‘Deteriorating’ situation in area south of downtown prompting urgent meetings in Ontario city [Video]

A “deteriorating situation” in an Oshawa neighbourhood south of downtown has prompted local councillors, police, bylaw officers and officials from the Region of Durham to coordinate a meeting to devise a plan to address the problem.

Many of the city’s homeless people and those with addiction issues were pushed south from the Memorial Park area to Simcoe Street and Mill Street, just north of Highway 401, in the past year, with many of the problems resulting from chronic homelessness and drug use moving with them.

Despite “continued efforts to mitigate the negative activities” in the area, Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson is not seeing any improvements and local businesses and residents have been expressing concerns.

“The situation continues to deteriorate as individuals continue to abuse the neighbourhoods with drug use, intimidation, debris and nuisance activities,” he said.

Nicholson, fellow Ward 5 Councillor John Gray and Mayor Dan Carter are trying to …