Tent City neighbours have mixed response to Safe Streets Bylaw

After months of deliberation, Prince George city councillors passed the Safe Streets bylaw at last night’s (Monday) meeting.

This bylaw prohibits loitering and soliciting within the city limits, and was created to regulate and control unlawful occupation.

One resident, Alissa Nyheim-Rivet, who lives near a homeless encampment presented her concerns to the council on behalf of  “The Millar Addition Connaught Concerned Citizens Committee”.

While she couldn’t speak on behalf of the entire committee, she says she is disappointed that a ruling like this is necessary, but she hopes it will address some serious issues.

“I have mixed feelings about the Safe Streets Bylaw. I’m disappointed that we got to a point where it’s needed, but I believe it was necessary and the only tool that could be enacted in a timely manner. The goal of the bylaw is really to have clear expectations of behaviour for the city, especially in the Greater Downtown. Its intent is education and voluntary compliance. Fining is really the last resort,” said Nyheim-Rivet.

She says the community has seen a dramatic increase in criminal activity since the encampment, which has been nicknamed “Moccasin Flats” was established, and she hopes this will help mitigate that issue.

Just last week a woman was sent to hospital after being shot near the encampment, in what police believe was a targeted incident.

“I think it’ll help address some of the aggressive behaviours in the greater downtown, including some seen in our neighbourhood. Had we had the bylaw earlier this summer, it could maybe have prevented the tent city from becoming established. People shouldn’t have to be scared of going home or to work.”

Nyheim-Rivet adds there is much more work to be done and a lot of wrap-around services are desperately needed.

“But obviously, the bylaw is not the full solution, it’s only one very small piece of the puzzle. It is something that the City had the power, within their mandate, to put in place to try to keep everyone safe. There are no magic solutions or these issues would have been dealt with already.”

Another resident, who would like to remain anonymous says the bylaw is not a blanket approach for penalizing all unhoused people, but it will equip the City with the tools to make the streets safer for everyone in the community.

“I am very happy with the decision made about the Safe Streets bylaw. Our neighbourhood has been disproportionately bearing the burden of an evident rise in criminal activity and safety issues since the tent city was formed including round the clock theft, fires, assaults, gunfire and needle debris to name a few.”

Recently the City filed an application in the BC Supreme Court seeking an order for the safe and orderly transition of the ‘Moccasin Flats’ occupants as well as the occupants of the George Street encampment.