By Sandra Milton
Residents of Lowertown showed that they are very concerned about safety and security in their community. On Monday, January 15 it was standing room only as more than 50 people braved the cold weather to attend a Lowertown Community Association (LCA) meeting on safety and security.
The purpose of the meeting/workshop was to engage people in a discussion of the key issues affecting residents of Lowertown. According to a report by the Community Police Service, from 2016 to 2017 Lowertown saw an increase in sexual assaults, mischief, thefts from vehicles, crimes against the person and crimes against property.
The workshop was structured around five main topics of concern to the community.
- Bylaw Enforcement
- Crime Prevention
- Liquor Licensing
- Neighbourhood Watch
- Sexual Assault
Residents assigned themselves to focus groups associated with the five main topics of concern. Each group was assisted by an expert resource person from a relevant organization, who led the residents in an informal round-table discussion and helped them identify their issues and concerns. After the allotted time, each group decided on three main issues for which they would consider strategies and/or actions needed to help address the issues. Once this task was completed, the meeting reassembled and each focus group presented their three main issues and outcomes for the other groups to consider.
The Bylaw Enforcement participants noted a great frustration because responses to complaints about establishments violating the noise bylaws were slow and ineffective. There are several bars /restaurants in the Byward Market under review for possible violations of the bylaw, but little is known about the violators or the expected outcomes.
The Crime Prevention participants listed a number of issues: drug use (including discarded needles) and dealing; an increased number of injection sites leading to the possibility of more dealing and other related criminal activity; fear of personal safety while walking down certain streets; vagrancy, homelessness and sex work; and break-ins to homes and cars.
The Liquor Licensing participants mentioned that the transferability of bar/restaurant licenses made it easy for owners to change the original purpose of licensed facilities, resulting in lengthened hours of operation. The group felt there was inadequate tracking of infractions.
The Neighbourhood Watch participants considered ways to improve safety in Lowertown communities and streets, and increase personal safety and reduce break-ins by encouraging neighbours to be aware of and look out for each other.
The Sexual Assault participants were concerned that sex work occurs in public spaces, including Bordeleau Park and other areas of Lowertown. There were questions about how residents could safely intervene to ask people if they needed assistance. The walkability of particular streets, the stigma around discussing sexual assault and, if reported, the person`s being taken seriously were also matters of concern.
Many of the outcomes and next steps from the workshop require a forum reaching out to the various community programs, services and agencies, including our councillor, to come up with strategies to focus on and deal with the problems in a community-centred way. Other outcomes and recommendations included increasing awareness of community issues and clearer guidelines on who to contact about various issues or concerns. There were specific calls for a pilot program for violations of bylaws and a revitalization of the Neighbourhood Watch program. It is worth noting that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will have a new website for online complaints as of February 2018.
Many residents articulated that it was a good forum and they felt engaged. The format allowed participants to express their ideas about what should be done to make their community safer; obtain information from experts; and make recommendations as a group. Residents were able to raise their concerns which will help provide guidance for future solutions to the problems.
The LCA would like to thank residents and expert resources for making this meeting a success.
For information on the workshop, issues and outcomes/action please refer to the LCA site: http://www.lowertown-basseville.ca./association.html