Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Mike Howell, Staff Writher BLOOD, SYRINGES, FECES STAIN DOWNTOWN PARKADE STAIRWELLS Easypark General Manager Notes Increased Drug Activity Stairwells in city-owned parkades downtown are increasingly being used by drug addicts to inject drugs, and as toilets of convenience. Mel McKinney, general manager of EasyPark, said the drug activity is spattering the stairwells with blood and leaving them littered with human waste and spent syringes. An average of 24 stairwells per day are affected by the drug use, said McKinney, adding that up to 14 people at one time have been injecting drugs in a stairwell. "It's a huge problem for us," he said, although he was unable to point to a reason for the increase in drug activity. He pointed to the parkade at 150 West Pender as one of the worst lots for drug use. Others in Gastown and downtown are experiencing similar activity. Addicts have threatened customers who entered the stairwells. Threats have also been directed at security officers and parking staff. McKinney said a large chunk of EasyPark's $1.2 million security budget and $900,000 janitorial budget is spent to keep addicts out of the stairwells and keep the stairwells clean. On a recommendation from a Vancouver police officer, EasyPark asked city council to approve $147,000 for the purchase of 50 noisemakers to be installed in stairwells of five downtown parkades. The noisemakers, contained in a four-inch square plastic box, emit a high-pitched squealing noise, which is said to deter anybody from spending an inordinate amount of time in a stairwell. EasyPark's plan was to have noisemakers operate between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Other locations would have devices that run longer, or solely on the weekends. Council rejected EasyPark's request at last Thursday's council meeting after hearing from speakers that included the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and Pivot Legal Society. Both groups were concerned about the effect of the noise on the health of children and people with hearing aids. Laura Track of Pivot quoted from a 2008 Health Canada study on the Mosquito, a brand name of the noisemaker. The study concluded "it didn't seem possible to use the device for its claimed purpose and still provide the federal safety code required protection to people with rightful access to the area." EasyPark has operated a trial with a noisemaker in one of the stairwells in the parkade at 150 West Pender. McKinney said the drug activity in the stairwell stopped within 24 hours. A neighbour complained about the level of noise, so the device was adjusted to emit a quieter sound, said McKinney. McKinney shared an email with the Courier from a customer who lives near the parkade. Mark Klemola congratulated EasyPark for installing the noisemaker. Prior to the device's installation, Klemola said he stumbled upon two men having sex in the stairwell. One of the men told him he would be stabbed if he entered the stairwell. He couldn't use the elevator because two men and a woman were using it to inject drugs, he said in the email, which was forwarded to the Courier with his permission. "This is just one of many similar incidents that used to occur daily at this location," he added. Vision Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang, who is council's representative on EasyPark's board of directors, said health and safety concerns of the device have to be addressed before council will reconsider funding the noisemakers. "This doesn't mean it's no for good," Jang said. "Once they come back with a better report of the impacts, then it can go ahead or be phased in gently." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr