Community airs concerns about Lawrence Avenue cafe.
Toronto councillor Michael Thompson, right, municipal licensing and standards representatives Bill Blake and Jim Heart along with Toronto police 41 Division Supt. Robert Qualtrough sit on the panel for a community meeting held Monday at Wexford Presbyterian Church in regards to the controversial Alexandria Cafe. (July 26, 2010)
Staff photo/ERIC HEINO
A community meeting about undesirable activities outside the Alexandria Cafe on Lawrence Avenue resulted in conflicting information and verbal warnings from police about intimidation by those affiliated with the controversial facility.
About 60 people gathered in the basement of the Wexford Presbyterian Church on Monday, July 26, night to discuss what could be done about escalating incidents near the cafe at 1940 Lawrence Ave., near Warden Avenue, for the last two years.
Police have received 19 calls about the address in 2010 ranging from noise complaints, smashing beer bottles in an adjacent daycare playground, and an incident in which one man was stabbed and hit with a baseball bat by a group of about 20 other men on May 15. A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with the stabbing on July 19 and charged with aggravated assault and weapons dangerous.
However, Scarborough Centre Councillor Michael Thompson said his constituents are still scared to speak out against the establishment. If nothing is done, he fears the situation will only get worse.
"Nobody should be afraid of a business in my community. You have to follow the rules and if you don't, the city is going to ensure that every tool and every mechanism we have will be utilized to bring order and peace to my community," said Thompson.
Part of the problem in dealing with the Alexandria is every time Thompson visits, he said, there is a different person claiming to be the owner.
About 10 minutes into Monday night's meeting, a man identifying himself as Ballout Ali entered and said he was the new business owner. After listening to a slew of complaints, Ali was given a chance to take the floor and defend himself.
"I'm ready to do everything to make this a better place," said Ali. "I'm part of the community too. I don't want my neighbours to hate me and view me in a negative way."
According to Ali, he took administrative control of the cafe just over a month ago but had not signed a lease and had not filed for a business license because he was still negotiating a final price with the current owner.
He invited the police to attend his establishment at any time and said he would work with the community to mend the reputation the Alexandria had established.
Joking and smiling, Ali was able to alter the mood of the meeting as it drew to a conclusion. Thompson and many of those present said they were willing to work with Ali if he sincerely wanted to set things right and address the community's concerns.
However, Ali's pleas for the community to give him a chance were called into question immediately after the meeting adjourned. Upon exiting the church, attendees saw a man taking photos and recording licence plate numbers.
Toronto police 41 Division Supt. Robert Qualtrough was at the meeting and identified the man as Fawzi Bidawi.
Police officers inspected Bidawi's phone and found six photos of people and cars at the meeting, Qualtrough said. The photos were deleted and Bidawi was given a verbal warning for intimidation, Qualtrough said.
"You've got people coming from a community meeting and there is an expectation that they are allowed to speak freely. As they are leaving if someone is taking their picture, especially someone who is associated with the Alexandria restaurant ... the only reason he would be there is to intimidate people as they were leaving," said Qualtrough.
Ali said he had "nothing to do with it."
Qualtrough said Bidawi had a run in with Thompson during the Taste of Lawrence street festival held earlier this month in the area.
"He is the same fellow that rushed the stage at the Taste of Lawrence and started shouting obscenities at Councillor Thompson as he was giving flowers and a plaque to the family of the (business improvement area) member who passed away," said Qualtrough.
It was confirmed by Qualtrough, Thompson and Ali that Bidawi is a registered security guard with Ontario Security Training and is under contract with the Alexandria. Bidawi told Qualtrough he had been renting the basement of the Alexandria with the intent of opening an after-hours lounge, but has since realized that would be a mistake.
Earlier Monday evening, Ali had denied that an after-hours lounge was ever operational in the basement, but Thompson claimed he personally spoke with individuals who had partied there recently.
The day after the meeting, Thompson hoped to get some answers by contacting property owner Albert Franklin, but he couldn't vouch for Ali's claim to ownership. He said the current lease was to a man called Nabil Abuzeidan and had not heard anything of the business being sold or a sublet agreement for the basement.
Despite the incident after Monday's meeting, Ali said he remained determined to get the Alexandria up to standard.
"I wasn't waiting for them to tell me to change it, because I've already changed a lot. Every day I'm making changes and making it better every day. When I took it over it was kind of a mess and I'm trying to make everything back in order," said Ali.
Thompson and the police continue to pay close attention and will report back to the community as the situation develops.