Here is a run down of what you will see in this weeks Sydenham Current Mailbox!
– Poll question results for: “Who needs to step up to stop partially treated sewage being spilled into the St. Clair River?”
– ICYMI (In Case You Missed It): Drugs bust in Wallaceburg, boxer attacked in Chatham, election candidates finalized.
– Hot topic: Petition launched against ‘Steinhoff’ house
– New poll question
POLL RESULTS
“Who needs to step up to stop partially treated sewage being spilled into the St. Clair River?”
Ministry of Environment 75% (24 votes)
The City of Sarnia 18.75% (6 votes)
Chatham-Kent 6.25% (2 votes)
Total Votes: 32
ICYMI
Last week members of the Chatham-Kent Police Intelligence Section, with the assistance of the Critical Incident Response Team, executed a Controlled Drugs and Substance Act Search Warrant in Wallaceburg as part of an ongoing drug investigation at a residence on James Street.
Here are the full details: Drug bust in Wallaceburg
ICYMI #2
We caught up with Kim Babo, who works for Community Living Wallaceburg, who told us her story about her her 5-year-old boxer getting attacked by a Rottweiler on Saturday.
Carter is recovering and a local group has stepped up to help the family cover the vet bills.
Here is the full story: Rottweiler attacks boxer in Chatham
ICYMI #3
The nomination period has ended and the list of candidates for the 2014 Chatham-Kent election is complete.
In total, there are seven candidates for mayor and 46 for council.
See who is running in your ward: 7 candidates for mayor, 46 for council in C-K
ICYMI #4
A local business has stepped up for the Dresden Sports Field Project: $50,000 pledge for Dresden sports field project
HOT TOPIC
A petition is circulating around Wallaceburg regarding the old “Steinhoff” house in Wallaceburg.
People living in the area of 595 Wallace Street are fed up with the apartment complex, they call an “eyesore” and a hotbed for “illegal activity.”
We’re working on a follow-up story, but this is what people are saying about the issue at the moment:
sickofitall said on the Sydenahm Current: “It doesnt matter if they take the house away, they will just find some other scumbag landlord who only cares about getting his money to rent to them somewhere else. If they can take the house because of illegal activity then why havent they taken Boo’s house?…that place is so full of items it is a BIG FIRE HAZZARD, not to mention the DISEASES!….maybe Wallaceburgers who want something done need to take it into their own hands like this because rehab apparently doesnt work and the cops can arrest them a million times but they always seem to get off, not the cops fault, their hands are tied, they catch em and the courts let em go!”
Bill said on the Sydenham Current: “if we are going to pick on this house, there is plenty more to go after. Look straight across the river, there’s another one. the biggest problem is the people get charged and get let go the next day and go back to the same place. look at sams hotel, the place should be torn down due the damage inside from the drug addicts and crackheads.”
Patrick said on Facebook: “I’m actually quite appalled this petition would be available at Wallaceburg’s Town Hall. If Police and and Property Standards do their jobs it won’t need necessary for the province to do their job for them.”
Kenneth said on Facebook: “I don’t really care who takes care of this…it’s obvious that it needs to be taken care of…ASAP…No disrespect Patrick… I just believe our community deserves to be cleaned up immediately.”
Mike said on Facebook: “Only a judge can determine a decision. From www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca: The process for civil forfeiture usually begins when a designated institution, such as the police or a government ministry, submits a case to the reviewing authority, an independent Crown counsel in the Ministry of the Attorney General. That counsel decides whether the statutory criteria in the Civil Remedies Act have been met. Once that is confirmed, the case information is forwarded to the ministry’s Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities Office (CRIA), which is responsible for enforcing the Act.
CRIA lawyers bring proceedings to court on behalf of the Attorney General. The court can grant an interim order to freeze property so it cannot be used, mortgaged or sold, pending the outcome of the forfeiture proceeding. If CRIA lawyers can prove that the property in question is a proceed or an instrument of unlawful activity, the court can issue orders forfeiting the property to the Crown.”
Deb said on Facebook: “How many swat teams need to go to this house before they take it down. Eryn was out jogging and almost got In the middle of the last one. One officer asked her to cross the street thank gawd.”
Tina said on Facebook: “It’s about time something gets done and I for one will definitely sign this petition. It doesn’t matter how many times you call the police they can only do so much if they can’t catch them in the act. I have seen the police there countless times and sitting waiting near the property for things to happen. And really I would rather see my tax dollars going to something more than this. The landlord says he’s invested in the property over the last 4years I ask where and on what? Im sure if he stopped receiving rent for a number of months he would take some action bz it’s obvious collecting his rent is all he is concerned about not reinvesting in this home or our community! They are riding their dirt bikes in that house – do u really think there is any historical value? $100k for that property I don’t think so. It’s more like a $100k investment just to get it up to code and livable. “Time to Let It Go”!”
Dave said on Facebook: “Property owners who rent and know what goes on in there hones but don’t.care because they want the rent should have there homes confiscated. I been a landlord for 20 ,yrs been to court tribunals getting scrum bags out of my home before. Anyone in this town knows that place is a drug house. And so does the landlord. And him knowing makes him acountable.”
Patrick said on Facebook: “Problem is the slippery slope. What’s to stop the province for taking your property or my property because of the acts of a third party. That property is at least a $100,000 asset of a property owner. Government has no right to take that when he hasn’t done anything wrong. Municipality has bylaws and enforcement authority to require safety and esthetics. If there is criminal activity, police are not doing their job if it continues to go onAs citizens one of the most precious principles we have is the right to own private property. If government can steal that property, they can steal mine or anyone’s.”
Julie said on Facebook: “Police & property standards are doing their jobs. The problem here is getting the illegal activity STOPPED. These tenants are costing the residents constant police presence, policing that is funded by our tax dollars. They are arrested & allowed to be on the streets the following day due to our provincial courts.”
NEW POLL QUESTION
[polldaddy poll=”8310792″]
This poll is also posted on the homepage of the Sydenham Current!
It is business as usual at 595 Wallace Street, appears that dealings are happening in the cover of night,