A Richmond resident slammed the city’s attempt to engage area residents near a temporary modular building on Alderbridge Way, calling it “inadequate, lackluster, and deliberately vague.”
Sheldon Starrett, who is involved with the BC Conservatives, is holding a press conference on Friday to call out the city on its “ham-fisted attempt" to bypass responsibility for "problems that have been created in the neighbourhood” by imposing a temporary modular building.
The temporary modular building on Alderbridge Way is a low-barrier supportive home for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and is operated by RainCity.
“Social issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, and a lack of mental health supports is addressed in the mail out, but no mention of increased drug use and crime or the Temporary Modular Home is mentioned,” Starrett said in a statement sent to media, announcing the Friday press conference.
The City of Richmond has set up six sessions next week to discuss what services are available to people who have concerns in the neighbourhood.
On hand will be representation from the Richmond RCMP, Richmond Fire-Rescue, Vancouver Coastal Health and other agencies who are "on the ground" when there are health or safety concerns, explained city spokesperson Clay Adams.
The sessions are by invitation only, sent to properties within a radius of the Alderbridge temporary modular building, and participants are being asked to RSVP.
"This is very much a neighbourhood issue," Adams said, adding the idea is to have dialogue, not for people to "grandstand" or present political stances.
"Our focus is on the residents and what their needs are," he added.
The sessions are being held after city council asked for dialogue to take place with residents near the Alderbridge supportive building.
Recent statistics compiled by the Richmond RCMP show there were 24 residential break-and-enters in Richmond in April, and 14 commercial break-and-enters.
Residential B&Es are up 21 per cent from last year, while commercial B&Es are down 46 per cent.
Theft from cars was down 51 per cent.
Retail theft, however, has increased significantly in the past year.
Crime maps compiled by the RCMP show these crimes were spread out throughout the city with no concentration near the Alderbridge temporary modular building.
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