KENSINGTON MARKET SHRUGS OFF DRUG ARRESTS

'Project Escape' Targets Dealers On Street

Kensington Market largely shrugged yesterday after a major drug bust
that targeted the market and other gentrifying west-end neighbourhoods.

Undercover Toronto police officers arrested 76 mainly street-level
drug dealers, concentrating on certain areas in Kensington, Queen
Street West, King Street West and Dundas Street West, said Detective
Karen Chapman.

"Project Escape" was prompted, in part, by complaints from residents
who said drug dealers had taken over their neighbourhoods, Det. Chapman said.

"They are approached in the street where they live, asking if they
want to buy drugs," Det. Chapman said. "They have needles in their
yards, and used condoms, and all the paraphernalia that is associated
with drug users and drug dealing."

But in liberal-minded Kensington Market, where Birkenstocks and
dreadlocks are common and Roach O Rama and the Hot Box Cafe make
their homes, some questioned the decision to crack down on small
street-level dealers.

"Drugs is a medical problem, it's not a criminal problem," said
resident Sam Al-Jondi.

Mr. Sal-Jondi said he lives on the north edge of Kensington Market
near College St. and Spadina Ave. and though he frequently sees drug
addicts and dealers, he doesn't think putting more people in jail
will fix the problem. Instead, Mr. Sal-Jondi said treatment was a
better option.

Down the Street at Wanda's Pie in the Sky, a cafe and bakery, manager
Luke Donato said businesses in the area are used to dealing with
homelessness and drug users. The cafe is on Augusta Ave., across from
St. Stephen's Community House, which offers services for homeless people.

Mr. Donato said he is wary of projects to clean up Kensington Market.

"I think there is a gentrification of Kensington Market," Mr. Donato
said, as he leaned on a cooler filled with pies. "I think it's a PR move."

Some gentrification helps the area become more business-friendly, but
Mr. Donato said he also wants the area to retain its charm.

Many of those charged during Project Escape were listed as having "no
fixed address."

Det. Chapman said dealers come to the area to target people staying
in the many downtown shelters in the area, she said.

During the investigation, between June 8 and July 5, police seized
nearly half a kilogram of cocaine, more than half a kilogram of
marijuana and hashish, 56 grams of heroin, 164 oxycontin tablets, 113
grams of ecstasy and 50 grams of ketamine, as well as more than
$17,000, Det. Chapman said. Many of those arrested had previous
convictions and some were violating bail terms.