Racial slurs, violence, threats led to blocked vents: Hamilton city manager

Hamilton's top bureaucrat says racial slurs, assaults and threats contributed to a decision to block homeless people's access to warm-air vents behind city hall.

First, I would say this wasn't an easy operational decision for staff to make," city manager Janette Smith said Wednesday.

Between the start of December and the erection of hoarding two weeks ago at the lower rear exit of city hall, there were 34 reports of illegal behaviour," Smith said.

Of those, 13 incidents required police to respond. A six-foot spear" was involved in one and a gun was recovered, she said.

Staff, including security guards, were fearful," said Smith, adding the senior leadership team must ensure the health and safety of staff and visitors to city hall.

We haven't had any incidents since," she said.

Smith offered her remarks during Wednesday's general issues committee meeting amid public outrage over the decision to block the source of heat during a homelessness crisis that continues to unfold in winter.

A city spokesperson said staff updated council on Jan. 17 about people gathering at the rear exit and plans to address the issue, which posed occupational health and safety concerns.

Facilities director Rom D'Angelo also told The Spectator that with too many people around the back doors, which serve as an emergency exit, there were also issues related to the fire code.

On Wednesday, Coun. Maureen Wilson said it was important to have a public conversation" about what led to the barriers.

Residents in Ward 1 have asked why now in the dead of winter" the vents were blocked, Wilson said, adding she'd also relayed her concern and reservation" to Smith.

Adding another layer of controversy, public works initially failed to secure a city-issued building permit to erect the hoarding and used inadequately fire-resistant material.

That's behind us. It shouldn't have happened," Mayor Fred Eisenberger said Wednesday.

But the reported behaviour outside city hall is not an appropriate ... in any public place."

Coun. Russ Powers said he was met with an increasingly threatening manner" when he asked people to move out of the way so he could pass through the lower back entrance.

So rather than push the issue, I left," Powers said, noting he entered via the upper level, where he stepped over" people huddled under an overhang.

The hoarding is temporary, D'Angelo said, noting an engineering review was planned to examine how the exhaust system could be vented elsewhere.

The barriers coincide with a homelessness crisis that local officials have said has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shelters are at or near capacity and struggling with outbreaks.

Do we have more work to do to try and house people? We're doing it every day," Eisenberger said.

The city opens warming centres at its recreation centres and in partnership with agencies when cold alerts are called. Some operate into the evening and overnight.

Smith said outreach staff were at city hall twice daily every day since October to make sure people were aware of options available." Over that period, 15 were directed to housing and shelter, she said.

In a tweet this week, Dr. Tim O'Shea said he knew of two people who had slept by the vents.

They have tried to get inside, but there is no shelter available for couples," said O'Shea, who is with the Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team. For their own mental health and safety they have made the difficult choice to sleep outside rather than be apart."

In December, the city halted a hotel shelter program for couples due to rising concerns over domestic violence.

Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com