JAMESTOWN EVICTIONS TARGET FAMILIES OF SUSPECTS

Critics Charge City Housing Action Unfair

Toronto Community Housing's eviction proceedings against 13 families
they say have gang links is necessary to protect the safety of other
Jamestown complex residents, the agency says.

Critics charge the move is unfair and penalizes the families of
alleged criminals who have not yet been convicted of a crime.

TCH served notice to the leaseholders in the past year. Some tenants
are actively fighting the orders before the soon-to-be-renamed
provincial Landlord and Tenant Board.

Toronto Community Housing officials refused to comment on the issue
yesterday, and directed the Guardian to other media coverage.

"Our concern is, 'What is the activity that's taking place on our
property, what's the impact on the greater community,' and our
remedy, like any other landlord, is to turn to the tribunal and say,
'This is the issue, this is the tenants' involvement, and we're
seeking a remedy which is eviction in some cases,'" Steve Floros,
TCH's director of property management, was quoted as saying.

City-owned TCH is within its right to evict tenants when the lines
are crossed, Floros said.

Last week, a lawyer representing eight leaseholders appeared before
an adjudicator arguing the approach taken is unfair and penalizes
families of alleged criminals who have not yet been convicted of a
crime. The case resumes March 12.

A representative from Urban Promise, which runs a program for
Jamestown youth, including an after-school tutoring program, summer
camps for children and youth, as well as hiring local youth doing
well in school to become mentors, called "student leaders", called
the eviction unfair.

"One of my greatest joys is talking to an eight-year-old who says,
'When I grow up I want to be a 'student leader'. That's great because
the kids used to say, 'When I grow up, I want to be in a gang,'" said
Colin McCartney, executive director of Urban Promise.

McCartney said TCH's eviction notices will likely only create a
greater sense of injustice among residents.

"It's scary to know what they're classifying as a gang," he said. "If
these people haven't had a chance to go to court, I don't think they
should be kicked out."

Pastor Al Bowen of Abundant Life Assembly Church, who counsels many
Jamestown residents, said he sees both sides, but added the situation
begs for another remedy.

"If you have a policy of no tolerance for drugs and guns in our
neighbourhood, then we better have an alternate solution with respect
to the mothers, siblings and seniors living in those homes," Bowen
said yesterday.

Many families, Bowen said, live in situations where a parent works
two or three jobs. A parent can't always keep watch over their
teenagers or necessarily know their children's friends, Bowen said.

Bowen said he, and others, will be doing advocacy work with Jamestown
families affected by the eviction notices.

"But, we also understand TCH has to do everything it can to get drugs
and guns out of the neighbourhood."

Toronto police swept Jamestown last spring in a pre-dawn raid that
rounded up 21 suspected members and 45 suspected associates of the
Jamestown Crew.

Toronto police 23 Division Supt. Ron Taverner said at the time the
force believed it had "struck at the heart of the Jamestown (Crew)."

"It's very good news for the citizens of Jamestown," Taverner said.

With files from Torstar News Service