Pubdate: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Nanaimo Daily News Contact: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08.n644.a09.html Author: Kathy MacDonald WE SEEM TO VALUE DRUGGIE RIGHTS OVER OUR CHILDREN Re: 'Homeless hotel draws criticism; Drop-in centre for street people is part of plan for mental health facility' (Daily News, July 3). I've been living in the south end of Nanaimo for four years now. I shop, walk and eat here. When I drive down Irwin Street to get home, I pass the park where there used to be two prostitutes at the most. Now when I drive, by I often see the park filled with druggies, prostitutes and street people. A person's home should be their sanctuary but for those who live in that area, it's a nightmare. There is a preschool and playground that should be filled with the sound of happy children playing. When I drove by the other day a man was beating a woman and was stopped by the football team that was practising at the time. If it happens in the park in the day then what happens to these poor women under the cover of night or behind closed doors? The police have been called on many occasions so I'm not sure what the problem is as it's getting worse. Now if the Balmoral Hotel takes in street people and druggies, the situation will only increase the number of them. That park should be a place for children to be playing in, and remember fondly. Instead, those children will remember finding used needles, druggies flailing on the ground, or a prostitute being beaten. Isn't this the wrong message to be giving the children? It seems to me the quality of life in Nanaimo for druggies is being placed before that of the children. Why isn't the city doing everything it can to fight back, including the mayor and the police? Kathy MacDonald, Nanaimo - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake