A group representing 8,000 businesses in Downtown Vancouver says political leaders must prioritize community safety in their campaigns ahead of the provincial elections.
In a release Tuesday, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) has launched a campaign that highlights what is at stake if political parties do not prioritize community safety in their platforms.
The campaign, Better Safe Than Sorry is urging people to ask their candidates how they plan to make Vancouver a safer place.
President and CEO of DVBIA Jane Talbot says for the past few years their members have been experiencing significant challenges related to safety.
“Whether that’s theft, property crime, employee retention, customers feeling unsafe, the status quo is not working, and it has to change,” she told CityNews Vancouver.
Talbot says the DVBIA is looking for three things from political leaders: comprehensive support for individuals living with mental health and addiction, that they address ongoing issues around repeat offenders, and that they bolster law enforcement efforts.
“Most recently, (on) Sept. 4, we had two stranger attacks, one resulted in the death of an individual, and the other individual was seriously injured. What that incident tells us is that there are people in the downtown core throughout the region who are not receiving the support they need,” she said.
Talbot says for a comprehensive approach to mental health and addiction, the DVBIA is calling for supportive housing, treatment on demand, drop-in centres, and programs centred around education that lead to a path to employment for those who are ready.
With respect to repeat offenders, Talbot says, the DVBIA is calling for increased investment into crown prosecutors to handle their caseloads, increased penalties for people who are committing crimes, and restorative justice programs designed to support throughout the process.
“We’re looking for them to further expand those programs and make sure they’re available to the people who need them when they need them,” Talbot said. “In a perfect world, the provincial leaders will hear us, and they will make safety a priority in downtown.
The release says Better Safe Than Sorry consists of ads that feature “side-by-side comparisons of vibrant streetscapes with thriving businesses and those same streets with empty storefronts.” The multimedia campaign launched Tuesday and includes digital ads, videos, elevator ads, transit shelter ads, and billboards.