The town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay is once again urging the provincial government to take action on public safety issues in the town.

The town has been voicing concerns about public safety issues for years.

Nearly two years ago the provincial government of the day completed a public safety review for the area, complete with recommendations on ways to address some of the long-standing issues. However, the problems persist.

The town cites recent issues involving intoxicated people, aggressive behavior, harassment, and other inappropriate actions in public spaces that have left people feeling “unsafe, frustrated, and upset.”

They say some of the incidents have been shared on social media, and are not isolated. Rather, they believe it reflects “a pattern of behavior” that has been seen for years.

The town stresses that while homelessness, addiction, and mental health are all complex issues that need coordinated responses, public safety needs to be a priority.

The town is making a number of calls to the province, including for enhanced policing and municipal enforcement resources, expanded mental health and addictions supports, appropriate detox-related resources, and a public safety strategy tailored to the unique needs of the town.