Nanaimo business owner ‘aghast’ after downtown security patrols ended; Council reinstates service
NANAIMO — Security patrols are returning to downtown Nanaimo after councillors were apparently caught off guard by the fact they ever stopped.
On Monday night, Council passed a motion to reinstate the hired security in response to ongoing concerns around public safety. The motion came after Victoria Crescent Association president Kevan Shaw implored Council to take action.
“Our downtown needs the help, it needs it now. We need some action now, some boots on the ground….No more talk, no more sandwiches, no more coffees,” Shaw said.
Shaw told NanaimoNewsNOW he, other downtown business owners and even bylaw officers were “shocked” to find out the security patrols would end, instead of lasting until the end of the year like they’d thought. He said he found out about the change on Nov. 22 from one of the Footprints employees, two days after he raised the issue of downtown security with Council at a Nov. 20 meeting.