At a Jan 6 neighbourhood meeting, Police Inspector Heinz Kuck from 51 Division talked about graffiti.  Of the 7 major categories of graffiti, the most prevalent is “hip hop”, of which there are 3 types:  tagging (single colour, done in a few seconds), throw-up (2 colour) and “piece” (multi-colour, 3 dimensional).  Less prevalent categories include gang and hate crime graffiti.  Since graffiti can be done in a few seconds, persons are rarely caught; during the past year, the police charged only 18 persons for graffiti in 51 Division.  Widespread graffiti in Corktown is a relatively recent phenomenon, unlike the entrenched “street art” of Queen West.

The police have a 5 point “Graffiti Eradication Program” to help communities.  When enforced, a city bylaw can compel a property owner to remove grafitti from their private property (except during winter months).  For public property (according to the city website):  “City staff will remove graffiti on city owned buildings, overpasses, bridges, and public parks … within a 72-hour period to prevent further proliferation.”

If citizens see persons in the act of creating graffiti, that activity can be reported to 911.  After the fact, the property owner can also report the graffiti to the police.  Inspector Kuck observed that a building which already has a few graffiti tags will quickly attract more graffiti; whereas a surface kept totally clean of graffiti is less likely to be tagged.

Councillor Pam McConnell and her assistant met for a full 2 hours on Oct 8, with approximately 15 residents who live in Cabbagetown South. (It seems that a strong, well organized residents association can have sufficient influence to warrant regular attention from the city councillor.)

More than an hour was spent discussing problems with the new recycling and garbage bins.  Pam suggested that front-yard storage of these bins was unsightly, and if a resident has no other storage option, then they should quality for bag pickup instead, if requested.  Several attendees complained about trespassers (persons coming into a private backyard or front porch, to search their bins for deposit-return bottles).  It was suggested that once winter snowbanks have accumulated, our narrowed sidewalks will be impassible when cluttered with bins; Pam doesn’t believe bins will be any problem in the winter.

Meeting attendees complained about other problems, which are similar to those encountered by Trefann residents:  the poor state of repair of their potholed streets, garbage dumped in parks not cleaned up for several days, poor maintenance of individual houses owned by TCHC.  Seven “police surveillance” cameras were installed in the Dundas Street East and Sherbourne Street area (51 Division) for a 6-month pilot (Nov 2007 - April 2008); meeting attendees thought the level of prostitution and drug dealing had increased, now that the cameras have been removed.  If a neighbourhood identifies a location where illegal activity frequently occurs, it will be added to the “directed patrols” list (ie. police will drive by that location several times each day).  Pam mentioned that the police are currently preparing their new business plan.  Cabbagetown South lamented that they no longer get a small financial donation from the city’s film liaison office, as happened in the past.

A local “photo opportunity” Aug 22 for our city councillor Pam McConnell (and also for the new boss at Police 51 Division, Superintendent Kimberley Greenwood): the unveiling of an attractively landscaped pie-shaped piece of land immediately north of the crosswalk at Shuter + Sumach. The garden and grass area are approximately 1400 square feet and cost $35,000. Lots of police in attendance at this ribbon-cutting ceremony, including at least 2 constables equipped with Tasers (fortunately, the small crowd was well behaved).

More pictures …

Previously, a larger garden was built just north of here, in the spring of 2006: “a memorial flower garden for people killed in Regent Park. The garden was created and is tended by community leaders in Regent Park, with the involvement of youth who are at risk of becoming involved in crime and violence.”

Now, if only the city could be prodded to make similar landscaping improvements at other nearby TCHC properties, such as the fence and gardens surrounding Moss Park Apartments, those residents could similarly “take pride” in their neighbourhood.

After months of debate, discussion and recollection of fond memories, Trefann Court formally withdrew its membership from the Toronto Police 51 Division CPLC on June 16, 2008. This letter was both read out loud at the CPLC meeting, and handed to the Superintendant of 51 Division.

If anyone has any questions, comments and/or concerns, please feel free to contact any member of the Steering Committee.

Toronto Police Service
51 Division
51 Parliament Street
Toronto, Ontario

Attention: Superintendent

Re: Community Police Liaison Committee (the “CPLC”)

It is with regret that the Trefann Court Residents Association (“TCRA”), a founding member of the 51 Division CPLC, has determined that the TCRA is withdrawing its membership in the CPLC effective immediately. A resolution to withdraw from the CPLC was passed at the last meeting of the Steering Committee

The TCRA Steering Committee has concerns that the CPLC appears to openly endorse the Toronto Drug Strategy without proper discussion and without any input being obtained from the organizations that make up the CPLC. Advancing the Drug Strategy is not among the stated goals or objectives of the CPLC and, in our view, the Toronto Drug Strategy will have a material negative impact on our community.

The TCRA Steering Committee is also frustrated with the apparent unwillingness of the CPLC to discuss and address drug-related issues. These issues are, in the view of the TCRA’s Steering Committee, of fundamental importance to our community and should be addressed by the CPLC. The CPLC should exist to address all of the concerns of the member organizations such as the TCRA and no issues, no matter how political, should be “off the table”.

The effectiveness of the CPLC has, historically, resulted from taking a proactive approach to issues and concerns facing the community and the open discussion of all issues raised by member organizations. Where issues as fundamental as drugs and the impact that they have on our community are “off the table” it is impossible, in our view, to work together in identifying, prioritizing and problem solving of local policing issues, or be proactive in community relations and crime prevention ­ two of the fundamental objectives of the CPLC.

We are also concerned that TCRA’s representatives on the CPLC have reported that the “official” minutes of meetings of the CPLC meetings might not accurately and fully reflect the discussion at CPLC meetings. The minutes of CPLC meetings must accurately reflect all discussions at the meetings and no individual should control what is reflected in the minutes of CPLC meetings.

The 51 Division CPLC is hosting a Town Hall meeting at Lord Dufferin School: Monday March 19, 7pm, in the school auditorium (303 Berkeley, just north of Dundas). Chief William Blair will be the guest speaker.

Ever wondered about the purpose of the CPLC? The Jan 2007 Bulletin contains this explanation authored by the CPLC’s new co-chair. (Additional CPLC information can be found on page 3 of this recent police newsletter).