The Province Makes Kelowna Sound Like Detroit-West

[mpom]

I thought the Province paper was bang-on, and may have even let up a little, so we did not look too bad. Those that disagree have that right to do so, but are missing the big picture. I doubt you will see any type of retraction. City Hall should use this newspaper story to their good and solicit funds to stop the decay. It is not too late, yet.

[Donald G]

Crime and criminal problems are not only increasing in Kelowna and other areas deemed desirable, but all over British Columbia. To a large extent it has been facilitated and enabled by the drastic decrease in the ability of the police to investigate crime and search for and seize evidence and have it admitted into court. Before the late 1970's ALL evidence that tended to prove guilt or innocence WAS admitted into criminal court. Now only evidence that the presiding judge PERSONALLY feels was seized according to the new stringent rules laid down is admitted ... regardless of its ability to proving guilt or innocence. Criminal court cases are now little more than a lawyer enriching exercise in a debate regarding criminal law that often has little or nothing to do with the search for truth and justice.The effort made to insure the rights of every Canadian are protected has become the very thing that has permitted crime, criminals and criminal gangs to prosper and proliferate. As the old adage says the road to hell is paved with good intentions ... marcing behind a banner being carried by men in black. The same infallible profession that sentenced witches to be burned at the stake up until the 1950s.

[callotto]

I've read the mayor's comments here

http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/87946/Gray-Anti-Kelowna-story-lazy-reporting

I think he's missed the point. I read that poor urban planning, much of which he presided over, has contributed to the crime rate in Kelowna.
I didn't get that policing was the issue, which they mayor chose to defend.

[Joe Public]

What can you say, most of it is true.

[Andy S]

The Mayor and Council I hope are reading this.

[Wally]

My bros in detroit-west are offended by this.

[7600736]

Well, I'm born and raised in Kelowna...been here since '69, and I can tell you this town has gone downhill drastically in the last 20 years as far as crime and livability are concerned. Way too many cars, driven by idiots who think they're living in a Fast and Furious movie, way too many selfish, arrogant people, way too many boats on the lake, way too many drug dealers and addicts, and too much development. Kelowna has been ruined, destroyed by greedy people and criminals trying to grab as much of it for themselves as they can. It breaks my heart to see what my beloved hometown has become. Such a shame.

[Anonymous123]

http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-87951-11-.htm#87951
I don't think it is so much "Paradise Lost" as it is "Innocence Lost".

[Spocky]

Here is my typical, expected, inevitable, ultra-pro-law-and-order response.

Zero tolerance policy to all illegal narcotics and the gangs who make millions on demolishing our communities. Drag them out of their clubhouses and slam them in jail. If the m0ronic judges release them, book them again and again and again. Don't stop at the gangs, as if there's an Albertan tourist on the beach smoking a doobie treat them the same way. If they don't come back next summer, good riddance. Let them spend their tourism dollars on illegal activities in their own communities.

If the RCMP is unable or unwilling to actually enforce the law, call in the Army.

Yeah, no kidding. This is not a joke.

[cutter7]

Here is my typical, expected, inevitable, ultra-pro-law-and-order response.

Zero tolerance policy to all illegal narcotics and the gangs who make millions on demolishing our communities. Drag them out of their clubhouses and slam them in jail. If the m0ronic judges release them, book them again and again and again. Don't stop at the gangs, as if there's an Albertan tourist on the beach smoking a doobie treat them the same way. If they don't come back next summer, good riddance. Let them spend their tourism dollars on illegal activities in their own communities.

If the RCMP is unable or unwilling to actually enforce the law, call in the Army.

Yeah, no kidding. This is not a joke.

It would be easier and just as effective to move to the states. thats pretty much the mentality down there and it has no effect.

[kibbs]

Build a town that attracts money laundering casinos ,Cater to one age demographic ,Offer no real job opportunities Ignore open prostitution.Encourage drunk culture. That's what you get!
Kelowna is always unaware of what is going on in the real world .We are so isolated and self important that someone forgot to google successful city development.
In the long run All press is good press .I believe it will bring more sinful business.Party on Kelowna.

[Spocky]

It would be easier and just as effective to move to the states. thats pretty much the mentality down there and it has no effect.

Balderdash. You can't compare the situation south of the border with ours. I'm not advocating an Idaho / Arkansas type of fundamentalist ultrarightwingnut political wet dream, simply ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS!

And as I said, if the RCMP is too hamstrung or lacks the will and/or manpower to do so, we should redirect the military forces who are wasting their time trying to enforce legality and decency in faraway nations and get them to do so at home.

You and the other bleeding hearts will change your minds when bullets start flying into your front windows from drivebys. We still have a chance to devastate these criminal organizations and drive them out of the valley if we pull our collective thumbs from our rectums and act now.

[Joe Public]

Spocky...

As someone who is publicly advocating the immediate military overthrow of the Canadian justice system and government, I would say that you would fit right in with "an Idaho / Arkansas type of fundamentalist ultrarightwingnut political wet dream".

And please keep adding to your right wing tag lines, the people of BC should know what kind of trash supports their failed right wing governments.

[cutter7]

spocky,, I am not comparing our situation with the states, I am comparing your attitude to that of people in the states.

And your attitude is what creates the value on the narcotics.... as an ex criminal I thank you for your support. without backwards thinking people like you there would be no reason to participate in a criminal enterprise without a strong profit.

Also regarding your throw them in jail attitude, think about this: who else is in jail? people with not only the same mindset as the person in jail but people with other connections and with knowledge of other ways to make money. it's a vast spider web of learning and making contacts.

Like I said, your train of thought just like those of people in the states is and always has been an epic fail.

[Static]

spocky,, I am not comparing our situation with the states, I am comparing your attitude to that of people in the states.

And your attitude is what creates the value on the narcotics.... as an ex criminal I thank you for your support. without backwards thinking people like you there would be no reason to participate in a criminal enterprise without a strong profit.

Also regarding your throw them in jail attitude, think about this: who else is in jail? people with not only the same mindset as the person in jail but people with other connections and with knowledge of other ways to make money. it's a vast spider web of learning and making contacts.

Like I said, your train of thought just like those of people in the states is and always has been an epic fail.

Well said, I agree 100%. I beleive we need to look to the Netherlands and Switzerland for our handling of narcotics on society. THe current method does not work.