Apologies for the lateness of this response. The online version of Mr. Frankel’s story was posted without the edits that were made for the print edition by mistake.

The print edition reads “The park lacked green space and had reportedly become a regular locale for drug dealers.” We have since updated the online version to read the same.

The report of this condition of the park came from this article in the West Annex News:
http://westannexnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/jean-sibelius-square-park-official-opening-sunday-june-10-2012-at-330pm/

The Gleaner is devoted to editorial consistency and integrity, and regrets the error.

This is a lie. Having lived across the park for almost 14 years I can assure you that there was grass, green space and was not, in any way, a local “haven” for dealers. There was already a”playground, field house, playing field, pathways, and central plaza.”

Frankel’s comment is not based on reality. Further than that, it does the greatest of disservices to all neighbours who made our park a true community hub – through cleaning, rink building and beautification.

The people whose political agenda was to revamp the park painted it as some sort of desolate blemish on the neighbourhood, in order to better promote and push their vision.

Frankel’s comment sounds like it came from the pre-revamp propaganda rather than from someone writing a journalistic piece.

If the Gleaner is simply a mouthpiece for those more established, who claim to speak for all, then admit to being so and be honest about it.

If you are a real newspaper, that is supposed to be a true journalistic report of the community it purports to cover, then print a retraction of Frankel’s insulting paragraph.

He did not write the truth, and you printed the lie.

It is incumbent upon the Gleaner to recognize its mistake and apologize for those you have maligned, ignored and insulted.

Peter Steen
Brunswick Avenue