Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi believes his city is at a crossroads
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Vancouver is at a crossroads. The City’s selective enforcement of laws — applying strict codes and penalties to businesses and property owners, while allowing unchecked violations on public lands — is not just bad policy, it is fundamentally unjust.
Environmental laws are ignored when public property is polluted. ADA requirements are overlooked when sidewalks are blocked. Building codes and land use rules are enforced against some, while encampments and makeshift structures face no consequence. Roads meant for safe travel are instead used for long-term living, creating hazards for all.
Meanwhile, law-abiding citizens are held to the letter of the law, fined, cited, and burdened with compliance costs. What message does this send? That accountability depends not on the law, but on who you are or where you are.
Alternative courts and diversion programs may have their place, but they cannot excuse the City’s failure to enforce the most basic protections for the environment, public safety, and community standards. Equal protection under the law is not optional; it is a constitutional promise.
When government abandons neutrality, it loses credibility. When it sacrifices fairness in the name of convenience or political expediency, it alienates the very citizens it serves.
Vancouver must do better. It must enforce its laws equally — for every resident, on every property, public or private — to preserve the integrity of the City, protect our environment, and rebuild public trust.
Peter Bracchi
Vancouver
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