Cabbagetown South group no longer expects timely police response

Cabbagetown South remains dissatisfied with police response to local incidents following a discussion with a 51 Division representative at the Sept. 9 residents’ association meeting. Some are calling for a more systematic approach to the problem.

Many residents voiced their concerns about criminal activity and disturbances and delayed police response. Some residents stated that they no longer call the police as the incident in question is often irrelevant by the time the police arrive.

Sergeant Craig Summers of 51 Division assured residents that the police take these issues seriously and are doing everything they can to respond promptly, but their response is limited by their resources and by 51 Division’s population density.

“Community policing relies a lot on the citizens taking some steps,” said Summers, “Not the dangerous steps, but some steps to building a better community.”

Cabbagetown resident Yousi Sedighi has gone a step further by confronting offenders himself. He is aware that he is doing this at great personal risk, having been attacked for his efforts, but he believes it is necessary.

“I see a lot of activity and honestly, I don’t call the cops anymore.

There’s no point. It’s just a waste of my time,” said Sedighi, “That’s scary because as I walked out of the meeting, I didn’t have confidence in the police. I don’t feel like we have rule of law, like there’s somebody I can rely on.”

Many residents believe the solution to Cabbagetown’s disturbances is more complex than improving police response and some, including Cabbagetown South Residents’ Association president Jeff Lookkong, have joined forces with councillor Pam McConnell’s office to take a more systemic approach by looking to abandoned properties, another problem in the area.

“She [McConnell] has been very proactive to address all the problems in our area to do with housing. She wants to take all of these abandoned houses and turn them into affordable and safe housing,” said Lookkong, “People are galvanized, as you can see by the attendance and the questions. There’s going to be a lot more interest.”

Cabbagetown resident Linda Turu elaborated on the systemic nature of the problem.

“It’s unfortunate that this neighborhood has become an catchment area for so many people who are under-housed. Ever since funding has been cut from various levels of the government for community programs, the problem has been concentrated in this neighborhood,” said Turu “It’s not just people from this area that are in the shelters. There are people who are lost in many ways from many other places, so South Cabbagetown is dealing with a problem that is macro and not micro.”

Posted On: October 01, 2015