Residents confront St. John’s mayor, who says city is ‘in pretty good shape’

A town hall series organized by Happy City St. John’s wrapped Wednesday night in a finale full of questions from frustrated residents to Mayor Danny Breen. At times, attendees berated Breen, a sign of the growing dissatisfaction on a litany of issues in the province’s capital city.

Launched in 2010, Happy City consists of a group of residents – some of whom ran in past municipal elections – who want to create better dialogue on municipal issues in St. John’s.

Following months of sessions with city councillors, organization co-chair Drew Richardson moderated the event and spent the first half hour with Mayor Breen on stage at the Elks Club in central St. John’s. Richardson asked the mayor how important decisions get the attention they deserve, including affordability issues facing residents, property assessments increasing taxes, the expansion of public transit to regions like Conception Bay South and Torbay, and housing and developments.

But real emotion was felt when residents had their chance to speak with Breen.

Concerns about those struggling with addiction, and the strain on neighbourhoods

Most common were concerns about those living with addiction, and the strain residents say the drug epidemic is having on communities.

Jackie Rees’s voice quivered through the microphone as she talked about how life in a main centre city corridor has changed. “What are you going to do about the trap houses?” Rees asked Breen. “We have city housing that got more drugs in them than anything. And about safety – the needles. Something got to be done about it. I am afraid to walk down the street,” she said.

Breen responded that if he could fix the city’s issues with drugs, he would, calling the problem “very deep rooted” in a way that no one person, group or level of government can solve.

Resident Susan Evoy, who has been sharing her concerns on the matter for years now, also took the time to address Breen. “I am a homeowner in downtown St. John’s and my house has been attached to a trap house since 2020,” Evoy told the mayor. “The last eight out of nine groups of people who have lived there have been involved in illegal activity, drug use, selling drugs and violence.”

“People are damaging our cars, threatening us, kicking windows out. I am just wondering if the new City Act will allow the City to intervene in a more meaningful way?” Evoy asked.

Breen said when revisions to the provincial City of St. John’s Act governing the City are complete, officials will have greater authority to issue tickets and fines for bylaw non-compliance, but that whatever is happening inside homes with regards to illegal activity is up to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Evoy responded, saying the RNC has done little to address the situation in her case.

“I find that frustrating,” the mayor replied, “that […] they can’t deal with that activity from a policing perspective, so I can just imagine why you would find it frustrating.”

Residents rebuke Breen’s call for more police

During the moderated question-and-answer session, Breen said more police are needed in the city, including unarmed auxiliary officers in the downtown core.

“I think that we need more police officers on the street in St. John’s,” he said. “And I think that we need special attention on that […] a greater police presence in the downtown, the city and region.”

Resident Erin Callahan St. John challenged the mayor to shift his focus from increasing police presence as the solution. “When I hear you talk about prioritizing police and hiring more police, I’m wondering why you’re choosing to do that over healthcare,” Callahan St. John said at the mic.

“Why do you want more police officers?” Callahan St. John asked. “Why not more paramedics? Why not more nurses? Why not more therapists downtown?” Last year, then RNC Deputy Chief Colin McNeil said more officers in the downtown core was not necessarily the solution.

“I think a big part of public safety is perception,” Breen responded. “It’s how people feel, and people will feel safer with a higher police presence downtown. That’s my opinion,” he said, adding he has also heard similar calls from residents for more policing.

Breen also acknowledged the need for better supports for unhoused residents and those living with addiction, adding the provincial government needs to invest more in those areas.

Controversial Limeville, future of development in St. John’s questioned

Just hours before Wednesday’s final townhall with Breen got underway, allNewfoundlandLabrador, a subscription-based media outlet focused on business in the province, published an update on the controversial proposed Limeville development in the city’s Battery neighbourhood.

allNewfoundlandLabrador, which first broke news on the development in March, reported in the update that some designs for homes set to be constructed on the Limeville green space were withdrawn by developer Trifecta over concerns from the city’s Built Heritage Experts Panel.

