Well, if all you complainers would get off your arses and start another Citizens on Patrol program, there might be less of an issue. But as usual in this town. We spend more time bitching about what we don’t have instead of fixing the problem. There are no new volunteers, for any organization. Period. People are content to be fat and happy, and sit on their computer chairs, behind their screen and anonymously complain about everything they can possibly complain about.
I swear, if ten percent of you negative nellies out there in internets land, would get out and DO something about it… This town would benefit big time.
So since you are anonymously sitting behind a computer screen complaining about us, enlighten us as to what you have done to benefit this town big time.
I think we all know the issues in this town so well from allowing everyone to “vent” , that we should form our own little “Band of Brothers” and take back our town. How about “Hacking for Justice”? Oh, sounds macabre, that does
The citizens on patrol is something which is headed by RCMP, I believe they have times when they try and recruit members. I know that it sounds like we all sit behind this screne and complain but you see is for the most part real, we should be allowed to get into a city council meeting if they do not mind us finding out what the hell they are doing and allow us to be heard and demand that they appoint some task force which can put down a positive plan to rid the streets of the punks, crooks and dealers. Yes we can have our streets back through many ways , just all walk the streets one or two nights and tell them their time is up. Or sit in court where we mau watch how they are walked through the system and never have their hands slapped.
[quote=“MeepMeepZoom”]
Downtown curfew for minors. Add in free cruiser rides to their parents for some. Vigilant towns people reporting loud groups of kids, kids lurking around areas. RCMP hassle the kids, over time, the kids end up in Juvi or become their parent’s / friends’ problem. Just a thought…[/quote]
What is required here is a significan behaviour change for ALL Rupertites. When I walk down the sidewalk - I walk right through the crowd - smile, nod, say a name if I know one. If they are kids and I know their parents, I ask ‘how’s mom’.
When drunkards are stumbling around getting abusive, I politely ask them to not embarass themselves.
Remember it is harder to both commit a crime and to get away with it in a truly close knit community.
Vigilance - yes - that is required to change our own behaviour.
Vigilante - no - we don’t need yahoos looking for a fight deciding which laws to enforce.
We need to remember is that this is OUR community - while bearing in mind that it is also THEIR community. Maybe they (vandals) need to be reminded of that…or better yet…maybe we need to show it.
As a new business owner, Although I am not downtown, the high rate of break-ins in Prince Rupert is a top concern of mine. I think that some kind of C.O.P group or security patrol formed by the business owners in the city might be one approach. I would be interested in this. However, I am not too sure about other businesses or how to go about forming one. Is there a small business association in Prince rupert?
Justin Case I gotta say it man…There is no big conspiracy to keep the public out of public council meetings.
This Monday there was, and the second council meeting of every month there is, a Committee of the Whole meeting where anyone can walk in off the street and talk to council, question council or request consideration from council for anything they’d like. Anything at all. Most times, aside from Larry Golden, nobody asks anything or comes to the meetings. People can also request to be put on the agenda to speak with council on non-COW weeks if they have concerns or issues. I did that twice last year in my capacity as Communities in Bloom co-chair.
If people want an opportunity for council to hear from them in a formal setting that is on the public record, it is there. If more people took the opportunity and formally voiced the numerous concerns they have to their elected officials it would be much more impactful. Just look at the Concerned Citizens Group last year. It may not result in anything concrete happening, but at least those concerns, suggestions or demands are on the record and are directly spoken to the City.
Actually, I’m a member of the hospital auxillary… Youngest member in a really long time actually. I’ve been part of too many clubs and organizations that can’t do anything, because of lack of volunteers.
SO I turn this question back at you. What have YOU done to benefit our community??
[quote=“bubbasteve735”]
Actually, I’m a member of the hospital auxillary… Youngest member in a really long time actually. I’ve been part of too many clubs and organizations that can’t do anything, because of lack of volunteers.[/quote]
[quote=“mikko”]
The towns I grew up in ontario and alberta had 11pm curfews for ppl 16 and under. Since moving here i’ve always thought it was amazing that it wasn’t in place here with so many problem chlidren. [/quote]
While we may have a problem with youth on the streets in Prince Rupert, I believe that most of the serious property crimes are caused by adults (over 18) and gangs. If we peel back the onion on these issues,we may find addictions are significant contributing factors; drugs, alcohol and now gambling.
What I found amazing was the number of bars and liquor stores in a town of this size and then watched in disbelief as the former mayor and council approved a gambling casino and more liquor establishments. This in a town with a complete lack of effective addiction treatment facilities!
