Pubdate: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Travis Bangham CRACK DEALERS DOING THRIVING BUSINESS Lately, I've been working at a job site near the corner of Richards and Pender in Vancouver. And every day, all day long, I see these three guys selling crack. I walk by them to get a cup of coffee in the morning and at 10 a.m. they are there with people smoking crack on the corner. When I go get a piece of pizza for lunch I sit outside and watch them and, unbelievably, I watch the police drive by. They don't seem concerned with them in the slightest. I'm sure everyone knows we have a big problem in this city with drug use and I've been told that it's better to go after the hive and not just the using bees. But, why do the police do nothing about this? I've been at this job site for a week now and it's the same three guys selling crack everyday. Is it policy to ignore these people? Is something going to be done about this? I live in east Vancouver and last year I had my $5,000 mountain bike stolen by crack users looking for easy cash -- and now I have to watch the police drive by dealers on a daily basis. I beg the government, the police or the good people of this city to rise up and say no to the crack dealers in our city and put these low lifes behind bars where they belong. Travis Bangham, Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens