downtown Eastside and respond to reports of drug
activity spilling into Chinatown.

"I'll give you my word-you won't see it go back to the way it was six
months ago," Graham told the crowd at the Chinese Cultural Centre, a block
from the drug-plagued Hastings Street strip.

Graham's comments came during a meeting of the Chief Constable's diversity
advisory committee, which assembled to hear public concerns about the
police's crackdown and opening of an illegal injection site at 27 Carrall
St. Leaders representing merchants, the cultural centre, the Chinese
Benevolent Association, the Chinatown Business Improvement Association and
SUCCESS were generally appreciative of police efforts.

However, they noted Chinatown has seen a slight increase in the number of
addicts shooting up in alleys and some courtyards. Though concerned about
people with addictions, the leaders said they're worried about an increase
in break-ins and loitering in the streets.

Monty Jang, chair of the cultural centre, said the centre's janitor spends
up to two hours every morning picking up dirty syringes and other garbage
left behind by addicts. The janitor has also noticed people concealing what
he believes are drug stashes around the centre, Jang said.

"It's alarming," he said, noting female members of the centre's board are
afraid to walk in the area.

Lawrence Wu, chair of SUCCESS, said when he immigrated to Vancouver in
1965, the Downtown Eastside was a "prime area." Now it's a "no-man's land"
when the sun goes down, he said.

Albert Fok, chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement
Association, blamed the "revolving door" justice system. Fok said addicts
arrested for petty thefts from Chinatown merchants are often released from
jail the same day, and return to the area.

"They wave at us, they wave at the police," he said.

As for the illegal injection site opened last month at 27 Carrall St., Fok
said if it's a safe place to inject drugs, the city should focus on keeping
it running and not worry about a proposed site on Hastings Street.

After the meeting, Graham told the Courier he planned to pass on comments
about spillover of addicts to Chinatown to Insp. Doug LePard, commander of
the city-wide enforcement team.

"We're going to be here after two months-we're not leaving, we're not
giving up on this community," Graham said.

As for the illegal injection site, Graham said it could "cloud the
judgment" of Health Canada officials currently reviewing a proposal for a
legal site at 135/139 East Hastings St.

"I don't like it. I grit my teeth when I hear about it."

Although the site established by the Harm Reduction Coalition will be
monitored, Graham said police have no plans for a raid unless it attracts
criminal activity such as prostitution and drug dealing.