VICTORIA—Victoria’s mayor says he’s saddened and disappointed that his home became the target of vandals trying to make a point about homelessness.

Mayor Dean Fortin issued a statement Friday after discovering his home and car had been vandalized with spray paint.

“This incident does nothing to help us solve homelessness in our community,” Fortin said in the statement.

Victoria police were not confirming reports that the incident is linked to actions by unidentified homeless activists, but a letter from those taking responsibility for the vandalism was sent to city hall.

The unsigned letter said “militants” are fighting back after the city “declared war on the poor.”

Fortin was at home with his wife and two young daughters when he discovered a window on his car had been broken and the vehicle and the house had been spray painted.

The letter states the vandals spray painted PG 72 at Fortin’s home to refer to the city area Pandora Green, which is frequented by homeless people, and the recent closure of 72 city shelter beds.

The letter also states the vandals spray painted the letters A, C, A, B, short for All Cops Are Bastards, on the mayor’s car.

The letter states Fortin is responsible for recent City of Victoria bylaws that prevent permanent camping in the Pandora Green neighbourhood, which is near the city’s major homeless facility.

It states the vandalism at Fortin’s home was meant to leave him with a feeling of “shattered middleclass peace.”

It also accuses the police and bylaw officers of brutalizing homeless people.

“If [expletive] Fortin whines about the ‘violence’ inflicted upon his property, we’ll counter that he should instead reflect upon the fact that his own policies inflict violence and hardship on Victoria’s street community every day,” the letter stated.

“Cops regularly brutalize homeless campers, trash their tent homes and confiscate their sleeping bags,” stated the letter. “Now there are 72 new homeless [people] in Victoria created by government policy, but they’re not allowed to sleep in the safety of their community and street lights on Pandora Green.”

Fortin said he ran for council to address the very issue of homelessness and affordable housing, and that there was a need to do more.

“Mayor and council continue to be dedicated to solving homelessness,” his statement said.

Earlier this week, Victoria and B.C. government officials were on hand for the opening of a new $13 million, 84-bed shelter facility that replaces an existing 80-bed emergency homeless shelter in the city’s downtown core.

The letter makes no mention of the new shelter, but takes aim at Fortin and his council, saying their homeless policy involves “killing off the street population.”

The letter warns of further actions.

“It’s time to take the fight directly to the pig politicians and give them a taste of their own medicine,” states the letter, which concludes with, “In Love And Rage.”