2023-06-19 04:28:50
Le Cocktail is one of the many bars on rue Sainte-Catherine Est, in the heart of the Village. For the past ten years, its terrace has been very popular for happy hours, before drag queen shows or karaoke evenings. But not this year.
Although there has always been homelessness and drug addiction in this neighborhood, the phenomenon seems to be getting worse and has significant consequences for merchants.
This year there is something going on. It’s worse than ever
, launches Luc Généreux, co-owner of the bar Le Cocktail. He notices that the incidents around his business are more numerous and more violent.
« People [dans la rue] are aggressive with our customers, with our staff. It makes the situation difficult to the point where people no longer want to come to the terrace. »
They will beg with a certain insistence, it can be violent. There are also fights between these people. It doesn’t put on a good show and it’s not reassuring
he continues.
At Bar Rocky, the situation is also becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Here too, the future of the terrace seems uncertain.
Mine, I mounted it this morning
explains server Serge McMahon.: “Serge, stack this.” People don’t come anymore, because of the violence in the street. And there are also a lot of drugs.”,”text”:”My boss called me and said: “Serge, put that back.” People don’t come anymore, because of the violence in the Street. And there are also a lot of drugs.”}}”>My boss called me and said, “Serge, stack this.” People don’t come anymore because of the violence in the street. And there are also a lot of drugs.
A question of cost and safety
Because they attract fewer customers, the operating costs of terraces suddenly seem too high compared to the profits made.
We have reached the stage where we think that the terrace harms us more than it helps us
testifies Luc Généreux.
To install it, there are construction costs, and you have to rent the space. It’s not free. There are quite high fees, overall. We hire staff for the terrace and he complains that he does not tip because there are no customers. It’s a vicious circle.
For Régis Menétrey, owner of the La Mie matinale café, closing the terrace becomes a matter of safety for his customers.
« There is a lot of delinquency, verbal aggression, even people stealing from customers’ plates. It’s awful. »
In 25 years, he has never seen such a situation in the Village.
rock and roll“,”text”:”It’s getting rock and roll””>It becomes rock and roll
he said. Usually there is a bit of crime, but this is worse than worse. We hit rock bottom. Every day, I pick up five or six syringes behind. They come to relieve themselves behind the door of the store. It’s something.
The SPVM at the scene of a crime on rue Saint-Catherine at the Beaudry intersection. (File photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Benoît Gagnon
An expected plan
Luc Généreux is categorical: if the City does not react in the next few days, he will stop operating his terrace.
Our first line to us is the City. If she has to go look for resources at the provincial level, let her go. But stop her just saying she’s gonna do it. It’s been going on for years and years
insists Mr. Généreux.
I would like Valérie Plante to come and have a drink on my terrace incognito, so that we don’t recognize her, and then she comes to give me a report on her customer experience.
Like Mr. Généreux, Serge McMahon deplores the lack of police personnel and the general disengagement with the Village.
Josefina Blanco, municipal councilor and responsible for the homelessness file on the executive committee, assures us that the City takes the situation very seriously and is working hard to remedy it. Despite the increased police force in the area and the presence of community resources, she recognizes that this work will take time and sustained effort.
« Yes, there are efforts being made specifically for this sector. But we hear from the merchants and we are going to meet them to see if there are other possible solutions that we can implement. […]to see if we can intensify or adjust certain actions. »
The City will table its overall strategy for the Village this week. This plan is eagerly awaited by area merchants, community groups and local MP Manon Massé.
According to the City, regarding forty additional police resources have been added to the area. (File photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Stéphane Grégoire
We will work hand in hand with her on this”,”text”:”I understand people and restaurateurs wondering how they can protect themselves. I invite the City of Montreal to submit its plan as soon as possible. We will work hand in hand with it on this””>I understand people and restaurateurs wondering how they can protect themselves. I invite the City of Montreal to submit its plan as soon as possible. We will work hand in hand with her on this.
said the member for Quebec solidaire.
She also had a message for Lionel Carmant, minister responsible for social services.
Carmant to bring down the money he has been asked for for months to open a resource where people will be able to drop off during the day. There is no longer a day centre. It takes that. It takes street workers”,”text”:”I invite Mr.Carmant to lower the money he has been asked for for months to open a resource where people will be able to drop off during the day. There is no longer a day centre. It takes that. It takes street workers””>I invite Mr. Carmant to lower the money he has been asked for for months to open a resource where people will be able to drop off during the day. There is no longer a day centre. It takes that. It takes street workers
she says.
Safety is fundamental, and I don’t want to accept that the solution is to close businesses.
With information from Kim Vermette, Gabrielle Proulx and Xavier Savard-Fournier
1687151276
#Violence #homelessness #Village #hitting #rock #bottom
