Recent violent incidents and other illegal activity in downtown Barrie has made headlines in recent weeks. Some longtime business owners say they have seen the ups and downs and want to see more continue to be done. Tony Nguyen and his wife have owned and operated Hip Hop Nails on Dunlop Street for more than 22 years. He says he often hears concerns about the downtown from his customers. “Now things changed,” Nguyen says. “They are scared to come in here - they like us, that’s why they are here - but a lot of people do not want to come in here because of this.” Nguyen and other business owners are referring to the illegal drug shops, open drug use and rampant homelessness. In an effort to deal with the issue of illegal dispensaries, the city will be holding a public meeting Wednesday both in person and online. “To give us teeth to be able to stop illegal dispensaries,” says Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. Nuttall says things like illegal drug shops are a contributing factor to bad downtown behaviour. The meeting will be to discuss council’s wishes to change the city’s bylaw surrounding rules for illegal dispensaries. “What this public meeting is allowing us to do is to change the focus from strictly the illegal use, which is the mushroom shop or the illegal marijuana dispensaries operating in Barrie downtown, and allowing us to go after the building owners who are leasing the units,” says Nuttall. Shannon Cunningham, a downtown Barrie store owner, says she loves the downtown location and agrees getting tough on illegal shops is a good idea. “I’m sure any time there is illegal activity going on, then you are promoting more illegal activity surrounding those businesses,” says Cunningham. The meeting will be held Wednesday night at 6 at Barrie City Hall and livestreamed through the City’s YouTube channel.