One should not be so eager to discourage business in the city based solely on a demographic of persons that have a problem. Historically, prohibition never works.
Many other types of non-addicted, so-called well-adjusted people are able to fully enjoy these establishments. People want to make money and having the ability to make money from anyone who will pay is one of our freedoms in Canada.
The lack of a solution for persons with a problem should be the focus of that effort. Personally, I feel a little indifferent to these issues mainly because I believe people need to be accountable for their actions no matter what. If you’re a criminal, you go to jail. If you’re a junky, you either choose to clean yourself up or you die/go to jail. If you’re a problem gambler, you play, you lose and then you lose everything. Accountability should reach into every part of your life.
The vandalism, interim measures sincerely need to be swift and send a strong message that the city isn’t messing around anymore. up-stepped RCMP actions, curfews and whatever other measures are necessary to stop it, now needs to be adopted. Like, luke-warm martial law measures.
I work with two womens programs and can only wish that i benefit them as much as they benefit me but I doubt it. I also volunteer with Special Events when I have time, that’s always fun! You are right though that the lack of volunteers makes it difficult to be involved in as much as we would like.
I would throw my support behind the curfew idea…something has to be done - we’ve been open for a little over a month now, and I’ve had broken bottles in front of my plexiglass windows (i thought ahead) and large number or various show prints in our metal door. If it were glass we’d have to have a door replaced at least once and a new window…within a month of being open. Its sad that this community has to resort to curfews, barred windows, and plexiglass…but we have to do something
I’m pretty sure something in the Safeway Pharmacy got ripped off today by the same scum who was involved in the one of the 3rd Ave robberies. As soon as I saw the guy I knew he wasn’t there to buy anything.
Just to clarify Meep Meep, I’m not arguing for prohibition. In Canada, we’ve recognised that certain industries do need regulation. There may be other reasons for regulation but certainly one purpose of having a licensing regime is to exercise control over business activities that contribute to costs that society ultimately has to bear.
In the case of alcohol establisments the purpose of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act and its Regulations is as follows;
“The government works to prevent such problems as under-age drinking, the over-consumption of alcohol, and overcrowding or unsafe conditions in restaurants, bars and pubs, and to minimize the potentially negative impact of liquor sales on neighbourhoods and communities.” Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction - Province of British Columbia
The act recognized the negative impact that liquor sales may have and specifically involves municipal and first nation governments in the issuance of licenses. Our local representatives should have a good understanding of how more licenses may impact the social issues in their community. In the case of Prince Rupert, we have one of the highest crime rates in the province and the problems that occur after bar closing on our streets are well known to most on HTMF. This is hardly a new problem and thus my surprise at seeing how free the previous council was with allowing more seats in town.
As for the ability to make money from anyone who will pay, from what I recall from my civics classes this is not a Canadian freedom either in common law or our charter. Indeed there are many activities that are illegal or heavily regulated. On the other hand, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association are two of our fundamental rights.
It’s a bit specious to argue for a non existent right and then advocate for curfews, other measures and luke-warm martial law. Especially when curfews are generally directed to under age people who are not the primary culprits in many of these crimes.
I do agree with you on accountability and providing solutions for people that are attempting to better themselves / break free of addictions.
Speaking from experience regarding curfews when I was on city council in the 19hundreds I tried to have a curfew brought in and we ran into the Charter of Rights crap and we checked in different areas to see what they were doing re youth issues, council then would not completely back me up and if you are unable to have at least four on your side it ain’t going no where fast. I presented many name on a petition from around the community and it still sat there. The last time Rupert had a curfew I believe it was in the 20’s. But if anyone is willing to sit down and try to look at things that mwork please advise me or maybe invite me please. I see stuff in this community everyday which would blow your socks off.
The only problem with curfews is who is going to enforce them? And if someone breaks curfew, what will be the ramifications? Community hours? There’s a joke right there and as a former poster stated, it is not just kids vandalizing our town so how do you set curfew for adults? In theory, a great idea but in practice, a total nightmare. The only time I remember curfew being a positive thing was when living on CFB Uplands in Ottawa (Air Force Base) and the Army were on manouvers there for 2 weeks, anyone under 16 was not allowed on the streets after 7PM and the MP’s were definitely enforcing that one. It was awful
, that we should form our own little “Band of Brothers” and take back our town. How about “Hacking for Justice”? Oh, sounds macabre, that does 
