To the editor:
Re: Letter from Murray Elliott: Writer Makes Rutland Sound Like ‘War Zone:’ Dec. 9 Kelowna Capital News.
Mr. Elliott, maybe “free for all” is a bad use of words, but please do not again try to smear someone you have never met or know nothing about. The phrase “free for all”, as I read it, and I believe Mr. Orydzuk meant, was in the context of there being no enforcement of the laws or bylaws of our fine City of Kelowna.
Odd thing is, that as a resident of Springvalley for the past 24 years, I have witnessed the gradual desecration of our neighbourhood. The reasons being are as expressed by Mr. Orydzuk. If we, as residents, do nothing, before long we will have a neighbourhood that is very undesirable in many ways.
Mr. Elliott, lets compare our neighbourhoods; You live in a court with 14 houses, with one road in and the same road out. We live on what has become a major thoroughfare in close proximity to four arterial roads as well as eight collectors that intersect our street. You live in the corner house at the entrance to the court, and one can’t help notice the huge rocks you have placed along the road in an attempt to stop people from parking near your property.
As for drug dealing Mr. Elliott, we are talking about hard drugs such as cocaine, crystal meth and heroin, not marijuana.This drug dealing is happening on a nightly basis with more than one deal going down every night.
Mr. Orydzuk has been doing his best to try to bring some attention to our neighbourhood for the last nine years. He has had meetings with the RCMP, City of Kelowna, the mayor, and the head of the traffic section, and countless neighbours. Mr. Orydzuk has been walking the streets late at night, as well as chasing vehicles just to get the plate numbers of suspected criminals and excessive speeders.
I personally know of three neighbours who have this activity captured on their security system cameras. Mr. Elliott, pictures and video don’t lie. If you would have contacted Mr. Orydzuk and wanted to see proof of his allegations, I am more than sure that he would have gladly invited you into his home and accommodated you. You, for whatever reason, chose to condemn him.
Mr. Elliott, whether we seek help from the RCMP, or bylaw enforcement, little or nothing is done to remedy ongoing issues. Many of us, have been outright told to sell our houses and move. There are now six of us out on the street at night reporting suspicious activity, slowing down excessive speeders and trying to stop drug deals in front of our homes. We are being branded as constant complainers by law enforcement, and have been threatened that if we keep complaining, they will refuse to respond.
Mr. Elliott, if anything, I would be nominating Mr. Orydzuk for a Civic Award.
Keith Kish, Kelowna
