Stand Up for Prince George

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 04:03 AM

Joshua Baba reviews his media release outlining his plan ( photo Opinion250 staff)

A 23 year old Prince George man is launching a not for profit civic leadership organization which he calls,”Stand up for Prince George”.

Joshua Baba , who was born and has lived his entire life in Prince George says he is doing this to make Prince George better "I have no intention of trying to get my name known to run for political office, that is the last way that I want to get involved in the community."

Joshua says he was driven to form the organization after the vicious attack that took place early Saturday morning in the VLA, which has left a 14 year old boy in serious condition from what police have described as a vicious beating.

"I hope that a new organization will take the lead and help tackle some of the issues we are facing in this city."

The first order of business according to Joshua will be to hold a community meeting to form an official committee and develop a comprehensive action plan.

"I don’t live in the VLA" says Baba "I happen to live in Foothills, but it doesn’t matter, the VLA may be the most troubled section of the city, but all neighborhoods need attention."

He says the time has come to get rid of the rhetoric, and come up with action in these key areas:

Stronger partnerships with local government, law enforcement, aboriginal leaders, and community stakeholders to develop a Public Safety Action plan.
Expanded community policing: staffing community policing departments sufficiently to enable walking patrols so that officers become known in troubled neighborhoods.
Support Youth & After School Programs: Create and expand after school activities.
Work to establish a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program with a view to having low income families receive more tax credits.
Affordable housing assistance; an effort to try and provide more housing for families in need.
A voter registration Program: There are too many people who don’t vote or get involved in the political process because they feel that in the end their vote doesn’t matter.

Joshua is looking to hear from people who want to get involved, he can be reached by email at : joshua.baba@gmail.com or by phoning and leaving a message at 250-564-9095.

He is hoping to hear from neighbourhood and community groups who want to work together to "Stand up for Prince George" and are committed to attending a meeting or furthering the organization of a group.

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Posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 04:03 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: RUEZ on August 29 2007 5:11 AM

The city should start taking some action. Perhaps following other cities and enacting a bylaw forcing landlords to inspect their rental units every few months. It might help get rid of some of the drug houses. I feel sorry for anyone that's forced to live in the VLA.

Posted by: lunarguy on August 29 2007 6:22 AM

The thing I noticed was there was no announcement from the RCMP that they would be stepping up patrols in the area. I mean a school in the bowl gets a bit of spray paint on it or the windows broken and they do more patrols. You could leave a car just patrolling the 20th and Victoria area all day long and there is enough to keep them busy.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on August 29 2007 7:13 AM

This can only help!
Obviously local politicians and police are doing very little about the situation!
The more awarness by those who live in Prince George,the more pressure it puts on city leaders to actually do something other than worry about where the next development will be!
Seem's there is far more time spent on local business interests and projects than actually doing something for the people and families.
I like PG,but crime IS getting out of hand and it seems it is being downplayed rather than dealt with.
If it takes more police to make a difference,so be it.
Spend the money,it's there for everyting else,why not policing and safe streets and neighbourhoods?
Maybe crime should be a serious election issue?

Posted by: metalman on August 29 2007 7:44 AM

Glad to see someone is trying to make a difference. We need this. I wish him success.
metalman.

Posted by: owl on August 29 2007 9:57 AM

"I don�t live in the VLA" says Baba "I happen to live in Foothills, but it doesn�t matter"

Sort of the opposite of the NIMBY (not in my back yard) point of view many are accused with when they do not want something in their area.

NIABY - not in anyone's back yard ....

I hope others who have some of the expertise required to implement his ideas will get involved.

Again, it is too bad that a private individual has to get involved in this fashion rather than joining organizations that are already attempting to do this but appear to be failing, likely because of lack of funding and government committments.

Come on YDPC and others of similar opinions. Attack this because, after all, we should not be our brothers' keeper. That's a notion which will send us all to the poor house.

;-)

Posted by: dgdiggler on August 29 2007 10:28 AM

Sounds like a bunch of word speak to me - out of a college course assignment.

If you want less crime then your going to have to have more police and 2 or 3 more rcmp officers in pg aren't gonna cut it. Find the money if its so important and get 10-20 more here. Increase the number of members on the various shifts and stop operating with only the bare minimum. A small office in the vla may be great, but it would have to be made out of concrete and surrounded by barbed wire. Send more experienced members to prince george, not cadets. WIll this ever happen? Doubt it because the rcmp is so understaffed in the lowermainland, the rest of the province has to suffer. All the transfers go south. Time for the mayor to anti up with some cash and to scream for more members in pg if you really want to prevent the crime rather than react to it.

Posted by: jonnypg on August 29 2007 10:36 AM

Our local council must be blind to crime in this city...their thinking on spending money on more important things as art centers.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on August 29 2007 11:48 AM

Don't hold your breath on city council doing anything about crime!
I don't think they are even aware what is happening outside council chambers.
The only time these winners will listen is when there is an election near!
I hope everyone is keeping score for when an civic election does come around?

Posted by: jonnypg on August 29 2007 1:25 PM

Count me in Andyfreeze....

Posted by: Chadermando on August 29 2007 3:15 PM

I'm all for it. maybe we can do what the Irish did when they lost faith in their police force....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=478310&in_page_id=1811