Political commentary and Opinion
15 year old killed by street rat, has 16th birthday
A child's life has ended and his birthday comes forth, and what has been done to protect our kids from crackheads, junkies runnnig loose on the streets of Victoria, and who's really to blame for letting criminals do as they please in the drug trade.
Outside the Times Colonist building today has a tree decorated in bright balloons and birthday party hats and adorned by flowers and cards. A sweet 16th birthday celebration for a boy, stabbed to death, for no apparent reason by a person who not only had mentasl health issues but also a drug user.
Justin Wendland, 15, who was killed while waiting for a bus on Douglas Street at 8 p.m. on June 3 when he was knifed in the chest by a homeless person.
“Happy sweet 16,” reads one card. “Always thinking of you.”
A bouquet of roses lay at the base of the tree with a note: “RIP buddy. We love you and miss you.”
Balloons read, “We love our angel,” and “Forever loved.”
At the time of the fatal stabbing, bystanders said no words were spoken between the two individuals and they had no idea what provoked the sudden and seemingly random attack on the young boy.
“There is nothing to suggest the accused and the victim knew each other prior to this incident,” said Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton, in an earlier interview. Corey Daniel Barry, 39, was charged with second-degree murder in relation to Wendland’s death.
Fifteen minutes after the fatal stabbing, Barry turned himself in to police.
Barry is due back in court Dec. 15 to set a date for a five-day preliminary inquiry this spring.
Defence lawyer Tom Morino confirmed in June that Barry “has long-standing mental health issues for which he is receiving medication.”
Barry, who friends say spent most of his adult life on the streets battling drug addiction and possible mental illness, frequented Our Place drop-in centre on that street, however police said nothing indicates his path ever crossed Wendland’s.
Since his death, the teen’s murder has raised calls for more services for the mentally ill.
Wendland was affectionately called “Pudgy” by his friends. He worked part-time after school and on weekends at the McDonald’s restaurant on Pandora Avenue. His older sisters, Kayla, 20, and Courtney, 17, said Wendland had taken the part-time job to help his single mom pay for his mixed martial arts classes.
Justin’s mother, Raj Wendland, was devastated following her son’s death.
Wendland was described by friends as a boy who liked to hang out with friends and was very family-oriented — often making dinner and always looking out for his big sisters.
Outside the Times Colonist building today is a tree decorated in bright balloons and birthday party hats and adorned by flowers and cards.
Children being Attacked on the Streets of Victoria BC - Monday, November 01, 2010
Fathers Canada
Editorial Opinion Column by Dick Freeman
- Monday, November 01, 2010
Recently an Editorial Opinion Column was done called "A City of Crime and Violence, Is this a place where Tourists would want to go?"
Victoria, where you can imagine seeing a city, with quiet neighborhoods', parents taking their children to school or children walking with their pets. Many friendly faces while taking a leisurely stroll in their neighborhood, where you think you feel safe from crime, but is it really safe in the streets of Victoria?
In another Editorial Feature we take another look at the City of Victoria's Streets, were children's personal safety and their risk of being attacked by street people is becoming an epidemic in Victoria, where violent "crack heads", street people with mental illness, are seeking an easy score, and are now going after young children, (aged 12 to 15 years old).
People in the community are getting a good look at the fallout of homelessness", where a rash of crimes, to property crimes in the community to violence, that are now being used on young children in local neighborhoods.
A 15 year child named Justin Wayne Wendland was stabbed in broad daylight at a Victoria bus stop, by a well know drug user who has mental health issues. The boy was found bleeding profusely from a stab wound to the torso. "The victim was immediately rushed to hospital with critical injuries, but tragically did not survive. "The so called 39-year-old suspect who later gave himself up to police was well known to the police and was identified as Cory Daniel Barry.
