Daniel McIntyre councillor Cindy Gilroy is disappointed in a recent city report that doesn’t meet the needs of her constituents to find ways to clear needles in public parks in high-needs areas. She believes the report didn’t consider different options that might work and exaggerates the estimated cost to the city.
“In the summertime we already have staff on, and before they go out to cut lawns they could pick up needles. I want the work to get done. I wish there was more in the report to get support from council,” she said.
Gilroy said that organizations are already assisting in many high needs areas, such as the Bear Clan who hold evening walks and have designated people who are trained to pick up needles. “Could we get some coordination?” asked Gilroy.
The city report estimates that to put on two full time crews to attend parks to clear needles and dangerous material would cost just under $200,000, and three crews (with a part time crew through the winter months) would cost $360,000. Gilroy said however, the report didn’t focus on the smaller number of parks that need consistent clearing.
“There are a few hotspots, some parks in Ross Eadie’s ward in the North End, and St Boniface, but we do know where they are,” she said. “Thats where we need to see it happen.”
At a Winnipeg Standing Policy Committee on Community Services meeting in March earlier this year, two daycares forwarded concerns about needles, a machete, bear spray canisters and human excrement in outdoor play areas they use, and asked that the city look into ways that have proven successful to encourage proper disposal of needles.
“I feel like I’m having to fight for everything that we are seeing right now in terms of homelessness, encampments, garbage, garbage being riffled through in backlanes, and vacant buildings. How do you compete?” she asks. “They need to get it done.”
Gilroy just finished an annual community audit up and down back lanes in the Daniel MacInyte ward. “There is so much graffiti, so much garbage, a lot of vacant buildings. We need a plan of action. We can’t just let it sit there.”
“We leave it to the responsibility of homeowners but that’s not fair. We’ve got a big focus on the downtown which is positive,” said Gilroy “but we can’t forget the surrounding neighbouring communities.”
Gilroy said that she was the only councillor who didn’t vote in favour of widening Kenaston, a project with a massive budget that she says won’t improve the city when issues her area is facing don’t get looked after. “We are not looking at where we need to invest,” she said.
Gilroy has proposed a revival of a core area agreement, which was a tri-level agreement that brought investment from the federal, provincial and municipal government into the core of Winnipeg. Ross Eadie and the Mayor are both in support of the idea, but it has yet to be brought to council.