Credit:JS
The Old East Village Business Improvement Area is asking the city for financial support to deal with problems caused by nearby social service providers. General Manager Kevin Morrison is seeking between $200,000 and $250,000 to help local businesses cope with these challenges.
Morrison’s request follows a shocking incident where human feces were found smeared on the front door of Sewatohkwat, an Indigenous cannabis dispensary. An employee, who asked to remain anonymous, described the scene as “crazy” and said the store had to close for two hours while the landlord cleaned it up.
Morrison shared photos of the incident with the city council, saying that such events are becoming common in the area. To address these issues, the BIA has hired a cleaning company to handle tough clean-ups, including removing needles and other waste, with a cleaning budget of about $45,000 to $65,000 for the year.
In addition to cleaning costs, Morrison pointed out that the BIA is spending a lot of its budget on security and repairs due to vandalism and property damage. He believes the BIA deserves more financial help, especially since the city has recently extended funding for two homeless shelters in the neighborhood. “If this is going to happen because of the situation here, then we need some city support,” he said.
In November 2023, the city approved a $500,000 grant to the OEV BIA to help with the impact of homelessness in the area. This funding was meant to support business improvements, like better street cleaning and safety measures. However, Morrison noted that much of this money is now being used for safety and security instead of helping businesses grow.
Despite these challenges, Morrison is hopeful about a new police initiative aimed at reducing public drug use, which is already showing positive results. However, he stressed the need for more support from the city to keep this progress going.
Local business owners are committed to working with police and community partners but are urging the city to take action to address the ongoing issues in the Old East Village. They believe that with the right support, the area can become a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.