In another incident, Chek Six News ran another news story just recently of another 15 year old boy, who was terrorized and attacked at knife point, while coming out of a concert from the Victoria Conservatory of Music in the 900 block of Johnson Street, by another well known drug user, street person who tried to robbed the child. As it was that young child was lucky enough to escape, before he became another victim, just like Justin Wayne Wendland. That person was later apprehended by police.
Why are our children are at risk every day on the streets of Victoria, even waiting for a bus in local neighborhoods", or waking to and from home, is due to the drug trade on the streets of Victoria, that is becoming more violent and targeting children by themselves.
In another incident, on Sunday, I was getting ready to take my children out for a night of fun, treat or treating for Halloween, when my two children came running out of their room yelling dad, a young girl is screaming for help, while my one son was pleading for myself to do something.
As I ran outside to where the young girl was, I couldn't believe my eyes in what I was seeing, people just standing around, while a young girl is laying on the ground crying, who was viciously attacked and robbed of her wallet and camera, by two female street people.
People in the community who didn't even try to restrain those female street persons committing the assult and robbery, until police showed up, has myself wondering, what is happening to Victoria.
Men, women who apparently didn’t show enough chivalry or concern, as one man in a white truck, ignored what was taking place, while others looked on.
Luckily for the young girls sake, a women did stop to comfort her and who later took her to where the police were questioning people at the park.
On a personal level, I not only tried to assist the girl, the police, but managed to recover her wallet, that was thrown into a garbage can at the park, minus the camera, where drug users homeless people and drug dealers are seen on a daily basis there in the park, quite often.
I do want to make a note that the VicPD, who have many other crimes to deal with, did respond as quick as they could, considering that I didn't hear about any other calls to the police being made, other then the one I made to them.
Police did later catch up with the two homeless people and did apprehended them. At the same time, why is it that parents are not being informed of these attacks by street people by those in authority, so at least parents can be fore-warned, so they can keep their children safe and from becoming victims of crime.
In another alleged incident in the down town core, a women and her child were pushed down a flight of stairs by another homeless person.
In three other separate incidents of crimes on children, which have yet to be verified by police, were allegedly to have taken place in the community on the streets of Victoria. It seems city hall is only concerned about passing bylaws to keep people off the boulevards, they call safety issues for cars, while the street violence increases in the community's, that is making people angry, that their children are being exposed to all levels of violence and crime in local area's as well as property crime that are running rampant with street people.
How many children have to be victims of crime, or have to die at the hands of homeless people, or crack heads with mental illnessness, before something is done to curb the violence on the streets.
The homeless and mental ill on the Streets of Victoria have gotten out of hand and half to be dealt with harshly and swiftly with laws already on the books. They the government and police should be rounding them up and putting them where they belong, hehind bars or house them in proper places that can deal with many homeless people's mental illnesses.
Coun. Philippe Lucas was against the bylaw. "I won't be supporting this motion, because I honestly believe it will fail to address for the better the issues faced by residents, by businesses and by the individuals currently living on Pandora Green," Lucas said.
Well that's ok for Coun. Philippe Lucas not to support the bylaw, but you do have to ask yourself what is she really supporting or for that matter what is the mayor supporting, when it comes to children's safety, it sure isn't about the safe and well being of children from the looks of things.
Children are our most valuable in our community, and they are now at risk, and what are those in Authority doing about it?
Now that the mayors house has had property crime committed on himself, the mayor might now understand how people in the community feel violated, when they have had property crimes committed on them over the years, while being terrorized by homeless people and crackheads.
As for the Mayor Fortin as he talked to press, Victoria city councillor Pamela Madoff arrived with condolences. "I just came to say how sorry I am," she told Fortin, hugging him. "There's nothing like feeling personally attacked on invaded when all you've tried to do is the right thing."
The attacked was claimed by a group of extermist, called PG72, who beleive the use of terrorism, is the only way of getting what they want.
A spokesperson for the Victoria police said they have little suspect information. A sweep of the neighbourhood yielded little results. Forensic investigators planned to take samples of the paint and glass and dust the area for fingerprints Friday morning.
