Taking money elsewhere

As a resident of over 30 years in the Okanagan, we have had family come stay every summer.

Most come for three or four weeks. They rent cars, go shopping, spend a few nights in luxury hotels like the Eldorado. They spend money at the wineries and local restaurants. They even braved the smoke last year and stayed for a full eight full weeks.

This year, with the rise in crime and drugs in our community and the fact that last year they found downtown Kelowna disgusting, they are taking their tourism dollars elsewhere. And guess what? We are joining them. 

We refuse to spend our money or encourage visitors to come here and spend their hard-earned money in a community that has become known for enabling the drug issue and that has ruined our beautiful area.

Downtown is a joke, with the junkies taking over the whole area. Rutland is no longer to be ventured into as it's become comparable to Vancouver's East Side. Local beaches are littered with dirty needles, condoms and other diseased paraphernalia.

People get robbed at work, at home and during broad daylight so addicts can sell stolen goods to get money for their drugs. 

Not only are the tourists staring to turn away, but hard-working, taxpaying locals are leaving as well. 

I used to be proud to live here. Now, I simply tell people I am from the Okanagan. 

Bethany Wright