PROTESTS PROMPT LANDLORDS TO CLEAN UP HOUSES

Does a take-back-the-street protest help clean up drug-ridden neighbourhoods?

Just ask a group of Newmarket residents who demonstrated last week in
front of a landlord's residence in Aurora.

The demonstration marked the first of three visits to homes of
landlords accused of making profit from rundown rental units used to
buy and sell drugs.

"We got a lot of criticism from others, including from real estate
agents and landlords but, at the end of the day, we know we're on the
right track. We got results," protest organizer and Newmarket
Councillor Joe Sponga said.

The landlord, owner of a six-unit Timothy Street property, has
promised to continue to try to evict a tenant suspected of dealing
drugs, Mr. Sponga said.

"I think he'll leave soon," landlord Nick Podstatzky said. "The
police are there all the time now."

Mr. Podstatzky stressed it is very difficult to get rid of a bad tenant.

Under the Ontario Tenant Protection Act, landlords can issue a
written notice of termination, giving no less than 10 days to get out.

However, there's a catch: If the tenant doesn't leave, the landlords
must apply to a tribunal to evict. The tenant can dispute the
application to evict, dragging out the process for months.

A tribunal has now ruled in favour of Mr. Podstatzky. "If he's not
out at the end of the month, I'll call the sheriff and start that
process," Mr. Podstatzky said.

"It'll cost me $400."

If a tenant meets the rent in full and on time, eviction is a
challenge, Mr. Podstatzky said.

"How can I prove the tenant is involved with drugs when the police can't?"

Protesters told The Era-Banner that at the Timothy Street property,
drug addicts shoot up in full view; have sex on the lawn, leave
needles in the parking lot of a nearby church and use foul language.

Soon after the group threatened to take issue with another rundown
property on Botsford Street, the owner announced plans to put the
unoccupied house up for sale.

"It should be cleaned up very soon," Mr. Sponga said. The cleanup
should include removing raccoons from the abandoned house, 20 bags of
rotting garbage, five-foot high weeds and an old wrecked car.

Protester Kathleen Mitchell was thrilled to see measures have also
been taken to improve a third rental home on Niagara Street.

"They've gotten rid of a tenant and cleaned it up over the past few
days," Ms Mitchell said. "It's wonderful."

A downtown Newmarket residents' group is also being established to
deal with neighbourhood issues, including drug problems.

It's hoped the group can work with landlords and York Regional Police
to improve the downtown area, Mr. Sponga added.

"Cleaning up the neighbourhood should be a resident-driven effort," he said.

York Region is experiencing a higher volume of neighbourhood crack
and bawdy houses.

Police have issued 100 warrants under drug and prostitution
investigations across the region this year, not including marijuana
busts, Police Chief Armand La Barge said.

"Our war is fought on many fronts," the chief said.