Editor: I read with disgust the comments made by Envision Credit Union, as reported in The Times (April 15). The story quoted a spokesman as saying “the area is changing,” and “we are worried about the safety of our staff.” This should resonate with every resident of our city.
How can we stand by and allow safety of staff working in our downtown core to become an issue? If indeed it is an issue, how can families or individuals feel safe anywhere in our city?
I have observed the tent which gets pitched in front of the vacant restaurant near the Envision office. I am told the occupant even had a hairdryer set up for heat. I have seen, on many occasions, four or five stolen shopping carts and their new owners congregating in the area.
The “homeless and transients have been granted rights,” as I have been advised by Mayor Ted Schaffer, and it is difficult to move them along. Surely those of us who live here, work here, and who pay the bills have rights as well.
We should have the right to feel safe in the downtown area.
We should have the right to walk the trails unhindered.
We should have the right not to be accosted in parking lots by panhandlers.
We should have the right of not seeing panhandlers in our intersections looking for handouts.
Criticizing or questioning this issue is sometimes seen as “politically incorrect” by the “do-gooders” in our society, but I believe these are questions and observations which many would like to voice, and are reticent to do.
Citizens and taxpayers of this city should be speaking out, and they should be asking for results not studies.
We are told there is a task force which has been formed to “look into the matter.” Have you seen any results from this group, are things improving, are new businesses coming to the downtown core or are they leaving because they are “concerned for the safety of their staff?”
I simply want to know, “who is running this city?”
Is it those of use who live here and pay taxes here, or is it the transients and homeless people who seem to come in increasing numbers?
Don Woode,
Langley City