Editor, The News:
I live on Cliff Avenue. Firstly, I would like to address a notice that all of the local residents received Friday evening by the “Street People of Maple Ridge.”
The notice said, “We would like to sincerely apologize for any inconvenience we have caused your neighbourhood.”
Inconvenience is an understatement, if by this you mean, the tents, the urinating on the street out front of my home, the shopping cart pushed into my son’s truck, the constant use of paramedics/police, the needle exchange truck, the extensive hardship you have caused the pool and spa establishment on the corner health-and-business-wise, and the defiant, ‘I’ll get out of the way when I feel like it’ behaviour that happens when I’m backing out of my driveway.
I do have a theory but I will keep it to myself. Now that I think of it, there used to be a few regulars who walked by our house on the way to the Salvation Army daily, talked to a couple of them once and in a while. I saw them walking on Lougheed Highway the other day avoiding your encampment. Why?
Back to the notice: “Please be advised that we do not condone theft or violence of any sort.”
There are some items left out in a shopping cart. Violence, well there have been a couple of fights, some provocation, but I guess you got rid of them because they are not conducive to your encampment. But are you conducive to ours?
To the notice: “We have established a security team to look after both our own camp and your properties on Cliff Avenue …”
Right, let me be clear, we do not want, nor did we contract you, or any of your assignees, to watch our property.
With my sincerest respect, you seem to have difficulty looking after yourselves; we would prefer not to burden you with any more responsibilities, so thanks but no thanks.
If you wish to have any correspondence with us, we have a service called Canada Post, please use it.
I am not sure why this stand has been brought to our doorstep. Your fight is not with us, but rather city hall, Victoria or Ottawa.
Something has to be done now, you have to leave our neighbourhood now.
George and Pam Banks
Maple Ridge