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![\"MIKE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4417709_web1_260722-Spence-St-0002--1-.jpg\")
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MIKE DEAL \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Spence Street looking south between Broadway and Portage Avenue. A West Broadway homeowner says she\u2019s watching her neighbourhood deteriorate while governments pass the blame, accusing Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham of pointing to the province instead of taking action. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
She said vandalism and theft have become more common. In one recent incident, someone tried to smash through a neighbour\u2019s front window in broad daylight while children were inside. In another, the front door of a home was kicked in and a safe was stolen.<\/p>\n
Another homeowner emailed the office of Mayor Scott Gillingham on July 10 to say the police service\u2019s recent crackdown on drug use was a failure and she demanded to know his plan to tackle the crisis in an election year. City voters will head to the polls Oct. 28.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have many displaced people walking through our yards (using them as washrooms) and openly using drugs,\u201d said the email to the mayor.<\/p>\n
The Spence Street resident, whose email exchange with Gillingham\u2019s office was shared with the Free Press, accused him of \u201cshirking\u201d his responsibility.<\/p>\n
The Free Press was unable to reach the resident Wednesday. In her response to the mayor, she wrote that \u201cpart of choosing to be representative of a city is representing all of its citizens, not just wealthy neighbourhoods and suburbs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s never been this bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Five days later, the mayor\u2019s office responded. It said housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions are under provincial government jurisdiction, and noted the province\u2019s priorities include opening a navigation centre and expanding housing. It also encouraged the resident to contact their local MLA to advocate for more addictions treatment.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the mayor said any suggestion the mayor told residents not to contact the city is \u201cincorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents should absolutely contact the city about neighbourhood safety, problem properties, encampments, policing, bylaw enforcement and other local concerns,\u201d the spokesperson wrote in a statement, adding the office regularly works with police, city departments, provincial agencies and community organizations to address residents\u2019 safety concerns.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said the mayor and his staff have met several times with nearby property owners, toured problem areas and are establishing a neighbourhood working group through the Safe Winnipeg Initiative.<\/p>\n
The office said encouraging residents to contact their MLA is not shirking responsibility, but directing them to the level of government responsible for those services.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents should absolutely contact the city about\u2026 local concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mayor\u2019s office pointed to several city initiatives, including free space for St. Boniface Street Links, funding for public washrooms and community safety hosts, an expanded needle cleanup program, discounted transit for low-income residents and support for more than 2,600 affordable housing units over the past four years.<\/p>\n
The office said those initiatives reflect the city\u2019s growing role in responding to homelessness and addiction \u2014 including services that weren\u2019t present before Gillingham took office \u2014 despite those areas traditionally falling under provincial responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents have every right to expect action from all levels of government,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cThe mayor\u2019s position is that the city must keep doing its part \u2014 and has greatly expanded that work \u2014 while also being honest that lasting progress depends on all levels of government providing enough treatment, housing and social-service support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Candace said she has called police and has noticed officers responding more frequently. Earlier Wednesday, she watched an officer chase someone on a bicycle between homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the third time we\u2019ve seen cops recently,\u201d she said, adding the increased police presence is one of the few noticeable changes. \u201cThey can only do so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the third time we\u2019ve seen cops recently.\u201d <\/p>\n
A couple eating lunch on the front lawn of their home said they regularly find unconscious people near their front gate.<\/p>\n
The couple moved into the neighbourhood three years ago, next door to their son, who has lived there for several years.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of them are very hurt and hurting,\u201d the woman said.<\/p>\n
Her husband believes conditions worsened after the city\u2019s encampment ban took effect and as warmer weather arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s made people on the street fearful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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Coun. Sherri Rollins, who represents the area, said residents are exhausted by governments shifting responsibility instead of delivering solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want to see the accountability of a public safety plan that is city wide,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said the mayor\u2019s response to residents amounts to blame rather than accountability.<\/p>\n
Rollins dismissed Gillingham\u2019s announcement Monday that he would commit $100,000 from the mayor\u2019s office toward a safe-walk program for concertgoers and attendees of arts events in the Exchange District.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are just Band-Aids, and we have a gaping wound,\u201d she said. \u201cThese aren\u2019t helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Scott Billeck Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade\u2019s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.\u00a0 Read more about Scott<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
Reporter
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