The war of words between the Newcastle Business District and the Mayor and Council continues, with the latest volley coming from Mayor Lordon this week after firing back at critics of the latest council meeting, where crime issues were discussed.

The background of the issue is that the business organization calls the downtown drug and crime problem a crisis after several highly publicized incidents of crime and vandalism in the downtown area. The organization points the finger at Mayor Lordon and City Council for their perceived inaction. The business organization has organized a town hall meeting to discuss the issue on September 10 at 6:30 pm at the Kin Centre.

In reaction to the outcry, City Council discussed the issue with Police Chief Brian Cummings at a meeting on September 2. The Chief talked about how the police are increasing their visibility and urged people to call anytime they see something they want to report. Statistics show crime rates have remained steady, if not decreasing, in the past 12 months in the Newcastle area, and Cummings feels the publicity around some crimes has hyped the situation.

After the meeting, the business association again took to social media to double down on its criticism of City Council, especially targeting Councillor Harris’s comment that there was no crisis to address. The association called the remark dismissive and said that the council’s focus on housing in recent years has not helped the crime and drug problem.

Mayor Lordon defended the Council’s efforts and pointed to its housing and population growth strategies, which he says benefit businesses.  He also noted the police depertment will prepare a strategy to combat downtown crime and present it to council.  Lordon said  the association does not speak for all businesses, as he knows some members who disagree with the association’s tactics.

My Opinon

For the past 13 years, I have attended almost every City Council meeting and have been in court to see almost all Miramichi criminal suspects prosecuted. I feel I  have a unique and broad perspective and believe both the Downtown and the Mayor make valid points, and we are approaching a tipping point, if not a crisis.

In 2016 I ran for Mayor, and the main issue on the platform was that Council needed to take a role in combatting Miramichi’s growing drug problem. At that time the opioid crisis was in full swing, and the courts were full of cases of crimes committed to obtain money for drugs. Meth was emerging in western Canada and moving east, and fentanyl wasn’t yet on the radar. Police suspected things would get worse in Miramichi, and they were right.

After the election, Council organized a public information session and participated in a community group led by Horizon and other government entities to address the growing drug problem. Since 2018, there has been little public discussion from City Council about the drug issue beyond congratulating the police on their efforts to apprehend traffickers. Drugs, after all, are at the root of a large share of the crime in the city.

In that respect, the Downtown group is right about Council inaction on the drug issue, but they have provided adequate funding to police to combat crime and appear to be making progress. They Downtown is also right that Council has focused on housing. The new housing developments in the city have helped grow the population and economy but have not addressed homelessness. Homelessness and housing availability are related but not identical issues, and homelessness and drug addiction are not synonymous, which is important to remember.

From courtroom experience, there are people who choose to be homeless to have more money for drugs. This harsh reality highlights the addiction problem. People come to court emaciated and anxious, then appear healthier and more coherent when they return after a few months in jail.  You’d think this healthy improvement from not having access to drugs would promote recovery, but it doesn’t because the addiction is so strong and requires treatment.  Supporting reatment is  something not often discussed publicly at City Council.

MLA Michelle Conroy has been raising funds for Harvest House to establish a treatment facility in Miramichi. NIMBYs (not in my backyard) oppose this idea and opposed placing the treatment centre in the Senior Citizens’ Home in Chatham for various reasons. Since then, they have continued to raise money and privately discussed possible locations with the City, but discussions have not been fruitful. This is an issue City Council could advance if it is willing to take a courageous stance, but many councillors remain loyal to the NIMBYs who elected them, making the subject delicate. The downtown association would likely oppose a treatment centre too close to the business district, as they have already stated their goal is to prevent any food or medical services for the homeless or addicted people in the downtown.

Mayor Lordon was right in noting that not all Newcastle business people support the Newcastle Business District’s tactics. Two years ago, when there was legal action against the city over the out-of-the-cold shelter, several businesses involved in the action were identified in a local news story, which some found embarrassing because public opinion was not on  their side.

Public opinion will decide whether this situation is a crisis or merely a moment of hype. If things worsen and if people continue to post about needles, feces, or crimes near QE Park on social media, the public may feel less safe and look for someone to blame.  It is time for the City to act.

If improvements occur—and one hopes they do—the City Council should not see this as a vindication, but as a reminder that it could recur unless the drug and crime  issue in Miramichi remains a continued focus. It got worse in the first place because it was ignored.

~Larry Lynch, GO Miramichi