Riverdale has lost many industrial jobs creating high levels of unemployment. Cuts to social assistance rates have also hurt many Riverdale residents and have created even more poverty. Over the past year there's more people begging on the Danforth. Things are getting worse. There are definitely more people falling through the cracks.
People are worried about jobs now, everyone is.
It seems like we are getting ourselves into a depression instead of getting out of one. It used to be a very solid working class area with a lot of jobs. There were factories and plants in the area, but many of those have closed. There is worry about break-ins, personal safety, and drug use. There is a concern about vandalism that many believe is caused by youth.