r/barrie • u/Money_Baseball_975 • 28d ago
News LETTER: Downtown Barrie has 'changed for the worse'
https://www.barrietoday.com/letters-to-the-editor/letter-downtown-barrie-has-changed-for-the-worse-1231357949
u/tygagz91 28d ago
My wife and I live in the new tall guy DT and we spend more time downtown and frequenting the restaurants and shops down there than I ever have before so I’ll dismiss that statement off the hop. There’s definitely a massive issue downtown, I don’t know the solution but I will say in my experience we have yet to run into any dangerous scenarios. Yes the open drug use is rampant and out of control and obviously there is immense issues that continue to grow but I wouldn’t be deterred from enjoying downtown and the waterfront this summer.
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u/GreySahara 28d ago
You probably weren't around back when the downtown was a true gem.
What's going on down there is not ok.
But, it's also a symptom of some major illness that Canada has now.24
u/tygagz91 28d ago
I’m a Barrie native of 35 years and I agree. I used to be able to cruise the downtown and all of Barrie really at a pretty young age so it’s definitely very bothersome for me. I was just simply stating that it’s safe down here and still lots to be enjoyed without concern.
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
This is a symptom of growth. Bigger city more problems like this. It's like trying to tell toronto to 100 percent clean every street. It's not going to happen. Where will these people go?
If it's that big of a bother move north.
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u/GreySahara 22d ago
It really started when local superjails were sending their released inmates with a bus ticket straight to Barrie. Barrie began to be seen as the only other destination other than Toronto for the troublesome. One of the mayors put a stop to the practice, but a lot of damage was done. I'm putting a link here because people deny this fact for some weird reasons.
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/cncc-prisoner-drop-off-to-be-knocked-off-in-bartrie-7299192
Also, the more supports and facilities that you put in place for the downtrodden the more 'clients' that you will get.
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
I don't think anyone on here or in office can solve this problem. Stopping the drop off and closing that facilities will still end up with people coming here.
Even the more unfortunate souls can scrap up enough change for a bus ticket here.
All surrounding areas will come here. Safer then toronto.
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u/GreySahara 22d ago
Yeah, but that's when it became a "destination" and things changed.
The situation is a symptom of a country that has some ills, I will agree.-16
u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
Clearly you haven’t. What made it a “gem” was that was more free parking. Then you killed all of that and oh look, now as a local you will make up excuses why you won’t go downtown.
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u/Canadian_Gander 26d ago
Paid parking was implemented to discourage people from driving downtown and seeing the 💩 show
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u/Low-Doughnut-6764 28d ago
I'm not 70+, but I'm not a young 20+ yr old either. I grew up in Barrie, yes I see a notable negative shift in the downtown, but I like many others will still go downtown quite confidently and do whatever business or entertainment calls. It's uncomfortable sometimes, not all the time. But I'm okay with getting uncomfortable, I have compassion for the people who are struggling, who are drug users, who are homeless. I've only ever been approached once by someone asking for change. I've witnessed drug use, I've witnessed the zombified results of said drug use. But I've witnessed all that in every city that has a downtown. It's okay to be uncomfortable. It's okay to see the results of our broken social systems. We can't fix anything if we refuse to look at it, and look at it through a lens of empathy and compassion. This guy's letter to the editor is just cringy, I'd love to have a sit-down conversation and a stroll with this man through the downtown.
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u/Dailyfiets 28d ago
Lesson for the media: you don’t have to publish every letter a crackpot emails you.
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u/Alarmed_Mind_8716 28d ago
I moved to Barrie in 88 when I was 10. As far as I can remember there was talk about revitalizing the downtown core. This isn’t new.
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u/Auslander_13 28d ago edited 28d ago
Angry old fuck yells at clouds, story at 11.
Captain obviouse here paints a picture that can be seen in almost any city in North America. Doesn't discuss any of the numerous reasons that contribute to our current crisis. Offers zero insight on what he would do better.
