TEAM on safety: district policing, bylaw enforcement and a disaster-proof command centre
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would bring in district policing, back Block Watch, enforce ignored bylaws and laws against public drug use, add public washrooms, start a city-wide rat program, build a disaster-proof emergency command centre and add cooling for vulnerable people in heat waves.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Policing, Bylaws and Emergency Readiness: what the Our Positions says
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says public safety in Vancouver has been getting worse for decades and that past mayors offered "slogans, not solutions". This part of its Safety for All platform covers the daily work of keeping streets safe and clean: policing, bylaws, sanitation, wildlife and readiness for disasters.
On policing, TEAM would bring in district policing, where officers are tied to one area of the city, and give more support to community programs such as Block Watch, which the party says would be overseen by the councillor responsible for that neighbourhood. It would work with police, nearby cities and the Province to prevent crime, enforce laws against public drug use, and review whether police, fire and emergency services can keep up with population growth.
Other promises are about the state of public space. TEAM would enforce bylaws it says have been ignored, add public washrooms, collect syringes more often from streets and playgrounds, clean public spaces more, act quickly when wildlife attacks residents, and start a city-wide program to cut the rat population. For disasters, it would build a disaster-proof emergency command centre, help neighbourhoods prepare, and plan cooling for low-income seniors and people living in SROs, single room occupancy hotels, during extreme heat.
Council approves the police budget, but the Vancouver Police Board directs the police department, so district policing and enforcement priorities need the board. Bylaws, street cleaning, washrooms, fire services and emergency planning are run by the city itself.
16 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Consult residents on neighbourhood safety
TEAM would consult residents to inform policy on health and safety issues in their neighbourhoods.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council sets how the city consults on its own policies.
Prioritize crime prevention
The party would prioritize crime prevention by working with police, neighbouring cities and the Province. Its summary page says this would protect residents and businesses from petty crime and vandalism.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Council funds the police, but the Vancouver Police Board directs the department, and other cities and the Province run their own services.
Enforce laws against public drug use
TEAM's summary page says it would work with the police and the Province to enforce laws against public drug use.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Drug laws are federal and provincial and the Vancouver Police Board directs enforcement, while the city can pass its own bylaws on the use of public space.
Review police, fire and emergency services for growth
The party would review whether police, fire and other emergency services can meet current and future needs from increasing density and population, and add new resources as required.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council approves the police budget, and fire and rescue services report to the city.
Implement district policing
TEAM would implement district policing.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Council funds the police, but how the department is organized is directed by the Vancouver Police Board.
More support for community policing such as Block Watch
The party would increase support for community policing initiatives such as Block Watch, coordination with school programs, youth at risk and anti-gang supports. Its pages say Block Watch would be overseen by the councillor responsible for each neighbourhood.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Council can fund community programs, while police participation is directed by the Vancouver Police Board.
Enforce ignored bylaws
TEAM would enforce bylaws that have been ignored. Its summary page says this would crack down on public disorder and keep parks accessible and family-friendly.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city enforces its own bylaws through its own staff.
More public washrooms and syringe collection
The party would improve safety and sanitation with more public washrooms and frequent collection of syringes on streets and playgrounds.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city runs street cleaning and public washrooms on city land.
Cleaner public spaces and action on repeat petty crime
TEAM would improve the cleaning of public spaces and address repeat petty crime.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The city runs street cleaning, while police work is directed by the Vancouver Police Board.
Act immediately on wildlife threats
The party would act immediately when and where wildlife threatens or attacks residents. Its pages also speak of responding to urban wildlife threats.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The city can respond with its own staff on land it runs, and would need the Park Board for parks.
A city-wide rat reduction program
TEAM would implement a city-wide program to reduce the rat population.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city can run its own pest control program and set bylaws on garbage and property upkeep.
Neighbourhood disaster readiness and heat planning
The party would improve disaster and emergency resilience by engaging neighbourhoods with the resources they need, planning for disasters and climate events across the city as part of planning, and making sure the most vulnerable, such as low-income seniors and people in SROs, have air conditioning or cooling facilities in extreme heat.
- Who has the power
- City Council The party itself notes that planning for disasters is within the city's mandate.
A disaster-proof emergency command centre
TEAM would build a disaster-proof emergency command centre.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council approves the capital plan, which pays for city buildings.
Mental health support for emergency responders
The party would provide additional mental health support for emergency responders.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city employs firefighters and funds the police, so it can pay for support programs.
Recruiting and cultural awareness training for first responders
TEAM would support the recruiting and cultural awareness training of police and other first responders.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Council funds police and fire services, but police hiring and training are directed by the Vancouver Police Board.
Local gardening and farmers markets for food security
The party would improve food security and community development by encouraging local gardening on private or public property and neighbourhood farmers' markets that provide local produce. Its parks page also speaks of supporting gardens and urban farming in public and private spaces.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Council controls city land and market permits, while gardens in parks need the Park Board.
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about policing, bylaws and emergency readiness
Does TEAM for a Livable Vancouver support district policing?
Yes. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would implement district policing and increase support for community policing such as Block Watch, school programs, youth at risk and anti-gang supports. The Vancouver Police Board directs how the department is organized, while Council approves its budget (TEAM Safety for All page).
What would TEAM do about public drug use in Vancouver?
TEAM says it would work with the police and the Province to enforce laws against public drug use, as part of its focus on crime prevention and protecting residents and businesses from petty crime and vandalism (TEAM Safety for All page).
Would TEAM add public washrooms in Vancouver?
Yes. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would improve safety and sanitation with more public washrooms and more frequent collection of syringes on streets and playgrounds (TEAM Safety for All page).
What does TEAM plan for rats in Vancouver?
TEAM says it would implement a city-wide program to reduce the rat population. It also promises to act immediately when wildlife threatens or attacks residents (TEAM Safety for All page).
How would TEAM prepare Vancouver for disasters and heat waves?
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would build a disaster-proof emergency command centre, help neighbourhoods prepare with the resources they need, and make sure low-income seniors and people in SROs have air conditioning or cooling facilities in extreme heat (TEAM Safety for All page).
Can Vancouver City Council direct the police?
Council approves the police budget, but the Vancouver Police Board directs the police department. TEAM's district policing and enforcement promises would need the board, while bylaws, cleaning and emergency planning are run by the city itself (TEAM Safety for All page).
ON THE BALLOT
The TEAM for a Livable Vancouver candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- TEAM safety for all, learn more SAYS SO ITSELFTEAM for a Livable Vancouver · checked