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Mayor John Tory insisted Friday that he and Councillor Joe Cressy have not been ignoring the crime that has escalated from emergency shelters plunked in downtown neighbourhoods.

I asked him what he’s doing about claims by residents living around the 21 Park Rd. and 348 Davenport Rd. low barrier shelters that a state of “lawlessness” is holding the neighbourhoods hostage — with concerns of ongoing crack smoking and drinking on the streets and in the parks around the shelters, harassment of residents by shelter users, feces, urine, garbage and dirty needles everywhere.

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Tory’s spokesperson Don Peat said cameras have been put inside and outside 21 Park Rd., the shelter provider is providing enhanced litter and garbage pick-up around the site, and they now have a “community and client Care coordinator” to proactively address local concerns.

Photo by Veronica Henri / Toronto Sun

“I believe the good will of city staff and the measures we’ll put in place in terms of the security outside the shelters will make sure any dislocation is minimized…when these things are brought to our attention we’re taking steps to make sure disruption is minimized,” Tory said.