The Executive Director of the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association says downtown businesses have been pleased with the mobile injection van being moved from corner of 6th and Seymour when it’s not in use.
It’s been about a week since Interior Health began moving the safe injection van from the corner of 6th Avenue and Seymour Street. Carl DeSantis says that site has become a symbol of drug activity and the gesture alone has made a difference. “I’ve canvassed some of our businesses in the area and I’ve heard comments such as it’s a bit quieter. But… the reality is, that the situation down there has not happened overnight, and it’s not going to be fixed overnight.”
DeSantis says it has also prepared a Request for Proposals for security camera systems to be installed in the downtown area, but the program is in the very early stages. “Did an RFP for security camera systems and we’re going to be sending that out here and getting some costing that we can offer to the businesses, through hopefully some incentives when we look at the bigger picture of this whole thing, to try and deter some of the activity that we see in that area.”
Speaking on the Jeff Andreas show, DeSantis says other solutions for the area are also in the works. “One of the lessons learned that we’ve received some information back from the RCMP is regarding free Wi-Fi. And what we’ve heard is the availability of free Wi-Fi can actually attract drug dealers to the area.” He says it is being suggested that passwords only be given out to paying customers.
The BIA has also created a private Facebook Page for business owners to share concerns. “It’s a business watch initiative through Facebook. We’ve set up a Facebook group for the businesses in the area to identify and share concerns so it will allow us to see the bigger picture rather than the one-offs.”
DeSantis says it last met with business owners and some City Councillors at the beginning of July and although no meeting has been set in stone to this point, another one will be scheduled to continue dialogue and monitor progress.
