ABC Vancouver City Council candidates Ralph Kaisers and Jaime Stein on Monday called on the provincial government to step in with immediate financial relief and strengthened partnerships to help local businesses recover from crime.
“Vancouver businesses are bearing the brunt of crime while waiting for senior levels of government to take meaningful action on bail reform and the mental health and addictions crisis. Chronic repeat offenders continue to target local shops, leaving business owners and their staff vulnerable. Until lasting public safety solutions are in place, they deserve financial relief and support programs to help them survive,” said Kaisers, who is a sergeant with the Vancouver Police Department.
“Vancouver’s businesses are reaching a breaking point as they wait for senior governments to fix a broken system. We need the provincial government to partner with the city and provide proactive measures and support programs to help businesses weather this storm. The City doesn’t have a Minister of Public Safety or Minister of Health, but the province does, and our businesses need their help,” said Stein.
While the City of Vancouver is ramping up public safety efforts and strengthening law enforcement to address the pressing concerns of businesses, it can’t do it alone, said the two candidates.
Kaisers and Stein said the Province can provide immediate and tangible support for business, including:
* Financial relief for small businesses impacted by crime and safety concerns.
* Expanded provincial partnerships with BIAs to strengthen community-based safety initiatives.
* Additional provincial funding to expand the Retail Safety Grant program to help small businesses cover security costs.
* Legislative and enforcement support to combat organized retail crime.
* Greater integration of policing resources and intelligence-sharing to address criminal networks.
* Improved communication and coordination across jurisdictions regarding repeat offenders, as well as monitoring of violent repeat offenders.
The City has long been calling for increased provincial investment in public safety and mental health services, as well as a regional strategy for homelessness and social services. New economic and financial support services would help businesses get back on their feet prior to long-term provincial and federal public safety enhancements being implemented, the candidates said.
