Victoria - Drunkenness, public urination and rowdy behavior will not be tolerated in Victoria's downtown, Mayor Dean Fortin told members of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce yesterday.
"Street crowding after bars close, fighting, vandalism, lack of late-night transportation, public urination, street noise and community nuisance caused by excessive drinking -- this kind of behaviour would not be tolerated in any other community and it will not be tolerated in our downtown community," Fortin said in the mayor's annual chamber address.
Fortin announced that he, Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe and police Chief Jamie Graham will form a Late Night Downtown Task Force to start work immediately, and promised "short, sharp and focused actions" on the issues.
"This disorder is causing deep hardship on local business and I'm tired of it," Fortin said.
"I am tired of hearing about businesses having to deal with broken windows or graffiti. I am tired of people not understanding the impact of their actions. I am tired of our police being diverted away from other needs to deal with street fights induced by excessive drinking. I am tired of hearing people say they don't feel safe at night."
The task force will engage stakeholders to determine the problems and find solutions, he said.
"We start today. The late-night issues we are experiencing are not new -- and they have been canvassed time and time again," Fortin said.
"For police, for bars and businesses, for taxis and buses, for residents and visitors -- for all stakeholders -- it is time for action."
Speaking to reporters, Fortin said the task force will meet with all stakeholders including bar and cabaret operators, taxis drivers, sa国际传媒 Transit, students, residents, business and hotel operators and private liquor-store operators. It's expected to report back to council with recommendations by summer's end.
Fortin told chamber members there's little the city can do about panhandling, which he called one of the city's biggest challenges. "Certainly there are issues around the Charter of Rights. It's not illegal to panhandle on a public space," he said, adding moving people from the streets into homes will help solve the problem.
Homelessness is the number-one issue facing the city today, he said, noting progress is being made on providing affordable housing. Figures recently released by the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness estimate 600 people have been housed in the last 18 months and 400 remain in homes.
The investment pays off, he said, since it's estimated each person living on the streets costs the system $50,000 a year in policing, hospital and emergency room visits, clean-up and more -- a total of more than $60 million a year.
Fortin emphasized, however, that downtown disorder has "little or nothing to do with homelessness."
