WHY???????
written by xpgresident , November 06, 2009 (08:06:54 AM)

WHY DON'T THE RCMP AMP UP THE EFFORTS IN AND AROUND THE VLA AREA TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS THAT ARE HELD HOSTAGE IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD?

WHY NOT PUT A CPAC OFFICE IN THAT AREA OF TOWN TO SHOW THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT THERE IS AN RCMP PRESENCE AND THEY ARE NOT GOING AWAY?

WHY CAN'T THE RCMP HAVE SOME SORT OF TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH THIS CRIMINAL ELEMENT, WHOM ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS AND OR AFFILIATED WITH ORGANIZED CRIME. THERE ARE SEVERAL ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS AND THEIR MEMBERS THAT ARE WELL KNOW TO THE RCMP THAT RUN RAMPANT IN THE VLA AREA AND HAVE BEEN FOR ALONG TIME.

WHY IS THE CITY NOT CRACKING DOWN ON THESE SLUM LORDS THAT LET THESE CRIMINALS KEEP RENTING THEIR PROPERTIES. THESE LANDLORDS ARE JUST AS MUCH GUILTY OF THE SAME CRIMES AS THESE CRIMINALS THAT ARE RENTING THERE PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LANDLOR(S) KNOW THEM OR KNOWS WHAT THERE DOING.

THIS IS HOW AN AREA OF TOWN CAN STAY SO CRIME RIDDEN, IS HAVING SLUM LOADS WHOM ATTRACT THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE TO THIS CERTAIN AREA OF TOWN. WITH THEM NOT CARING WHOM THEY ARE RENTING TO AS LONG AS THEY GET THEIR MONTHLY CASH COW. THIS IS WHAT IS KEEPING THIS AREA OF TOWN SO CRIME RIDDEN AND UNRULY AND MOST OF THE TIME UNLIVABLE.

I GREW UP IN THE VLA AREA WHEN IT WAS A FAMILY ORIENTED AREA AND IT WAS SAFE TO WALK THE STREETS AT NIGHT WITH NO WORRIES. IT HAS BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER SEIZE BY THESE CRIMINALS FOR MANY YEARS NOW. PEOPLE IN THE AREA KNOW A LOT OF THESE SLUM LORDS THAT LET THESE CRIMINALS RENT THEIR PROPERTIES. THESE SLUM LORDS DON'T CARE BECAUSE THEIR ACTIONS ARE PLUMMETING THE HOUSING PRICES IN THIS AREA SO MUCH THAT THE GOOD LANDLORDS ARE FORCE TO SELL OFF THEIR RENTAL PROPERTIES FOR NEXT TO NOTHING JUST TO GET OUT OF THIS AREA OF TOWN, AND THESE SLUM LORDS AND ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS ARE BUYING THEM UP AND USING THEM FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS METH LABS, GROW OPS,CRACK SHACKS, DRUG HOUSES, PROSTITUTION, SAFE HOUSES ADN WEAPONS CASHES.

YEAH I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE JUST SAY "OH WELL" JUST KEEP IT ALL DOWN THERE, OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND, JUST LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE DOWNTOWN CORE. WELL THAT TYPE OF ATTITUDE WILL COME BACK AND BITE YOU IN THE BUTT. LETTING THIS CRIMINAL ELEMENT DO WHAT THEY WANT AND LET THEM MANUFACTURE AND SELL THEIR DRUGS WITH LITTLE OR NO ENFORCEMENT IS MAKING THEM RICH....THEN THEY WILL BE MOVING INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BUY ONE OF YOUR NICE COZY HOUSES OUT OF THE CRIME RIDDEN AREA. NOW WHILE THEY ARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THEY GREEDY WHEELS ARE TURING IN THEIR HEADS AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW THEY START EXPANDING TO YOUR AREA AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

