Pubdate: Wed, 03 May 2006
Source: Metro (CN BC)
Page: 3
Copyright: Metro 2006
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Jared Ferrie
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

MAYOR RELEASES STATEMENT TO RCMP

Details Providing Addicts With Money For Drugs

Mayor Sam Sullivan yesterday released a statement to the RCMP 
regarding his giving money to addicts for drugs. And he used the 
opportunity to take a stab at political opponent Larry Campbell.

"During the 2005 Election campaign, former mayor Larry Campbell and 
his Vision Vancouver party made these experiences a focus of their 
campaign," wrote Sullivan.

"Because of the increased public awareness, the Police Chief had no 
alternative but to request that the RCMP investigate these incidents."

Campbell at first refused to comment, but when pressed, encouraged 
Sullivan to take responsibility.

"Mayor Sullivan is the one who admitted to drugtrafficking," said Campbell.

" M a y o r Sullivan is always saying I'm beating up on him. I wish 
he would just for once in his life own up to the fact that this is 
what he did, he's sorry about it, and let's get on with life," he added.

In his statement, Sullivan details providing money to a woman for 
three weeks in the late 1990s so she could stop prostituting herself 
to feed her addiction. A couple years later, while on city council, 
Sullivan gave money to a crack addict. The man smoked the drug in 
Sullivan's van.

Sullivan concludes his statement by saying the experiences have 
"helped shape my thinking and city policy."

Sullivan told the Vancouver Sun April 21 about initiating a plan to 
provide drugs to addicts -- an approach Campbell called "simplistic."

"It doesn't solve homelessness," said Campbell. "It doesn't solve any 
of the problems we normally associate with addiction."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom