Despite a well-publicized decline in the crime rate and predictions that the Evergreen Line won't worsen crime once it opens, many voters see public safety as the number one issue going into the Nov. 15 election.
In The Tri-City News' online readers' survey, which is not scientific, 48% of respondents put public safety at the top of their list, ahead of environment, parks and recreation, transportation, property taxes and housing. The issue had an average ranking of 4.75 out of 5.
Yet, for the most part, the crime rate or the need to hire more police hasn't been top of mind for most candidates.
In Port Coquitlam, there is no interest in hiring more police officers, according to candidate interviews in The Tri-City News' recent VoteSmart voters' guide. In Port Moody, the OCP has been the top issue, not public safety. And in Coquitlam, the top issues are development and orderly growth, recreation, green space and parks, with safe streets an appealing afterthought.
Why the disconnect?
Could it be that the cities do a poor job of proving to the electorate that their streets are safe or is it that local government, although responsible for policing, doesn't acknowledge the fears of people when there's a break-in, for example, or, as in a few years ago, when gangs wreak havoc on city streets.
In fact, we would argue the topic rarely comes up except when problems arise and then politicians are scrambling after the fact.
We're not saying the public is ignorant and the cities aren't doing their job. But more needs to be done to address this issue. Certainly, Port Moody police and Coquitlam RCMP are working to engage people through their social media.
But clearly it's going to take more than a few tweet-alongs and scam safety tips to quell people's nerves.
It's time to take a closer look at this issue of crime and policing in the Tri-Cities.
