B.C. election: Downtown Vancouver BIA wants safety plan [Video]

The business association for the downtown core is calling on parties running candidates in the upcoming provincial election to lay out their visions for improving public safety in Vancouver.

Downtown Van launched a social media campaign called “Better Safe Than Sorry” on Tuesday and says it hopes to highlight the serious issues of public safety and street disorder as voters consider their options over the next few weeks.

“Our members have been struggling with significant challenges related to community safety downtown,” said Downtown Van CEO Jane Talbot. “Whether that’s theft, property damage, employee retention, customers not feeling safe – it’s taking a toll. The status quo is not working and it needs to stop.”

She said high-profile random violence, including a Sept. 4 attack that left one man dead and another with a severed hand, can deter members of the public from venturing downtown.

The attack began near the Cathedral …