City
Jane and Finch
Mention Jane and Finch to anyone in Toronto and immediate associations with violence are made. There are some tough streets in this northwest part of the city but the truth is violence happens everywhere in and around TO. Seems the residents and leaders of Jane and Finch are tired of the stereotype and want to turn things around, which is why I was so surprised to see a recent post in blogTO's youTube group with a gun as its icon, hiphop as its soundtrack and images that perpetuate and idealize the 'thug lifestyle'. The creator at one point cuts in a photo of a friend, with the letters RIP across the screen, whom I can only imagine because of the context died in some violent way. Yet the piece continues to show these Jane and Finch 'Hoolagoons' proudly flashing guns stashed down their pants.
There's a way to stop the violence and it's definitely not with more gunfire.
CBC's The Fifth Estate on at 10pm tonight features a doc called Lost In The Struggle about what it's like for three guys growing up in the area. "The stories that unfold are of struggle: to succeed when poverty, lack of education and opportunity pull you down; to escape from the only life you've known; and to make positive choices in the face of anger and aimlessness." Kudos to the broadcaster for bringing some of the Jane and Finch boys onto their crew to help tell the story.
Just to round this out with my own experience...a few years back my car died a block from the infamous intersection. Up walks a tall dreadlocked dude who offered his assistance. Without CAA or cell phone I took him up on the offer and followed him back to his place to grab some tools. About an hour later, after he got under my car and banged away at my "Cadillac convertor" I was on my way home, spewing fumes and making a whole lotta noise but thankful someone with a great smile and a kind heart was there when I needed it. A couple weeks later my new buddy and I were drinking champagne at a hopping Sunnyside party. So I'll be the first to let people know Jane and Finch isn't the frightening place everyone thinks, even if a couple of gun-totting kids are trying to exploit its reputation for a little online celeb status.
(image: sappletown)
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What people don't realize is that the neighbourhood has a vibrant and well-connected community of residents who are now conciously trying to escape the media-related stigma of the area.
You can get more info on some of the community happenings at <a href="http://www.jane-finch.com/";>Jane-Finch.com</a>.
I caught the second half of the Fifth Estate's <b>Lost in the Struggle</b> and while it did attempt to highlight some of the progresses these three Jane/Finch men were making, it focused more on and spoke volumes about the despair, the poverty, the violence, the drugs and the crime...
Is it unfair to characterize this neighbourhood in this way? Is it the degree/frequency at which it's been characterized in this way that's problematic?
The reputation that Jane/Finch is poor, dangerous, crime-ridden, etc is based on reality. Getting the message out and showing us the positive aspects of the community are crucial in the community's quest to both clean up the neighbourhood and in turn shake the reputation.
The community web site is a positive start, and I'm also glad that Sookie shared her personal story here.
The youth make due with what they have. Parents make due with paychecks that barely pay the bills.
When the only way to escape pain is through drugs or luxury items because the persona given off by society is "Do for you and screw the rest" is so visible why follow rules made by society.
Rules are only made to protect and safeguard those who successfully screw others over for wealth and power. It's a dog eat dog world and because others don't follow the majority they get labeled and become a distraction from others who screw others over legally.
Those with homes and good careers can use alcohol to escape their reality. Others use non profitable, non patented substances and they are labeled scum. It’s not to long ago alcohol was band and illegal. Ask yourself why they made it legal? So others can get rich of off others addictions and the government can collect huge amount of taxes. Why have gangsters profit alone when others can legalize it and make a killing financially without killing others. They legalized it to cut down on the murders happening due to competition. The biggest gangster decided to legalize it to stop the killings and get rich.
Only reason they have not legalized pot is because there are over 300 kinds. And they, drug companies, have not been able to paten it yet. Once they can expect a market to be made for the rich and a tax grab from the governments.
That piece by the 5th estate was a FARCE, in my opinion, because the youths they are talking to is obviously not the ones doing the trouble, otherwise they wouldn't be on camera exposing their so-called LIFESTYLE knowning police is watching them (if they were actually a threat).