William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD

POLICE AMALGAMATION IS FOR US A DAMNATION

Saanichton House prices have spiralled in an upward direction
And that’s mainly due to the fact of our good police protection
We are only five minutes away from each police call
Anywhere in the District from our own municipal hall

If amalgamation takes place and our cops move away
It will take half an hour for VCP to respond out our way
And the problems in Victoria they still will be there
Only our cops will be gone – and then who will care?

©Copyright December 22, 2007 by William H.A. Willbond, MSM, CD

Author’s Note: This poem was inspired by the Times Columnist letter by John Vickers [reproduced below] who wants our police forces amalgamated in order to solve the downtown street problems – this would be a band aid solution and would not solve the mean streets which are a tourist turn off and a hazard to the VCP members who are working shorthanded.

PROVINCE MUST FORCE AMALGAMATION

When you look at the growing mess that was downtown Victoria last Saturday night and the resulting policing shortfalls that occurred, how is it that we don’t have a regional police force?

Oh yeah, I know the answer: Let’s hire another 20 officers next year and let city taxpayers foot the bill. Stay tuned for the taxation fireworks coming soon to the media outlet near you.

The mayor and council of Victoria are like the operators of a small convenience store trying to run a Wal-Mart. They simply don’t have the bank account to do much of anything, particularly when it comes to addressing the social ills that plague our city of fewer than 80, 000 residents.

You need cash to fix problems, not nice words into a microphone. I hold our provincial government responsible for the whole mess by not having the courage to force amalgamation upon our region.
Victoria politicians need to speak up and tell it the way it is.

John Vickers, Victoria