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It’s a theme I’ve been hearing repeatedly as of late — namely that areas of downtown Toronto around the safe injection sites and low barrier shelters are turning into a disgusting, unwelcoming “s***hole.”

I heard residents lament the deterioration of the Collier-Asquith neighbourhood Tuesday night at a fiery meeting about the lawlessness they’ve experienced since the 21 Park Rd. transient shelter opened last November.

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I heard it again at Wednesday’s community services committee from residents living in Cabbagetown and around Moss Park.

Carmine Coccimiglo, a lawyer living on Seaton St., said he’s witnessing crimes on a daily basis from the Moss Park illegal safe injection site — harassment, violence and drug use.

He said the park is “rapidly declining” with pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers there now at all hours of the night.

“We have a rapidly deteriorating environment…something needs to happen sooner rather than later,” he said.