With addicts having a new drug of choice moving from heroin to crack cocaine. BC's Centre for Addictions Research says it is not a good move. The center says it means an increase in mental illness leaving downtown Victoria a sicker and more unstable place. The Centre for Addictions Research says addicts are making the switch to cocaine and crack because the drugs are readily accessible and cheap.
In the past two years since Our Place opened, and in the wake of a 2008 B.C. Supreme Court decision striking down the city's prohibition on camping in parks, the 900-block of Pandora has become a focal point for drug use and dealing, homeless camping and prostitution. Police calls to the area have skyrocketed and residents and businesses worry their neighborhood is being ghettoized. Now these people will be pushed right back into those back yards and the crazy cycle starts all over again, with the crime getting worse in some area's.
I'm Dick Freeman and that's my view...
What about everyones elses property, what is really being done about that!
Comment from Dick Freeman
Now the Mayor knows how the community has felt about their property being damaged.
With so many people in different communitys in the news lately telling their stories and putting up with their property being damaged for years now, much of which is the result of increased homelessness and increased crack users wandering onto privite property and doing as they please.
No one from the mayors office has done anything about this, and calling the police has done nothing. Homeless people who treaspass on private property have said there is nothing the owners or police can do about it, which they stated to myself, many times over the years.
So the mayor is no different in having to put up with the same type of treatment that law abiding citizen's have had to deal with.
What gets me about this, is how the Mayor's property being damaged, has police saying in the Times Colonist news paper that Victoria police are hunting a vandal or vandals who will be prosecuted to the "fullest extent of the law" after they defaced Mayor Dean Fortin's house and car early Thursday morning. Calling the incident "cowardly," police Chief Jamie Graham said the perpetrators could face criminal charges of intimidation and mischief for breaking a car window, spray-painting graffiti on the Fortins' car and house and sending a threatening email.
What makes the Mayor any different then local property owners, who face the same kind of property crimes. The only difference is the Mayor can order the police to find the culprits and charge them while home owners can't order the police to do anything. The Mayor can play out being victim in the mainstream media but all of us are victims of the fall out of homelessness many that are drug users on the streets of victoria.
Even Children are being attacked by individuals with mental illness more often, those who are living in the streets and you don't hear about that in the mainstream news. Why is that? The drug problem in Victoria has gotten so out of hand with street people, many who have mental illnesses from the use of smoking crack which makes them dangerous to the community at large.
It's time to clean house and clean up the streets. If he the mayor is not up to the job, then he should resign as soon as possible.
Man held in attack on Victoria mayor's house, car released without charges By Katie DeRosa and Sarah Petrescu, Timescolonist.com November 12, 2010 8:09 AM
Victoria Police have released a 37-year-old man arrested after Mayor Dean Fortin's house and car were vandalized and he was threatened by e-mail. He was not charged with any crime, they said. Police swarmed a Victoria basement suite early Wednesday morning and arrested a 37-year-old man, Const. Mike Massine said earlier. A woman who answered the door at the tidy, two-storey house declined to give her name but described her tenant as "quiet" and a "good neighbour." She said he has lived there for the past year. Four people were detained but no one was arrested, police said. The bookstore is a volunteer-run collective operated by the not-for-profit Camas Educational Society. Saul Andersen, a volunteer for the last three years, said the collective was not told why the search was carried out and did not know who is responsible for the vandalism. The bookstore is staffed by 14 volunteers, all of whom have keys, he said. Two other volunteers who do not regularly staff the store also have keys, he said.
Vandal held in attack on Victoria mayor's house, car
By Katie DeRosa, Timescolonist.com
Victoria police have arrested a man in connection with the vandalizing of Mayor Dean Fortin's house and car, and the sending of a threatening email.
Police swarmed a Victoria basement suite early Wednesday morning and arrested a 37-year-old man, Const. Mike Massine said. A woman who answered the door at the tidy, two-storey house declined to give her name but described her tenant as "quiet" and a "good neighbour." She said he has lived there for the past year.
