Too many issues with crime, traffic

Dear editor: This is regarding recent letters to editor on the local RCMP and a column by Herald city editor Joe Fries.

Superintendent Ted De Jager, I am Sheryl Ann Wilson, a disabled Penticton resident. I work at using my abilities in singing, public speaking and writing. I have written two books. Let me tell you of Sr. Franco DeMichelis who tried to see you and then wrote a letter to editor of this newspaper.

Franco DeMichelis was in the Army Patrol Road 1960, Verona, Italy and knows police service.

Sr. Franco DeMichelis has lived in Penticton since 1984 and has seen too many single mothers and far too many homeless. Thus, he is a senior now, doing his part for the Penticton community by collecting food from stores and providing to the food bank three times per week. He also delivers hampers to single mothers, seniors, and the disabled. This costs at least $10 per week.

Sr. Franco DeMichelis also sponsors BC Children’s Hospital, Wheelchair Sport Association and Canadian Geographic and also is a Red Cross blood donor in British Columbia.

Downtown Penticton crosswalks, since the time the kind were put in which show the white hand only to the count of five and then numbers come up and poof, drivers seem to think the numbers mean they can do their turning action.

For seniors and disabled like myself, the count of five, is far too short for us to get across the crosswalk safely. I personally was nearly hit, with the front bumper of a vehicle coming within two inches of my knees, three times this winter already. There are far too many drunk drivers and other crime-committing persons on our streets. They do their various crimes including abusing women and are getting off easy for it.

Superintendent De Jager, when Sr. Franco DeMichelis comes to the RCMP with concerns, he like myself, expects to be taken seriously and not brushed off. Whether any of our cities, or communities in South Okanagan, the RCMP is to “serve and protect.”

Please Superintendent De Jager action seriously needs to be taken.

Hopefully, other comments from Penticton’s ExpOCP will shape our Penticton city into a more positive place, taking off our streets the drunk drivers, public disorder, vagrancy and finally getting homes for the homeless so that they are not being fined or dragged into court, wasting city of Penticton money.

Thank you to local lawyer Paul Varga for coming forth to fight for the homeless. Sheryl Ann Wilson Penticton