Involuntary care is the best solution
It was upsetting to hear of the assault on the paramedic in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue on Thursday evening that required a large police response.
I sincerely hope all the first responders are OK.
This type of situation should not have happened, but it has and the various levels of government are all to blame.
The time has come to stop continuously throwing away endless amounts of money on safe-injection sites, legalizing various drugs, and frivolous spending on the “flavour of the day, month, year” by Victoria’s mayor and council or provincial and federal governments, as nothing changes or improves.
All levels of government should do the right thing and the hard thing, and have care facilities with involuntary admission.
Perhaps then folks might get the proper and consistent care they really need and deserve. It is inhumane for these folks to be allowed to carry on the way they are.
As for all first responders, whether paramedics, police or fire, they deserve better. They always deserve our respect, support, thanks and to be safe.
Suzanne Lim
Colwood
Province is responsible for Pandora problems
The events last week on Pandora Avenue are the direct result of the failure of the provincial government to take this crisis seriously.
Local governments have no ability to support an individual with a brain injury, compounded with addiction and homelessness.
Where were the health care services when they were needed? How can a municipality deal with this level of crisis, without much stronger provincial support?
Whether it requires health care, or involuntary care, the province bears the responsibility.
Christine Langford
Victoria
Action is needed along Pandora Avenue
The massive police response to the paramedic attacked on Thursday night highlights the chaos plaguing the 900-block of Pandora.
This area has become so unmanageable that ordinary citizens can no longer walk through it safely.
Tents, garbage, broken glass, and various forms of human waste clutter the bike lanes and sidewalks, creating a hazardous environment.
The rampant public disorder, open drug use and filth compel people to avoid this block entirely.
Iconic locations like Alix Goolden Hall, along with numerous storefronts, are now boarded up and fenced off. The solutions require government action and funding.
In the meantime, the City of Victoria needs to regularly sweep “the block” to ensure encampments don’t grow and create unsafe working conditions for our first responders.
Jason Gammon
Victoria
Oh, for a world with better priorities
The July 11 events in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue, where a paramedic was attacked and first responders were swarmed, is tragic, unfortunate and regrettable.
For the past couple of years, Police Chief Del Manak has been asking the City of Victoria for more financial resources for additional police officers to deal with crime and disorder.
If memory serves me correctly, his request was met with great resistance from the mayor and council.
The city is about to spend $11.2 million on an upgrade to Centennial Square that “embraces joy and whimsy” in its new design, which includes a splash pool and removal of the sequoia tree.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a world where our priorities weren’t so screwed up?
Lia Fraser
Victoria
Did ‘safe supply’ drugs bring disturbance?
Pandora Avenue on Thursday was a shocking and unacceptable situation for our first responders to be put in.
Perhaps Dr. Bonnie Henry and other proponents of “safe supply” should be asked to respond to calls on Pandora given their causal relationship with the violent addicts squatting there.
Terry Medd
Saanich
How about free insulin for B.C.’s diabetics?
I am slighted by Dr. Bonnie Henry’s proposal to provide free drugs to addicts. I have been an insulin-dependant diabetic for more than 60 years.
How wonderful it would be to have the same largesse extended to those of us with chronic conditions that require medication to allow us to live.
Jennifer Underwood
Mill Bay
City should not pay costs of crime
Re: “Victoria residents trapped by crime deserve compensation,” commentary, July 11.
I read Coun. Stephen Hammond’s commentary with dismay and disbelief. Cash-strapped local governments should not be in the business of using taxpayer money to pay impacts of crime.
The police receive a large budget to protect from crime, and insurance companies cover any costs resulting from crime.
Imagine if the city had to pay for every stolen bike, every broken window, or cover the costs to replace stolen goods?
Would the city cover the costs of homeless people that are victims of crime? This would likely require many new city staff, massive administration, and surely a budget of many millions, resulting in significant tax hikes.
It’s one of the worst ideas I’ve heard, and am disappointed a councillor elected to find real solutions put this forward.
Support the police, invest in social services and poverty reduction, but don’t get the city involved in paying the cost of crime.
Terance Glover
Retired CPA, CGA
Victoria
Pandora porta-potties would make a difference
Re: “Victoria residents trapped by crime deserve compensation,” commentary, July 11.
Victoria Coun. Stephen Hammond writes: “For those who: illegally camp on sidewalks and streets … or urinate and defecate anywhere they want, we’ll spend whatever it takes to work with you.”
Maybe we aren’t spending whatever it takes. Several paragraphs later, Hammond writes: “I was told of one tent that was used as a ‘bathroom’.”
If the city will spend whatever it takes to work with these persons sheltering in tents on Pandora Avenue, perhaps it’s time to provide porta-potties — then they won’t need to use a tent as a bathroom!
The installation of a couple of regularly serviced porta-potties can help reduce the necessity to urinate and defecate in the street, and quite possibly eliminate one tent!
Alison Boston
Victoria
Affected residents deserve compensation
Re: “Victoria residents trapped by crime deserve compensation,” commentary, July 11.
It was with skeptical optimism that our residential community hoped city councillors and Mayor Marianne Alto would discuss Coun. Stephen Hammond’s motion.
To be shut down immediately was disappointing, as two of the “gang of five” councillors had been to our property to discuss with residents what our concerns were with respect to the disarray on Pandora Avenue, and they purported to have empathy and would see what they could do for us.
Really? Instead, we have been cited for being in breach of a City of Victoria bylaw prohibiting barbed wire on our property — wire that has been in place for more than 10 years without notice as a small measure to protect our ventilation system. It has proven ineffective and has been breached continuously to be used as a toilet.
Hammond is correct in stating that we are on our own, and we will pay whatever it takes to keep us and our property safe.
Our residents have incurred expenditures in excess of $17,000 since 2017 to cover costs from extensive vandalism, break-ins, property trespass and threats to personal safety.
As a community, we take pride in maintaining our property and paying property taxes. However, we also have the additional responsibility of cleaning up all manner of refuse that lands on our property and chasing away squatters.
Our building was occupied in 1991 with proud homeowners and a neighbourhood that felt safe.
In 2007, Our Place entered the 900-block of Pandora and our lifestyles have been significantly negatively affected.
We believe we have a right to some form of compensation. Thank you, Stephen Hammond, for trying to put that motion forward.
Yvonne Locke
Strata president
Victoria
Police are protecting people and property, too
Re: “Police are protecting freedom of speech,” letter, July 12.
The letter refers to my “Weekend protests have become absurd” letter, but I did not question why we spend this money.
My concern is that we spend it every weekend for a group expressing their opinion. I might argue their contentions, but that is not the issue.
People may have the right to free speech, but not necessarily at the expense of Victoria citizens’ freedom of movement or business incomes.
Certainly, the sentiments expressed at this protest should not lead to the disruption of the Pride Parade’s “free speech.”
The pro-Palestinian protest has never declared itself to be an expression of free speech. It has certainly expressed some hate speech along with some misinformation (“…history is clear…”).
The police are there to protect people and property, not only free speech.
The writer did not attempt to answer the questions posed at the conclusion of my letter.
Mark Engels
Victoria
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