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DEPUTATIONS REGARDING MOTION 19-G-168, PROPOSED SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITE LOCATION - 90 MULCASTER STREET
1. John Alousis from Alousis Law, advised that he feels there are several issues associated with the proposed location for the Supervised Consumption Site (SCS) at 90 Mulcaster Street. He noted that his law firm is located in the downtown in close proximity to the proposed SCS site. Mr. Alousis discussed issues including homelessness, drug addiction and affordable housing in the City. He noted that he and his business partners have invested in commercial properties to help reinvigorate the downtown. He spoke about his personal experiences with a family member and their struggles with drug addiction.
Mr. Alousis commented on the City of Guelph's Overdose Prevention Site, and other SCS locations throughout Ontario. He noted he has met with concerned residents, and representatives from the David Busby Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association concerning the proposed SCS location.
Mr. Alousis advised of his concerns with of matters he felt were misrepresented within the Simcoe Muskoka Opioid Strategy (SMOS) submission, such as the application not identifying the proposed location was less than 200 metres of a public park (Berzcy Street Park) and the Season Centre for Grieving Children, the results and numbers obtained from the public consultation, as well as SMOS not disclosing the site location during the public consultation process. Mr. Alousis discussed that he felt the City's Official Plan and Zoning By-laws are failing to address the current issues affecting the community. He referred to other municipalities taking the time to investigate, look at planning studies and policies in place before an approving a SCS. Mr. Alousis described his observations of the current situation in the Downtown area, including the increase in crime, the issues associated with drugs and the safety concerns from the residents in the neighbourhood.
Mr...
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