West End groups applaud drug crackdown by police

Several groups in the Maryland-Sherbrook community say they support the police service’s recent crackdown on open drug use and trafficking because of the escalating threat of violence to residents as they shop, go to school and pick up food.

“We continue to strongly believe in essential supports for those experiencing addiction, but it must come with measures to protect immediate threats to public safety. All levels of government should be co-ordinating with one another to address these issues,” says an open letter released Tuesday from business and property owners, residents, employees, community organizations, and stakeholders “committed to a safer, stronger West End.”

That includes the West End BIZ, the Lions Manor, Winnipeg School Division, West Broadway Youth Outreach and the Just Like New To You Thrift Shop.

The group says they can no longer stay silent because that would be irresponsible.

“In the last five months, our community has experienced a significant increase in daytime robberies and stabbings, multiple fires set in business vestibules, break-ins, threats to children and other vulnerable people including seniors living in our neighbourhood and those accessing community programs, as well as serious threats and assaults against area employees, volunteers and health-care workers,” the letter says.

They want urgent action and say they support the police blitz against public drug use from June 24 to July 3.

In some instances, members of the public have had to walk around people using drugs outside a fast-food outlet on Portage Avenue at Sherbrook Avenue, drugs have been consumed in a business vestibule and in a bus shelter. At Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool, at 381 Sherbrook St., the city introduced new security measures, including remote door locks that require patrons to buzz in before entering the public facility. The union that represents staff had threatened to file a grievance about the lack of response to dangerous incidents.

On Tuesday, Sheldon Heidebrecht, whose parents live at Lions Manor on Sherbrook Street, said he’s seen people use drugs on the street.

“My parents and I enjoy sitting on the balcony upstairs and watching the world go by, and that tends to lead to seeing all kinds of things. An incredible amount of emergency services are constantly within a block of this place. So that is probably a bad sign,” he said.

He wants all three levels of government to take action on further police enforcement.

Edna James, a senior who uses a walker and lives at Lions Manor, said the more enforcement, the better.

“We need more police because there’s a bunch of homeless people who do drugs,” said James.

She’d like to see brighter lights, or “spotlights” to be installed in the area to deter unsafe behaviour.

Alvina Hornbrook said she doesn’t feel safe at times, and while she wants to a greater police presence, she also wants more support for people who do drugs.

“I’ve seen a lot of assaults and violence,” said the seniors home resident. “People ODing over there in the corner. Personally I don’t feel safe at times, because there are a lot of crazies.”

At the time police launched the clampdown, they said it had been triggered by months of complaints from residents, business owners and others, who had demanded action be taken.

Several outreach groups, including West Central Women’s Resource Centre and Resource Assistance for Youth, denounced the police operation, saying drug users were pushed into less visible places where they couldn’t get help. They also said police took away harm-reduction supplies.

The Maryland-Sherbrook community says the violence and drug use is unacceptable and deeply damaging to the area.

“We felt the response the city was giving made a lot of sense given the urgency and seriousness of the issues,” said Joe Kornelsen, executive director of the West End BIZ.

“Everybody wants to be safe and it’s critical that everybody is safe. So ensuring there’s enforcement to ensure that safety — to reduce the violence — is key.”

He said he wants more enforcement efforts to address the short-term issues, alongside medium- to long-term solutions to address the root causes of crime, including substance abuse and mental health problems.

The letter’s authors say the dangerous behaviour occurs close to Gordon Bell High School, several daycares, the University of Winnipeg, and Lions Manor.

“Taking no action will lead to the perpetuation of cyclical violence and trauma as toddlers are exposed to violence, high school students are exposed to gangs and drugs and employees, volunteers and health-care workers feel afraid to go to work in their neighbourhood.”

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca