Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Morning Star Contact: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352 COUNCIL ON THE RIGHT TRACK It's refreshing to see when a good idea catches on with municipal councils in the North Okanagan. This week in Enderby council gave three readings to a property remediation bylaw that would allow the RCMP and bylaw officers to close a house if it's been used for selling drugs, a grow-op or the making of illegal drugs. It's a similar bylaw that has been put to good use in Vernon and is now available to be used in Spallumcheen and Lumby. In Vernon it has been used to good effect in shutting down 'crack shacks' that have terrorized neighbourhoods and threatened the overall safety of the community. The bylaw gives the police the means to attack these problems and shows that politicians and law enforcement can work together to overcome the obstacles that created so much frustration for residents in these neighbourhoods. Where before people felt powerless and that authorities were doing nothing about the drug problem, this bylaw is actually getting real results that benefit peoples' lives on a daily basis. And that's generally all we demand of our police and city officials. We also applaud that other communities are paying attention to what's happening in neighbouring jurisdictions and utilizing good ideas in the ongoing battle against drug abuse. Too many times we've chastised politicians for not looking at the big picture or being incessantly worried about turf protecting, so it's with pleasure we praise all concerned. Just as it took police and politicians working together to get the initial bylaw in place, it's also good old teamwork at play making the valley a safer place to live. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek