Reclaiming Downtown

This letter is with regard to the article regarding downtown Squamish written by Sylvie Paillard ( The Chief, Nov. 18 ). While Ms. Paillard is obviously well meaning, she would do very well to further research the facts regarding the history and demographics of downtown Squamish before she writes another article. Here are some things she might consider: Geographically, Downtown is fairly central to the greater scheme of the Squamish area. Downtown Squamish is truly the core of all the Squamish region. What happens downtown spreads to all other regions of Squamish. When the Downtown area prospers, that prosperity spreads. When there is economic and social decay downtown, that too affects all other areas, from Valleycliffe to Paradise Valley. If you live anywhere in the Squamish District, you had better be very concerned about what happens Downtown, because it will certainly effect you. Demographically, downtown Squamish has historically been populated by hard working middle income families. This demographic still defines most of the population here. On the subject of roving youth gangs, there are presently three families downtown who send a total of nine children ( between eight and 13 years old ) out to play in the streets late at night. If the RCMP wanted to help the social climate downtown, members would be bringing these kids back home and talking to the appropriate authorities about their negligent parents. Downtown does not have a greater number of drug problems than other areas. Crackhouses and drug dealers do business in every part of the Squamish region, not just downtown, but because the majority of downtown is close-knit, the drug trade is more visible here than other areas. However, until the RCMP, the public and the Squamish district agree to a zero tolerance policy for drug trafficking downtown, all areas within the district of Squamish will continue to suffer from the ills that the drug trade brings. If the core goes rotten, the rest of the fruit eventually turns bad. Very recently, within the last five years, downtown Squamish has attracted some derelict citizens from other areas of the province. I can only conjecture that the reason for this is that it is much easier to squat here than it is to squat in the city. Not only are there plenty of fairly safe places here to set up camp, but food is readily available from either the soup kitchen or the food bank. Soup kitchens are relics from dark eras such as the 1930s and early 1980s when recessionary economies made money scarce for many people. The economy of Squamish is presently booming, and any good, honest person can find or make some sort of work for him/herself. Anyone who is presently unemployed here has made a decision to choose to do other things than make him/herself an honest living while residing in Squamish. Citizens of downtown Squamish are no longer afraid of things that go bump in the night. We are gathering together and mustering forces to overcome the lawlessness which has in a few short years, taken over our normally quiet downtown core. Mayor Sutherland, the RCMP, and the district had better sit up and take notice. Downtown residents do not wish to subsidize RCMP services for other areas of the Squamish district. We pay for, and demand, prompt responses to our 911 calls for police ( as they are in other areas ). We expect criminals to be prosecuted. We will not accept less. Ms. Paillard, the downtown neighbours are not redefining downtown Squamish, we are merely reclaiming the Squamish we knew and loved when we moved here. Lynne Fedorick Squamish