Editorial
Friday, August 1, 1997

The violence must be stopped

All North American cities experience crime waves every once in a while.

Unfortunately for Yellowknife, the tsunami we're riding right now is a particularly violent one that must be stopped before it goes any further. The question is, how does a city go about halting random muggings and beatings in its downtown core?

Mounties say they have handled about 50 complaints over the last two weeks about such incidents. They range from victims being verbally threatened to being beaten so badly they require hospital care.

In one case, one young man was beaten so badly his parents didn't even recognize him when they first saw him in a hospital bed.

What's particularly disturbing about this situation is that police fear a group of thugs is trying to start up an organized gang, with membership requirements based on acts of violence.

Some members of the community have hinted that if police don't do something about the level of violence in the core, the result may be vigilantism.

This is the last thing any city needs -- residents forming lynch mobs bent on cleaning up the city's streets and teaching thugs "a lesson."

This only leads to more violent confrontations and can also result in more innocent blood being shed on city streets.

The community does have every right to demand action and must also be involved in finding a solution to this crime wave. But city officials, police and bylaw officers must take the lead role in not only ensuring that Yellowknifers are safe, but also that the people who are perpetrating these brutal acts of violence are brought to justice.

It is only through community co-operation and pro-active policing that we can stop the bloodshed before the downtown core -- and so far it is just the downtown core -- becomes an after-hours war zone.


Radio Free Yk

A few weeks back, Yellowknife amateur singer-songwriter Travis Armour won a songwriting contest sponsored by CJCD. It was good to see the radio station take an active role in supporting local talent.

But the artist had a hard time convincing the station's management to give a recording of the song any airtime. CJCD eventually caved in, but still refuses to give the inoffensive love tune afternoon play.

We're not qualified to judge the song on artistic merits, but one wonders why, if it was good enough for an award, why isn't it good enough for the airwaves? Yellowknife musicians deserve better from the only popular-music radio signal in the city.


Safe driving

Next time you get pulled over by the RCMP, it may be for good driving, instead of bad. The RCMP have decided to reward people for safe driving habits.

A little positive reinforcement is always welcome and a gesture like this can only strengthen the relationship between the police and the community.

However, we do see problems. Jaywalkers' sense of timing will be thrown off when all the oncoming traffic obeys the speed limit. And what about long lines of vehicles, turn signals blinking, waiting patiently to make legal turns at the stoplight?

Yellowknife will never be the same.