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For earlier materials see Table of Contents

Downtown Vandalism	To Curfew or not
	Causes? Personal or Structural?

A town in denial

Cote brought up the question of so many store windows being broken downtown – and suggested a curfew which was nixed by Pond citing Charter as reason

After looking at the discussion I will suggest it is symptomatic of a town in denial of its decline

Another day and another broken window

Looks like just got the one window repaired when someone came by and hit the other window. ---- The fellow in picture below was walking along hitting first a film poster window (at 1) and then moving on to hit the car at 2 – but as he rolled up his fist the girls who were walking along with him must have said something --- as he did not hit the car and walked on ---- I suggest that is main chance ‘we’ have —to convince his peer group that destroying property is not ‘cool’.

Shaun joked that it looked more like a crime scene than fixing a broken window	Interesting discussion as what causes the vandalism
	Councillor Bedard argued the cause was poverty – while Pond and some others seemed to like the ‘few bad apples’ argument The latter means more police presence – more ‘Citizen Patrols’ etc and stiffer jail terms will solve problem --- in meantime social workers etc will meet ‘in-camera’ to discuss (see ‘Curnes to rescue?’ below)

Been here before

Last summer about this time of year I asked Council to address the apparent problem of kids hanging out downtown to all hours of the night --- at that time Pond et al told me curfew etc unworkable --- and nothing was done – so the problem got worse At same time I asked one of the kids ‘hanging out’ by fountain outside city hall why downtown so late --- ‘nothing to do’ – or ‘nothing we can go to that can afford’

Curnes to the Rescue?

Yes, Curnes was originally hired by NCADI – and at those meetings I had argued for allowing kids more free access to Civic Center, gym etc – at those meetings Curnes seemed to argue Alcoholism’ was the root cause of Rupert’s problems I note that he is now actually in charge of Civic Center – and (because of vandalism, etc) has moved to allow RCMP ‘free access’ to Gym/ pool – and sees allowing kids in as act of Charity (Everyone gets to Play program)

Last year’s look at PR Crime Rates Earlier look at PR Poverty Poverty Stats/ indicators in 2006 And a much earlier historical look at demographics Poverty as seen thru EDI report (2004) Previous look at ‘homelessness’ in PR (some of these places have improved) Poverty and Schools in PR Rev Al Tysick gives talk on 'Homeless' + Lawrence's question	Previous looks at poverty
	I am arguing here that Rupert’s Vandalism is a symptom of the decay, the poverty, the loss of hope for good paying jobs (as in cannery work during summers etc) Yes we can put a few ‘bad apples’ in prison --- but read Lawrence’s Question and tell me he is mainly at fault Rev Al Tysick gives talk on 'Homeless' + Lawrence's question

Created by LG on 16/7/2008

Last updated on Thursday, July 17, 2008