CRACKHOUSE CRACKDOWN NEEDS SOME IMPROVEMENT

The Editor,

Re: "Crack down on crack house," the Now, May 4.

I just amazes me that the mayor, RCMP, an MLA, etc. are so involved in one
crack house. Our neighbourhood has had several over the last couple of
years at three addresses on 138A Street. We had three others but the new
owner who purchased one house removed the vermin that were selling drugs
there; the other two decided to leave in the middle of the night after a
discussion with some anonymous good citizens who were called in to assist us.

The first one is dealing to all the surrounding houses, as I have followed
him to see where he goes and he delivers to the dealers at the convenience
store parking lots, Tim Hortons on 96th and King George Highway, 7-Eleven,
as well as some other dealers lurking around the SkyTrain station.

All political and government offices have been informed yet these drug
dealers are still here. In our neighbourhood we have had numerous attempted
and successful break-ins to our vehicles, houses and garages. There have
been numerous fights in the streets, all drug related. I have picked up so
many used needles and condoms from this street I have lost count. I watched
the RCMP bust one house and within three minutes they were back dealing again.

As for charging the landlord, this idea is a farce. The landlord of one
house evicted his tenants and she took him to the Residential Tenancy
Branch and appealled. She was evicted because of damage to his property
(two fires inside the house, broken windows, destroyed carpets and blinds).
She won her appeal and is allowed to stay because the landlord didn't
present evidence of the property damage and was told that he'd have to
evict them again on the drug dealing and give his evidence at that hearing,
so we will have to wait another two months to get rid of the occupants of
this house.

The seniors on this street have a healthy fear of this neighbourhood, which
is too bad because they have lived here most of their lives. The young
families don't want to get involved for fear of repercussions from these
dealers, and the landlords get shut down at arbitration. People come up to
us when we get out of our vehicles in our yard and ask us if we want to buy
crack or weed and they deal right in my yard - so why is it so hard to get
these people?

All of these houses are within one block of two elementary schools, but
apparently the safety of the kids and the surrounding neighbours are not
reason enough to get these people out. Perhaps when we have our own House
of Horrors here that will rate immediate attention, then all involved can
pat themselves on the back for doing such a fine job on bringing it down
and making it safe for all who live here.

D. Nobert

Surrey