Business owners in part of Nanaimo’s downtown are upset with a recent decision by Nanaimo city council to close the Community Policing and Services Office.
Nanaimo’s council voted to close the office as a cost-saving measure.
But business owners say having bylaw officers working from the location improves safety.
On Victoria Crescent in downtown Nanaimo, you don’t have to look far to find the homeless. With services close-by they’re constantly present.
That’s why those who run businesses here don’t want to see the Community Policing and Services Office, that a city staff report says has been open since 2007, shut down.
“It’s more of a presence downtown and that’s what we need is a presence to security down here of the bylaw officers of the RCMP. We need it because it basically keeps everybody in check,” said David Frost who manages the A&W on Victoria Crescent.
This past week Nanaimo city council voted to close the office. That means no more bylaw officers right nearby.
Bylaw officers and a clerk will work instead of at a nearby city building, as a cost-saving measure.
But the association representing businesses in the area, says it’s a matter of priorities.
“Instead of keeping a $40,000 a year office open you spend 10 times that, $400,000, for bike lanes downtown. You can’t have leisure when you don’t make people feel safe coming downtown,” said Kevan Shaw, President of the Victoria Crescent Association.
Shaw says other communities such as Campbell River have also established a downtown bylaws office similar to Nanaimo’s.
“Many of the bylaw officers are ex-RCMP officers and since they’re based downtown they feel a real commitment to it and they give a lot of eyes and ears on the street and then you’ve got the RCMP officers and the bike patrol coming in here to talk about situations,” said Shaw.
But Nanaimo’s mayor says bylaw officers and police will still maintain their presence in the area despite the office closure.
“It’s a question of value for money,” said Leonard Krog. “The fact is we have space here available at the SARC building right behind city hall a block away from the existing premises. Why should the good people of Nanaimo be paying out $40,000 plus a year?”
The downtown business owners don’t have much time to change the council’s mind as the city will give notice to end its lease at the end of May.
City staff recommended closing the office in 2018 but the previous city council, but after hearing from area businesses, voted to keep it open.
Kendall Hanson
