Downtown Sydney discussion on vandalism will not be open to public
A meeting to discuss increased vandalism in downtown Sydney will not be open to the public or the media.
“Our priority is to protect the privacy of our members and allow them to openly discuss any questions they may have related to the program,” said Michelle Wilson, Downtown Sydney Development Association’s executive director.
Several businesses have sustained damage in recent months, angering owners in the downtown core.
The meeting will take place Wednesday evening and comes after calls for more security and police patrols on Charlotte Street and the surrounding area.
“We understand that you may wish to report on the meeting, and to that end, we will be happy to provide you with a summary of the next steps by the end of the week,” said Wilson.
The municipal councillor for the area says he’s heard from concerned business owners and says steps are being taken to find solutions to the problem.
“To rectify the issue we need to have a collaborative approach from all parties involved to work together for the betterment of downtown as a whole,” said Eldon MacDonald, CBRM District 5 councillor.
MacDonald says there are also concerns of derelict unsightly premises that need to have a direct message delivered to property owners that immediate action on clean-up is expected or the property will be put on the demolition list.
“My message to staff yesterday in discussions was immediate action is needed to start the renovation process, if not sell the property or CBRM will be delivering a $300,000 tax bill to the owners,” said MacDonald.
Cape Breton Regional Police could not say immediately how many calls they’ve received about vandalism in downtown Sydney, but says their community officer has been working directly with the Downtown Sydney Development Association on crime prevention education and awareness, including a Business Watch program.
“Police are conducting extra patrols and presence in the area. Not unlike previous years, as the weather gets nicer, we see more people and more activity in the downtown area and we want to ensure that downtown is a safe space for everyone who uses it,” said Desiree Magnus, CBRP spokesperson.
Wilson says key takeaways, any action items, or any other relevant public information from the meeting will be released in the coming days.
For more local stories, please visit our regional pages.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. election results: NDP gains ground in latest release of mail-in ballot data
Elections BC released its first partial results of the final count in B.C.'s 2024 provincial election Saturday afternoon, and the data shows NDP candidates gaining in some tight races.
Ontario man tells police he harmed two family members, three found dead
Huntsville OPP and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are conducting a homicide investigation after three individuals were found dead in a Huntsville neighbourhood Friday evening.
Trump refers to CNN's Anderson Cooper by a woman's first name
Former U.S. president Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper with a woman's first name in recent days as the Republican presidential nominee focuses his closing message on a hypermasculine appeal to men.
Lawsuit alleges Ontario man died after given 10 times prescribed dose in hospital
Angela Salvatore had been away from her father's hospital bedside for just over an hour when she says she got a frantic call from a nurse, pleading with her to calm him down.
15-year-old found dead in eastern Ontario, teen facing second-degree murder charge: OPP
Ontario Provincial Police say a 16-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder after a 15-year-old was found dead at a home in Perth, Ont. Friday afternoon.
Lizzo's Halloween costume draws inspiration from 'South Park' episode that referenced her and the weight-loss drug Ozempic
Lizzo has taken a rather silly reference to her on a recent 'South Park' episode and elevated it to a hilarious Halloween costume.
Witches walk among us — but they're not like the fictional ones you grew up with
Two witches talk about their daily rituals, from spell-casting to TikTok posting, and how they discovered their magic.
What we know about the Canadians busted in an international drug ring led by a former Olympic athlete
Canadian Ryan James Wedding finished in 24th place in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but the snowboarder wouldn’t go on to improve his results in Torino four years later.
Israel's first open attack on Iran targets missile sites and apparently spares oil and nuclear ones
Israel attacked military targets in Iran with pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. It was the first time Israel's military has openly attacked Iran.