People using hard drugs in public spaces, growing street disorder and violent crime linked to people with mental illness who are not getting the treatment or housing they need to stabilize their lives have been longstanding concerns in Vancouver.
Those issues have been raised by Vancouver mayors going back to Philip Owen in the early 2000s, followed by Larry Campbell, Sam Sullivan, Gregor Robertson, Kennedy Stewart and now Ken Sim.
Each mayor has offered or implemented various strategies, with heavy dependence on the provincial and federal governments to address addiction, mental health and housing. The conclusion from all mayors is that not nearly enough has been done.
That is
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