POLITICS GOES TO POT

Tory Slams Inaction On Grow-Ops

Provincial Conservative leader John Tory and city Councillor Giorgio
Mammoliti have joined forces, vowing to address the concerns of
residents of a pot-filled North York highrise.

The two politicians toured 2600 Jane St. yesterday -- the apartment
building where a massive marijuana grow operation was uncovered last
week -- promising they would advocate for the distraught people stuck
living there.

'Not Victimless'

"The fire, mould and other health risks to families because of this
drug operation are nothing short of shocking," Tory said, after
talking to distraught residents about their concerns.

"This situation here shows these drug busts are not victimless
crimes," he added.

Toronto Police found more than 6,000 pot plants, worth $6.5 million,
in 18 apartments on Thursday. But so far almost nothing has been done
for the residents of the building, many of whom are Spanish and speak
little or no English.

"There needs to be a co-ordinated plan by all governments so that
when awful situations like this take place there is a much better
response," Tory said.

To deter drug-dealing criminals, he plans to push for stiffer
punishment for those involved in grow-ops.

Mammoliti -- who grew up in the neighbourhood and has been a
councillor there for 17 years -- organized a meeting for residents
Saturday night, which included public health and other officials.

However, even he came away with more questions than answers.

"I think criminals like to take advantage of immigrants," Mammoliti
said, pointing out that drug dens tend to spring up in places where
language barriers and other issues make it less likely people will speak out.

The building's superintendent, along with two other men, has been
charged in the disturbing case.

Mammoliti pledged to start a petition urging that the residents be
given a break on their rent because of the grief they have been put
through, an idea that was loudly applauded by the dozens of tenants
who gathered in the lobby yesterday.

Many said they had complained to property management for months about
leaks in their apartments and regular power outages, but they were "ignored."

"Tenants knew what was going on," said Lilian, a mother of three.

She said with more than 10% of the building being used for growing
pot and many three-bedroom apartments being rented by single people,
it was obvious something was up.