Lawyer Hilary Vaughan appeared before city council Monday evening in front of a packed public gallery to urge action in dealing with a litany of issues plaguing downtown St. Thomas.
Vaughan stressed it is time to “find a real solution, in real time, for real people.”
It was a presentation to mayor and council devoid of ill will, malintent or hidden agenda, assured Vaughan.
The downtown core of St. Thomas is “the heart and soul of the community,” stressed Vaughan.
However, because of mounting issues with homelessness, drug overdoses and mental health issues, Vaughan warned the core is at a critical threshold.
She added the future of the city’s downtown core is bleak.
Vaughan paints a picture of an unwelcome, unfriendly environment.
She made it very clear her deputation to council was not an invitation for political agendas. Especially with the municipal election just over a month distant.
The motive behind the deputation, advised Vaughan, is to urge council to strike a working group to address the issues plaguing the core area.
She closed with this stirring vision of the return to a vibrant community embracing all citizens.
Later in the meeting, council voted unanimously to establish a working group with the first step after that to establish terms of reference for the group.
Written by Ian McCallum
