While the mayor tries to downplay crime by blaming the statistics and citing our smaller population, the fact of the matter is that our population has not grown appreciably since he was elected.
Crime on the other hand, has increased significantly. It is perfectly legitimate to compare raw numbers with larger centres and spin positively on that basis. However, the facts remain that crime has dramatically increased under this administration. Without serious and targeted leadership, this issue was allowed to become a crisis.
We, as a community, have to ask what took so long? How did the strategy of downplaying the problem for the past three years work out? Why would we expect more downplaying to be an indication that we are turning the corner on this serious issue? I talk to senior citizens who tell me they don’t come downtown anymore. I talk to business owners who tell me they fear for the safety of their property. I talk to tourists who ask me if crime here is as bad as they have heard. What about the potential visitors that changed their plans and didn’t come here?
Ryan Graham, the president of the Downtown Penticton Association went before council earlier this year and begged for proper attention to issues of crime in our community. Mr. Jakubeit subsequently released a “Mayor’s Minute” accusing Mr. Graham of exaggeration. In the months since we have seen criminal activity escalate dramatically and finally some very recent action from the city, but, here again on July 27, we have the mayor again downplaying the issue.
If our mayor cannot identify the problem, then how is he ever going to fix it? The truth is that delivery of public safety demands consistent focus. That includes a strong relationship with the RCMP to establish ambitious targets for crime reduction. It is the responsibility of the mayor and council to monitor the data and ensure targets are being met. Jakubeit identifying the fact that we spend $9 million annually on policing reveals only a cursory level of understanding.
Data and numbers will only get you so far. You also need the guts to deal with the moral imperatives of governing. We need to be addressing the root causes of crime by properly engaging with the stakeholders who are on the ground dealing with health and social conditions. We need to be looking at how we support the hard-working people who serve the community in public safety with the proper resources. We need to do a better job of planning solve the lack of affordable living conditions. We need to make every person in Penticton feel safe about being out in our community. Every person in Penticton has a role in making this a safe place, but none have a bigger role than our elected leaders.
Jason Cox
Penticton