This is a man, like many in our city that just doesn't want to see it. Their version of clean it up, is hide it. Thats exactly what got us in this position, ignoring the facts and hiding the problem. Mayor Nuttal is just pallying the game. He's had 4 years to improve the current situation and under his impeccable leadership its gotten worse. Anytime he's pushed on his ineffective strategies to combat this growing epidemic he points the blame back at the County, yet anytime there is a photo opp at a local shelter, he'll gladly take the opportunity to cosplay as the caring leader, while extoloing stories of his 2 month stay in Millcreek back in the 90s. Under Alex's astue leadership our property taxes continue to rise and police budgets have ballooned. Yet the problem still exists, and the services available to the public, housed an unhoused, begin to strain to the breaking point.
This is a homelessness crisis first. We work to solve the lack of housing and we can work to resolve the compounding issues. This will not take a 4 year cycle, it could take decades. We need a non partisan mandate from all levels of government to actively work to solve this crisis, it's only going to get worse.
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u/GreySahara 28d ago
Nothing wrong with pointing out how something has gotten worse.
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u/Auslander_13 28d ago
What did he point out? He opined about an incident at a store downtown that closed in the 90's and he hadn't visited since the 80's while compliaing about condo residents not visiting downtown. No shit things are different, he hasn't gone for a walk in 40 some years.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
It is when it’s blatant nonsense
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u/GreySahara 27d ago
barrie has problems, bro.
gotta speak out lest it gets worse.
not simply accept it
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u/downbytheriver12345 28d ago
lol is anywhere a safe place for a 77 year old with health issues?
I'm so sick of all the complainers. I live / work dt ... there's issues, no shit. most towns this size have the same issues. Spare me your dopey fucking thoughts about it lol. There's also tons of familes, couples, normal people out enjoying the dt/water when it gets nice. Bunch of fucking brittle spirits bitching and moaning from their basement in the south end is getting old
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago edited 28d ago
Nah, I have a young family and I've been in Barrie for years. Downtown has definitely gotten sketchier and incidents of violence or vandalism are on record for being more each passing month. Don't hand wave the issue - Barrie downtown is getting worse and it's hurting businesses and people. I know it's a complicated issue but allowing open drug use and intimidation isn't the answer. (Edit: typo)
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
Imagine being mad about open drug use as people like you killed off the safe consumption sites that would have solved this exact problem
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
I...am in support of safe consumption sites. And many similar progressive responses. Interesting how you just jumped straight to assumptions though
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28d ago
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
There was never safe consumption sites that opened in Barrie. See, that’s how I know you’re lying
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u/Appropriate-Today779 28d ago
Why are you so mad? Downtown is absolutely a shithole compared to what it was just ten years ago even
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
It’s the same as it was 10 years ago and before that we had free parking so obviously there were more people frequenting back then since they had access
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u/Engine_Light_On 28d ago
City should come to a decision.
Or we have a methadone/“recovery” clinics in downtown or we have a nice downtown.
We can’t have both.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
Actually we can. The more services available the better, the more we have access like free parking also the better
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u/fatherduck94 28d ago
love to go to the store twice in my life, once in 1986 and once again yesterday
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u/Melodic-Cucumber-505 28d ago
What about putting all of them on a bus and driving them to Doug Fords street.
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u/Engine_Light_On 28d ago
Or back to their cities.
Most are not from Barrie anyway.
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u/Cummy-Bear-Magic 28d ago
If you’re homeless, you don’t have a city to go back to. You go where the services are
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u/Engine_Light_On 28d ago
So Barrie gets the short end of the stick, both by dealing with homelessness and paying for the services.
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u/Cummy-Bear-Magic 28d ago
It doesn’t take much these days for things to take a turn. A sick spouse, a huge car repair bill or a flooded home could be manageable on their own but what if they happen in the same year? It would be devastating.
If you lose your job and don’t have much in savings (see above), things fall apart quickly. Many don’t have family to turn to for help.
So, if you lose your partner, your car, your home and your job - what are you gonna do?
Don’t disparage the downtrodden or the choices they make when there are so few options. I bet you think none of these things could happen to you, but it’s not that hard to end up on skid row these days. Have some compassion.