MONEY AND POWER IS AND EVIL AND UN CARING TOOL THAT CAN CORRUPT JUST ABOUT ANYONE. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS THE YOUNGER CROWD THAT IT HITS HARD, AND THAT MEANS YOUR CHILDREN ARE AT RISK. IF NOT FROM THE TEMPTATION OF THE GANGSTER LIFE THEN OF BEING SHOT IN A DRIVE BY OR GETTING IN A FIGHT WITH A GANGSTER TYPE IDIOT OR EVEN HANGING AROUND THE WRONG FREINDS OR DATING THE WRONG GIRL. THIS TYPE OF LIFESTYLE WILL NOT JUST STAY IN THE VLA AREA....IF THEY ARE LEFT TO GROW THEY ARE NATURALLY GOING TO BRANCH OUT.....AND BY THE TIME THINGS START GETTING DONE IT WILL BE TOO LATE...

vla???
written by Motherof2inPG , November 06, 2009 (08:29:25 AM)

I live on the street where the shooting took place last night and i can tell you that we are not in the VLA...or the "hood"...it's the 3100 block of Spruce street..off of Ferry Ave....2 blocks from Van Bien Elementary..around the corner from the hospice house/forestry expo house...and 3 blocks from Candy Cane Lane that we all know and love in Prince George. Our street is full of working families with nice houses and small children. I heard the shots ring out last night and thought i was dreaming until my 6 year old daughter woke me in tears that she heard somebody shooting outside. Imagine how scary that was for her?? I agree that the police need to get a better grip on the gangs in our city..but how?? We need to make the public aware that this is not just in one so labelled bad area of town...it is right next door. These guys may have their drug houses in the VLA...but they dont want to live beside them either...they want to live beside you and your kids, and trust me...they can afford to live in any area of town they please. So, stop the ignorance of thinking it is all in the "hood" or sorry....the "Gateway" because it is everywhere.

VLA fools
written by dirtbag , November 06, 2009 (10:35:29 AM)

"WHY IS THE CITY NOT CRACKING DOWN ON THESE SLUM LORDS THAT LET THESE CRIMINALS KEEP RENTING THEIR PROPERTIES. THESE LANDLORDS ARE JUST AS MUCH GUILTY OF THE SAME CRIMES AS THESE CRIMINALS THAT ARE RENTING THERE PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LANDLOR(S) KNOW THEM OR KNOWS WHAT THERE DOING."

THIS IS HOW AN AREA OF TOWN CAN STAY SO CRIME RIDDEN, IS HAVING SLUM LOADS WHOM ATTRACT THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE TO THIS CERTAIN AREA OF TOWN. WITH THEM NOT CARING WHOM THEY ARE RENTING TO AS LONG AS THEY GET THEIR MONTHLY CASH COW. THIS IS WHAT IS KEEPING THIS AREA OF TOWN SO CRIME RIDDEN AND UNRULY AND MOST OF THE TIME UNLIVABLE.

As a landlord and investor I can agree that there are few, few landlords that are subject to the rant above. These landlords have been in the business for a long time and can explain their actions. I do not agree with what they are doing but know why. The VLA has the worst tenants I have ever seen. There are areas down there that have received over $500,000 in renovations, yard up keep, painting etc. It is the best affordable housing in town. Now I have seen these houses rented to so called "good tenants" that are not drug dealing. Doesn't stop them from destroying the property, and bailing on the owner getting another welfare check and continuing on. The landlord is screwed as there is nothing to chase. So do we discriminate and not rent to people on assistance? Why would the Govt continue to cut checks when there is a complaint files and damages over $5000.00. Screen all you want, police check all you want this will not help anything. So this "old boy" landlords have gone through this 100 times over. The drug dealers pay them. Those are not the problem houses. Some drug houses are the best ones on the street. Do i admit that the drugs are ruining our town? That was accomplished in the 90's.

