MERCHANT TAKES STAND AGAINST CRIME

Re: 'Take back our neighbourhoods,' Editorial, May 19.

In our corner of Scarborough, we have our share of life's flotsam and
jetsam, trying to hustle drugs, sex and whatever to the borderline
youth who could fall either way.

I and everyone I know want these borderline cases to fall on the right
side of the law and want to do what we can to help to get the bad
influence off the streets.

We are merchants in a small plaza in Guildwood and we have watched in
dismay as more and more of the drugs and gangs have moved into our
area.

Our customers and neighbours have commented on their presence and it
is time we told these negative influences that they are not welcome in
our community.

OUR TURF

They might think that our plaza and our neighbourhood is "their turf",
but it is our turf, we live here, work here, eat here, shop here and
they are not welcome.

They are parasites preying on the youth who lack self-confidence,
sufficient experience and perhaps a caring family to stick up for them.

The pushers make it sound like easy money to work for them and the
vulnerable youth get sucked further down into the slime, until they
can't find their way back out.

Some of our older customers are intimidated by the natural high
spirits of youth at lunch time (since we are close to a high school),
but we try to tell them the majority of the high school kids are
great, respectful and a breath of fresh air.

They are young people, capable of conversing intelligently, joking and
helping others.

We were all there once, we know the struggle of school and hormones,
pimples and exams.

However, most of the "slime factor" that hangs around are not
students, or not residents of the community, but those who prey on
these young innocents.

DRUG SCENE

Over the last four years, we have watched decent, coherent young
people turn into mumbling slimeballs who either end up in jail or
worse, or back perpetuating the drug scene on the next wave of youngsters.

We feel a parental defensiveness over all the kids who come to our
store. The good kids know our store is a "safe place", but some are
scared to come to the plaza at all.

I've had enough and now I'm game to put my foot down in any way I can.

We may end up with a brick through the store window or worse, but we
can't let the slime factor win.

LET GOOD GUYS WIN

Sometimes the good guys have to win. Lord, let it be this fight!

If we can do anything to help the police and other authorities turn
the tide on gangs, drugs and violence, we will.

We have a good, strong community in Guildwood and we will win!

Pat Sands