Editor:
I am writing in response to Anna Burns' recent article regarding the street sex trade. While I agree that these workers need to be safe, it should not be as sex trade workers. These people need housing, help with any drug addictions, and support with any mental or other health issues. Support should be coming from current homeless initiatives as well as local community and charity groups, as well as city hall.
In Ms. Burns' article, they described the area that the workers used, which is the area covering 105 Avenue to University Boulevard. While some years ago this area was run down, the demographics have changed due to the number of new condos being built as well as the rise in real estate prices across the Lower Mainland. We now see larger numbers of students, seniors, immigrants and families with children residing in this area.
The challenge with the workers utilizing this area is their behaviour. Workers openly use drugs and leave needles and other garbage behind. They can often be belligerent and aggressive towards other people living in the area. People who come to patronize their services openly proposition other women in the area, including young girls. The workers and their clients are active all hours of the day, starting early in the morning into the late hours of the night.
I want to emphasize that this area has children's daycares, schools, parks and the Whalley baseball fields. These same streets are those the children use to walk home from school. The people who live here are tired of feeling unsafe in the place which we live. Both the workers and the people who live here need a solution.
Right now, 性视界传媒 North is not a safe place for anyone. The workers need a safe place to live and receive help. As long as they are allowed to openly use drugs, loiter, steal and trespass, we are only enabling them. Compassion is shown by not letting the workers continue in this lifestyle. We need city hall and the Province to act by recognizing that the workers need help, and not turn North 性视界传媒 into another Hastings Street.
Patricia Harrison, 性视界传媒
