Downtown Crime

[IanO]

When I spoke to them I asked about that (he works right Downtown) and they said issues still there, but not anywhere near the same 'quantity' as here from their candid response.

 

[ChazYEG]

Great work on the stats but it's not murders we have to worry about here or what Ian's YYC buddies encountered. People who get shot are 99.9% criminal scumbags and deserve their come-uppins. It's the Zombieland freaks/ Fenty Hunchers that roam our DT freely looking for their next hit......while our Cops get paid Quadruple time to watch over our non-violent hockey games/concerts.....

Murder rates are generally a good index for other violent crime, but yeah, the perception around the drug addicts roaming DT needs to improve. In all fairness, most of them are relatively harmless, and the worst they'll do is scream. Maybe I am desensitized to it from living in places with much higher actual crime and social disorder, but I do think there's a good deal of prejudice going into the "unsafe" perception, usually stemming from the sheltered suburban life lots of people have, imo.

 

[ChazYEG]

When I spoke to them I asked about that and they said issues still there, but not anywhere near the same 'quantity' as here from their candid response.

Kinda funny, cuz I was in Calgary a few weeks ago and my perception compared to a year ago when I went for the Stampede was not good. It might be less visible due to them having more overall foot traffic, but it is not any better than Edmonton, IMO

 

[IanO]

I think that's it and my experience too, not much more or less, but far more folks out and about in general which makes it feel safer and normalized.

 

[Gronk!]

Murder…out 5 years later, murder again.

Change the system

Suspect arrested in connection with Edmonton homicide

Kyle Lauman, 35, was charged with second-degree murder, indignity to a body and possession of an offensive weapon.

edmontonjournal.com

In case you're looking for some context, this POS shot a NorQuest instructor at Jasper Ave and 119 St on Friday night.

NorQuest instructor shot dead in SUV on Jasper Avenue, 1st-degree murder charge laid | Globalnews.ca

A woman who taught at NorQuest College has been identified as the victim of a downtown shooting in which Edmonton police have laid first-degree murder charges.

globalnews.ca

 

[Blizzard]

What's funny is I've heard the same thing from some family friends but with the Calgary CBD.

No kidding. Stopped at an ice cream place by the Kensington Safeway on Labour Day... WOOF.

 

[constance_chlore]

An outside perspective: when my parents and sister were visiting recently, not having been to either city in 20+ years, they also came out with the impression that there was more sketchiness in Calgary than in Edmonton (comparing e.g. East Village to east Downtown Edmonton/Boyle Street). I was surprised!

 

[David A]

Kinda funny, cuz I was in Calgary a few weeks ago and my perception compared to a year ago when I went for the Stampede was not good. It might be less visible due to them having more overall foot traffic, but it is not any better than Edmonton, IMO

I also remember it not feeling so safe around the Calgary Westin when I went there some time ago, so its not just here. There is something about the core areas of cities that attracts all sorts and sometimes not good.

 

[Avenuer]

I think that's it and my experience too, not much more or less, but far more folks out and about in general which makes it feel safer and normalized.

Need more street life, that's how everyone 'blends in' when you look at Toronto and Vancouver.

 

[constance_chlore]

I also remember it not feeling so safe around the Calgary Westin when I went there some time ago, so its not just here. There is something about the core areas of cities that attracts all sorts and sometimes not good.

I don't think there's anything inherent about this; it's the result of some very North American planning decisions that contributed to, and were exacerbated by, the collapse of downtowns all over the continent. In Berlin, northern Neukölln (which is fairly central, but nothing like a downtown) are much sketchier than more downtown-ish Mitte or Kreuzberg. In Paris, the sketchier parts are mostly in the north of the city or in the suburbs.

 

[David A]

Murder rates are generally a good index for other violent crime, but yeah, the perception around the drug addicts roaming DT needs to improve. In all fairness, most of them are relatively harmless, and the worst they'll do is scream. Maybe I am desensitized to it from living in places with much higher actual crime and social disorder, but I do think there's a good deal of prejudice going into the "unsafe" perception, usually stemming from the sheltered suburban life lots of people have, imo.

This is a very important point, social disorder is not the same as crime. Social disorder is about situations that make people feel uncomfortable or unsafe. While the person staying at the Westin this weekend was uncomfortable the more serious crime was actually happening about 20 blocks away.

However, we shouldn't dismiss social disorder either because if people start to avoid an area that has serious economic and social impacts. I would say it already has for our downtown core and probably the downtown cores of other cities as well.

 

[MacLac]

Violent offender charged with attempted murder after man randomly stabbed at Canadian Tire - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

Police said witnesses were able to describe the suspect, who was later found a few blocks away on an Edmonton Transit Service bus near Castle Downs Road and 104 Street.

globalnews.ca

Captain Stabbin' at it again! Not surprised....it was a Piche.....if you know - you know what that means.....

 

[Greenspace]

This is a very important point, social disorder is not the same as crime. Social disorder is about situations that make people feel uncomfortable or unsafe. While the person staying at the Westin this weekend was uncomfortable the more serious crime was actually happening about 20 blocks away.

However, we shouldn't dismiss social disorder either because if people start to avoid an area that has serious economic and social impacts. I would say it already has for our downtown core and probably the downtown cores of other cities as well.

Perceptions of safety are being taken more seriously by EPS than in the past (so I'm told). They need to be dealt with just as much as real crime.

Anti-social behaviour by individuals openly doing drugs is unacceptable to the general public. It makes people feel unsafe, and some of the drugs do make people do random if not violent things.

 

[IanO]

It's (central) Edmonton's biggest hinderance for new investment, a new hotel and business growth.

PERIOD.

 

[ChazYEG]

Perceptions of safety are being taken more seriously by EPS than in the past (so I'm told). They need to be dealt with just as much as real crime.

Anti-social behaviour by individuals openly doing drugs is unacceptable to the general public. It makes people feel unsafe, and some of the drugs do make people do random if not violent things.

That is undeniable. It is not something that anyone likes to witness, and I understand why it would make people feel unsafe.