Police believe the man sent the email claiming responsibility for spray- painting Fortin's home and smashing his car window on Nov. 5. In the email, the self-described militants said: "You wanna keep kicking the shit out of us, so we're gonna fight back and fuck you up." Those threats appeared to refer to Fortin.
The email expressed outrage at Fortin's treatment of the homeless and the removal of 72 temporary shelter beds. City officials have pointed out that other permanent beds were opened at the same time.
Police arrested the man based on evidence seized from an anarchist bookstore at 2590 Quadra St., Massine said. A surveillance team raided Camas Books Friday at 10:30 p.m., and seized a computer and utility bills, according to a search warrant seen by the Times Colonist. Police were acting on evidence that the email was sent through a locked wireless connection used by a computer inside the store at 4:17 a.m. Friday.
Four people were detained but no one was arrested, police said.
The bookstore is a volunteer-run collective operated by the not-for-profit Camas Educational Society.
Saul Andersen, a volunteer for the last three years, said the collective was not told why the search was carried out and did not know who is responsible for the vandalism. The bookstore is staffed by 14 volunteers, all of whom have keys, he said. Two other volunteers who do not regularly staff the store also have keys, he said.
The bookstore is the meeting place of local activist groups, including the Anarchist Reading Circle and the anti-Olympics group No2010 Victoria, which was criticized for its aggressive tactics during the Torch Relay.
After the raid, the collective organized an emergency meeting "to discuss what our course of action would be," Andersen said, but not all the keyholders attended.
"The collective has no involvement in this event," he said, noting that he was speaking as a volunteer, not the collective's spokesman.
"When you create a space to be anti-colonial and anti-corporate, you are going to have more radical people engaging with the space. We can't control the actions of the individuals, as a collective."
The store has been open since September 2007. Its website says its mission is "to promote anti-authoritarian and non-hierarchical beliefs and practices through the distribution of radical publications and politically inspired artwork."
Fortin said it is comforting to know police have identified someone in relation to the vandalism.
He said his family has been overwhelmed by the support from citizens and community groups, who largely condemned the targeting of his home.
The arrested man is facing charges of mischief under $5,000 and uttering threats, but his name will not be released until he is formally charged.
kderosa@timescolonist.com
Police in Victoria, B.C., have arrested a man they believe is connected to politically motivated vandalism at the home of the city's mayor last week.
Police in Victoria, B.C., have arrested a man they believe is connected to politically motivated vandalism at the home of the city's mayor last week.
Investigators say they have found evidence linking a 37-year-old Victoria man with the damage discovered on Friday at the home of Mayor Dean Fortin. Police have executed search warrants at a business in the 2500-block of Quadra Street and a home in the 2500-block of Prior Street in connection with the investigation.
The suspect has not been charged, but police say they have linked him to a statement from a group calling itself "PG72," which has taken responsibility for the vandalism.
Fortin awoke Friday to find the letters ACAB scrawled in red paint on the back door of his white Honda. The back passenger window was smashed out, and glass shards littering the driveway.
Vandals also spray-painted the number 72 and the letters PG in white lettering on his garage.
Speaking to reporters in his driveway, Fortin said he was told the number 72 refers to the number of shelter beds that were reduced in the city because of new shelter and affordable housing projects. PG stands for Pandora Green, the area of downtown Victoria frequented by the city's homeless, and the target of a new beautification project that has forced some residents out.
PG72 sent a message to media outlets saying its "militants" were the ones who damaged the mayor's property in retaliation for the city's recent move to cut 72 shelter spaces.
"The city has declared war on the poor, and we're fighting back!" the message said.
The group said the tag "ACAB" on Fortin's garage stood for "All Cops are Bastards," and referred to "bylaw officers who beat street people."
PG72 said the city's policies inflict violence and hardship onto Victoria's street community, and that police regularly harm the homeless population.
