Harbour Grace councillors feeling pressure from social media group over ‘trap houses’

By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Olivia Bradbury

Harbour Grace council is responding to social media complaints that it is doing nothing to grapple with crime and drug houses in town.

Recently, posts made in the Facebook group ‘Stolen on the Avalon’ highlighted what were described as known trap houses in Harbour Grace. Not only were these buildings said to be frequented by criminals, but they were also described as being in disrepair — one reportedly has windows held together with tape, while another has no electricity. The facebook protesters asserted the Town is doing nothing to address the issue, accusing council of turning a blind eye as long as they receive income tax from the properties.

The posts implored people to contact Harbour Grace council about the trap houses, stating it’s council’s responsibility to address property disrepair, and complaints about garbage and noise. Contact information for each council member was included on the site.

“Just a heads-up to all residents, if you have a concern about our community or our council members, please be respectful and come to the council so it can be addressed,” said councillor Christina Hearn. “If you’re only going to talk about it somewhere out and about in the community, and not making council aware, then we can’t do anything about it. So don’t accuse us of saying we’re doing nothing. That’s my biggest thing. At least give us an opportunity. As council members, we’re not mind-readers. And we’re residents just like everyone else and we want to make the community a little bit of a better place.”

Councillor Sherrie Reynolds insisted council has to do something to address the issues.

“It is time for us to take decisive action by sending formal correspondence to landlords notifying them that we will no longer allow their properties to be maintained in such a manner,” she said. “Specifically, we must ensure that we know some doors are properly secured and the accumulation of garbage and junk around these properties is addressed immediately… While we promote our rich history, the kindness of our citizens, and the investments made through Heritage NL, these positive attributes are being overshadowed by drugs, thefts, and violent crimes, as well as dilapidated buildings. We run the risk of our town being remembered for filth, not for its beauty. I ask that anyone interested in sharing their thoughts on any of these matters please contact me, and I can schedule a meeting so we can have a productive discussion on how to clean up our town and do what is right for our community.”

Mayor Terry Barnes said that some of the properties that residents are concerned about are already being brought to court by the Town.

“In regard to some of the other ones, there’s not much we can do,” he admitted. “We can’t go in and tell somebody they can’t rent to somebody or rent to someone else. But I’m just concerned about the town the same as you are. Maybe it’s time that we write to the government because that’s who’s funding these places. Maybe we should make a motion to write social services and make them aware of what’s going on in our town.”

Barnes said other communities in the area are facing the same issue.

“If the courts do nothing, and the law does nothing, how can we?” he asked. “We’re bound by regulations. So, when people say we’re doing nothing, they’re misinformed.”

Regarding people making accusations against council on social media, Barnes said, acknowledged the frustration.

“If it keeps up they’ll be calling me Terry Trump — and that’s for the news and that’s for everybody, because I’m up to here with it,” he said. “I’ve got family, too, and I’ve got kids in this town, I’ve got grandkids. And when they start sending stuff… I’m not going to elaborate too much because I’ll be vacated from my seat.”

Hearn said it can be very intimidating as a councillor to have your personal number and work e-mail posted online. She said that while no one has contacted her, she does not know who follows the ‘Stolen on the Avalon’ Facebook group.

“All I did was I went in and reported (it), because that’s all I have at my disposal because I didn’t grant them permission to post that,” she said.

However, Hearn noted the contact information is public knowledge because it is available on the Town’s website. “And that might be why it’s allowed,” she said. “But again, it’s done in such an intimidating way because they’re not working with being fully informed and when people go off with only part of a story they don’t tend to approach you with an open mind. They come in already knowing what they think they know, and they don’t give you that opportunity to speak.”