JUNKIES AREN'T ONLY ONES STEALING CARS

To the editor:

Interesting to note that Geoff Williams, whose family suffered in a very
real way ("Car theft the norm in East Van neighbourhood, say latest
victims," July 31), sees the larger issue of the Downtown Eastside drug
trade while ICBC, whose focus is the almighty dollar, blames the junkies
themselves-a convenient scapegoat.

The quote from the ICBC representative, Elizabeth Goldenschtein, implies
that the "hundreds of junkies" on Hastings Street are responsible for the
rise in car thefts, when ICBC's own statistics don't support that
assertion. The Vancouver increase is only about half of the provincial
increase. I cannot imagine how a drug addict in the Downtown Eastside can
be responsible for car thefts in Victoria, or Prince Rupert.

A more logical perspective would be to look for a province-wide
trigger-like the B.C. Liberal cuts to social services and the Legal
Services Society. Reducing social assistance and imposing a three-week
waiting period, thereby putting already vulnerable and marginalized people
in even more desperate circumstances across the province, is more likely
the cause of increased car theft.

Compound that with the B.C. Liberals' gutting of legal aid and the Human
Rights Commission so each time poor people are further marginalized they
have no legal recourse.

Maybe the answer is to stop focusing on the immediate dollar loss and to
stop using statistics in such a simplistic and prejudicial manner. Instead
we could look to broader and more constructive solutions that address the
issue, rather than mislay blame on treatment centres, safe injection sites
(no matter what anyone thinks, you can't offer treatment options to someone
shooting up in an alley), mental health facilities, alternative
rehabilitative measures to address criminality, affordable housing outside
the Downtown Eastside, etc., etc.

Sadly, by looking at it from a skewed statistical perspective rather than
as a complex, systemic problem, ICBC's contention will likely be borne
out-car theft will probably rise in Vancouver. Of course, few will look to
the courthouse closures across the province, which will draw accused from
outlying areas into Vancouver proper. ICBC will just say, "See, more
junkies, more car theft."

Chandra Corriveau, Vancouver