Vancouver safety focus of special council meeting this week

Public safety in Vancouver’s downtown will be in focus at a special council meeting this week.

The meeting follows a motion passed in March calling for the city to come up with an action plan to address public concerns.

According to Vancouver police, there’s been a rise in crime throughout the city, though their numbers are relatively similar from last year to this year so far.

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Some people in the city, however, have been vocal about related concerns. In response, the city launched in March a two-year pilot project with the hopes of improving safety, access to support services, communication, and maintaining cleanliness.

The project is launching in the Olympic Village, downtown south, and Mount Pleasant areas to start.

City staff, community organizations, and police are all slated to give presentations on Thursday during the special council meeting.