The Province Makes Kelowna Sound Like Detroit-West

[Spocky]

Sheesh!

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Gangsters+growth+turning+Kelowna+into+paradise+lost/8005211/story.html

"the Kelowna district has become a major crime hub"
"local citizens are afraid of increasingly visible violent criminals in Kelowna, and worried about the city’s growing reputation as a crime-capital."
"Kelowna a key drug route nexus"
"gangsters and their extended families have bought up expensive lake properties"
"It’s bad development on steroids"

Bet you didn't know you lived in Hell... Maybe we should change the name of the city to Kabulowna.

Also, a genuine 24K faux-medal to the forum participant who lists ALL the spelling & grammar mistakes in that article!

[fluffy]

Same article running on the front page of Okanagan Sunday paper.

[Spocky]

Same article running on the front page of Okanagan Sunday paper.

Great, let's spread the good news even further! Welcome to Ciudad Juarez North, tourists! You'll still be able to get a tan on the skin that's not covered by your bulletproof vests!

[fluffy]

The article raises some interesting points though. Lots of profs and specialists claiming the recent influx of organized crime into Kelowna is a result of a number of factors, chief among them is the pressure the law enforcement sector is placing on criminals in the lower mainland. Follow that up with the rapid growth Kelowna has seen recently, the comparatively cheaper real estate up here, and the social problems plaguing the area it's no real surprise that organized crime would be attracted here with all the other parasites flocking in for their share of the pie.

[Rjamer]

The article raises some interesting points though. Lots of profs and specialists claiming the recent influx of organized crime into Kelowna is a result of a number of factors, chief among them is the pressure the law enforcement sector is placing on criminals in the lower mainland. Follow that up with the rapid growth Kelowna has seen recently, the comparatively cheaper real estate up here, and the social problems plaguing the area it's no real surprise that organized crime would be attracted here with all the other parasites flocking in for their share of the pie.

The mayor says the bad guys need holidays too ,, maybe launder a little money by buying some real estate.. Everyone wins !!! This must be the "Okanagan Lifestyle" that tends to get over- hyped ..

[Static]

It's an interesting article. Can't say it's far off. Not enough good jobs, there is always demand for drugs. I wouldn't say it is Detroit West, yet. It's not just Kelowna wither, it's the whole valley.

[callotto]

"Basically, Kelowna needs the type of turnaround that Mayor Dianne Watts and her council have started in Central Surrey. Focus on increasing transit and public infrastructure investment downtown and give developers a vision — more walkable, more dense, buildings more linked in purpose — that they can buy into."

I thought it was a pretty good article. The idea that crappy Surrey/ Nanaimo (and now I suppose Kelowna) style planning contributes to crime is an interesting concept The town is really chopped up and planned for ease of traffic vs quality of living. The latest proposal from city hall to bring a second highway through the North End is a good example of the mindset of the City planning department.

[normaM]

Guess they laid off their proof readers.
Quoting Joni? LOL

[Fixer 166]

I cant wait to move back.

[Whyme2]

" You can't handle the truth"

[Static]

Fixer wants to move back because he is a gangster

[Donald G]

Gangs thrive and continue to grow economically simply because we, in the interest of controlling the police, put judicial restrictions in place that greatly hamper the police being able to investigate and charge gangs and other criminals. The charges associated to the largest heroin shipment ever seized inSaskatchewan and the cache of loaded weapons seized in B.C. Being dismissed because, in the OPINION of the presiding judge the police had no right to search the trunk of vehicles are classic examples.

[Liquidnails]

Bad people like nice places too. I think any quickly growing community in a desirable location would have to deal with similar challenges. I don't think Kelowna is a dangerous place to live at all.

[Trigger69]

The article raises some interesting points though. Lots of profs and specialists claiming the recent influx of organized crime into Kelowna is a result of a number of factors, chief among them is the pressure the law enforcement sector is placing on criminals in the lower mainland. Follow that up with the rapid growth Kelowna has seen recently, the comparatively cheaper real estate up here, and the social problems plaguing the area it's no real surprise that organized crime would be attracted here with all the other parasites flocking in for their share of the pie.

I couldnt agree more.
As far as the comparison to Detroit, I have been there, spent many years there and Kelowna is not there yet. I would say its well on the way though. We need the citizens to all realize that this is our slice of the pie and those of us that saved our hard earned money to retire here should all want that to be a reality. The common Joe on the street needs to aid the authorities and help them rid this area of the low lifes we are speaking of. Enough of turning your head because you want to avoid these people. Why do you think they are coming here. Because we as a society are letting them, hell we are making it easy for them, we are throwing out the welcome carpet for them. The pressure the cops are putting on them in the LMD starts with the citizens being there to support their efforts. So if you want a paradise here in Kelowna you better start, STOP avoiding.

[Trigger69]

Gangs thrive and continue to grow economically simply because we, in the interest of controlling the police, put judicial restrictions in place that greatly hamper the police being able to investigate and charge gangs and other criminals. The charges associated to the largest heroin shipment ever seized inSaskatchewan and the cache of loaded weapons seized in B.C. Being dismissed because, in the OPINION of the presiding judge the police had no right to search the trunk of vehicles are classic examples.

Exactly my point. I am not for peoples rights being violated but hell IMO they had no rights shipping that crap in the first place. Citizens need to make the judicial system accountable for the right accounts and this one is complete crap.