Pubdate: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 Source: Mission City Record (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 The Mission City Record Contact: http://www.missioncityrecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305 Author: Kate Webb DOWNTOWN PAY PHONE WILL BE REMOVED Mission's last downtown pay phone will be removed, city council decided Monday night, due to community concerns over drug users and prostitutes frequenting the phone at Second Avenue and Welton Street. The RCMP has been monitoring the public phone and its users since March, and after consulting with businesses in the area, police made the recommendation to council to removed the pay phone and not relocate it. "I was gratified to see that staff proceeded with this recommendation," said Coun. Paul Horn, who has been in contact with the RCMP officer reviewing the situation in the past months. "Virtually the only people using these pay phones are using drugs." Coun. Heather Stewart also strongly supported the motion to remove the phone, but concerns were raised by Coun. Jenny Stevens, and echoed by Mayor James Atebe, Coun. Terry Gidda and Coun. John Pearson. "If you move it from one place they're going to use another location, so I don't think it's going to solve the problem," said Gidda. Atebe asked whether a comprehensive investigation could be done before ordering the removal of the phone. "I worry about kids who don't have a cell phone, who will be denied communication just because of a few notorious people," he said, noting that he would support the motion because the problem needs to be dealt with. "The concern I do have is that there are a lot of low income people in this general area who won't have access to a phone," said Pearson. He suggested a phone card system be put in place through the phone provider, Telus, which would require public phone users to swipe a card registering their name and address with the company. He noted most of the criminals in the area use the pay phone because it allows them to remain anonymous, and removing that anonymity could solve the problem. Stevens was right behind him. "I would support this [card system] because I'm very aware of all the trouble that has been caused with this phone," she said. "I think this is our last public pay phone in downtown Mission, and here we are punishing the innocent so we can deal with the nasties and the drug-dealers." Stevens called the removal motion "drastic," and recommended the issue be deferred until the phone card solution could be investigated. "Once Telus has moved the phone they're not going to entertain us if we ask them to put it back," she said. Horn, however, was adamant that the phone be removed immediately. "Cell phones are pervasive in our community and only becoming more pervasive," he said. "I'm not confident at all that a calling card mechanism would defer those who are using this phone illegally." Coun. Scott Etches suggested council give Telus the ultimatum of removing the phone or installing one with traceable calling card capability. In the end the motion to remove the phone altogether was passed by a vote of 5-2, with Etches and Gidda opposed. No other pay phones will be installed in the downtown area. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek