Sabrina Gopaul lives, works and raises her son in the Jane and Finch community, a densely populated, extremely diverse neighbourhood in the northwest corner of Toronto. But on Wednesday afternoon, she’s standing in Nathan Philips Square outside City Hall in downtown Toronto addressing a crowd of 150 anti-Ford allies. It’s Ford’s first day in office as the newly elected Mayor of the city, but Gopaul’s got little reason to celebrate.
She knows Ford’s right wing agenda will do little to ease the suffering of those in her community, most of them living below the poverty line. Or erase the reputation of a community known to the rest of Toronto only for its guns, gangs, drugs and shootings.
“I live in Jane and Finch where the revitalization won’t be happening and the people don’t know about it,” says Gopaul. Repairs to social housing are ten years behind. Buildings are crumbling. Gopaul’s kitchen has two enormous holes in the wall.
“And the building where I live, families haven’t had running water for a month.”
But they’ve got nowhere else to live so they’re forced to endure living conditions middle class residents wouldn’t tolerate, including the overpolicing of their community.
In October after the second mayoral debate at the Canadian Jamaican Association, Gopaul had an opportunity to interview Ford as the news host for Jane-Finch.com. He promised to investigate any complaints regarding police brutality.
“I’ll take it to the police and find out what the problem was,” said Ford. “I’ll definitely get to the bottom of it.”
Gopaul reminded Ford that that the issue is slightly more complicated than a few isolated cases of brutality.
“This is a legacy of decades of police brutality and I’m sure you’re hearing about it from the Rexdale community as a current councillor,” said Gopaul.
“If it’s in 23rd Division I go right to the top and ask them to give me an answer,” said Ford.
“Is there an urgency to this for you?” asked Gopaul.
“When something happens that’s someone’s life,” said Ford. “That’s very serious. And I take it very seriously.”
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
