MERCHANTS, RESIDENTS DECLARE WAR ON ADDICTS

The Johnson Street parkade appears to be safer since last week's crisis.
But addressing the problem of people using the structure as a clandestine
place to shoot up or have sex remains high on city council's agenda.

Old Fashioned Flowers proprietor Denyce Burrows, whose shop sits two doors
from the Johnson entrance to the parkade, was one of several nearby
merchants who spoke passionately about the problem at Thursday night's
council meeting -- her presentation included a photo-filled board showing
empty needle packages and used condoms. She also brought forward a 311-name
petition asking the city to take immediate steps to improve a situation
they say is jeopardizing the safety of parkade users and chasing precious
customers away.

Burrows lambasted council for what was, in her eyes, a failure to deal with
panhandlers and drug addicts downtown and suggested that maybe a military
presence might help supplement the limited police resources that the
Victoria department puts into the problem.

But Burrows' daughter, Summer, said on Monday that a noticeable difference
could be seen following the city's decision to beef up security.

"We've definitely seen a reduction," she said. "It's not perfect but it's
definitely an improvement. Every day the heat's been on it gets a little
better."

She voiced concern, however, that the problem was simply being moved around
town. "We want to see downtown cleaned up but we also want to see the
people who need help cleaned up."

Security in the parkade was stepped up to 24 hours a day as of last Friday,
from the shifts (7 a.m. to midnight) previously in effect. As well, said
city parking manager Victor Van den Boomen, access into the parkade from
Pandora Street will be restricted to daytime hours, once a moveable ramp is
installed.

Keeping a closer watch on those who enter the parkade in the evening and
the small hours of the morning may solve his problem, said Van den Boomen.
But it may amount to simply shuffling the problem onto someone else.

"I think that's what council is wrestling with," he said. "They don't want
to just say 'we'll fix this area'. I think council is really trying to
address the bigger social issue."

Mayor Alan Lowe, who listened intently to the speakers at last week's
meeting and informed them of the city's plans, said it will take a
coordinated effort to deal with the problem.

"Emotions are running high, they're very frustrated and they want the
problem dealt with," he said of the merchants and nearby residents.

"Unfortunately, this problem is a multi-faceted problem requiring
assistance from all levels of government, the police and downtown merchants."

Several speakers Thursday called for the creation of a task force with
representatives of the city, the Vancouver Island Health Authority,
merchants and residents and those involved with needle exchange programs.

Several groups are currently doing street-based needle exchanges downtown,
including the Open Door and AIDS Vancouver Island, whose building houses
the permanent needle exchange facility. Business has been booming for them
in the past several months, and those involved in doing needle sweeps
around the neighbourhoods are finding more than ever.

Carol Finnie, executive director of the Victoria Cool-Aid Society, whose
head office is near the north entrance of the parkade, said her
organization stopped having a needle exchange program last year at its
downtown health clinic because the demand was too great and it conflicted
with its other services.

She added that staff who look after Cool-Aid residences in the area have
told her there has been an "observable increase" in the number of addicts
around the properties and the number of needle casings lying around.

Finnie expressed a desire to have Cool-Aid work with VIHA and merchants to
find solutions to the ongoing problem.

At last week's council meeting, Pandora Street apartment resident Tatianna
Montgomery was nearly moved to tears as she described the fear she lives
with now that street people are taking refuge in her building's lobby.

David Siegel, who owns the Maynard Building across Johnston Street,
lamented that his building would be half-empty by the spring because
tenants are moving out. He called the situation "intolerable".

The extra security for the parkade will cost $600 a week, while the gate
for the Pandora entrance will run about $4,000.