Women walking down Church Street have cars slow down, stop in front of us, or follow us, seeking our “services” despite the fact that we are not prostitutes, nor do we look or dress like them.

We encounter people passed out, or in a frenzy or stupor from drug and alcohol use.

We witness people drinking and doing drugs in broad daylight, clustered in front of churches, stores, local businesses, parking lots and on sidewalks.

We have to listen to loud, profane, threatening phone conversations between drug addicts, prostitutes and dealers.

Our neighbourhood streets are strewn with garbage.

We are plagued by people begging for money and cigarettes.

Countless complaints were made to the police by myself and my neighbours about a known drug dealer’s house on Church Street, but it took many months before they were cleared out. In the meantime, there was a constant presence of drug addicts and prostitutes coming and going, hanging out on — and sleeping — on the porch, having arguments, physical altercations, and garbage was strewn across the property at all times.

Last week I was threatened with bodily harm by a prostitute when I purchasing something at the 7-Eleven because I politely pointed out she had cut into line in front of a mother and young child who were waiting behind me. She got right up into my face, called me multiple names, and said she’d beat me up if I ever looked her way, or spoke to her, again. The clerk at the counter apologized but said there was nothing they could do about these types of people and their behaviour, and just had to let them have their way to keep the peace.

My Idea of Downtown Brampton Reimagined allows residents to live in a safe, peaceful, clean, law-abiding neighbourhood without solicitation for the purposes of prostitution, harassment, and threats of bodily harm.

Colleen MacDougall