Joe Cotroneo points to recently covered graffiti under the Queensway overpass on Preston Street.
Crime and the relocation of a community police centre dominated a meeting last week between Centretown-based BIAs and Ottawa’s police chief.
Representatives of Centretown merchants’ associations told Chief Charles Bordelau that they are concerned with crime and policing issues, including a lack of communication with the police, questionable massage parlours and vandalism.
Gerry LePage, executive director of the Bank Street BIA, expressed outrage at the relocation of the renamed Somerset Community Police Centre, now renamed the Centretown Community Police Centre, from Somerset Street West to city hall.
He told Bordeleau that although the hours in the previous location were inadequate, the relocation is having a negative impact.
“Now, there is a breakdown in communication between our community and the police,” he said. “Taking the community police station away from the community makes no sense.”
Bordeleau said the police had worked tirelessly to find a better location but found nothing within their budget.
“The fact that it is in city hall doesn’t change anything,” said Bordeleau. “It is still independent and community based,” adding that there are no plans to change the location. LePage also said that there are numerous questionable massage parlours popping up.
“Looks can be deceiving and you can’t make judgments on whether they are therapeutic or sell services which go beyond the purview of their stated services,” LePage said in an interview later. “I think it is something that the police service has to be cognizant about to ensure legitimacy and public safety.”
Grace Xin, executive director of the Somerset Street Chinatown BIA, was also vocal about crime in her area and unsatisfactory communication with the police.
She said there had recently been three robberies that were reported to her BIA rather than to the police.“We used to have regular contact with the police, but not anymore. Our area has a high concentration of immigrants who are afraid of the police,” she said.
She said language barriers and the fact that in their former countries immigrants often weren’t able to trust the police are reasons for this fear.
Bordeleau told the BIAs that he will consider their recommendations when drawing up his crime strategy.
Lori Mellor, executive director of the Preston Street BIA, said that while her community is usually safe, her main issues are with vandalism and graffiti.
She said that the mural under the Queensway on Preston Street and the bollards, or short posts, are common targets for vandalism.
She proposed putting cameras under the Queensway to monitor and deter vandalism.
“I know there aren’t enough resources to have police cars sitting there all the time, so to put a camera there would be a good idea because I’ve had a lot of complaints from business owners because reparations are often costly and time consuming,” Mellor said.
Days after the meeting the Preston Street BIA received an email from Valerie Bietlot, legal counsel to the City of Ottawa, which stated that the BIA will have to investigate whether surveillance cameras are appropriate and whether they will comply with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
In an effort to improve communication between the business community and city hall, Mayor Jim Watson has been holding quarterly meetings to inform all the BIAs in Ottawa about new developments that may affect them and to receive their input.