ABBOTSFORD WILL TACKLE ITS TROUBLES

Citizens' ideas on ways to beat prostitution, drugs and crime may soon
become reality after Abbotsford city councillors unanimously supported
creating a task force to make that happen.

Council members quickly made the move after reviewing a staff report on
proposals from a public forum hosted by the city in October.

Support for drug treatment, better use of bylaws, increased youth, church
and community involvement and education targeted to specific groups were
among the ideas noted by Grant Acheson, director of development services.

While the task force will likely include representatives from groups
already dealing with the problems at some level, Coun. Simon Gibson wants
to include those "who are marginalized," so that the task force doesn't
become a "blue ribbon panel."

Coun. Patricia Ross underlined the need to have youth involved on the task
force.

The responsibilities and a time frame will be determined by task force members.

The public forum was held in response to growing frustration from
residents, businesses and police over the proliferation of street crime,
drug dealing and break-ins, along with sex trade activity.

"It was interesting that people wanted to get involved," Acheson said,
adding that people wanted much more support for treatment and
rehabilitation facilities, such as the Salvation Army bridge house and the
Teen Challenge drug rehabilitation centre for women, through zoning allowances.

The report boiled citizen suggestions down to six categories.

The first was to take a broader, holistic view of drug and sex trade
activity, to develop a social plan that recognizes that while some are
criminal behaviours they are rooted in social and medical problems. The
public urged the city not to ignore this situation.

Second, the city should support social service agencies and assist in
integrating their work with street associated people already underway and
to encourage cultural and religious communities to be involved.

Special areas for sex trade activity and safe injection sites were
discussed, but Acheson noted there was also strong opposition to this by
many concerned this would lead to easy drug use.

Residents called for more law enforcement. They want to see increased
police activity to pick up criminal leaders, repeat offenders and to cover
high crime areas, such as parks. They also want the city to apply bylaws
more aggressively and consistently, to continue using citizens' groups such
as Block Watch. They also wanted to see more education of sex trade clients
through "john schools."

Social agencies need to be better supported, through zoning that supports
treatment and rehabilitation facilities and related programs.

Youth need to be better served by such agencies and be included in finding
solutions.

Finally, residents recognized education as a key factor in preventing and
addressing drug abuse, involvement in the sex trade and crime.