Local Mounties are stepping up patrols in downtown Port Coquitlam and will be meeting with city council and local businesses to deal with concerns about drug use, loitering, homelessness and other other issues.
Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Michael McLaughlin confirmed the action is being taken in response to community complaints although he said crime in the area hasn’t increased and police are limited in what they can do with what are often social issues.
“We haven’t seen anything that indicates a major uptick in crime but, having said that, we are doing what we can to make the community feel safe, not just on paper, but people actually feeling safe,” McLaughlin said.
Members of the RCMP's Uniformed Crime Reduction Unit and Community Response Team have been working for the last two months in areas along Shaughnessy and adjoining streets, being visible, arresting people for violating court orders or curfews, and addressing other issues that appear to be plaguing local business.
“We’ve heard complaints and we’ve sent people out to deal with them," McLaughlin said.
STABBING
The concerns come as the city of Port Coquitlam is raising the issue of discarded needles and the city of Coquitlam has launched a task force looking into the management of the permanent homeless shelter located 3030 Gordon Ave.
A recent stabbing at the corner of Shaughnessy Street and McAllister Avenue in PoCo also generated a sense of urgency, although an arrest was made and there are no other suspects. The suspect, who was known to police, was taken into custody while the victim was expected to recover.
With its proximity to the river and trails, PoCo has long been a haven for marginalized people, including people without homes, those dealing with drug addiction and mental health issues.
But the Downtown PoCo Business Improvement Association says anti-social behaviour has worsened in the area.
“We have a few board members having problems with people openly using drugs around their business,” said Susanna Walden, executive director for the PoCo BIA. As well, there are issues with loitering, people buying drugs and panhandlers asking people for money, she said.
“We are seeing a bit of a shift," she told The Tri-City News. "We don’t know whether it’s a problem of 3030 Gordon just spilling out. We know with the river, you do have more homelessness. There are probably reasons for it but we are definitely seeing more people roaming around with problems."
Businesses want more eyes on the street and are willing to help, she said, and they also want improved lighting and a plan to deal with vacant lots in the area.
DOWNTOWN PLAN
Mayor Greg Moore said a meeting has been called with RCMP to deal with some of the issues while the city has hired a consultant to help it prepare five city properties for development, which will enhance the downtown with lighting and sidewalks for patios, as part of the city’s downtown action plan approved last June.
Police say being homeless — and sitting on benches with bikes next to them with their belongings — is no a crime, and neither is using drugs but the RCMP will do what it can to move people along, McLaughlin said.
Meanwhile, Moore said downtown signage will be improved but three burned out buildings are awaiting redevelopment or renovations.
So far, only two of three property owners, those of the burned property on McAllister and the A&W, have brought forward plans to the city while a third, on Shaughnessy, has not.
When built, the improvements will be welcomed by businesses but employees and business owners The Tri-City News talked to had other concerns besides drugs and vagrancy, including parking problems and, for one store owner, possible competition from outfits selling illegal cigarettes because people are coming in asking for “$5 smokes” when the usual package price with taxes is $12 to $13.
The owner didn’t want his name or store mentioned but he’d clearly cleaned it up since taking ownership last June, putting flowers out front and opening doors and windows.
Monika, who owns a barbershop on Elgin Street, said she’d seen no increase in crime or drug use in the area and thought the downtown had improved while Carolyn Calen, who works at an insurance company in Port Coquitlam, said a colleague found a cache of needles, clothes and a bottle of methadone.
Calen told The Tri-City News she feels relatively safe in the city she has grown up in despite the fact that people who may be homeless or in need of supports hang out in the area in parks and on city benches.
“It’s not really new to me,” she said.
