PASSING THE BUCK DOWNTOWN

Mary Reeves of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association says they are
not trying to push those with problems to other areas of the city simply
because they are undesirable.

She says their opposition to drug treatment and shelter for homeless people
in the core is based on what's best for them, not the downtown merchants.

Here's what Reeves had to say: "It's not a case of 'not in my backyard.'
The ADBA have spent hours deliberating this. The location is not right for
this. . . . If we care at all about these people we'll want to preserve
them from it, not put them in the middle of it."

The argument being made is that since the problem for many of these people
originated downtown, it doesn't make any sense to provide treatment for
them in the middle of all that turmoil.

A handful of protesters outside the ADBA offices on Wednesday had other ideas.

"I see the Salvation Army, the Alano club and the food bank operating every
day. I believe efforts to block any good work downtown would be crippling
to the area and to the people. People need help where it's needed, and it's
needed here. The community has to take responsibility for itself," said
Natalie Uszkalo, herself a merchant in the downtown area.

It's two pretty different perspectives on the same problem.

However, what can't be ignored is that these people aren't getting help. To
do things Reeves' way would be to put our faith in a government that has
cut back on the number of beds in treatment centres. Her way would see more
study on the best way to help these people.

In the meantime, they will continue to sleep under railroad overpasses and
will continue to slip further into the abyss of drugs and crime.

Sure, Reeves and downtown merchants should not have to bear the burden of
other people's life mistakes. And whether Reeves will admit it, there is
clearly an air of self-preservation for the business community within her
comments.

But even that is understandable.

However, at some point, compassion must enter the equation. And if not
compassion, common sense. Because alternatives at this point are few. And
while there are those who don't want to see addicts and homeless people
getting their help downtown, they aren't likely to get it anywhere else.

So, they're still going to be there, selling drugs, taking drugs, turning
tricks, stealing and generally making life miserable in the core.

Take your pick, compassion or common sense.

Either way, there are few options left if things are ever going to get
better. Hoping the problem moves to another neighbourhood isn't going to do it.