OPEN LETTER TO City of Moncton / Ville de Moncton/Dawn Arnold
Here was the scene this morning on my back deck. Two seemingly homeless people getting awakened by the RCMP Moncton and asked to simply “Move Along”. They were noticed by my Office Manager that was showing up for work.
As they slowly gathered some of their items, I noticed a handheld torch left on my furniture and I grabbed it. Visibly upset, the man asked for it back. I told him in less polite terms to get off my property. I was overwhelmed in rage and frustration. Frustration that stems from what seems like a never-ending issue that currently has no end in sight and only appears to be becoming bigger.
The man and woman obliged and eventually left via the rear exit, escorted by the two police officers. Knowing this had to be a common occurrence, I asked one of the officers “Is there not anything else you can do? Is there no other consequence?”. Long story short, the answer was no…
About 5 minutes later, I spotted them in front of my house again. They had just walked around the block back to my address. Eventually they continued. Likely moving on until they need to find another place to rest, and the cycle continues.
I have had similar run-ins recently, but with the local by-law enforcement officers, same result.
In the last year, my girlfriend has been confronted by a homeless man wielding a knife, I have intercepted masked homeless men attempting to break in my adjacent property in broad daylight while I was with my daughter, and so many other instances of homeless people wandering in our yard and attempting to access our properties. This has sadly become the normal and I am sick of it.
How is this acceptable? How can we be proud of Downtown Moncton? Where is the accountability? Where are our elected officials?
I chose to invest in our downtown. I have bought properties and have started my small business in the last year. I believe that our downtown can thrive. But how can we kid ourselves that Downtown Moncton Centre-ville is an attractive place for investors with this going on? It is hard enough to start or run a viable business nowadays without having to deal with additional costs related to security or damages.
There are many programs and efforts I have seen recently that I am extremely hopeful for. I applaud the efforts of Rising Tide and The Humanity Project as they seem to be making real efforts to help those who seek it. But what happens to those who choose not to get help and keep wandering the streets? Other individuals and organizations have seemed to try as well, just to eventually get discouraged seemingly.
Sure, for the most part these people are likely harmless and are seeking a comfortable place to get some rest. But how can I trust that? How can I take that risk? What if this is the one time that I encounter someone violent? I am worried for my staff, I am worried for my clients and I am worried for my family. Shouldn’t my 5-year-old daughter be safe on her own back deck in her own backyard???
I am sick of it.
I am sick of seeing this behaviour enabled. I understand these are humans in need, but it’s getting harder to be empathetic and I am now consciously CHOOSING to value the safety of my staff and family over my empathy at this point.
I am sick of empty promises, I am sick of waiting, I am sick of excuses, I am sick of blame shifting, I am sick of applauding temporary measures, I am sick of band-aid solutions, I am sick of hiding the issue…
During the World Junior Hockey Championships, when Moncton was showcased to the world, the problem seemed to have temporarily disappeared. That of course was just more false hope.
I am calling out the City of Moncton / Ville de Moncton, Dawn Arnold and our other elected officials.
What is being done? I am seeing no progress. The system doesn’t work, there is NO system!!
Create new by-laws, simply ENFORCE your current by-laws and take actual drastic action.
Many other Cities have come across the same issue and it has been addressed. Learn from them and take action!
BE BETTER!
A concerned and frustrated business owner and citizen of Downtown Moncton.
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