Pubdate: Thu, 13 Apr 2006
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Darrell Bellaart, The News Bulletin

BUSINESSES UNITE AGAINST CRIME

Rick Hyne is leading a charge to take downtown streets back from  
addicts and prostitutes.

He's urging shopkeepers to join what he calls a Merchant Watch  
program" sort of an inner-city version of Neighbourhood Watch.

"We say they're homeless and they're victims, but they have a  
choice," Hyne said as two rough-looking men and a woman older than  
her years cast a backward glance at him, then shuffle away down China  
Steps.

All the street people know Hyne, a property manager for a downtown  
holding company. He's been working to clean up the Victoria Crescent  
area for several years.

"We're spending millions on a conference centre just a block away,  
yet here we've got this part of town where people are afraid to go,"  
he said.

Now merchants are posting signs on their storefronts warning the  
public that the area is under surveillance and licence plates are  
being recorded. It ends with a message to call the city crisis  
hotline number to get off drugs.

Many merchants welcome what looks like concrete action to deal with  
severe urban decay.

It reached a low point for Carla Samson when a woman walked in her  
store, started a loud ruckus, then grabbed an article of clothing and  
left.

"It upset me the fact they could just blatantly steal something,"  
Samson said.

"I believe Merchant Watch will help, because if they believe people  
are actively watching them, if they know we're here watching, their  
not going to openly deal drugs and (engage in) prostitution. They'll  
be a little bit more discrete about it."

The courts are beginning to recognize the problem by declaring the  
Victoria Crescent area a "red zone" where known criminals and addicts  
are banned.

But others are growing increasingly bold smoking crack in broad  
daylight, frightening others with their aggressive, abusive  
behaviour. Merchants get frustrated because police can't arrest  
people unless they catch them in the act of committing crimes.

Anita Goldring, owner of House of York consignments, says it's  
hurting her business, which she opened in September.

"When people are on certain substances their behaviour becomes  
unpredictable and they become aggressive," Goldring said. "What will  
it take, does one of us have to be stabbed?"

Not everyone supports Merchant Watch.

Ilan Goldenblatt, who operates the Thirsty Camel cafe overlooking  
China Steps, believes the war on drugs has already been lost and says  
it's time society accepts some people will use drugs in spite of  
prohibition.

"I'm not wholeheartedly with the signs. I don't like the surveillance  
society we're headed towards," Goldenblatt said.

"I think we need a policy by police and city hall that says we  
recognize the problem exists, let's manage it."

Goldring agrees, but only to a point.

"I want drug deals to stop in front of my store," she said. "Until  
more enlightened measures are instituted, I'm not prepared to go down  
the toilet while these people make the streets non-user friendly."

As this debate continues, Const. Trent Casson of the RCMP bicycle  
patrol team wheels up. He sees the merits of Merchant Watch.

"Anything like this is what we want to see, because it involves the  
merchants," Casson said. "It gives us more ways of dealing with the  
problem.

"The more we drive these people out of this area, the more you'll see  
tenancy rates go up."

Ilan Goldenblatt, who operates the Thirsty Camel cafe overlooking  
China Steps, believes the war on drugs has already been lost and says  
it's time society accepts some people will use drugs in spite of  
prohibition.
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