After a report was completed last year outlining the dangers of being a pedestrian in the Downtown Eastside, the city looked for ways to improve safety. Fair enough.

The city granted $65,000 for a study on the subject, not to an engineering firm, as one might suppose, but instead to the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU). Last September, the city gave VANDU $30,000 for a pedestrian safety plan, which included a proposal to place crossing guards along Hastings Street to help people cross the street (don't get me started). In the case of the most recent funds, VANDU hired its own pedestrian safety coordinator Don Buchanan, as well as Lani Russwurm, who lives and works in the Downtown Eastside and has a masters in history from Simon Fraser University, to author the report called "We're All Pedestrians: Final Report of the Downtown Eastside Pedestrian Safety Project." The $65,000 solution Buchanan and Russwurm came up with is a proposal to reduce the speed limit on Hastings Street between Abbott and Jackson streets from 50 kilometres per hour to 30.

This report was commissioned following the publication last July of the joint SFU and University of B.C. report that found a higher percentage of pedestrians were hurt by vehicles on that stretch of Hastings Street than in any other part of the city. But why there was a need for a second report at a cost of $65,000 is beyond me. I realize that while the first report outlines the problems, someone has to come up with solutions. But $65,000?

Buchanan is a former transportation planner with TransLink and studied at UBC, while Russwurm has a vested interest in the Downtown Eastside, so as far as credentials go they're well qualified. Vision Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang told me Buchanan and Russwurm's qualifications were the reason the city gave VANDU the money from its Great Beginnings initiative. Jang also explained the second report was needed to focus on the Downtown Eastside because the first report centred on the entire city.

I have no isssue with slowing down on any road if it means saving lives, so I support the plan for lower speed limits on Hastings Street, but it seems like another step in enabling the whole Downtown Eastside scene. It's frustrating knowing that millions of dollars have poured into that neighbourhood over the decades, but nothing seems to change. And now it appears the attitude has become that since there's nothing we can do about the rampant drug use, dealing, addiction, forced prostitution and crime, we should spend our money catering to people who take no personal responsibility for their actions. Saving people is noble, but this move looks as if everyone involved has simply thrown up their hands in surrender. Cross the street wherever you like, and let me get that crossing guard for you. And while we're at it, is there anything else I can get you? Free heroin? A comfortable place to use drugs? I'm oversimplifying the problems of the Downtown Eastside and its addicts and residents living with mental health problems, but it's time for tough love.

Whenever I write a column criticizing anything to do with the Downtown Eastside, my email box fills immediately with letters from residents thanking me for voicing their opinion. But then the writer always adds "please don't print my name" because it's not politically correct to say anything negative about the Downtown Eastside.

So after spending $65,0000 for the pedestrian safety report, I'm assuming the speed limit along that stretch of Hastings Street will be reduced and once that happens police will be out ticketing drivers for speeding. But tickets for selling speed will continue to be non-existent.

And if the city ever needs to conduct a similar study, they might consider hiring the Courier editorial team. We'll do it for beer and pizza.

sthomas@vancourier.com