This morning we were talking about the situation E.O.A…..Rob Bazinet who manages the Embassy Hotel joined us to speak about what he is doing to improve his neighborhood and to raise awareness about the problems facing Old East…We asked the question this morning…What should we do??? Leave it be and keep all the shifty people in one place OR clean it up, crackdown on the drugs and prostitution??? But would the hurt other neighborhoods around the city??? We went to the phones and got a ton of response…so we decided to continue it here

Feel free to comment on your thoughts on this topic here or on the FM96 Input Line at 519-438-FM96

Here are some of the e-mails we have received so far this morning:

 “Bottom line is that EOA residents pay taxes like everyone else and should expect a safe neighborhood to live in just as would be demanded by residents of more affluent areas.

Also, what fuels the drug and prostitution economy in the disputed area? Does all the money and people come only from the EOA area. I suspect most of the money and customers come from those more affluent areas who want a place to come and play without dirtying their own back yard.”

“I live at the corner of King and Maitland, 2 blocks from Adelaide.  From my front porch, I have a perfect view of Maitland between Dundas and King.  I loose count of the number of John Does dropping off/picking up working women in that area.  It's definitely getting out of hand.  Just before Christmas, there was a shooting in the 3-story walk up across the street on King from me, guy with a sawed-off shot gun!  Just a couple weeks ago I was walking to the store (Sam's on Maitland and Dundas) and I was propositioned by a female.  I just looked at her, shook my head and walked away...but they follow you!  All I wanted was milk from the store!  Since the police station is two blocks away, cops whip by my place at 20 minute intervals all the live long day.  Think it deters anyone? NOPE.  Strangest thing tho, I've been living there for a year and a half, my car nor my house have ever been vandalized, threatened or compromised.  The lady who runs up and down Maitland with toilet paper streaming from her pockets is always a Sunday morning treat.”

 “HEllo Tucker and Taz.  I guess I am some of the trash that lives in the East end that no one cares about.  I am also a young grade 5/6 teacher that lives there temporarily, but I am very east.  The problem is not just with the ignorant egotistic that live in this city, but is a MAJOR problem with the police too.  we once called the police right in front of my house to come pick out a struck out crack addict.  They showed up and she was sleeping in the middle of the street in her bare feet with blood on her shirt, I kid you not.  The cops found drug paraphernalia on her, but decided to leave her, b/c they didn't want her in their car.  In fact they didn't see us still sitting on the steps on my house, and they walked away laughing at her.  What is wrong with this community???”