LTE: Comments Re; March 6th, 2024 Massey Commons – Traditional Housing -3 Minutes with the Mayor Article

From: Angie Baker / supported by Massey Concerned Citizens Committee – MCCC

I begin with saying it is March 11, 2024 and no one from MCCC has yet to get acknowledgment from the
Mayor of Cornwall regarding our Feb 29th letter of concern surrounding the Massey Commons
Redevelopment project. I would like to state that our main concerns revolve around three important points.

1- Zero Community Consultation – total disregard for community input prior to or after the
purchase of this property. A project of this scope, concept and costs should have involved
community input.

2- Location – We asked and continue to ask, “Help us to understand why this location was chosen
for this development project and do you believe it is the best location for this development”.

3- Costs- What is the cost of this redevelopment? We asked that question Feb 22, 2024 at the info
session and we were told “ We do not have that information yet” What about underlying
associated costs , providing services on site to residents, security, etc. Where is this money
coming from? Is it in this year’s approved City Budget?

I’d now like to comment on the 3 Minutes with the Mayor Article in the Seaway News March 6, 2024.

The Mayor was not at the Feb 22 info session as he was at a meeting in Toronto that our city officials
have never attended nor obligated to attend. I can only assume he felt that meeting was more
important than facing the citizens of Cornwall to answer our concerns.

We are continually told this is not a homeless shelter and the phrase “transitional housing” is what we
are asked to believe it is. It was also stated “We will know who is living on site” With that said, are you
then able to tell us that not one person who lived homeless at one of the encampments this past
summer will reside there? Are they not considered homeless? Will a complete background check be
done on anyone who resides there? If yes, who will do this and at what cost and who’s expense?

The article goes on to say that the city Housing Response Team will provide access to resources such as
mental health, medical health and addiction services along with plans to have security on site. This
raises even more questions on costs and on whose dime? Are we affording other citizens the same
delivered to your door services or do they have to fend for themselves like everyone else who needs
these services? IV drug use is not condoned by the City with proposed treatment being provided literally
35-40 feet from elementary schools.

The Mayor clearly states “The city is taking the concerns of the neighbourhood seriously and that he is
listening” Please explain to me how you are doing that when you have yet to acknowledge the letter
sent directly to your inbox and to every councillor dated Feb 29 –Subject: Massey Place ( Commons )
Redevelopment Project from Massey Concerned Citizen Committee – MCCC

The MCCC group or any citizen who has expressed concern or simply asks a question is labelled by you
as Nimby’s (Nimbyism) not-in-my-backyard. We are also being told we are stereotyping. Mayor goes on
to say “This is shameless” Who of us is in a position to judge unless we’ve experienced homelessness
ourselves” So because we are asking questions on why this location, we are Nimby’s? If this is a “Nimby”
issue then it is for everybody in the city who prioritizes children’s safety above all else!

The Mayor closes his article by saying “ I do believe that Massey Commons is in the right place” I’ll go
back to the first question asked at the Feb 22 info session “ What is the single biggest reason this
location was chosen for this redevelopment project and do you believe this is the best location for this
development? I’m still waiting for the answer as is the rest of the community.

We are aware that Ontario is the only province in Canada that holds municipalities responsible for
community housing. Are we mandated to provide a solution as complex as homelessness?

June 27, 2023 Standard Freeholder article – Transitional Housing is often for people who have need to
access accommodations for shorter periods of time; it’s residents often move into other forms of
subsidized or market rate housing” Encampments are not encouraged or sanctioned by the City. Yet, the
city allowed encampments to multiply and provided daily support from the Housing Crisis Team which
included daily tent visits to provide income and housing support, created a Name- list , did wellness
checks and then proceeded to work on this project behind closed doors.

I close with a final comment. I believe and support the idea of assisting homeless people but I also
believe it needs to be done properly, with community input, a strategic plan, a cost analysis and within
the capacity that our city can afford. All we are asking for is to have input with this critical project. All
elected officials should remember, you are all supposed to be working for the citizens who voted you
into your roles. This is not a one man show who gets to decide what can or can’t be done without
valuable input from others who call Cornwall their home.

This is a “hot button” issue…How do you feel about it?