who dunnit?
(posted by markefrank)
As mentioned yesterday, someone called the police on the community activities that have been taking place in Maguire Meadow. We were told that we have no right to be on that land, and no right to alter the landscape in any way.
This means no moving rocks into circles, no planting of plants, and no other interventions.
The big question is, who called the police? I (markefrank) stated yesterday that I can only imagine two parties who would have done so, but comments left on yestereday’s post suggest at least one more suspect.
Let’s do a suspect profile to try and deduce who wants us off this land, that has long been Canadian Pacific’s land, but which is soon destined to be owned by the City.
Suspect # 1
Canadian Pacific could have phoned the police on us.
The last I heard it was still their land, and so if they don’t want people there they certainly could have phoned the police.
I would have imagined they would have sent their own CP Police force first, though, since they use this force to patrol their properties. But I guess it is possible they thought it better to send in the Montreal Police to scare off the community gardeners.
Again, though, it seems odd that they would care much since they have left this land so poorly maintained for so long, and since they are soon to lose this land to the City.
But hey, it’s possible. And, we are in the process to try and find out if it was Canadian Pacific who called in the police.
Suspect #2
The borough of Plateau-Mont-Royal.
And yesterday I singled out Helen Fotopoulos, since she is the Mayor of this borough. Some feel this is unfair since there are certainly other bureaucrats and actors involved in the borough, not simply Helen Fotopoulos.
I tend to think the leader should be responsible for the actions of its team, but point taken: even if it was the borough who called the police on the community-garden activities, Mrs. Fotopoulos might have had nothing to do with it.
But what would be the motive for the borough to get so confrontational with a part of its constituency so close to an election (coming this fall).
The borough does have a lot of plans for this area, and all recent indications are that the community does not support their plans. Specifically, residents generally seem upset about the borough’s plan to pave the major part of the green space along the railway tracks, precisely in the place where the Roerich Garden is situated.
So, the borough might have decided to break up any more mobilization around this site since this mobilization will only complicate their plans. As well, the more that is created in this space, and the more that residents see this space re-imagined, the more difficult it will be to suggest other things (like a road).
Please note: Mayor Helen Fotopoulos stated on this blog today (see comments from yesterday’s post) that she had nothing to do with calling in the police, and she is offended and hurt that I would suggest she did.
She also stated on this blog today that if we had invited her, she probably would have come out and helped us garden.
Please note again: Mayor Fotopoulos, please take this as an official invitation from a local resident to come and help us pick up garbage and pull weeds this upcoming Sunday, from 1pm onwards. We look forward to seeing you there, and we appreciate your support!
Suspect # 3
The curmudgeonly neighbour.
It was suggested by Franc-sois in the comments section from yesterday’s post that another possible suspect is some unknown, disgruntled neighbour.
It is hard to imagine why someone would be upset about us cleaning up and beautifying this neglected space, but stranger things have happened. So, yes…we should not rule out this possibility.
What next?
Emily Rose at Sprout Out Loud! has stated that she will continue to show up every Sunday at 1pm to work in the meadow. I will also be present to help out.
If we only have the right to pick up garbage, then we will only pick up garbage.
We are also working to find out where this complaint came from, and how we can get permission to be present in this space until its future is determined.
We are contacting the police to get more information, we are contacting Canadian Pacific to get their perspective on our presence in the meadow, and we are trying to arrange a meeting with Mayor Helen Fotopoulos to see what kind of support the borough will bring to bear on these developments.
So everything is in the air, but we will continue to work to maintain our presence in this green space. Because, whether or not this is technically private property right now, it is clear that the owners have all but abandoned it and the community has taken it up as a precious place.
The community is ready and willing to take care of this space, and that is what we have been doing. We want to continue to do this, and we will continue to invite other members of our community to come and experience for themselves how lovely a little bit of wilderness and open space in Mile-End can make a person feel.
Especially when surrounded by one’s neighbours.
We will keep you posted here.
