Editor: I am writing today to impart my sense of the deplorable conditions which have sadly become the Tecumseh Park neighbourhood.
Until recently, this neighbourhood boasted friendly homeowners and business operators out and about, enjoying their beautiful tree-lined streets, historic architecture and conversation with one another, as good neighbours do.
It has long been a highly walkable neighbourhood, whose inhabitants have had a deep sense of community, and been accepting of the cultural mosaic which is Chatham-Kent.
Now, however, the neighbourhood is in a state of disintegration and decay.
The people who live in this neighbourhood are no longer comfortable going outside – they are afraid for themselves and their children. The safety and security of the neighbourhood is under constant threat. We are continually intimidated by the unpredictable behaviours of those wandering the streets.
The number of instances of open drug use, wandering drug-induced people, violence, and crime is staggering.
When I’ve reached out for help from authorities, my requests have often been met with attempts to placate. “They have rights, too.” “Call us if you see a crime in progress.”
I have found people climbing out of a dumpster, needles on the ground near where children play, witnessed someone pretending to “shoot” at children, dealt with our property being vandalized, etc. We have had to clean up bodily fluids on our property belonging to someone who came through our gate unable to care for themselves.
As someone who is responsible for the safety and security of children, I am horrified at what this neighbourhood has become. Our doors are locked all day. We’ve replaced a fence along our property to create privacy from those wandering past. We’ve installed multiple camera systems, and additional bright floodlights, in hopes of warding off vandalism. I’ve noticed a distinct lack of police presence throughout the night, despite being told they would “increase their monitoring.”
The neighbourhood decay has occurred as a direct result of the municipality opening a shelter in our neighbourhood. We were told the shelter would be temporary. Now we are being asked for our taxes to support it beyond 2025.
It is unconscionable for the municipality to continue to allow this neighbourhood to disintegrate.
We understand there is no clear and simple solution to what is a complicated problem, however, we are certain that the correct path forward does not include a shelter (beside a known drug house that is somehow allowed to operate) in extremely close proximity to an historic neighbourhood, several businesses, two schools, the central park, and the cultural centre.
There must be a better solution.
We appeal to the municipality to alter their course of action with regard to the shelter – close it /move it – and allow us to restore our neighbourhood to safety.
Melissa Carnell
Chatham