VLA fools cont.....
written by dirtbag , November 06, 2009 (10:36:16 AM)

As a landlord I have reported houses and people. I get told to stop calling crime stoppers. They know me very well. Any action taken? None. How can an understaffed RCMP be expected to clean this town up? The hand outs are ruining that area. No one has respect for their home. A landlord can do all he wants but will be lied to and ripped off every time. Look how many houses have been bought and sold in the last few years. The area shows some of the best numbers in the Province, Investors were flying up like crazy. Buying fixing, cleaning, only to be taken advantage of. The VLA problem is in the people and it comes from home. If you let your pets do their business on the carpet as your 2 year old plays in it while drinking a can of redbull, do you really think they care about the house? How do slum lords promote crack and gang life? It comes from home. Move! you have the right. And rent will go up. So has house prices for everyone else. Welcome to life. Until the REAL ESTATE BOARD of BC changes their unfair system then this will continue. The landlord has no rights. I know that if I ever lose my job and decide to smoke crack for a living I will never have to pay for food or rent. If YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE RENT FREE JUST ASK. I CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO DRAIN THE SYSTEM AND LIVE FOR FREE!!
Has the city built any affordable housing? Why don't you buy a house? As we know it's getting harder and harder to buy in Canada. Do investors have to feel guilty? For providing a home? Robin Hood is not a hero. He was a thief!
So quit blaming landlords who have probably provided you with a home because you didn't pay your telus bill and save $10,000 by going to work everyday. Look at the big picture, the real estate board only allows licensed property management companies who are protected and can get away with anything . Give the power back to the homeowner and just watch these low lives be tossed out. Only for another tax gouging service to get hem a house again. Most of the crack shacks are payed by the Ministry.If you are reading this YOUR TAX dollars continue to open up crack shacks.It is time people know the truth. I call and tell the Ministry of housing. I get told to quit calling and see these guys trick another person with their sad story and starving kids to let them rent. HMMMMMMM? I have sat down and had meetings with the people at the welfare office and RCMP. Why would the RCMP shut them down? They get sponsored the next day and have a new place. The RCMP are helpless with all the cry baby systems that put these losers back in business. I have seen the same dealer get shut down 4 times. 4TIMES! yet he still gets a free check every month. I cut the power on these guys on time. I was taken to arbitration and lost. I had to pay drug dealers. I kicked out a convicted child molester, was taken to arbitration, filled one line out wrong and lost $700 and he got to stay while the other 2 families with kids left. Ask someone in the business before you start yapping about us slumlords who give your sorry ass a place to live. This Real Estate Board disgusts me.
Lazy social workers as well if you ask me. I complain to them all the time. "you know she is smoking crack around the kids" she says " I know". WTF?
Give the power back to the home owner! Do you think we want drug dealers in our properties. Feeding the area
My last example: Old couple views my property. Great credit, great rental history. It's all good. The next month as I go to collect the rent (after $20,000 in reno's) there is a camera on the door and the newest crack shack in the VLA. Where did the old couple go? Looks like another trick and Jr. opened up shop. I kick them out. They smash every window and give my family death threats. RCMP say " check your tenants" I get this from a 23 year old who just moved out of moms.
Great stuff. Ps. I will never rent to anyone on welfare. I am forced to discriminate against my beliefs. When someone comes to me with a shelter form I tell them Mc'D's on the corner of Victoria has been hiring for 9 months and advertise $9.00 an hour. You could easily pay this rent and live, or go buy a tent.

...
written by djm , November 06, 2009 (12:16:56 PM)

One of the people that was involved with the seizure of firearms and ammunition lives in an apartment - the 2 people were arrested at this apartment.

Now, does the landlord have the right to evict this person? (I know landlords do not have very many rights) And more important, will they if they have the right to? (we all know how the courts work, and I have to assume there is a good possibility this person won't spend too much time in jail)

But then on the other hand, if they do evict this person, then this idiot will just go and rent somewhere else, and become another neighbourhood and landlords problem.

And, do the police even notify landlords when a tenant is arrested for something serious like this?

