Picture it: Lowertown, Ottawa. June, 2018. A new condo owner checks his mail box for the first time and discovers the local community newspaper delivered straight to him. On the cover, his own name printed in the cover story. Quelle coïncidence!
I was delighted to see that the article I wrote for the Ottawa Citizen became a part of the ongoing debate on the neighbourhood’s livability. John Chenier’s piece rightly highlighted the complicated issues involved in making the area a better place to live and visit. Now allow me to take a moment to continue the conversation. First, I must say I have very much enjoyed Lowertown so far and am excited to continue exploring the area, its architecture, parks and shops on offer. A few highlights have been the 100-year-old buildings dotted throughout (discovered with the help of Katharine Fletcher’s Capital Walks) and the Saturday-night drummers on the corner of York and Market Square.
But also during this time, I have noticed the area’s problems, especially exposed during the city’s multiple heatwaves this summer. The population of people traversing along Cumberland between shelters has grown even since I’ve moved, bringing an unsettled atmosphere to the street. I was aware of this problem prior to moving here from reading the press. Now, I can more clearly imagine the difficulties that businesses and the area’s residents have experienced as the homeless population has grown without an adequate increase in services, never mind the problems of traffic and noise that I highlighted in the Citizen. The problems of poverty and mental health are at crisis proportions in the neighbourhood and demand immediate attention from Mayor Jim Watson, MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers and MP Mona Fortier. The neighbourhood is far too important to the city for it to be left bereft and in shambles.
During the upcoming municipal election, these issues must also be vocalized. Tax dollars spent on going round and round in circles must be allocated to actually solving problems and helping people attain a better life than the one visible on King Eddy at Murray or along Cumberland. Join me in writing our local councillor, Chief of Police, and Mayor to advocate for better community policing and improved public health services. By working together, Lowertown’s future is bright indeed.
Anthony Imbrogno