Montreal claims to be making “unprecedented efforts” to reduce the feeling of insecurity that has worsened since the beginning of the summer in the east of the Village, according to several merchants. Cases of vandalism and problems related to homelessness are aggravating the situation in this sector, where many are even considering closing their terraces.
“We are extremely sensitive to the vitality and social climate in the Village sector and we are currently making unprecedented efforts in the sector, with the SPVM, the CIUSSS and community partners, to improve the situation and the feeling of security,” the executive committee’s head of social inclusion and homelessness, Josefina Blanco, said on Sunday.
Earlier, The Press reported that many restaurant and bar owners are calling for increased police and community resources from the City of Montreal. “Customers no longer come, they are afraid. We went from a full bar every Friday and Saturday to serving four or five people, ”explained, for example, the manager of the Expose cabaret, Martin Barrette.
The bar Le Cocktail also deplores a marked drop in customers. Its owner, Luc Généreux, plans to close his terrace, which costs him more than it brings in. “There are often people on the street who are screaming, who are impaired, who are fighting. People finish their drinks and leave. […] They take drugs, drink alcohol. The police walk past them and do nothing,” he laments.
Again Sunday morning, an 18-year-old young man was stabbed in the area, at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Hubert streets, after a conflict that would have degenerated.
The opposition adviser, Julien Hénault-Ratelle, regretted Sunday “the lack of proactivity of the administration” in this file. The councilor recalled having presented three months ago “a series of solutions to deal with the challenges experienced by the citizens and merchants of the Village”. “It is the commercial vitality of this artery which is at stake”, he judged.
More police and EMMIS
The City maintains that it has recently deployed “increased police forces” in the east of the Village. About 40 additional resources have been deployed there recently. “We also make sure to strengthen the tools offered to merchants, at all levels,” says Ms.me White.
“We have also made sure to develop a direct link between traders and EMMIS [Équipe mobile de médiation et d’intervention sociale] for rapid intervention in situations of conflict in the public space, issues of social cohabitation or for an appropriate response to situations of increased vulnerability of homeless people”, persists the elected municipal official.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Montreal maintains that it has recently deployed “increased police forces” in the east of the Village. In our photo, the manager of the Expose cabaret, Martin Barrette.
She reiterates that the City “remains aware that the needs are significant”. “We are committed to continuing to provide all the necessary efforts, to invest to help the most vulnerable and traders to remedy the situation in the Village”, she still advances in this direction.
The City also ensures that it is in “close communication” with the Village’s Commercial Development Company (SDC). “We proactively communicated [samedi] with a trader in the sector, by offering him a meeting quickly to coordinate with him to respond to the issues observed”, explains in passing Mme White.
Fewer people on the street
At the provincial level, the Member of Parliament for Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques, Manon Massé, says she understands that traders “are shaken and worried”. “There has been a neglect of governments for years. The solution cannot be to close all the terraces in the village, these are important places, ”she notes.
“Acts of violence must be contained, but the distress in the village is a complex issue on which I have been working for years with community organizations in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, these organizations continue to see their funding reduced: that means fewer workers on the street and supervised consumption centers more often closed,” insists Ms.me Massé, saying he was waiting “impatiently” for government commitments and an action plan from the City.
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) plans to “add around twenty” special constables to its network by November. Everything will be done “gradually” starting in the fall.
These agents could, among other places, be deployed near Beaudry station, in Le Village, as well as at Berri-UQAM or elsewhere. About twenty “safety ambassadors”, able to detect conflict situations without however intervening, will also be hired, as will another twenty additional station maintenance workers.
With Lea Carrier, The Press