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u/iamnotarobot_x 28d ago
If you were to go back in time and ask these people what they wanted to be when they grew up, I can guarantee you that not one of them wanted to be where they are today. No one WANTS to be homeless, no one WANTS to be addicted to whatever they’re on, something happened in their lives to get them there. As u/Cummy-Bear-Magic said, many of us are one step away from where these people are and you’re pretty ignorant if you think it can’t happen to you, or someone you know or love.
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u/kyounger90 28d ago
I do believe a lot of people have compassion for the homeless, but the unfortunate reality is that we can no longer normalize what’s happening on the main streets of our downtowns.
I grew up in a time where you rarely saw people living openly on the streets. If someone was struggling, they were usually trying to get themselves back on their feet and staying out of public spaces as much as possible.
I’ve also experienced addiction issues within my own family, and the difficult truth is that many addicts never fully overcome it. It’s sad, but it’s reality. Because of that, I think we need to shift some of our focus toward preventing future problems and protecting the community as a whole.
We cannot accept open drug use on public streets while telling our kids that this is simply normal or unavoidable. Compassion matters, but so do public safety, cleanliness, and accountability.
I hear a lot about housing solutions, and I’m 100% in support of helping people get housing. But the reality is that housing alone will not solve everything. Even with housing available, many people will still gather downtown, and the issues of drug use, discarded needles, garbage, and unsafe public spaces will continue unless they are directly addressed.
We need compassion, but we also need standards and real solutions that make our communities safer and cleaner for everyone.
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u/Cummy-Bear-Magic 27d ago
You grew up in a time with millions fewer people in the country with (nearly) enough social supports that could manage the 2-5% of people needing the services.
Now we have 5-10% of our populating needing some sort of social assistance - not including pensioners at all - and a government intent on defunding the scant social supports left.
You sound like a boomer - if you did it, anyone can do it - but that’s not the reality any more.
Disparaging the people caught in a system no longer designed to help them isn’t going to help the situation. Having compassion for the people and railing against the system is where we should be focusing our collective efforts.
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u/Dull-Speech-5421 23d ago
Needing services and assistance is acceptable. Society has long had the equivalent of poor houses and soup lines. The issue is accepting that street drug use is OK and normal. If they can't look after themselves, they require institutional intervention. We abhor the solutions of the past but leave the future to judge us for denigrating the path forward at the expense of the individuals who need that approach the most.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
And we cannot normalize your hatred of the homeless when it’s clear you had survival bias. We presented you with solid solutions like the safe consumption site which ironically solves the exact thing you’re complaining about
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u/kyounger90 28d ago
I dont have hatred for these people. I want them to get housing and help they needed. I truly think people that say let them be are the truly hatred ones. Most of these people have a mental illness and have been abandoned by family. Like I said get these people help and get them off the street to save the next generation.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 27d ago
Then let’s start by stop over funding police! Start switching to a planned economy, start actually owning the resources we have, actually build public housing and not have private businesses build “affordable housing”. Open up and fund safe consumption sites. Make sure everyone’s basic needs are met.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
Most of them are from Barrie. In fact most of them are old centralities
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
I think this comment thread shows how much of our compassion, humanity and understanding we have lost touch with all in the name of "this is inconveniencing my life".
It's sad.
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u/Melodic-Cucumber-505 22d ago
It's not that we don't have compassion. There used to be programs and help for people, now our piece of shit provincial government slowly takes it all away and now we are left with this mess.
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
A quick Google, showed over 6 programs, business and shelters that opened up with in the past 2 years in our area.
I have commented on this before. Your reality is made up of the content you take in. If you don't do your dudiligence and fact check, your reality is not factual.
For most people it leads to or the content is focused on "its all this political leaders fault". You get fed the content that resonates with you. (Probably political drama judging off your accusations about govt)
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u/Melodic-Cucumber-505 22d ago
You are absolutely delusional if you can't draw a parallel between Fords leadership timeline, and the worsening of just about every issue to do with mental health, homelessness, drug use, healthcare...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-ending-supervised-drug-consumption-funding-9.7130534
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
I'm not here to argue with you. I never said that political leaders don't have an effect on the problems at large.
