The Old East Village Business Improvement Area (OEV BIA) is planning to request up to a quarter million dollars to address the impacts of having a cluster of city-funded social service providers in the area.
“I’m looking for between $200,000 and $250,000, which to me is a drop in the bucket [compared] with what they’re giving to social services in the area,” explained Kevin Morrison, General Manager of the OEV BIA.
Morrison’s request follows a shocking incident that he suggests is an example of the challenges routinely experienced by business owners in the area.
On Monday morning, human feces was discovered smeared all over the front door of Sewatohkwat, an Indigenous dispensary of cannabis and other products.
Brook-Lynn, an employee who asked that we only use her first name, told CTV News that the store was closed for two hours until the landlord could power wash the exterior.
“Piles of it down here, and then all on this wall,” she recounted with disgust. “It was crazy. Just human feces everywhere — everywhere.”
Morrison received two graphic photos of the incident that he forwarded in an email to city council and civic administration, describing it as a daily occurrence within the district.
The BIA has hired a company to perform complex clean-ups including needles and biological waste at commercial properties within the business district.
This year’s cleaning budget is estimated at between $45,000 and $65,000.
In addition, Morrison said the BIA is spending a disproportionately high amount of its budget addressing security, safety, graffiti, vandalism, broken windows, and other property damage.
He said the BIA deserves additional financial support after council supported funding extensions for two homeless shelters/service providers in the neighbourhood, “If this is going to happen within the area because of the situation we have here, then you know what, we need some city support because even the city won’t clean that up.”
In November 2023, council approved a special $500,000 grant to the OEV BIA because of the impact homelessness is having on the district.
According to the city’s Finance Department, the intent of the funding was to focus efforts towards:
- Direct Business Support Funding which will support enhanced street cleaning, facade, and safety improvement grants, etc.
- More Feet on the Street Funding which will support events, activations, security, etc.
“Of the $500,000 granted to OEV BIA, $186,705 was anticipated to be spent in 2024, with an additional $205,500 budgeted for 2025, leaving a remaining unallocated amount of $107,795,” a statement from city hall explained.
“Direct support was to help us revitalize the area, help our businesses grow and thrive. Instead, we’re spending a lot of that money now on safety and security,” Morrison responded.
He added that the London Police Service’s new initiative to discourage public drug use is already creating a sense of hope, but additional funding from city hall is needed to build momentum.
“The foot patrol, what they’re doing with the open drug use is already showing results, and our membership appreciates that,” Morrison said. “I just wish that the city would get a little bit more on side with us.”
