RECLAIMING DOWNTOWN

Editor,

This letter is with regard to the article regarding downtown Squamish
written by Sylvie Paillard (The Chief, Nov. 18). While Ms. Paillard is
obviously well meaning, she would do very well to further research the
facts regarding the history and demographics of downtown Squamish
before she writes another article. Here are some things she might consider:

Geographically, Downtown is fairly central to the greater scheme of
the Squamish area. Downtown Squamish is truly the core of all the
Squamish region. What happens downtown spreads to all other regions of
Squamish. When the Downtown area prospers, that prosperity spreads.
When there is economic and social decay downtown, that too affects all
other areas, from Valleycliffe to Paradise Valley. If you live
anywhere in the Squamish District, you had better be very concerned
about what happens Downtown, because it will certainly effect you.

Demographically, downtown Squamish has historically been populated by
hard working middle income families. This demographic still defines
most of the population here. On the subject of roving youth gangs,
there are presently three families downtown who send a total of nine
children (between eight and 13 years old ) out to play in the streets
late at night. If the RCMP wanted to help the social climate downtown,
members would be bringing these kids back home and talking to the
appropriate authorities about their negligent parents.

Downtown does not have a greater number of drug problems than other
areas. Crackhouses and drug dealers do business in every part of the
Squamish region, not just downtown, but because the majority of
downtown is close-knit, the drug trade is more visible here than other
areas. However, until the RCMP, the public and the Squamish district
agree to a zero tolerance policy for drug trafficking downtown, all
areas within the district of Squamish will continue to suffer from the
ills that the drug trade brings. If the core goes rotten, the rest of
the fruit eventually turns bad.

Very recently, within the last five years, downtown Squamish has
attracted some derelict citizens from other areas of the province. I
can only conjecture that the reason for this is that it is much easier
to squat here than it is to squat in the city. Not only are there
plenty of fairly safe places here to set up camp, but food is readily
available from either the soup kitchen or the food bank. Soup kitchens
are relics from dark eras such as the 1930s and early 1980s when
recessionary economies made money scarce for many people. The economy
of Squamish is presently booming, and any good, honest person can find
or make some sort of work for him/herself. Anyone who is presently
unemployed here has made a decision to choose to do other things than
make him/herself an honest living while residing in Squamish.

Citizens of downtown Squamish are no longer afraid of things that go
bump in the night. We are gathering together and mustering forces to
overcome the lawlessness which has in a few short years, taken over
our normally quiet downtown core. Mayor Sutherland, the RCMP, and the
district had better sit up and take notice. Downtown residents do not
wish to subsidize RCMP services for other areas of the Squamish
district. We pay for, and demand, prompt responses to our 911 calls
for police (as they are in other areas). We expect criminals to be
prosecuted. We will not accept less.

Ms. Paillard, the downtown neighbours are not redefining downtown
Squamish, we are merely reclaiming the Squamish we knew and loved when
we moved here.

Lynne Fedorick

Squamish