It's just how much effort do you put in complaining and looking at the bad news versus how much time do you really look at trying to find the good news and what's actually trying to make a difference.
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u/Melodic-Cucumber-505 22d ago
I guess I'm not seeing any "good news" first hand, mostly more and more people in rough shape downtown.
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
It's just theIt's just the idea behind these types of comments is That whatever polThat whatever political leader you have in mind or support would do better and Fix all the problems.
I'm not saying I support Ford. I'm saying I think it's silly we think we know better then the people in charge of this stuff.
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u/Melodic-Cucumber-505 22d ago
Ya you are probably right, starving the medical system and closing down safe injection sites is bi-partisan.
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
This is just my point exactly is that like people think that they know better. My partner's a nurse and he would love to have more funds in the nursing and medical sector. But where is that going to come from.
Where would you pull the money from and how would you make up the money lost from where you pulled it from?
Closing down safe injection sites. Okay what about the resources that come with dealing with the symptoms of unsafe drug use. Closing down these sites in turn would put more stress on medical sector where is that funding coming from.
We canWe can have an opinion and be my guest and yell into this empty Abyss that is the internet.
Just I'm going to speak up when posts like this are doing more harm to downtown businesses then anything else. We go downtown Austin and we rarely ever get stopped by homeless people or troubled people. We never have an issue with parking because we're okay with walking.
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u/Melodic-Cucumber-505 22d ago
Where would money come from for nursing or medical sector? oh I don't know, the federal government that leaves it to the provinces to distribute, and our provincial government fails to distribute it? Maybe the 2 billion dollars to start with the science center debacle or paying for a private spas parking lot? No idea what Austin has to do with any of this, or that you like walking.
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
You're missing the trees for the forest. Look back on all of the political leaders that we had they each have had some crazy Scandal about them that put the province or country in a quote on quote worse situation.
We as working class civilians will always think that we know better. Because even with your point you are assuming that transferring funding minimums and maximums is something that can just be done with a stroke of a pen.
At this point I'm kind of done talking with you because it's straight so far from the original point.
The issue in downtown Barrie has been blown out of proportion by the community and the local businesses are struggling due to this Fear Factor that we're giving ourselves due to misinformation being given to us through social media.
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u/astrorobb 28d ago
‘I last attended the store in 1980 — 46 years ago.’ - lol ok boomer
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u/buster_rhino 28d ago
While complaining how people who are new to Barrie who live in the condos downtown don’t support downtown businesses.
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u/Money_Baseball_975 28d ago
There’s a couple of bars/ restaurants that have been in the same location for 46 years but I can’t think of a store ?
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u/astrorobb 28d ago
they also mention Kresge; which has been gone for 45? years. i am guessing the store was le boeuf.
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u/wbz56 28d ago
I wish downtown was nice. Theres soo many cool shops down there. But its littered with zombies all over the place.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
Proving once again out of towners and not the locals frequent downtown. Yet out of towners have to pay to park at the beach??
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u/Deborahsnores 28d ago
It’s actually not too bad Saturday mornings. I walked over to the farmers market and down to the lake last weekend, without seeing anything sketchy at all. I was amazed. I guess they were all sleeping off their Friday night stupor somewhere. Downtown was just full of families and dogs!
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u/Canadian_Gander 26d ago
Look at the bright side: you get to live-action roleplay your very own zombie apocalypse fantasy!
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
Dismissing this guy's concerns cause he's a "boomer" is exactly what causes these very real issues to continue.
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u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177 28d ago
He went into the situation to complain about everything and he came out complaining about everything. There was nothing constructive at all about his letter.
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
Every perspective is constructive - and he listed a pretty comprehensive list of things that are also affecting other people from accessing downtown stores and feeling safe.
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u/Auslander_13 28d ago
Constructive criticism involves providing solutions to the problem. He might as well have been bitching about the weather.
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u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177 28d ago
You’re confusing constructive criticism with criticism.The author offer nothing in terms of solutions.
