Why We Crack Down on the Poor While Crime Hides in Fancy Houses

Why We Crack Down on the Poor While Crime Hides in Fancy Houses

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

Let’s talk about something that many people feel but few dare to say: while police brag about busts in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), the real crime — the dangerous, organized kind — is thriving in fancy homes and warehouses across Surrey and Richmond.

🚨 Crime Isn’t Always on the Street

We’ve seen constant enforcement in the DTES — people being fined, ticketed, and pushed around for being poor. They’re visible. They’re vulnerable. And they’re easy to blame.

Meanwhile, in places like Surrey and Richmond, the real trouble — the quiet, hidden kind — is happening behind closed doors:

• 💊 Fentanyl labs set up in luxury homes and basements
• 🃏 Illegal gambling dens in upscale condos
• 💸 Money laundering through real estate and luxury cars
• 🚖 Unlicensed ride-hailing rings operating from warehouses and condos
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Human trafficking and worker exploitation in hidden locations

These operations are organized, dangerous, and profitable — and they’re often protected by money, silence, and the illusion of legitimacy.

⚖️ Unequal Justice

Why do we crack down on the poor while real criminals hide in wealth?

• Because poor people are visible.
• Because wealthy criminals blend in.
• Because the system often protects wealth more than it protects truth or fairness.

It’s not just unfair — it’s dangerous. When enforcement is focused on survival crimes and petty offenses, the real threats grow stronger in the shadows.

🧭 What Needs to Change

• 🔍 Shift investigations toward organized, hidden criminal networks
• 🏠 Stop blaming poverty for societal failure
• 📣 Demand transparency about enforcement and police resources
• 🤝 Support real community safety — housing, healthcare, and fairness

🗣️ Let’s Talk About It

If you’re tired of seeing people punished for being poor while criminals in suits or designer hoodies get away with everything — speak up. Ask questions. Write letters. Share your story.

Because justice should not depend on your address or your bank balance.

— Tina Winterlik, Zipolita