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Downtown

yes and not just talking patios either. Opening a new restaurant or bar should be facilitated by the city, but it often seems like they make it unnecessarily difficult. But to be clear, I don't think this is a problem that is unique to Edmonton.
 
Last night the https://yegdowntown.ca/ hosted an event with a packed room of passionate business and community leaders to raise our collective voice about how Downtown's current look/feel/safety is simply not acceptable. It was great to the Chief Driechel in the room sharing some thoughts, along with the Province and others.

Here's hoping this is another step forward towards positive, constructive, active change.

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IanO said:
I can only be hopeful, but waiting to see, for things continue to decline and the lack of visible police/peace officer presence continues.
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Ian what's your take on the new residential developments currently under construction downtown. Do you think will help improve safety by bringing more people into the area? Or do you feel these changes won’t be enough? Also, is interest in downtown properties growing, or remained stagnant?
 
The police chief at a BOMA luncheon mentioned that a lot of the newer cops (especially COVID hires) have to be specifically instructed to leave their cars while walking a beat. Instead of going into local businesses, talking to shop owners, and otherwise doing the things that we want them to do, they park in front of a building with bathrooms and food, and wait for dispatch calls.

Public reporting of crime data isn't going to move the needle, because accountability needs to begin with the individual officers.
 
Having to be explicitly told to leave your car is... bizarre. Then again, I've been on the receiving end of the dead-eyed Gen-Z stare at enough restos to realize that what is obvious to me (don't be a zombie to your customers, actually walk while walking a beat) isn't necessarily obvious to everyone ;)
 
I was living in the newly renovated Churchill apartments for a few months in between places recently and it had a lot social disorder around it - right across from City Hall.
I remember seeing some police officers dealing with some issues in front of building shortly after new police chief was announced and I thanked the officers and said I hope you can come around her more often as there are ongoing issues. And they told me at the time that they will be, like there's a change in priority.

But then that didn't materialize - at least I did not notice any increase in police presence there and I was coming and going a lot out of the building and same issues remained.
 
Oddly enough, my EPS neighbour has claimed many times, that “the new Police Chief is not a bleeding heart liberal and plans on cracking skulls,” as compared to the “career politician that McPhee” was/is.
 
VaultBoy said:
Ian what's your take on the new residential developments currently under construction downtown. Do you think will help improve safety by bringing more people into the area? Or do you feel these changes won’t be enough? Also, is interest in downtown properties growing, or remained stagnant?
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Everything helps, but it's going to take a lot more projects and people to really have an impact.

Demand is growing overall in my humble opinion, but that's coming from a trough and the overall experience continues to underwhelm and not be a sustainable outcome.

How we permit what's happening right now is simply beyond me.
 
MacLac said:
Oddly enough, my EPS neighbour has claimed many times, that “the new Police Chief is not a bleeding heart liberal and plans on cracking skulls,” as compared to the “career politician that McPhee” was/is.
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This is a pretty widely-held sentiment, actually. He is so dissatisfied with the state of policing in Edmonton that he might actually be able to improve it.
 
IanO said:
Everything helps, but it's going to take a lot more projects and people to really have an impact.

Demand is growing overall in my humble opinion, but that's coming from a trough and the overall experience continues to underwhelm and not be a sustainable outcome.

How we permit what's happening right now is simply beyond me.
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"How we permit what's happening right now is simply beyond me."

It's because those who are in positions to change things have other priorities. We get those elected people because the majority voted for them. We get those people in administrative positions because getting things done doesn't get you far, talking b*llocks gets you further. Downtown businesses are not going to be the solution either, unless making money is no longer the point of a commercial concern.

To be fair it looks like a nice networking event for hobnobbing, nibbles, free booze and virtue signalling 🤣

Feeling extra cynical today:p
 
policyenthusiast said:
The police chief at a BOMA luncheon mentioned that a lot of the newer cops (especially COVID hires) have to be specifically instructed to leave their cars while walking a beat. Instead of going into local businesses, talking to shop owners, and otherwise doing the things that we want them to do, they park in front of a building with bathrooms and food, and wait for dispatch calls.

Public reporting of crime data isn't going to move the needle, because accountability needs to begin with the individual officers.
Click to expand...
Another important note from last night is that over 400 officers are eligible for retirement in 3 years. That's a lot of turnover and hard on institutional memory. Many in the service now only started during or after COVID and have no idea what 'community policing' is. They have to be tought.

On Transit, only half of the promised peace officers have been deployed (15). The other 15 are in training and will be ready to go in the summer. There is still more coordination required between peace officers (City run) and EPS, this was mentioned a few times by the Chief.

The province was there and are promising a place to talk folks incapable of taking care of themselves by the summer. I'm curious what this is. The treatment beds are years away from being ready (Alberta Hospital new treatment beds are 3-4 years away).

I hope this discussion sparks some momentum. The new Chief said it's unacceptable to walk past someone in crisis and do nothing. I agree, both for the individual and for public good.
 
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