"Now there are 72 new homeless in Victoria created by government policy, but they're not allowed to sleep in their community and street lights on Pandora Green. Where the f*** are they supposed to go?" the message said, signing off: "In Love and Rage."
Activists spray-paint Victoria mayor's home
Victoria, B.C., police launched an investigation after the home of the city's mayor was attacked by vandals on Nov. 5, 2010
Activists have spray-painted the home of Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin, in an attempt to draw attention to the city's homeless, CBC News has learned.
Fortin awoke early Friday morning to find vandals had spray-painted the number 72 on the garage door of his bungalow, the initials PG on the side of his house, and the initials ACAB on his car. The car's rear window was also smashed.
As he stood on his front lawn looking at the damage, Fortin said he was shaken and concerned for the safety of his family.
Someone claiming responsibility for the vandalism sent an email to CBC News saying it was a reaction to the city's crackdown on a homeless encampment known as the Pandora Green and the recent closure of 72 shelter beds in the city.
"If … Fortin whines about the 'violence' inflicted upon his property, we'll counter that he should instead reflect upon the fact that his own policies inflict violence and hardship on Victoria's street community every day," said the anonymous email, which was signed PG72.
In recent years the city has been locked in a legal battle with homeless activists who have argued in court that the shortage of shelter housing in the city should give them the right to camp in public parks and green spaces.
This is the unedited email sent to the CBC on behalf of the people who vandalized Mayor Dean Fortin’s house sometime before 6:30 a.m..
Mayor Fortin’s Home Attacked
OCCUPIED COAST SALISH TERRITORIES
The City has declared war on the poor, and we’re fighting back!
On the morning of Friday November 5th, militants painted three messages for Victoria mayor Dean Fortin on his XXXX Victor St. house and car: “PG” (in reference to the street community legislated off Pandora Green), “72” (for the 72 shelter beds cut in Victoria this week), and “ACAB” (All Cops Are Bastards — including bylaw officers who beat street people). Fatcat Fortin was also left with a shattered window and shattered middle class peace.
If Fuckhead Fortin whines about the “violence” inflicted upon his property, we’ll counter that he should instead reflect upon the fact that his own policies inflict violence and hardship on Victoria’s street community every day. Cops regularly brutalize homeless campers, trash their tent homes and confiscate their sleeping bags. Now there are 72 new homeless in Victoria created by government policy, but they’re not allowed to sleep in the safety of their community and street lights on Pandora Green. Where the fuck are people going to go? The “progressive” Fortin’s outrageously cruel and callous policies are HURTING people and destroying lives. These fascists really want to “take care” of the “homeless problem” by killing off the street population, and what better time to do it than in winter? No shelter beds + nowhere to camp + no site for safe drug consumption + welfare cuts = hardship, disease and death.
It’s time to take the fight directly to the pig politicians and give them a taste of their own medicine. You wanna keep kicking the shit out of us, so we’re gonna fight back and fuck you up.
In Love And Rage,
PG72
Vandals attack home of Victoria mayor
A militant advocacy group saying it speaks on behalf of Victoria, B.C.'s homeless community has claimed responsibility for an overnight vandalism attack on the home of the city's mayor.
Someone claiming responsibility for the vandalism sent an email to CBC News saying it was a reaction to the city's crackdown on a homeless encampment known as the Pandora Green and the recent closure of 72 shelter beds in the city. "If … Fortin whines about the 'violence' inflicted upon his property, we'll counter that he should instead reflect upon the fact that his own policies inflict violence and hardship on Victoria's street community every day," said the anonymous email, which was signed PG72.
Dean Fortin said he arrived home at 6:30 a.m. Friday to find the letters ACAB scrawled in red paint on the back door of his white Honda. The back passenger window was also smashed out, with glass shards littering his driveway. Vandals also spray painted the number 72 and the letters PG in white lettering on his garage. Speaking to reporters in his driveway, Fortin said he was told the number 72 refers to the number of shelter beds that were reduced in the city because of new shelter and affordable housing projects. PG stands for Pandora Green, the area of downtown Victoria frequented by the city's homeless, and the target of a new beautification project that has forced some residents out.