Callahan St. John asked Breen what he thought of the proposed design for the Cabot Avenue properties. “It didn’t look like much of it to me,” Breen laughed, suggesting he understands why the Built Heritage Experts Panel may have had issues with them. But Breen said in his role as mayor he has to keep an open mind until documents are presented, because everyone in the city has a right to apply for what they want, he said.

Resident Polina Konstantinova also asked Breen about Limeville.

“I know that tourism is very important to St. John’s. So I’m wondering if you think that the addition of 28 houses on that property is really responsible development. It’s already one of the narrowest roads in the area. And I think it would be really dangerous for pedestrians and it would destroy a vital green space,” Konstantinova said.

Breen said city staff are considering concerns like traffic, sewer and drainage requirements, and that instead of the 28 proposed homes, hypothetically, just 10 may be approved.

“The development aspect of it, which is the second step—that’s one to see what can go in there […] but that type of development is allowed in that area,” the mayor said, explaining similar process and consideration is being given for two multi-storey condominiums coming to St. John’s, one at Kenna’s Hill and the other on LeMarchant Road.

Threats to sue city over Churchill Park Music Festival

Randy and Lorna Piercey approached the mic with concerns they said they’ve been writing the City about for three years. As residents of the Churchill Park neighbourhood, they said they are once again dreading the upcoming music festival set to begin this weekend.

“There’s never been a poll or survey done in the area to determine if people want this thing in their neighbourhood,” Lorna Piercey said. She wonders why there hasn’t been a public hearing and told Breen she thinks it’s because officials at the City don’t want to know the answer. Piercey suggested moving the festival from the densely populated area to somewhere like the outskirts of Bowering Park.

Randy Piercey, who said he has been a lawyer for more than 40 years, told Breen that, “a lot of the neighbours are really upset [and] people can’t sleep.”

“Last year, in our driveway, concert goers threw up all over our car. People leaving the festival damaged our neighbour’s car. I think there is a potential for a class action lawsuit,” he continued. “I am prepared to do it. But I’d rather the City held [the event] somewhere else.”

Breen said council has considered concerns regarding the Churchill Park Music Festival, saying some decisions are based on “balance,” which may not work out for all the residents. The mayor acknowledged that, “in one year [the festival] was a problem, it went way too late, and went overtime.”

Breen and political challenger come face-to-face

Breen and his challenger in the last municipal election, Ivy Hanley, came face-to-face during the session. Hanley asked the mayor why more lighting has not been installed in parts of the city, and proposed adding CCTV for security purposes.

Breen said the City has implemented other safety-related measures, adding there are privacy concerns to consider with CCTV.

Later in the event, Hanley rose again and asked Breen about controversies during his three terms as mayor. “Over the past few years, Mayor Breen, we’ve seen several public controversies involving members of council and City staff. Do you believe you provided leadership needed to set clear expectations and accountability for professional conduct? And if you do, why do these issues continue to occur during your time as mayor?” Hanley asked.

“Since 2017 I’ve used the gavel once,” Breen responded. “In terms of people and leadership, I would put my leadership with the council up against anyone. I would say that I’ve led by example. My mantra that I use is, ‘Be hard on the issue and easy on the person.’

“I know that we’ve had some issues that are very, very public and they’ve been out there and we are working through them,” Breen concluded. “We continue to work for the citizens of the city. And I think that we, every councillor around the table, is a great contributor, and they do good work.”

When asked about complaints from residents who are having to pay more for their property tax every year, Breen said he knew the current system of upping resident’s property values wasn’t the best method to drive revenue, and called on the provincial and federal governments to allocate more tax dollars for cities. Breen also said if neighbouring regions like Torbay and Conception Bay South wanted an expanded Metrobus service, then those towns would have to help pay for it.

“You know, the city is in pretty good shape,” Breen told Richardson on stage in an optimistic tone. “We have got a lot of issues. We’ve got things that are challenging for us all. But we do have a really great community here.”