Barrie’s mayor is considering downtown safety amid protests

Barrie city officials and social activists seem far apart when it comes to what each side believes will help improve downtown safety, curb drug use and reduce homelessness.

Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall presented various initiatives during a press conference Thursday to discuss downtown safety issues. Meanwhile, nearby protesters tried to make their own statements and ask questions about the social issues plaguing the city.

Community leaders, led by the mayor, gathered at Memorial Square on Dunlop Street East to “provide an update” on the city’s plans to address issues and concerns facing downtown.

In attendance were Police Chief Rich Johnston, Downtown Barrie BIA Executive Director Craig Stevens, Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor James Leduc, who represented Simcoe County, and Mina Fayez-Bahgat, who is the County’s General Manager of Community and Social Services, among other representatives.

Nuttall opened by saying there is a collaborative approach to “removing the silos that exist between different services here in the City of Barrie.

“We’re making sure that all of our services are working together, whether it’s the police, Simcoe County, in terms of our social services, the BIA, in terms of center care, and we’re putting the well-being of individuals at the forefront of this city.” , said the mayor.

He added that it “makes sure the city center is a place where people can feel safe, feel safe, visit, trade and seek help if they need it.”

Nuttall stressed that officials are looking at all options to stop illegal drug dispensaries downtown.

“There are currently, what I mean, businesses that are operating that are not in compliance with our laws, and we’re going to look at all avenues to make sure that they stop operating, stop their drug dealing, in downtown Barrie,” said he. referring to the shops selling psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, that operate openly in the area.

Johnston said local police will increase their presence and visibility downtown.

“We hear what members of our community are telling us: you want to see us more, you feel safer when we’re around,” the chief said.

When asked about the staffing pressures he may face, Johnston said special agents, Citizens on Patrol volunteers, in addition to police officers, will be used to address the issues highlighted by the mayor.

“How do we make a presence without necessarily having a policeman on every corner, which for some individuals would be comforting and for others, less so. He’s trying to find that balance,” Johnston said.

None of the measures listed appeared to be new. Officials reiterated their commitment to things like more downtown police officers, alley cleaning programs, as well as the county’s 10-year strategy for affordable housing and homelessness prevention.

Nuttall mentioned a group of about a dozen people holding protest signs as they listened to speakers at the press conference.

“It wouldn’t be an announcement in Barrie without protesters,” he said.

After opening proceedings to questions from the media and others in attendance, one person questioned the mayor about people on the street being “banned” from using services at the nearby public library on Worsley Street.

“I have to be quite blunt,” Nuttall replied. “There was an individual who was banned from the library, came to the town hall and ended up leaving one of our security guards in the hospital. He’s not someone I want sitting next to my kids when they’re reading a book.”

The mayor emphasized that spaces, “which are designed to attract children, must be able to protect the same children who are there.”

Nuttall said he didn’t think it was a question of whether a person should be allowed to go to the library or not; it’s a question of what services are available in the community for that person who is experiencing that type of problem at that time.

After taking a few more questions from the crowd, Nuttall ended the press conference, much to the chagrin of several protesters.

Ashley, 25, who did not give her last name, said she works with Ryan’s Hope, a group that advocates and supports people living with mental illness, substance use problems and facing homelessness. She said she was “quite angry” at the way the press conference was conducted, suggesting the mayor “deliberately ignored everyone who had real questions for him.”

She said they “barely found out at the last minute” regarding the press conference that took place.

Affordable housing and “leaving the camps alone” is what her group is urging.

“Leaving them alone so that the people who are trying to help them, places like Busby (Center), Ryan’s Hope and the Gilbert Center, that they know where all our friends are and don’t move them,” Ashley said .

“Healing starts with housing,” she added. “Camps are all our friends have.”