A letter calling on the province to protect citizens in the face of 害羞草研究所渃riminal activity and social disorder害羞草研究所� by enacting a Community Safety Act is making the rounds of B.C. city council chambers.

The Lilia Hansen on behalf of her council, sent to Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth and cc害羞草研究所檈d to municipal councils around B.C.

害羞草研究所淥ver the last few years, Fort St. John and many other communities have experienced increases in criminal activity and social disorder,害羞草研究所� says Hansen害羞草研究所檚 letter. 害羞草研究所淚n part, this deterioration has related to drug addiction and mental illness. It has also related to the apparent inability of the justice system to hold anyone accountable in a meaningful way.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭here is growing frustration at unchecked property crime and the experience of watching formerly safe neighbourhoods decay. It is demoralizing to watch the revolving door of arrests and releases and overdose deaths.害羞草研究所�

The mayor of Fort St. John says the province had a Safer Communities Act on its books that contained a 害羞草研究所渟uite of reasonable, and seemingly effective tools that would have been extraordinarily helpful and reassuring to our citizens.害羞草研究所�

Unfortunately, the mayor said, that act was never brought into force. The mayor said municipal bylaws are no substitute for the 害羞草研究所渕eaningful support of the provincial and federal government.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淥ur bylaws were enacted to provide solutions to manage conventional municipal problems like un-mowed grass, or loud music. These laws were never designed or intended to manage the impacts of organized crime destroying neighbourhoods with impunity,害羞草研究所� Hansen says.

The mayor害羞草研究所檚 request to the Solicitor General to consider enacting a Community Safety Act found sympathetic ears across the province in Campbell River where its council voted unanimously to endorse it.

害羞草研究所淵eah, the last paragraph really struck me,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t said, 害羞草研究所業 implore you to consider whether the balance should live between the rights of our citizens to enjoy a peaceful existence and the rights of those who have destroyed the peace.害羞草研究所� And this is something I害羞草研究所檝e always thought as well is, when things are out of balance, people get unhappy.

害羞草研究所淎nd I害羞草研究所檇 say the public tone right now isn害羞草研究所檛 happy with how things are being handled.害羞草研究所�

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