A2-Sunds ay News, December 6, 1981 WHAT can you say about a city that puts up , Whatever the case, traffic barriers to try to stop people from doing something that usually happens i in bed?- If the elders of the City of Vancouver think they can end prostitution in the West End by the erection .of 3 bunch ‘of traffic barriers, I don't “think .‘they’ve done their research on the world’s oldest profession. A traffic barrier two feet high might prevent the odd toddler from being _per- verted, but it’s not going to keep the ladies of the night from their customers. for very long, or vice versa. I’m all for doing something serious about the prostitution problem § in Vancouver, but, gee, is a traffic barrier really the. solution? I remember with a certain amount of lingering outrage an experience of my own with the City of Vancouver's habit .of unexpectedly changing the rules of the road. I was living in Vancouver at the time. I used to get up in the morning, hop into the car, zoom down to the end of the block, and turn left. Imagine my astonishment, at the corner one morning, to find a huge circular concrete barrier in the middie of the intersection. I was lucky. I hardly smashed my bumper in at all It might have Been that the city was expefimenting with those loops that force traffic to go around in circles in Europe. Lock up the cash A ROBBERY at the Gulf service station at Lynn Valley Road and Mountain Highway ‘Wednesday night has prompted North Vancouver RCMP to call on gas station operators to tighten up their security. The Mounties are recommending service stations make more frequent deposits to banks or to their own safes throughout their operating hours so that only small sums of cash are on hand at any one time. A detective spokesman says the practice would quickly reduce the incentive of armed robbers and im- prove the safety of em- ployees, by removing the possibility for thefts of large sums such as the $1,300 stolen from the Gulf station. He states: “Service station operators should see that there is only sufficient cash to carry on their business.” He adds that by not doing so they are also inviting in- surance Companies to take a closer took at their premiums. The Gulf robbery was by a man wearing a black ski mask, who indicated he had a gun by showing what appeared to be a gun butt in his buttoned leather jacket. A police dog tracked the robber's trail up Mountain Highway to an area where a car had been heard Icaving. for the lady in your life emerald sect in platinum & 18h yellow gold surrounded with J. WORD DESIGNS LTD. 14 brittiant diamonds. A beautiful gift wince 1872 2400 Martine Drive, West Van 822-3014 the arrier was soon chipped and broken from the dozens of crashes that followed. I expect that there are people who live in Van- couver’'s West End today who ‘probably feel a bit the way I did back then: Sort of appalled by the workings of civic bureaucracies. Maybe _even filled with an inar- ‘ticulate animal anger. The issue, of course, isn't the mind-boggling stupidity © of putting up trafic barriers to try to stop prostitution, or even control it, the issue is: Why bother? Since the dawn of time, there hasn't been a single civic politician who failed to try to solve the prostitution “problem” — except the Romans, who incorporated the practice into govern- ment. . Why is this? Is there some sort of weird yin-yang relationship bet- ween the immaculate oc- cupants of the swivel chairs around the council table and the tarts who roam the’ streets? Is it because they are so unsoiled themselves that legislators are obsessed with “cleaning up” prostitution? Or is there a darker, more symbiotic relationship? It is said that the visage you hate and fear the most is the reflection you see in the secret mirror of your soul. politician, having sold himself to the. voters, and,:-moreoyer,;-having been - bought® can “help: but. feel resentment ..fowards a working girl who gets. away with simply.selling her body? So easy. The politicians have to work atit. — Sat., a account Sing along with the choir in Handel's magnificent “Hallelujah Chorus.” plus all your favourite carols, including “Slant Night.” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” And in between carols. rest your voices and enjoy Vaughan Williams’ heartwarming “Fantasia on Christmas Carols.” Tchaikovsky's “Christmas Waltz.” and so much more! Gather up your loved ones for one of Vancouver's warmest holiday traditions! HENRY KRIPS, Conductor, plus the Vancouver Bach Cholr ‘and the entire VSO! In the Orpheum Dec. 19 — 8:30 p.m. ‘Mon., Dec. 21 — 8:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 22 — 7:30 p.m. , $5—-$19, $2 OFF for students and ALL senior } In every seating Calegory GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AT ANY ‘ VANCOUVER TICKET CENTRE OUTLET including EATON'S Call 687 4818 to charge to your VISA MASTERCARD of EATON'S (NO VIC service change at 630 Hamilton fitreet All offer: Oufieh SO per set Phone orctan (Cty surcharge 238 per sect) TAVg Gnd BMW. Di 7 doesn't seem ‘to matter - whether: ‘you -have .a right- ‘wing’ mayoror-a_ left-wing mayor; they all have this fetish. about eradicating prostitution. 1 “say, get serious. Eradicate thetoric. Leave nature; and free enterprise : alone. T96 (Oem eect) VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Vancouver Auto Ltd Distioutors (Westem) Co.