"Obviously we were disappointed, disrupting the security of the family, the two young children that are here," he said.
A group calling itself ‘PG72' sent a fax to media outlets saying its "militants" were the ones who damaged the mayor's property in retaliation to the city's recent move to cut 72 shelter spaces.
"The city has declared war on the poor, and we're fighting back!" the message wrote.
The group said the tag "ACAB" on Fortin's garage stood for ‘All Cops are Bastards,' and referred to "bylaw officers who beat street people."
PG72 said the city's policies inflict violence and hardship onto Victoria's street community and that police regularly harm the homeless population.
"Now there are 72 new homeless in Victoria created by government policy, but they're not allowed to sleep in their community and street lights on Pandora Green. Where the f*** are they supposed to go?" the message said, signing off "In Love and Rage."
Fortin defended his homelessness policies Friday morning, saying it's an issue he's passionate about.
"Part of why I ran for mayor is to make sure we can deal with affordable housing and homelessness and that's something that's very important to me," he said.
As Fortin talked to press, Victoria city councillor Pamela Madoff arrived with condolences.
"I just came to say how sorry I am," she told Fortin, hugging him.
"There's nothing like feeling personally attacked on invaded when all you've tried to do is the right thing."
Madoff called the attack disappointing, adding that the mayor and current council have taken great strides in helping the homeless situation in the city.
"If in fact this is a statement on the situation around shelters not only is it misinformed it is also misguided," she said.
Fortin's neighbour Lori Frank, who lives three doors down, said she didn't hear anything overnight. She called the attack personal and unfortunate.
"Whether if you have an issue with the mayor or not, that it's brought to his home where his children are and that's very disconcerting."
A spokesperson for the Victoria police said they have little suspect information. A sweep of the neighbourhood yielded little results. Forensic investigators planned to take samples of the paint and glass and dust the area for fingerprints Friday morning.
A local advocacy group, The Committee to End Homelessness, issued a statement to denying its involvement but said it understood the motive behind the attacks.
"When there are attacks on the homeless like those by City Council forcing desperate people off Pandora Green, this is an expected reaction."
Homeless React To Vandalism (VIDEO)
VICTORIA -- Reverend Al Tysick is a friend to Victoria's homeless, but he has no love for the person or people who crept onto Dean Fortin's property Friday morning and left their mark. "I felt it was a pretty cheap shot and a scary shot to his family."
Tysick and Phil Lyons from the Committee To End Homelessness joined Stephen Andrew on C-FAX 1070 later in the day. When pressed by Andrew, Lyons says he doesn't know who launched the personal attack on the Mayor, but appears to feel it should not have come as a surprise. "Andrew: Did he deserve this? Lyons: I don't know whether he deserved it or not, but at one point people who take that role in the community have to expect they're going to get some fairly strong feedback to it."
Inside the new $13 million Rock Bay Landing shelter, the Victoria Cool Aid Society's Don McTavish struggles with the vandalism as a parent. "I have a family too and the Mayor has two children living in his home of course. He''s a private citizen, it''s just horrific, and frankly it did an incredible disservice to whatever point the group might have had…It's a group of people who are angry, and are just using this as a lever to advance their own agenda which looks to just be anarchy."
On the streets, the people who the group calling itself PG - 72 claims it is fighting for say that's news to them. "You cannot place the blame on homeless people. I know preppies who go around and do stunts like this" says the woman known as 'Mama Bear.'
"I've talked to him, (Fortin) quite a few times, and he's done nothing but good for the homeless and I don't understand why anybody would stoop that low" says another woman outside Our Place.
Now, advocates hope the damage done outside Fortin's house won't damage the public's perception of people who need help the most.