Prison impact is worsening

Dear Editor: As a long-time resident, I have seen the degradation to our town.

When our local politicians of the day supported a prison in our community, I wrote against this and it was the strongest reason in my running for council. Thanks to many, we were able to stop this from coming to Penticton, however we were unable to stop this from coming to the valley, and the effects to Penticton have been noted by the RCMP and the local papers.

The numbers of homeless are growing in our streets. Collectively they are becoming a danger to ourselves. Tent communities are developing in larger amounts each summer and in the meantime, we support a soup kitchen.

These are funds that should be going to South Okanagan Women in Need Society, not to feed a largely male, work-capable population. Societally, we need to be looking after our women and children first. Women are the first responders to the development of society. It is time men were more cognizant.

Coupled with this, we have a police force which have openly told us they will not be responding to all crime, such as car break-ins. More homeless, and reluctant police force, combined with an absence of political action will become a difficult place to recover from.

In the interim, good weather, a prison release rate south of us and BC Housing building more accommodation will eventually embed in our community a layer of crime that is supported by the welfare state that will become what Penticton is.

I thank the few on council who have the foresight to speak to this. And yes, this does need to be and election issue.

Steve Boultbee, Penticton