SooToday received the following letter to the editor from reader Jessica Joseph, who expresses concern over safety in the Sault:
As a parent, I never imagined I would feel unsafe bringing my child to the very places that once defined life in Sault Ste. Marie.
But I now avoid the boardwalk, the mall, and even local shops in certain areas after repeated random acts of violence.
When a local bakery owner was brutally attacked for advocating for a mother and her child (and his family business) it confirmed what I know many of us already feel . . . this city is not as safe as it once was.
We live in a resourceful city full of potential, but no amount of new foliage downtown will make it safer. We must also consider our seniors.
As the median age continues to rise steadily each year, more vulnerable residents of the Sault will rely on public spaces for pharmacies, health care, shopping, and recreational needs. A community that feels unsafe for its elders, is not a thriving one.
Safety should not be something we hope for each day when we step outside. It should be a basic right for children, seniors, and every resident and visitor of Sault Ste. Marie.
I urge the residents of Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding towns to raise these concerns directly with Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and City Council, MPP Chris Scott, and MP Terry Sheehan. Silence is something our community can no longer afford.
Jessica Joseph,
Algoma District