6 - Sunday, May 5, 1991 - North Shore News es Hi ra VIEWPOINT | CRINTTie eRe Le! Crime alert RIME statistics published in Fri- day’s News should be enough to Shock North Shore neighborhoods from their complacency. And they should inspire organization of community watch groups on even the safest of local streets. Accordiag to RCMP records, residential break-ins in North Vancouver jumped 62% during the first three months of 1991 over the first three months of 1990. And figures from the West Vancouver Police show that S:eak-ins in that affluent community incressed 33% over the same two periods. The message from the statistics is clear: the North Shore is increasingly becoming a target for thieves and other criminal low- life. But the issue is not merely a matter for the police; it is not merely a question of “‘He knows that when he goes back, he’s fried meat.”* North Vancouver immigration NEWS QUOTES OF THE WEEK Steele, after he purchased some malfunctioning disposable lighters. increasing police patrols or hammering on the doors of local government beseeching ali within to ‘‘do something.”’ It is clearly an issue of increasing neighborhood cooperation and _ raising local awareness; of neighborhvods doing something for neighborhoods. {t is also an issue of improving com- munications with local police and being aware of such information as the regular Crime Alert feature in Friday's News, which monitors the shifting patterns of crime in North Shore neighborhoods. Until your home has been violated by criminals it is difficult to believe that it will happen to you, but carelessness is a sure invitation to violation. Crime feeds on apathy and ignorance. 11 is up to the residents of any community to decide whether it dines or goes hungry. “No means no but a slap in the face would confirm it.” Lisa Macdonald of North Van- couver, to the Inquiring Reporter =| Questions to consultant Marga Molson, on the probable fate of a Polish ship jumper if he is forced to return to his country. ‘*That’s a side benefit to volun- teerism, that T’ve gained some wonderful friends and contacts. It’s not ail one way, you gain a lot from being a volunteer."* West Vancouver volunteer Bar- bara Brink, on the joys of volun- teering. “‘And [ discovered that smoking wasn’t the only thing hazardous to my health.”’ North Vancouver resident Mike Publisher Managing Editor Sunday oy Nortn Shore Free Press Lid cistnibuted to every door on the North Second Class Mat Registration Nur. Subserptons North and West Vancou. year naling rates avaitatie on re Submissions are welcome oul we camnat fesponsibiny for unsolicited material manusempis a Pactures accompanied ty a stamped ad Peter Speck Timothy Renshaw North Shore News, founded in 1269 as an independent suburban newspape: and qualitied under Schedule 1114, Paragraph Ill of the Excise Tax Act. 1$ published each Weonescay Friday and “The pressures that they're under are incredible. To fit the mold of a teenager today — gosh, it’s hard."* North Shore Christian Centre John Chavner, on teens and teen pressure. “One guy said he imagined them crawling out of their hut to catch a rabbit for dinner or something.”” Grade 10 student Justine Dawson, who recently escorted nine Zimbabweans through local schools, on locai student percep- tions of what life is like in that African country. Display Advertising 980-0511 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Associate Editor Noel Wright Ciassitied Advertising 986-6222 Fax Advertising Director Linda Stewart Newsroom 985.2131 Comptrotier Doug Foot THE VOICE OF MOTH a0 WEST VANCOUVER MUNDAS + WEDNESDAT + HOEY 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver. BC V7M PHA Entire contents Distribution Subsenptiors Adnunigtration 61.582 (average couunon Wedresday Fray 1991 North Shore Free Press Lid All nghts reserved question, ‘‘What does no mean in sexual consent? “This sort of alienation —~ ‘I mind my own business and to hell with you, I’m all right Jack’ — that kind of thing is deadly.’ North Vancouver District Ald. Ernie Crist, commenting on the need for a neighborhood ap- proach to reducing crime, after statistics for the first three months of 1991 showed a 62% increase in North Vancouver residential break-ins over the first three months of 1990. 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 985-2131 MEMBER SDA DIVISION ask Mikey about Ontario BEING A fair man, I admit it’s possible Mike Harccurt's New Democrats may be more responsible than Bab Rae’s in Ontario. But Pd like to be sure before betting my loose change on it. Premier Rae’s government, as you may have read, has just brought down the biggest unbal- anced provincial budget in Cana- dian history — a deficit of nearly $10 oillion for 1991-92. One reason is Ontario's super- tich welfare system, estimated next year at $1.4 billion. Recently, Financial Post columnist Diane Francis has been probing that system. Her findings are enough to curdle a working taxpayer’s blood. She discovered, for example, that a family of four gets MORE on welfare than a breadwinner can take home making $35,000 taxable a year, or $18 an hour. Single mothers with two kids receive $1,349 a month tax-free. ‘They pay about $450 for tax- payer-subsidized housing, leaving $900 for food and clothing. It creates a group who literally cannot afford to work, says Fran- cis. But work they often do on the side. Fraud is widespread, because checks and follow-ups on suspected abuses are few and far between. That’s what the people who know best say — the welfare workers. In surprising numbers they responded to the Francis col- umns, praising them ‘‘for finally speaking out on a problem for which we get reprimanded if we mention.”’ One case worker guessed that half of her 300 ‘‘clients’’ cheated. She found no one at home from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day. But, she added, ‘‘we can’t hire detectives to track them down.”’ ‘‘Refugees’’ figure prominently among the cheaters in Ontario. An RCMP source told Francis how they pay consultants for ad- vice on how to enter Canada, where to get welfare, assisted housing, a free lawyer and a pay- ing job on the side. Francis is not against welfare as emergency assistance for people in need. *‘Any society worth its salt must look after the less fortu- nate,’’ she says. But Ontario’s system is not welfare. ‘It’s a guaranteed annual income policy conceived by economic il- literates.’’ So don’t forget to ask Mikey about HIS welfare — and budget Noel Wright HITHER AND YON deficit — plans when he comes secking your vote. Helping the unlucky back on to their feet is one thing. Economic lunacy is quite another. DATELINES: Book-lovers’ day Tuesday, May 7, when the West Van branch of the Federation of University Women holds its an- nual Giant.Book Sale from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Park Royal North, with proceeds going to scholarships for North Shore col- lege students. They can still use book donations, too — call 921- 7519 or 921-6460 right away for pick-ups if you can help ... West Van Chamber of Commerce types at their monthly 7:30 a.m. breakfast meeting Tuesday in the Ambleside Inn will hear Mayor Mark Sager talking on his favorite subject — West Vancouver. Call 926-6614 Monday to reserve ... And at Lynn Valley Centre North Van Kiwanis Club members are selling their special gifts for Mom’s Day — hanging baskets — Thursday and Friday, May 9-10, from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, May 11, !0 a.m. to 5 p.m. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Nostalgia makes you remember the picnic in the woods — and forget about the anthill you sat on. SUCRE SEE EEO ES NEWS photo Mike Wakefield “WELCOME ABOARD!”’... Judge Reg Grandison congratulates new Justice of the Peace, Margaret Garratt, after she was sworn in in a recent ceremony at the North Vancouver provincial courthouse.