Letter: Downtown New West is not safe for my kids

The Editor:

Re: Letter: Compassion, empathy needed to help New West's homeless population (Dec. 26, 2024)

It was incredibly disheartening reading the latest in a long line of disingenuous diatribes from boosters of the Community First (CF) party, asserting that concerns about drug-driven crime and disorder in the homeless community are not a serious issue in the city.

It is absolutely appalling that personal friends of the mayor and CF councillors think they can speak on behalf of everyone else in the city, dismissing their lived experience with this growing disorder.

I live in downtown New West, less than one block from the so-called "safe" injection site at the Purpose Society. While the stated goals of Purpose are laudable, it is blatantly obvious to me that the lax approach to drug addiction is not working.

I do not own a car. I walk and take transit only, along with my two small children (ages three and six).

There is rarely a day that goes by where me and my children are not confronted with someone smoking hard drugs, screaming obscenities, or acting erratically or violently at our doorstep and/or at local transit facilities.

I moved to downtown New West and embraced this car-free lifestyle based on the promises of Community First and its predecessor "Team Cote" party to prioritize the safety of all downtown residents.

Yet what I see day in and day out is CF elected officials outright denying that problems exist, even going so far as to shut down organized public discussion of the issues at the behest of their personal friends/party supporters.

Folks like the Dec. 26 letter writer tell on themselves when they accuse people concerned about disorder of hating homeless people.

Homeless people absolutely deserve our compassion. They deserve homes, services, and a chance to get off the streets.

In fact, homeless people are the people most at risk of being victims of crime perpetrated by the very small minority of violent, erratic drug addicts.

So, why do so many CF members/supporters equate all homeless people with this small group of bad apples?

What is most appalling to me is when these elected officials prioritize compassion for violent criminals and people creating public disorder over compassion for their victims. I want this city to thrive and be safe for "everyone," especially the most vulnerable.

I am ashamed and dismayed that our mayor and his comrades don't seem to agree.

- PJ Kehres, New Westminster