Vancouver councillor wants special meeting on ‘public safety and violent crime’

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — One Vancouver city councillor is pushing to increase public safety by prioritizing harm reduction and law enforcement in Vancouver.

Coun. Melissa De Genova is bringing forth a motion Tuesday and wants the council to review the city’s Four Pillars drug strategy. 

That strategy recognizes harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and enforcement as key components of policy addressing drug use.

De Genova thinks that not all pillars have been equally prioritized.

“Without harm reduction or enforcement, we really end up with a three-legged stool. I’m concerned that if we don’t continue to move forward with all pillars that we’re truly going to lose the four pillars drug strategy,” she says.

“It’s not about pitting one group of people against another group of people. This isn’t about public safety for some and harm reduction for others. This is about finding ways to co-exist in communities together and support all four pillars”

The motion emphasizes “public safety,” and De Genova says, she’s heard from constituents who say they are afraid to leave their homes because of crime.

“Neighborhoods including Strathcona, Yaletown and Chinatown have faced significantly higher rates of violent crime, reported by VPD. The police have also confirmed they are hearing public safety concerns from business owners and residents,” the motion reads.

De Genova says she wants everyone to feel safe when they’re walking down the streets.

“Public safety and harm reduction are both important and they’re not exclusive of each other,” she says.

“It’s about public safety for everyone. For people who are experiencing addiction and who need us to provide them with measures to keep them safe, especially in an overdose crisis, to the family walking down the street with their young children”

De Genova’s motion is also calling for an open forum with a focus on hearing from residents and community organizations who have concerns related to crime throughout the city.

Last month, Vancouver Police confirmed an increase in overall violent crime by 5.2 per cent and 21.7 per cent increase in most serious assaults.

Sustaining Public Safety council motion

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