5 ms·

This is happening well beyond Seattle, not sure if it is a West coast thing. In Vancouver, it is a similar story [0]. It has gotten substantially worse in the l

This is happening well beyond Seattle, not sure if it is a West coast thing. In Vancouver, it is a similar story [0]. It has gotten substantially worse in the last 5 or so years to the point that it is feeling lawless [1]. I have noticed that there are a lot of policies that seem local but are actual not and are being resold/implemented. I'm really curious what's changed and why are we still digging a hole in this spot where it is clearly not working. The city and province are now spending incredible amounts of money on homelessness saying this will solve the problem but crime is going in the other direction. Some stats are saying otherwise, but reporting is now way down. I was in a parking lot last week downtown and a guy was all messed up and had a fire going in the parking lot. I talked to the security guy he shrugged. When I came back the fire was out, but he was still doing his drug dance. I don't think there was any reporting. I think the security approach was to get the fire out and no other confrontation. The stairwell was full of feces, urine, cat litter, and garbage. I don't think that the parking company can keep up anymore. There seems to be a sense that criminality is ok for those that want to be criminals. I fully get the idea of not criminalizing poverty or addiction, but it is going well beyond the self and creating an ever larger blast radius. A real debate about whose freedoms get protected and whose get run over would be interesting to watch by policy makers. Not sure how they are seeing this, they are as another person mentioned in the Orwellian mode so it isn't decipherable. Is it city and policing policy? Is it the drugs are just too strong and people are beyond help or being expected to have any agency? I really don't understand why this is going on in this direction? I think that politicians are are tied in their own knot and don't know a way out. [0] - https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/robbed-vandalized-peed-on-yelled-at-former-gastown-restaurant-owners-detail-neighbourhood-conditions-to-vancouver-mayor-4527162 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/robbed-vandali... [1] - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-chinatown-vacancy-crime-vandalism-1.5907997 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-ch...

threads2 5y ago
Is it true that we should blame Campbell for closing that big mental hospital? I'm a compassionate guy but I'm getting pretty sick of schizos yelling on the street. It doesn't feel dangerous though - I think a lot of people come downtown from the suburbs and get kinda spooked. Living downtown, you just avoid Granville (cause it's disgusting) and realize that schizophrenics are more scared of you than you are of them.
- lunatuna 5y ago
  I really don't have the right answers. Better mental health support is likely part of it. BC is abysmal for mental health in general. I have a friend that lives at Main and Keefer and we hangout on the patio and people watch. It is clear that there are people that are really locked into a major mental illness whether it is schizophrenia or something else. They are being given a place to stay and a meal, which I think is important, but they are left to figure out the rest on the streets. They look like prey for dealers. Once someone is mixing drugs with their illness it gets really messy and anit-social. I've grown up in and around Vancouver. I've never felt that it was dangerous. I'm somewhat regularly down at Hastings and Main and not fearful. Like you mentioned people yelling etc. But business owners are taking it on the chin pretty hard with theft, vandalism and loss of customers. I love Chinatown, but it is definitely at a low right now. I take my daughter, I don't want her to be intimidated and when it does come back I want her there. It is a great part of the city. It should be thriving.

threads2 5y ago

Is it true that we should blame Campbell for closing that big mental hospital? I'm a compassionate guy but I'm getting pretty sick of schizos yelling on the street. It doesn't feel dangerous though - I think a lot of people come downtown from the suburbs and get kinda spooked. Living downtown, you just avoid Granville (cause it's disgusting) and realize that schizophrenics are more scared of you than you are of them.

lunatuna 5y ago
I really don't have the right answers. Better mental health support is likely part of it. BC is abysmal for mental health in general. I have a friend that lives at Main and Keefer and we hangout on the patio and people watch. It is clear that there are people that are really locked into a major mental illness whether it is schizophrenia or something else. They are being given a place to stay and a meal, which I think is important, but they are left to figure out the rest on the streets. They look like prey for dealers. Once someone is mixing drugs with their illness it gets really messy and anit-social. I've grown up in and around Vancouver. I've never felt that it was dangerous. I'm somewhat regularly down at Hastings and Main and not fearful. Like you mentioned people yelling etc. But business owners are taking it on the chin pretty hard with theft, vandalism and loss of customers. I love Chinatown, but it is definitely at a low right now. I take my daughter, I don't want her to be intimidated and when it does come back I want her there. It is a great part of the city. It should be thriving.