A long-running dispute between a Centretown restaurateur and the city’s needle-exchange van seems to have been resolved. Thomas Stamoulis, owner of Mystiko Greek Kitchen and Wine Bar, says the city notified him that in the future the van will stay at least one block from his restaurant.
Stamoulis says he got the news Feb. 9 from Andrew Hendriks, program manager for infectious disease prevention and control.
“I asked how he would feel about the van stopping in his backyard,” says Stamoulis. “He didn’t answer.”
Ottawa police say they now consider the matter closed.
“The two parties have come to an agreement, so the issue is resolved,” says Staff Sgt. Roger Giasson of the Ottawa police. He says complaints from business owners about the needle-exchange program are unprecedented and that this conflict has been an isolated one.
Sacha Morazain says he also had concerns about the needle-exchange van when he lived near James and Kent streets in 2005.
“We heard the police weren’t allowed within a certain distance of the van, so my wife was worried there might be an area of lawlessness surrounding it,” says Morazain.
Stamoulis says he has had “at least” 10 run-ins with the needle-exchange van over the past few years because they park in front of his restaurant. He says the van’s presence at the 281 Kent St. location hurts business because it scares off customers.
“They’ve even parked in my parking lot,” says Stamoulis.
Linda Chan, owner of Coriander Thai Cuisine, across the street from Mystiko, says she has also been unhappy with the van’s presence.
“There are too many strange people around,” says Chan. “It’s bad for business.”
The situation came to a head in January when a confrontation led to Stamoulis laying assault charges against one of the van’s staff.
Stamoulis caught the incident on his cellphone, and says one of the staff tried to knock the phone out of his hand. Stamoulis can be heard in the video urging the staff member to hit him and break his phone.
Police reviewed the footage and determined no crime had been committed.
“I wasn’t injured,” says Stamoulis, shrugging, when asked if he is disappointed at this decision.
Stamoulis also says he has found used needles in the alley behind his restaurant, something his neighbours seem unaware of.
“I’ve never seen a needle lying around, probably because the van comes by and collects them,” says Robyn Keon, who owns a condo next door to Mystiko. “I think we should be grateful they keep our neighbourhood safe.”
In fact, a 2009 city report indicates the program actually collects more needles than it distributes with a 141-per-cent retrieval rate.
Keon says that Mystiko is a relative newcomer to the neighbourhood, which has what she calls a “diverse population.”
“We have the drop-in centre and the methadone clinic all within a block,” says Keon. “You can’t expect to set up a business downtown and have the community adapt to meet your expectations.”
Meanwhile, the agreement is being greeted with cautious optimism by the two restaurateurs.
Chan says it is a good start, but she’s not sure one block is far enough to keep the van’s users from wandering over and scaring her customers.
Stamoulis says he is satisfied with the current solution provided the van’s staff adhere to the new guidelines outlined by Hendriks.
“We’ll see,” says Stamoulis. “I have his word.”