A4 The Delta Optimist January 6, 2022
100 YEARS
Public says DPD doing a better job in most key areas
Save 10% On All Junk Removal Pickups Regardless Of Where It’s Located
W
inter has officially arrived, which means many of you will be spending more time inside your homes. It’s the perfect time to treat yourself and start regaining space for 2022. We can help you get your valuable space back by: • Clearing out the garage • Removing old furniture, electronics, and other household items • Emptying a storage locker • Dropping off reusable items to charities • Getting rid of renovations debris • And so much more!
Schedule a pickup before January 31st. We will be offering
10% OFF for all outside, inside and
apartment pickups in Tsawwassen and Ladner. This means you can leave your items inside your home or apartment and our truck team of 2 will do all the loading and lifting for you.
505-Junk has helped thousands of residents in South Delta regain space in their homes. Many of you continue to frequently use our service, and we appreciate you keeping your business local. To the rest of South Delta, we would like to help you as well.
To book your pickup with 505-Junk and receive a price estimate, phone (604) 505-5865 today. Our friendly team answers phones and emails 7-days per week. You can also book online at 505junk.com/deltacleanup using promo code DeltaCleanUp. We look forward to seeing you, and for you to enjoy the new space in your home!
We will now be accepting bagged clothing donations for free during your scheduled junk removal pickup. Clothing will be brought to a charity to support local community initiatives.
In a public survey conducted in 2021 by Delta Police, respondents said they thought the DPD had improved in what they considered areas of top importance, compared to a survey from 2018. The survey was conducted between January and June 2021, and was marketed through DPD social media and newspaper advertising. An external company designed the survey and analysed the results and the survey has a margin of error of 6.69 per cent. “I think the results show how dedicated our police officers and police staff are, and also reflect the high quality of the work that’s being done,” says Chief Neil Dubord. “I’m proud of the way our people listen to the community’s concerns. Many here in the DPD also live in Delta, and I think that contributes to the obvious commitment.” Both the 2018 and 2021 surveys asked respondents what issues were most important to them, as well as how they felt DPD was performing in addressing those concerns. In the 2021 survey, violent crime took top
ranking, likely driven in part by the ongoing gang conflict and May 1 homicide in Delta. The results in part: Violent Crime – 84 per cent felt DPD is doing a good/very good job, up from 66 per cent in 2018. Visible Policing – 64 per cent felt DPD is doing a good/very good job, up from 47 per cent in 2018 Property Crime – 66 per cent felt DPD is doing a good/very good job, up from 59 per cent in 2018 All three were rated in the top five priorities by the public. In all the survey asked residents and those who work in Delta about 12 key factors. “The public rated us as improved in 10 out of the 12 areas, and we also saw a reduction in the gap between people’s expectations and what they felt was the reality of policing here,” added Dubord. Another area that saw significant improvement was in theft from vehicles. Eighty per cent of respondents felt police were doing a good job, compared to 48 per cent in 2018. “We know that’s been a big priority for the public, and we continue to priori-
tize this issue, including keeping tabs on custody status of prolific offenders, information sharing with Metro Vancouver police departments, even undercover work when that tactic is deemed suitable,” said Dubord. The survey was also important to the DPD in providing direction on the areas that the public deems important. According to the survey results, the public feels the biggest future impacts on policing are: Internet scams with 79 per cent of respondents feel pose the greatest impact. A growing population was flagged by 74 per cent of those surveyed Organized crime was a concern of 73 per cent Rounding out the top concerns, 70 per cent were concerned about the ongoing impact of the pandemic. “Overall, Delta residents showed no significant change in the importance of the 12 key police services, and, more noteworthy during a pandemic year, residents rated the performance of police as better than in 2018,” Dubord said.
Late fines ending at all FVRL locations Fraser Valley Regional Library is ending late fines permanently as of Jan. 1. Throughout the pandemic, no late fines have incurred and as of Dec. 8, 2021 the 15 elected officials who compose the FVRL board voted to continue this initiative indefinitely. The ending of late fines is part of FVRL’s approach to continue to help remove barriers for customers and encourage increased use and access to the collection. “We know how helpful and potentially life-changing removing late fines can be. This was a well-thought-out
decision that has a big impact on supporting people, creating harmony, and building stronger communities,” said FVRL board chair Gayle Martin. This change does not include fees incurred for lost or damaged materials. The same fee structure will still apply. Customers with existing fines will be granted the option of removing some or all of these fines with an upcoming 2022 forgiveness campaign. “We recognize that many people are struggling right now and finances are tight. We care and we want to help,” added FVRL CEO
Scott Hargrove. “There can be a lot of fear or stress surrounding late fines. Most of the time we see customers accrue late fines unintentionally – missed bus, sick kid, working late. This minor mishap can seriously hurt household budgets, use of the library, and stress levels. We want to welcome people into the library and help alleviate some pressure.” To learn more about FVRL’s services, collection, hours of operation, FVRL Express, eCard sign up, virtual programs and digital content, please visit www. fvrl.ca or call your local library.
