By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Long-time business owner frustrated with crime in Lethbridge’s downtown

Feb 6, 2018 | 10:18 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Mike Vercillo points out the large steel plates on the outside doors to the apartment building he owns, and the timed locks on the vestibule doors; the fencing put up to protect tenants on one side of his property and all the new locks that were placed on more than half a dozen storage unit doors that were broken into recently.

Not only that, the life long Lethbridge resident and long-time building owner will soon be installing video cameras in and around his building, to protect it from the near-constant flow of addicts and homeless people trying any way they can, to get inside to warm up, to sleep, or to find a place to use.

His property and the area surrounding it is littered with used saline pods, discarded needles, and disposable spoons used for cooking any number of illicit drugs.

The exasperation is evident in his voice, as he tries his best to fortify the building, spending thousands of dollars in recent months to help his tenants feel safe, something he says is very important to him.

“I want them to feel like it’s their home, like anybody else in the city. So, I will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure their safety, and I will continue to do that.

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“But at some point, I think the police have to start cracking down or somebody has to make the decision that vagrancy, loitering, trespassing and people breaking in, is not going to be tolerated.”

At the Jan. 31 Police Commission Meeting, Vercillo made an impromptu presentation, telling the Commission he owned three buildings downtown, selling one recently. He explained that in his experience, not only has the drug problem in Lethbridge become “exponentially worse” over the last several years, but the property crime associated with it, has as well. And that’s not fair to law-abiding citizens who deserve to feel safe not only at their place of business downtown, but in their homes, too.

“As long as people are supplied with drugs and the paraphernalia, they will try and find a place to take those drugs…I think the downtown is getting worse. I think the police service is doing what they can with the legislation they have to work with.”

He emphasized to the Commission that trying to get more people living in, investing in and reviving the downtown area won’t work, unless business owners and residents are protected too. And he told the panel he would not recommend anyone invest in downtown Lethbridge right now.

Standing outside of his apartment building near the YWCA, Vercillo re-emphasized that point.

“I think we’ve gotta tell the people that are in power and in governance, that they have to start looking at the other side of who is impacted, by drug addiction etc. Because there are impacts. Unfortunately, the people that are impacted are people like me who are happy to pay taxes, but we’re not allowed to speak up when things negatively affect us.”

“He absolutely nailed it,” said Chief Rob Davis. “Our hands are tied. We feel frustration with the justice system. It’s a catch and release. You know, we can arrest somebody, but we don’t have the lawful authority to hold them forever. They’re detained for a very short period of time and they’re back on the street.”

Davis says with the nearly overwhelming drug issues in the city, he sympathizes with Vercillo, and his department is committed to trying to make things better. However, it takes more than just police to help small business owners. They must help themselves, and other agencies need to take some responsibility as well.

“With the safe consumption site, in theory, that should help the problem. Too soon to tell. We had inspector Ascroft at the opioid coalition table, so maybe we will see a change in behavior with that, but it’s too soon to tell. I feel his [Vercillo’s] frustration and we’re committed to make the downtown better.”

It’s not enough though, for Vercillo, who says the needle programs in the city, and the amount of debris left behind associated with drug use, are putting people in danger.

“It’s great to live here, in that it’s convenient. But on the other hand, I’m finding that you have to put up with this kind of behaviour. And it’s scary for some people. I have seniors living here, young women living here. It’s not right. They ought to feel safe.

“This kind of behaviour can’t exist if the downtown is to survive.”