Editor:
Re: Burnaby’s Metrotown is a crime-ridden mess. I’ve been spit on and I’m leaving, NOW Opinion.
I read the letter to the editor by L. Mills with tears in my eyes because I’ve had my own scary experiences living in the Metrotown area, which has been overrun with mentally ill people and thugs.
I like the area because everything is so close for walking and I don’t drive. I love Crystal Mall. But I don’t like walking anymore and I definitely refuse to do so after it gets dark. This makes things tough in the winter because it gets dark so early.
Normally I would be excited as the days get longer, but I am really not tempted to go out walking much because of all the crazy people there are in Metrotown.
People literally having arguments with themselves, loudly yelling as they wander down the street. I used to think it was just sad but I now fear it. Does the provincial government just dump these people out on the streets?
Then there are all of the little criminals who pull at purses and bump into you trying to steal a wallet. I’ve been swarmed by groups of youth trying to scare me (it works). I’ve been punched in the arm as groups walk by. I’ve been called racist names. They just laugh in your face because there’s nobody around to deal with it.
It’s not every day but it happens enough times that it wears on you. The first time I got swarmed I felt like I had PTSD for months after.
Burnaby has some great neighbourhoods. Metrotown is no longer one of them.
E. Kwong, Burnaby
