Residents of a south Nanaimo neighbourhood feel caught in the crossfire of drug decriminalization policies and are demanding better safety.
A rally was held at Nob Hill Park on Friday, June 23, when Nob Hill and Victoria Road residents expressed concern and anger. Tereza Bajan, Neighbours of Nob Hill co-chairperson, said residents are fed up with rampant drug use, assaults and crime.
Families and retirees live in the area and Bajan told the News Bulletin that she strongly disagrees with how overdose prevention sites, including a provincially funded one at Albert Street and a former peer-run Nicol Street site, were situated near the area.
“Basically, we’re only two blocks wide and all the services for all of Nanaimo are based in our neighbourhood,” she said. “You’ve got Victoria Road, and you’ve got Albert Street. So basically, you’ve boxed us in and it’s as if we’re responsible for all of Nanaimo for hosting this type of behaviour.”
In addition, prostitution on Victoria Road has “harmed [the area] over the years,” she said.
“The prostitution brings in the pimps and brings in the drug dealers and so the people that are on drugs know exactly where the dealers are, they’re close to the prostitution, because they’re supplying the prostitutes, and they’re supplying the johns,” said Bajan. “So the johns know where they can get the drugs and the sex; it’s a one-stop shop.”
Brian Rice, Neighbours of Nob Hill treasurer, said neighbourhood safety is paramount.
“We understand that if you kick them out of one place, then they move to another place,” said Rice. “So there is nowhere for them to go, but at the same time, neighbourhoods are starting to say, sorry, we can’t host this in our neighbourhood. It’s too dangerous … There’s assaults, there’s knifings, there’s shootings going on. The rash of extreme violence has just escalated out of control and a lot of people are really afraid.”
Bajan said decriminalizing drugs isn’t the proper way to deal with the situation and mental health care and rehabilitation facilities are needed.
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karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
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