Whats new?
written by TruthHurts87 , November 06, 2009 (02:02:12 PM)

I lived on Spruce a year ago and it wasnt nice at all. I had a rock thrown through the window, like who just throws a rock a someone window like that right. When I lived on Spruce, 2 weeks after moving in I heard gunshots ringing out and just couldnt beleive it. One time I was even woken up late night to the frantic screaming of a girl, Its sounded like she was being murdered or something. Then I could see some punk running away from the scene with officer in tail and the guy ditched it into a backyard and even from a block away I could here the officers tazer go off. Ive lived in the bowl for I guess around 2 years now and Im right across from the shopping center down here now and love this location, I couldnt say the same for my last place couple blocks up on Spruce. Just a dirty neighbourhood u know... Also I gotta say, Im getting sick and tired of these pnahandler beggers. I was walking home last night from grabbing some food from the store and some punk, must of been my age somewhat, stopped me by the A&W asking for change, saying ' he could give me his granpas $2000.00 watch. When I said I just spent my last few dollars on my food he puts this dissapointed rude look on his mug and without saying anything turns around and keeps walking. Cant even say thanks anyway or anything just for the fact on stopping people with their problems. This kid was around my age maybe year or 2 younger and said he just got to town on the greyhound, and he's asking me for money!?.... Like do I look like im rolling around in money like that, i wouldnt think so. But this kids face after I told him Bro sry cant help ya out... made me just wanna wind up and smack that look off his face. Funny thing is my roomate was stopped couple months ago by same kid he thinks saying the same crap '' oh, I can give you this watch if you can help me out, i just got into town on the greyhound excuse. Just like that lady who was robbed on Victoria the other day, I swear I seen that guy who did the robbing because I was walking right behind the dude. I say that because same day,location and description matched everything I remember about the guy i saw. Its just gross at times around here, but it can be really nice at times too. I do have sympathy for people less fortunate because I myself have went through things in my life that were extremely hard on me but I never robbed someone, or panhandled or got into any crime even know everything Ive been through you'd think would of put me in that direction in life. But I dont want that. I want to do something with my life even if its just securing a decent paying job and such,benifits ext in the meantime.. I must say I shake my head sometimes when I hear the pre concived thought that everyone on Assistance is a druggie or criminal of some sort. I myself am currently on assistance, not because Im looking for handout, I was literally on streets sleeping in ballpens in winter because my family wanted easy way out and selfishly tried to get rid of their kids because they felt sorry for themselves. Take it out on the kids though right?, thats how it always works...basically ditched me. NOT TO GET SIDETRACKED BY MY PROBLEMS BUT MY POINT IS, that I had hard times and never harrased people or anything. I kept my problems to myself and eventualy got into my own place and got out of the situation with no ones help, Its still work in progress but things are getting better. The point is, because people are on assistance people dog them evry chance they can get, but me personally from age 14- 20 were lets just say not pleasant so basically I was emotionally and mentally fried. Thats major reason why im on assistance is because im fried, after years of crap and wondering where im going to stay or live, I can relax, step back for a sec., and get my mind right and make plans for the future now. But something needs to be done because people got their own problems and dont need to be getting harrased everytime their out by panhandlers and such, like the other day some chick stops me, I think she thought I was a DD, I was like F**k this crap get the fu*k away from me I dont know you and dont want to. I cant stand when people stop you and think you wanna talk with them or something. Hell no, I just wanna do my buisness without being harrased by any pan handler, druggies or anything like that.Its just stuff like that that gets to me, hopefully one day the bowl will be a respectable place to live and work.

......
written by xpgresident , November 06, 2009 (02:22:17 PM)

i'm not saying that all landlords are bad and i know how hard it is for landlords to get good tenants that will take care of their investment.

