The interesting thing is, I don't really think anyone is denying some positive impact of TF Barrage, albeit some of the numbers are certainly manipulated. It's HOW the approval and funding came to be. It happened without oversight and proper protocol, and VPD should be accountable here.

The VPD Chief just said that the police are the only accountable organization in the DTES and that all other agencies getting funding from the province are not accountable. This is total BS.

This may seem like a simple thing, but treating us as an afterthought when we are a clear and important stakeholder is symbolic of so much. I hear regularly from community members about why we don't have basic things like benches, garbage bins, clean sidewalks, etc.

Instead, what could have been a positive investment feels like another reminder that the DTES/HxBIA is not offered the same care and attention as other neighbourhoods. Our community deserves better. 💔

Once again, this community gets the afterthought version of an improvement. With more notice, we could’ve brought partners together, found solutions, and even added beauty. This is our role as a local BIA. We are always standing ready to support this work.

That left no time to work with nearby cultural institutions (Firehall Arts Centre & Police Museum) who lost key loading+drop-off space, or to add art and colour to the barriers. Instead, we’re left with mismatched leftover barricades from other parts of the city.

Yes it’s hard to attribute this to TFB. Absolutely.

All being said, I'm looking forward to a more holistic approach to safety in the DTES, and our whole city. The City can't do this alone, nor should it. I will be watching to ensure the community is heard throughout this process.

3)From the surface, accountability and transparency are built in. However, pay attention to how statistics and results are presented and where they are attributed to. Does adding more police really reduce overdoses? Or is harm reduction or a shift in drug use causing that?

Police/safety will only one of the 6 areas of stats they will be tracking. Health, engineering, economy, etc will all be included. So I'm pleased to see this acknowledgement that police are indeed not the only solution. Will allocated resources reflect that? This remains to be seen.

2)VanStat will be evidence-based & allocate resources based on stats & trends. This should demonstrate impact & results. It will come down to the actual decisions made & how. I want to ensure there are community voices included in this process as much as possible. This will be critical, esp in DTES.

1)Moving toward new Dist. 5 - this will be largely positive, as it will allow for more relational policing, rather than the OT-based policing we've had with TFB. Consistent beat cops, getting to know residents, businesses, dealers, etc. How this will play out administratively & funding-wise is TBD.

If being "political" means standing up for what the community really needs, then I will take that criticism.

As for next steps, this is where I believe there will be a positive impact, and I am cautiously optimistic. Here's my take on the new "VanStat" as it's being called:

In meetings I've had with police and political leaders, I've been accused of being "political" with this critique, and that I'm a naysayer. And today at the press conference, indirectly called out for not thinking TFB would work. Well, it depends on how you want to tell the story.

What the stats don't show is the impact TFB was having on other services. Our BIA patrol teams saw a 250% increase in "referrals to other services" during past 6-months. Referrals to food, shelter, OPS, detox, etc. 250%! That shows that there was not coordination - something we've been begging for.

The results from the Task Force over the past 6-months appear positive, and they largely are. I think the most impressive numbers are the significant reduction in fire and medical calls, possible side-benefits of this approach (ex. overdoses fell by 45%, overall calls to Hall 2 down 30%).