Cobourg Woman Applauds Mayor’s Letter Condemning Transition House
(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
To Mayor Cleveland and Cobourg Town Council,
I am writing in support of Mayor Lucas Cleveland and his recent letter regarding 310 Division and the need to take serious action against illegal drug use and the growing public safety crisis in Cobourg.
Theresa Rickerby’s recent letter does not speak for the majority of Cobourg residents—it speaks for a fringe minority who continue to ignore the direct and devastating impacts of unchecked drug use in our town. Her portrayal of “vulnerable community members” fails to mention the reality that these individuals are criminal drug addicts who have wreaked havoc in our downtown and public spaces.
What truly fuels fear, division, and hostility in this community is not strong leadership—it’s walking out to your car in the morning to find it ransacked. It’s seeing drug paraphernalia scattered across playgrounds, private properties, parks, and public washrooms. It’s businesses closing, tourists turning away, and long-time residents—like the elderly couple who no longer feel safe having their grandchildren visit—being driven into isolation and shame. That’s the harm we’re witnessing.
Mayor Cleveland’s platform of respect, transparency, and compassion is exactly what he delivered in his letter—to the 99% of residents who are pleading to have their safe town back. The letter doesn’t fuel hostility; it gives voice to those who have been silenced by fear, intimidation, and political correctness.
Did Ms. Rickerby even watch the video shown by Jeff Crowley of COSIC at the recent town hall? The chaos, violence, and disorder on full display there cannot be disputed. These are not people who have simply “fallen through the cracks.” Those who have family in Cobourg have likely, in many cases, burned those bridges. And from the sounds of it, many have just been dropped here—by whom, law abiding citizen’s wonder?
The truth is that the people who have done irreparable harm to Cobourg are not just the drug addicts—but also those like Theresa Rickerby, who have enabled, excused, and even encouraged this crisis to grow. Cobourg is suffering under the weight of their failed compassion.
I am proud of the leadership Mayor Cleveland is showing, and I hope he runs again so I can vote for him again—because we need more of this leadership, not less. He is doing what no one else had the courage to do: speak plainly and act urgently.
I understand that Theresa lost a nephew to drugs. That is a tragedy no family should have to endure. But continuing to support the same failed models that led to his death will not bring him back. It will only ensure more families experience the same heartbreak.
Cobourg deserves safety, order, and accountability. Mayor Cleveland is delivering just that.
Sincerely,
A concerned and supportive Cobourg resident
Carol Leighton
Letter Sent to Cobourg Council
Mayor Cleveland and Cobourg Town Council
I am writing today with a deep sense of concern and alarm after reading Mayor Cleveland’s recent letter to the editor regarding 310 Division and Transition House.
Mayor Cleveland, your words are inflammatory, dehumanizing, and dangerous. Your portrayal of vulnerable community members, many of whom are struggling with poverty, trauma, and mental illness, as criminals and a threat to civil society is deeply troubling and far beneath the standards of leadership this town requires. Your rhetoric does not seek solutions or community healing; it fuels fear, division, and hostility.
You have taken it upon yourself to define Cobourg’s “vast, vast majority,” but let me be perfectly clear: you do not represent me, my values, or the inclusive community I believe in. You were elected by a very small margin ( 105 votes to be exact) on a platform that promised respect, transparency, and compassion. Those principles were swiftly abandoned. Instead, you’ve chosen a path of vilification, political grandstanding, and authoritarian posturing.
Your assertion that Cobourg should become “as hostile a place as possible” to those you label as criminals-without regard for the deeply interconnected social issues of housing, addiction, and mental health—is a chilling declaration for a sitting mayor. These remarks further isolate the very people we should be reaching out to with care and services, not punishment and scorn.
Additionally, I am disturbed by your attempts to pressure the Cobourg Police Chief and the suggestion that you “demand” arrests. The politicization of policing is a dangerous slope and undermines public trust and proper governance.
I strongly urge the Town Council to release a public statement condemning vigilantism and reaffirming the importance of professional, accountable, and impartial law enforcement—not enforcement that is directed by the political will of one individual.
Your conduct and comments have done irreparable harm to Cobourg’s social fabric, our municipal reputation, and our partnerships with both community organizations and other levels of government. Cobourg cannot afford another year under this kind of leadership.
You once committed to being a one-term mayor. I am now calling on you to honour that commitment early-and resign. Your leadership is causing more harm than good. It is time for someone who understands that real leadership requires empathy, vision, and respect for all residents—not just those who fit into your narrow view of “law-abiding citizens.”
We deserve better. Cobourg deserves better.
Theresa Rickerby
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love