What i'm saying is there are a few SLUMLORDS not landlords that have a quite a few rental properties in the VLA and surrounding areas that knowingly rent to these criminals, and saying they rent to them because at least they pay rent is BS and that makes them just as guilty as these meth lab, grow op drug selling idiots.

What if these SLUMLORDS are aware these criminals that "at least pay there rent" are running a meth lab and the lab blows up killing innocent people walking by and innocent neighbors? Or what if these criminals decide to move and this SLUMLORD rents to a hardworking family and their kids die from all the residue and chemicals left in the house after the meth lab??? or once these criminals meth is all manufactured and they go to YOUR kids school to start selling it??? These SLUMLORDS should be held accountable for what happens in their rental units especially when their rental units are busted more than once for drug distribution, grow ops, meth labs, stolen goods etc etc.....

As for painting EVERY single person that is on WELFARE as criminals and uncaring tenants is totally stupid. There are just as many working people that damage rental properties and do midnight moves and run drug houses, grow ops and meth labs....so singling out WELFARE recipients is just ridiculous, especially with the way the economy is right now there are a lot of good people that are stuck on WELFARE. I worked at a local apartment complex for a few years and dealt with a lot of great people whom just happened to be on WELFARE. They were very good tenants. We dealt damages cause by working people, students, and yes seniors just as much or more than WELFARE people.....

How to fix this problem is so complicated....but a good start would be to start changing our justice system so these carreer criminals stay behind bars. Also change the RTB rules so landlors (whom care) have more powers to enable them to keep these criminals out of their rental properties or get the ones out that are there now.

and like it or not the "HOOD" extends from 15th ave right up to ferry ave...even across ferry in the trailer court below the grave yard, this whole area is peppered with crack shacks, gro ops and meth labs.

Truth Hurts
written by travhops2 , November 06, 2009 (04:10:49 PM)

I respect you for what you've had the honesty to say and hope people hear you. The watch guy will also use the friends from out of town deserted him here after a wedding, he hasn't eaten in 5 days and tries to sell you his coat. St. Vinnie's refuses to feed him. He says. He gets so worked up over his sad tale of woe it's comical.

Anyway, thank you for your honest viewpoint.

dirtbag
written by Advice , November 06, 2009 (04:43:31 PM)

I understand the RTB rules(not real estate board) favor tenants. But there are ways of getting rid of problem tenants within those rules. As a landlord you must dot your I's and cross your t's and following the rules you can be successful. You cannot evict someone for being a child molester. But you can evict them if they lied to you on their rental application whick gives you grounds for the eviction. But you still must follow the rules on trying to evict them. You cannot cut the power off to a tenants place, so that is why you lost that arbitration. But you can immediately evict them for conducting illegal activity on your property. If they have been busted for drug dealing and you found out about it you can get them out.

...
written by venus , November 08, 2009 (09:14:50 AM)

If a house is used as a meth lab it should be condemed.

cant landlords do a criminal record check on potential renters???I know they can do credit checks and if the credit is not good they dont have to rent...
and I know land lords can definately make it difficult for renters you have the right to raise the rent every year... you can give them a 3 month eviction notice if you are doing major renos or if your putting your house up for sale...landlords have rights too they just have to know the landlord tenancy act and follow it.

Advice
written by dirtbag , November 12, 2009 (08:23:18 AM)

No I meant both. The RTB favors tenants, Yes. The real estate board doesn't allow me to hire Indie managers and I am forced to pay over priced and lazy property managers. They take everything and still move in garbage. Then they are insured and say " Sorry, just following the rules" don't give me that crap advice. All the prop's I manage myself are fine. It's when I over pay a licensed company because they got my Indie guy shut down because 90% of the market isn't enough for them. You greedy pigs. This also made me increase my rent from $600 to $775, just so I could cover my costs. Since using a "proper" company I have lost more than gained. Plus the licensed companies won't manage troubled area's (VLA) so what do we do now. Give the homes away? Advice, your advice isn't worth squat! Someone start a company, I will hire you. Save me from the vultures......