Pubdate: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 Source: Oak Bay News (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Oak Bay News Contact: http://www.oakbaynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1346 DOWNTOWN CODE OF CONDUCT OFFERS NO REAL SOLUTION If the new code of conduct for behaviour in downtown Victoria (see story on Page 3) promised a revolutionary approach to street-level problems, we'd be the first to jump on board. The trouble is, the code is far from being revolutionary. It's not even that original. As such, it promises to become just another empty measure to control growing problems on the streets of the downtown core. One clause in the 16-point manifesto suggests that businesses and social agencies screen people entering their premises for illegal drugs. Clause 10 follows in a similar fashion, banning patrons from "carrying alcohol or drugs other than in areas licensed for those purposes." These clauses will merely keep the ne'er-do-wells on the street, where they are already seen as a problem. Clause No. 7 states that "there shall be no tolerance for criminal activity," as if merchants and social service agencies are putting up with crimes and vandalism now. The list goes on. There's a "do not disturb" clause for noise emissions, yet most street people (no matter how seedy or inebriated) are quieter than your average float plane. Clause No. 1, 11 and 12 state that business owners should clean up graffiti and refuse from outside their premises. Most business owners do that now anyway - if they're smart. In addition to the obvious ones, there are a couple of other items that may just make things worse. No. 13 encourages businesses to hire private security guards, but makes no mention of the cost. The same can be said of No. 7, regarding calling police anytime there's a problem. But anytime there's additional enforcement, there's a cost attached. It's not fair to expect police to pour more resources into downtown enforcement than they already do. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce members should know better than anyone that nothing in this world is free. No. 14, which talks about discouraging loitering and panhandling, has the potential to create an "us vs. them" environment downtown. Now, there's a problem. Preventing people from making few bucks in change - let's remember that the courts have ruled against anti-panhandling bylaws - will simply add anger to the mix. Downtowns problems are too complicated to be solved by a two-page manifesto from the business community. The Oak Bay News doesn't have the solution and neither does the Chamber of Commerce. So maybe it's time our readers weighed in on the debate. Send your ideas to the Oak Bay News, 818 Broughton Street, Victoria B.C., V8W 1E4 or e-mail us at vice providers was somewhat dubious when the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce put forward its draft proposal of a code of conduct for downtown businesses and social agencies. Greater Victoria Cool-Aid Society CEO Carol Finnie said she and her co-workers "were automatically suspicious" that the code, which lays out more proactive security and enforcement procedures for downtown businesses, might unfairly target homeless and street people. Upon further review, she admitted that the code was "pretty good" and would likely serve its intent of insuring that people did not loiter around downtown businesses. Finnie said Cool-Aid was involved in the first few drafts of the code but the chamber put on the finishing touches. While Finnie was pleased with the finished product, several downtown merchants approached by the Victoria News declined to comment on the proposed code for fear of antagonizing those outside the shops. The detailed 16-point code, offered by the chamber for city councillors' perusal last week, sets out the expectations for businesses, social agencies and the city concerning fire standards, health regulations, city licensing, traffic and parking, zoning and neighbourhood impact studies. It also requires businesses and social agencies to discourage loitering and soliciting and to immediately report aggressive panhandling to police. In addition, the code encourages businesses or downtown service organizations to employ security personnel to patrol premises to fight ongoing problems with mischief, noise or alcohol or drug use. "We want to take back our streets and make them safe for everyone who lives and works in downtown Victoria," said Denyce Burrows, co-chair of the chamber's street issues committee. Chamber president Dr. Rebecca Grant, and Bill Taylor of the YM-YWCA of Greater Victoria, representing the 20 downtown service agencies, presented the draft version of the code to Mayor Alan Lowe and council at the committee-of-the-whole Thursday. "In an unprecedented step of cooperation, Victoria's social agencies have worked side by side with the chamber to build this code and now it's time for the city of Victoria to adopt it," said Grant. "I can think back to eight years ago when there wasn't any cooperation (between businesses, social service agencies and the city)," said Coun. Helen Hughes. "This really is a step in the right direction." Lowe said that the council sees the value in everyone working together. Gerald Hartwig of Hartwig Industries Inc., co-chair of the chamber's street issues committee with Burrows, said the code was aimed at drug-dealers, their hangers-on and the street culture as well as the businesses that cater to them. "If you've got a business that caters to that (crowd), you're not part of the problem, you're going to be part of the solution," said Hartwig. He contended that .01 per cent of the population is controlling the downtown area while 55 per cent of the downtown businesses pay for close to 100 per cent of the property taxes. Hartwig said he would continue to push for the amalgamation of the Greater Victoria police forces as another way of getting more control of the downtown core. "It was really good to start working with the social agencies to work on this (code of conduct)," he said. The committee-of-the-whole voted to receive and to look at the report for a month before discussing it. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager