COMMUNITY CONCERNS

       The top community issues over the last while include homelessness and the rise in mental health concerns.

      Firstly,  homelessness is frequently a matter of economics, simply not enough money to live on,   in an increasingly more expensive city for a great many.  For some it is a manner of expression and freedom from the constraints of society and for others still, a result of untreated addiction or mental health issues. Each requires different responses to both provide housing and a route out of the cycle of homelessness that many appear trapped in.

      Mental health resources are underfunded but the City cannot even say what the need is because they don’t have accurate information to work with. To deal with that I propose and support that the City develop a city wide survey of residents to establish what is the degree of mental health concerns and issues that they could provide support for. This would need to be in conjunction with the province who should be asked for the funding required,which by having measurable information, strengthens the case the city has for that funding.

      Attempting otherwise, as the City has done several times,  ad hoc and narrow issue driven programs such as needle exchanges and emergency shelters, does not represent a long term solution and has merely shifted the fallout around the city as has been seen with the modular housing program and homeless hotels.

      I sit on the Community Liaison Committee for the Trenton/Cedarvale modular housing site opposite Stan Wadlow Park and my experience with it informs my view that the City has rushed it too much and haphazardly to place much faith in its ability to execute and manage this program well. We also have the city auditor’s report on hotel overcharging as further example of the city being ill prepared to execute and manage this program well. The reasons I hold this view are many but as nearby residents of the area and others will attest, transparency and clear communication with the public was not handled well and does not illicit much faith in it's continuation going forward.

      This would be a tragedy for those the City claims to want to help to end homelessness for and I want to work to ensure that community engagement is more than just obligatory but essential to creating the best possible starting point for success. This is what the local community was able to achieve by demanding better and thereby making it better at this site,  although not perfect for all affected.

      I will continue to monitor the operation of this site going forward, win or lose in this election as it can become the model for success and improvement to the entire program.

      There has also been a rather noticeable decline in the general upkeep of the city that is inexplicable. Being well out the pandemic, there should be no staffing issues that prevent the City from maintaining public spaces from becoming and remaining unkempt or inoperable. The early summer experience at the Woodbine beaches due to a lack of trash cans is an unacceptable lapse but is only one example of what one sees in many other places all over. The opening of park washrooms and public pool facilities was also very spotty and again not a good example of the City being prepared for a full reopening. I will work to ensure there is no repeat of these events.

      Our ward should not be allowed to fall into this state and it will be a priority of mine to see regular maintenance of public spaces returned to better levels with all public facilities ready to go into operation on schedule. The resurgence of rat infestations recently in parts of the city are also symptom of a lack of focus and attention of those in charge of this city responsibility. Past decisions to cut back in the area and allow it to fall onto residents and businesses is failing the public and cannot be allowed to become a regular occurrence. If resources or operational mandates are lacking,  I will vote for their enhancement to deal with this public health issue.