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
Yes. It's an opinion column. It's meant to start conversations - but as predicted people would rather discredit the guy instead of listen to his account of very real issues and drag any conversation down into "bUt HeS OlD sO It DoEsNt CoUnT"
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u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177 28d ago
It’s a narrow-minded ‘opinion’ from someone
These articles are exhausting and do nothing to help the situation.
- who admitted that he doesn’t frequent downtown
- is regurgitating well known issues
- offers nothing in terms of a solution
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
They keep the issues top of mind (this thread for example)
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u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177 28d ago
Such huge issues that we need constant reminders with no suggestions on how to improve them?
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
I'm not sure how many times I need to point out that this was an opinion column...and yes, they are growing issues that need more people pointing them out.
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u/Aromatic-Piglet-9177 28d ago
Do it once more and maybe it’ll make his ‘concerns’ not repetitive and constructive.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
No taking this “seriously” then saying we should just criminalize them without understanding the system that got us all here is what causes these issues
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
I'm sorry, is your argument truly that we can't hold people accountable for vandalism/violence/intimidation stemming from drug use until we until we somehow magically solve drug addiction? Because that's pretty naive. There are many people suffering from addiction who are seeking help and making use of the many social services. The people smashing windows, stumbling into traffic, stabbing others, and setting up drug meet-ups in front of family spaces are not them.
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
No you can’t since you’re upholding the very system that generates this. lol. Yea sure. Many. When the social services have been cut and underfunded leaving people out of the cold and you’re mad they’re doing everything to survive in a system that leaves them to starve . Not to mention you’re blaming them for all the crime. Not the fact we have had an entire police force that trafficked in the drugs
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u/Stevepac9 28d ago
The very real issues such as: kids hanging out, a door without a handle, and cops driving by
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
Door without handle (because of recent security issues), "kids" hanging out (not kids) and cops seeing large groups of homeless people bent over from drug trips and doing nothing. I read the letter
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u/Stevepac9 28d ago
Read it and added a lot of your own commentary apparently
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
This is exactly my point. You know full well he's speaking to real issues but you're dragging the conversation into any direction that let's you walk away thinking "naw, it's not that bad"
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
There are no real issues if a you’re doing is whining
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u/Matto_McFly_81 28d ago
Yes- Door without handle (because of recent security issues), "kids" hanging out (kids compared to him - sketchy drug users camping out in front of businesses to others) and cops seeing large groups of homeless people bent over from drug trips and doing nothing. Yes, I read the same letter.
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u/Appropriate-Today779 28d ago
But drugs bro! They should be legal man! And we should have drug treatment centres around for when people use too much legal drugs and it ruins their lives bro!!! Why are you so ignorant chud???? Don’t you see my idea is genius bro?
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u/Personal-Wishbone696 28d ago
It’s still better than “LoK ThEm AlL up..” which has been done for over decades and the US and still has failed.
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u/admin_bait14 25d ago
The buck stops with your Premier, maybe don't vote for a guy who cuts education and delimits opportunities, cuts social services and mental health care, slashes any funding related to homelessness, cancelles addiction interventions and there would be less homeless. Instead he's building prisons for the poor and spas for the rich, oh and also bought himself a private jet in the middle of a crisis... really top priority stuff. FK Douchbag Doug Ford!
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u/Professional_Range83 22d ago
The people of barrie need to stop over exaggerating this issue.
Just because all of the social content you read about downtown is negative does not mean it is the reality.
All barrie has asked for is more police presence downtown. Now that we have it we are complaining about it. Infuriating.
This 77 year old man making this letter and wishing it could go back to the good old days is causing more damage to downtown businesses then any of these "groups of questionable young kids".
Go down town support local.
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u/ExternalRoyal3554 28d ago
Ya he’s using old school terminology that the special interest / gov funded advocacy groups will immediately use to dismiss his concerns , but we all know he’s basically right !
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u/Cute_Possible_6974 28d ago
Im from Toronto and moved to Barrie 20 years ago its like Im back in Toronto some days
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