By Tom Mark

Safety Report To Vernon Council Today

Jul 9, 2018 | 6:36 AM

Vernon Council today will get the report of the Activate Safety Task Force into the impact local social issues have on business.

Task Force Chair Darrin Taylor knows individual business owners have taken it upon themselves to act out in frustration, but says that’s not effective.

He says the solution lies in a community-based approach and getting the buy-in from everyone.

“Making a decision that the rules of engagement and the level of commitment to raising the standard in our city has to be deep and has to be relentless.”

Taylor says it’s a slippery slope when you turn a blind eye to things

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He notes the Task Force mandate was to look at what the City of Vernon can do on behalf of businesses.

“I think an argument can be made that we can be doing more to help the street-entrenched population and whenI say help, I mean, you know really taking a a long, hard look at what we’re able to do as a community to help those people out of that situation.”

He adds there are some very capable organizations doing good work and a tremendous amount of provincial and federal resources available to help.

Darrin Taylor says some common sense solutions will be suggested.

Taylor says it’s a complex issue and admits a larger conversation involving street-entrenched people may be needed.

“I mean that conversation’s already happening on a very high level. It’s complicated. It requires a multi-faceted effort and a whole lot of money>

Taylor says the Task Force was limited in scope of what it could do.

He says there are a lot of different directions to take and hopes people will dig into the issues more.

by Tom Mark