The “party is over” for people who continue to break the law, drink alcohol and use drugs in public places, occupy and damage city and private property in Penticton.
The City of Penticton issued a news release Thursday afternoon saying “life is about to get complicated” for those who continue to cause problems.
“Penticton is a beautiful and safe community. Penticton is our home,” said the news release. “If you are here to enjoy all Penticton has to offer … welcome. If you are here to break the law, drink and use drugs in a public place, occupy and damage city and private property, your life is about to get complicated.”
Members of the Penticton RCMP, including Supt. Ted de Jager and several of his members, as well as several City of Penticton bylaw officers, gathered for a photo at Nanaimo Square in downtown Penticton Thursday afternoon as the City announced it is “taking a zero tolerance approach to all unacceptable behaviors and illegal activities.
“It is time to take our community back from a small group of people that cause a high percentage of the problems. We encourage residents and visitors to report any activity that threatens the safety and beauty of our home.”
Earlier on Thursday, PentictonNow reported that the City’s CAO Peter Weeber said he could no longer remain silent about what has been taking place in the City’s downtown core over the past several weeks.
“It is time to take your city back from a small group of people that cause a high percentage of the problems,” said Weeber “We encourage the community to report any activity that threatens the safety and beauty of our home.”
Weeber said rarely a day goes by where he doesn’t get infuriated at the same group of “hooligans” who not only break the law, but make visiting the downtown core an often unpleasant and on occasion scary experience.
Before noon one day last week, Weeber, dressed in his suit, said he observed a “massive party” taking place in Nanaimo Square downtown and he also had to break up a fight between several intoxicated people outside a well-known coffee shop.
“It’s not even noon yet and I’m dressed in my suit and I step outside and observe that the party is on,” he said. “I saw this small group of obviously very drunk people starting a brawl … so I ran over and finally persuaded them to break it up. Thankfully no one got hurt. But that wraps up and only a few feet up the street I observe there’s a full-scale party going on in Nanaimo Square. It boggles my mind.”
Weeber said he’s speaking out because he refuses to remain silent any more as a proud Pentictonite and administrative leader of the City.
“I’ve had enough, I’m done,” he said. “A very small percentage of people are attempting to basically ruin all that this city has to offer and I’m not going to sit back and say or do nothing any longer.
“This is an incredibly beautiful city, this is our home, and it breaks my heart to see what’s going on over the past few weeks.”
If residents see something that’s not right, there are encouraged to call Bylaw Services at 250-490-2440 or 250-809-4367 after hours or call the RCMP detachment at 250-492-4300.
For emergencies, call 911.
To view the Penticton RCMP website, visit www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/detach/en/d/184
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