Leslieville residents resign from committee created to address safety concerns over lack of action

Multiple residents and business owners who joined the Safer Communities Committee in Leslieville following the fatal shooting of a mother of two have resigned over “the disturbing lack of interest in immediate and meaningful change toward community safety.”

In a release Wednesday, they say the committee was formed in partnership with the South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) after Karolina Huebner-Makurat was shot and killed on July 7. She was hit by a stray bullet after a group of three men were in an altercation nearby, and two of them fired guns at each other, police said.

Three people have since been arrested in the shooting, including one person who was employed as a health worker at the health centre at the time of the shooting.

Those who joined said the Centre’s leadership showed a “disdain” for resident concerns. They blame the Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) program hosted by the Centre for the safety issues that have cropped up in the neighbourhood.

“There is continued drug dealing, visible drug use, used needles left in playgrounds, theft, and violent behaviour towards area kids, residents and businesses. The lack of interest and action has left locals with no choice,” read the release.

A statement from SRCHC Interim Board Chair and member of the Safer Community Committee, Emily Hill, said they value the contribution of these members, but are “disappointed that some individuals have chosen to step away from the SCC before the recommendations are finalized.”

“We will continue to work with all community members who want to help us address community safety issues,” continued the statement.

Residents who resigned from the committee have now created their own grassroots group called Leslieville Neighbours for Community Safety. They are calling on Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones to immediately relocate the site away from the schools and daycares in the area.

Derek Finkle, one of the residents who resigned from the committee, said the SCS wasn’t focused on issues they could control or accountability.

“I think the committee was kind of a long-term stunt in a way because it was set up to examine safety issues in the community. But the biggest safety issue it wasn’t willing to look at was itself,” said Finkle.

They are also demanding the SRCHC undergoes a reapplication of any future provincial funding or federal exemptions and a full examination of the “dangerous mismanagement of the site.”

“The fact that these sites supposedly saves lives, yes, I’m sure they do. But they also are causing huge amount of damage … physical damage, emotional damage, financial damage to the businesses, and it all has to be weighed.”

Finkle said the church nearby has fenced off one of the main areas of concerns, but it’s simply moved across the street into the school yard.

“It’s a lot harder for people to congregate in that space now, but what hasn’t really changed is that we still are dealing with a fair amount of drug dealing,” said Finkle.

“I think what a lot of us are struggling with is why the health and wellbeing of a rare, fairly small group of users that receive these needles overrides the health and wellbeing of hundreds, a much larger group, of children that use that newly refurbished space a lot.”

Needles can be seen in a play area close to the South River Community Health Centre which runs a Consumption and Treatment Services site. CITYNEWS/Faiza Amin

Another resident in the new group, Ashley Kea, said her main concern is that things are getting worse.

“It’s just going to keep growing. It’s going to continue to escalate. We’re going to continue to see more people using within the streets. We’re going to find more needles, more drugs on the street. And we’re going to see people dying or kids are going to see the people overdosing in the streets as well,” said Kea.

Kea said she wants to see more needle boxes available.

“I personally would like to see needle boxes throughout the city. They have to be easier. I personally don’t have a problem picking up the needles if I have somewhere to put them. But right now, we’re on our own as residents,” she said.

Christiane Tetreault with Leslieville BIA said they have asked for aid and support from the health centre repeatedly since it first opened.

“It’s been very traumatic for the staff, unsure of how to manage those types of situations. The staff is in the small businesses and retail storefronts. We are not equipped or trained to handle anyone with issues coming from the center.”

She added lots of businesses have dealt with break-ins repeatedly.

“One of our members was held at gunpoint, about four weeks ago, and constantly we have someone going into stores stealing tip jars on a regular basis,” explained Tetreault.

A spokesperson for the Minister of Health tells CityNews that based on input received from the community, “There is clear concern that trust has been damaged with South Riverdale Community Health Centre’s CTS site.”

“CTS sites are expected to build trust in the communities where they are located through consultation and ongoing engagement, and we understand the importance of community feedback in this matter,” read a statement from a spokesperson of the Minister.

The statement said that following the incident, the ministry launched a review of all sites beginning with Riverdale, including consulting with Public Health, reviewing complaints and developing a new critical incident reporting process.

“As the ministry continues the review, we will explore all appropriate options to ensure safe communities for all.”

The Associate Minister of Health also announced Thursday the province will not approve new supervised consumption and treatment sites while a review of all sites is underway.

Finkle tells CityNews a group of lawyers from the neighbourhood plan to file a class action lawsuit against the SRCHC and those who are responsible for the oversight of the center, but further details have yet to be released at this time.

“I think what we really need is for our elected officials, to listen to what the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2011, which is harm reduction can’t come at the expense of public safety,” said Finkle.