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LAUSANNE

Lausanne man uses social media to flush out drug dealers

Frustrated over a lack of action to counteract drug dealers in downtown Lausanne, a city resident has launched a Facebook page to combat the illegal activity.

Lausanne man uses social media to flush out drug dealers
Title image for the Facebook group

The “Stop dealers Lausanne” page invites people to provide information and photos to shine a light on a drugs scene in the Vaud capital that has raised ongoing political concerns.

The Facebook page is attracting 9,000 visits a day and gained media attention for its ability to mobilize support for petitions through photos and commentary.

The goal of the initiative is to “wake up the collective minds of Lausanne residents,” the 28-year-old creator of the page, who prefers to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told Le Matin.ch.

“I am not a racist nor an extremist nor a politician but a simple citizen who is fed up,” he said.

The page was launched in April, with internet users invited to post photos of drug dealing in their neighbourhoods.

It has succeeded in gathering two petitions, one with 736 signatures, the other with 250, seeking city hall action to deal with problems in the neighbourhoods of Tunne, Riant-Mont, Valentin and the Rue Saint-Roch.

The creator of the page said he was motivated to act after being startled to see an illegal drugs user shooting up in front of his apartment building.

His determination to do something only increased when a law enforcement official ticketed his vehicle for an infraction while a dozen dealers were carrying out their activities nearby.

The official told him he was not contracted to deal with drug issues.
 
“There, I told myself, we have a big problem. It was time to get people together and the best way was Facebook.”    

The handling of drug problems in Lausanne has become politically charged, with the former local government member in charge of police quitting recently over criticism that he was not dealing adequately with the issue.

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EMPLOYMENT

Hear ye, here ye! This Swiss city is looking for a town crier

Can you carry a tune? Are you a night owl? If so, this job posting in Switzerland may be up right up your (cobblestone) alley. Here’s how you can submit an application for this… very high position.

Hear ye, here ye! This Swiss city is looking for a town crier
The hat and coat are optional for the job. Photo by Lausanne Tourisme

As far as unusual employment opportunities go, this one from Lausanne is — quite literally — tops.

The city, which employs one of Europe’s last remaining town criers, is looking for people to fill this position on part-time basis.

What’s a town crier?

In Lausanne’s case, it is a person who announces the hours every night between 10 pm and 2 am from the bell tower of the city’s imposing Gothic cathedral, a landmark overlooking the roofs of the picturesque Old Town.

The workplace: Lausanne Cathedral. Photo by Lausanne Tourisme

The person who will assume this position will continue a tradition that this city in the canton of Vaud has cherished since 1405.

These are the requirements for the job:

  • To watch over the city each night
  • Announce each hour on the hour between 10pm and 2am in a melodious voice (in French, but knowledge of foreign languages is a plus)
  • Be able to climb 53 stone steps to the cathedral’s bell tower
  • Not have a criminal record
  • No falling asleep on the job
  • Have a business apprenticeship certificate (we are not sure why)

This is 365-days-a-year job, but the new hire will share the position with other criers.

Interested? This is how you can apply.

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