REACHING OUT TO PIANO MAN
Sour note for homeless musician
A homeless man’s first full day busking on an electronic keyboard donated by a downtown merchant got off to a rough start when police and city crews removed the tarps and meagre possessions from the alley cage he called home. Kate Isley, the Maiden Lane shopkeeper who rented an electronic piano Tuesday so Jarrod Zavitz could play his way off the streets, was stunned and outraged to see crews dismantling his makeshift shelter when she set out the keyboard Wednesday morning. “I saw him running down the street with nothing after they pushed him out,” said Isley. “The city should pay this man for the day of work that he just lost. How do you go to work when you see someone rip your home apart?” Zavitz, 32, returned to Maiden Lane later in the afternoon and took the city’s actions in stride, saying it was just one of many hazards the homeless face. Zavitz is uncomfortable in group shelters but he’d already scouted other locations to bunk down, including a La-Z-Boy recliner discarded by a dumpster in the back of an Ouellette Avenue apartment building. Isley and Zavitz said they were grateful and touched by the offers of support pouring in from people who read about their special connection in the Star. “There’s been an overwhelming response of people wanting to help,” said Isley.
Two people offered to donate an electronic keyboard so she wouldn’t have to rent one any longer and a woman gave her $20 to give to Zavitz. A representative from Veterans Affairs contacted Isley after learning the homeless man had spent time in the navy reserves. Sarah Cipkar of the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative dropped by to see if there was any potential for Zavitz to become involved with the Downtown Music Initiative, which provides instruments and lessons to youth from families of limited financial means. Even Ernie “The Baconman” Lamont showed up at Maiden Lane, looking to line up Zavitz for a gig at the Moose Lodge. A woman named Jennifer, from Amherstburg, dropped off a new Tracker backpack stuffed with Pop Tarts, fruit snacks and a homemade peanut butter sandwich. “This is the best thing in the world, this peanut butter sandwich,” said a ravenous Zavitz, who offered to share half before polishing it off himself.
Zavitz wasn’t around when the Amherstburg woman dropped off the care package, so she left a touching hand-written note. “Keep your head up, life will get better,” said the note. “Your story and talent touched my heart.” Zavitz said the gifts were “overwhelming ” because he was more accustomed to “people phoning the police” and telling him to “go sleep somewhere else.” Zavitz grew up in Harrow, but the father of five and former naval reservist has fallen on hard times, scraping by on $300 in social assistance monthly while battling an addiction to crystal meth.
He is a popular fixture in the Maiden Lane area. He is known for sweeping the alley near the site of his makeshift shelter. Another nearby merchant regularly brings him lunch. He played soccer with children during the farmers’ market on the weekend. Windsor police Const. Andrew Drouillard said a property owner phoned police late Tuesday afternoon to complain about someone making an “encampment” in the alley and that police went with city crews to investigate Wednesday morning. No one was there when they arrived, said Drouillard, and crews removed some pieces of wood and rags. Drouillard stressed police did not know they were dealing with a shelter belonging to Zavitz and that officers have to balance the interests of property owners against the needs of the down and out. He said officers, particularly those on bike patrol, try and connect with those on the street, ensuring they know about social service agencies and sometimes giving them gift cards for Tim Hortons or McDonald’s.
“It’s not a police problem, it’s a community problem,” said Drouillard.
Ward 3 Coun. Rino Bortolin was heartened by the generous actions of Isley and others but disappointed with the heavy-handed approach taken by the city. He said it was essential to take a “compassionate” approach and truly embrace a community policing model like in Hamilton.
“Don’t go in heavy-handed, tear down their stuff, throw it in the garbage and tell them to move on,” said Bortolin. “We need to start talking about a community policing model, especially with the opioid issues that we are facing.”