Greenspace
Senior Member
EPS only is brought in if there's a criminal matter they need to attend to. Security is done by TPOs.
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LRT Safety
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Greenspace
Senior Member
^To my point. And again it's Council that decided they wanted TPO's instead of EPS officers in transit (as it was cheaper), as they determine the budget. What these Councillors are asking for is EPS to do transit security out of EPS's existing budget. I don't know if that is realistic or not.
edmontonjournal.com
Councillors say they support — but can't order — larger police presence on Edmonton transit amid violence, drug use complaints
At least two Edmonton city councillors say they would like to see a greater police presence on transit — but stressed decisions about deployments rest solely with police leadership.
edmontonjournal.com
thommyjo
Senior Member
To me, policing transit is no different than policing roads. Why is it not already a clear mandate of police to keep our transit safe???^To my point. And again it's Council that decided they wanted TPO's instead of EPS officers in transit (as it was cheaper), as they determine the budget. What these Councillors are asking for is EPS to do transit security out of EPS's existing budget. I don't know if that is realistic or not.
Councillors say they support — but can't order — larger police presence on Edmonton transit amid violence, drug use complaints
At least two Edmonton city councillors say they would like to see a greater police presence on transit — but stressed decisions about deployments rest solely with police leadership.
Also, the budget is freakin massive. Figure it out EPS. Too bad all of EPS live in St. Albert and send their kids to uni in cars gifted to them from their dad’s 200k salary
(not allegorical… I know 3 families with this EXACT scenario). More cops’ kids on transit would probably lead to some change.Kosy123
Senior Member
Yeah full agreement with thommyjo here, EPS has a massive budget and yet they can't be bothered to do transit safety?? lmao
I'm here for the St. Albert EPS slander because that's something I've also experienced lol. It's wild we have a quasi-autonomous organization that can't be directed by Council. At this point, I'd be happy if a few million got shaved off EPS and just transferred to the TPO program. We'd probably get more results that way.
I'm here for the St. Albert EPS slander because that's something I've also experienced lol. It's wild we have a quasi-autonomous organization that can't be directed by Council. At this point, I'd be happy if a few million got shaved off EPS and just transferred to the TPO program. We'd probably get more results that way.
Barnaby
Active Member
I'm in favour of an ETS Police force at this point. It would help with overall downtown safety, as EPS is obviously checked out.
Greenspace
Senior Member
Amended Public Spaces Bylaw removes transit loitering (more than 2 trains) and reduced open drug use fine from $250 to $25. I don't think those amendments are particularly helpful to the TPOs or if it was EPS. It goes to committee February 10 to be debated.
YEG Bus Rider
Active Member
Kosy123
Senior Member
Highly recommend reading that thesis. A lot of what's been said there are points all sides on this forum have made but it's different to see it laid out in this way.
David A
Senior Member
Its difficult, because the LRT access is fairly open to the public so stations and trains seem to have become quasi homeless shelters which is not what they are designed for or intended to be.
However, we need to focus on behaviors and activities not people. So, no blocking the stairs, loitering or sitting in hallways, using illegal substances, smoking, etc... Enforce that well and most people would be happy.
trevorhayden
Active Member
If you provide alternative safe spaces, the station disorder solves itself. The behaviour will never disappear, so best to manage it.
erudyk_29
Active Member
^This is the biggest problem. There is nowhere other than transit people can go, and in extremely cold spells, like what we're experiencing right now, people will literally die if they can't get warm, so they go where they can be warm. Which is transit in most cases.
Shelters are not an option for a lot of people, and are often insufficient. The way we do shelter space needs to be rethought significantly.
Shelters are not an option for a lot of people, and are often insufficient. The way we do shelter space needs to be rethought significantly.
Greenspace
Senior Member
^At night, there are now over 1700 shelter spaces available, vs 600 two years ago. Also, during cold spells the city has a warming bus available for people not in shelters. LRT stations don't have proper washroom facilities and not a place to do drugs.
During the day there still no day shelter. Province says they're giving a record amount of funding for shelters, providers claim they don't have enough money to operate programming during the day. Not sure what to believe. I'm not sure what King Thunderbird centre is planning but that's why there's so many people just wandering around whatever building they can get in. Again, none of these places are appropriate place to do drugs.
During the day there still no day shelter. Province says they're giving a record amount of funding for shelters, providers claim they don't have enough money to operate programming during the day. Not sure what to believe. I'm not sure what King Thunderbird centre is planning but that's why there's so many people just wandering around whatever building they can get in. Again, none of these places are appropriate place to do drugs.
erudyk_29
Active Member
^ I appreciate that you bring up day shelters, these are massive, as you mention, there are lots of spaces available, but most of them give people a warm place to sleep and them kick them back out during the day.
On top of this most shelters require people leave their pets and partners if they have them, and for many, they have to be clean. Which is why I say a lot of the shelters are not an option for a lot of people. On top of this, shelters can often be places where people are extremely vulnerable to becoming victims of assault. There are a multitude of reasons why people don't use shelters that aren't just that they can't do drugs.
This is why I say we need to totally rethink the way we do shelters, not just giving people a place to sleep, but providing them a place they can in the most basic sense, live. Otherwise they're never going to get back on their feet again.
Most basically:
1. They must be accessible during the day
2. They must allow people to stay with their pets and partners
3. They must have some level of privacy to help prevent people becoming victims
4. They must not require people to be clean, this doesn't mean they should be allowed to do drugs wherever/whenever, but its unrealistic to expect a homeless addict to be able to overcome addiction while living on the streets
On top of this most shelters require people leave their pets and partners if they have them, and for many, they have to be clean. Which is why I say a lot of the shelters are not an option for a lot of people. On top of this, shelters can often be places where people are extremely vulnerable to becoming victims of assault. There are a multitude of reasons why people don't use shelters that aren't just that they can't do drugs.
This is why I say we need to totally rethink the way we do shelters, not just giving people a place to sleep, but providing them a place they can in the most basic sense, live. Otherwise they're never going to get back on their feet again.
Most basically:
1. They must be accessible during the day
2. They must allow people to stay with their pets and partners
3. They must have some level of privacy to help prevent people becoming victims
4. They must not require people to be clean, this doesn't mean they should be allowed to do drugs wherever/whenever, but its unrealistic to expect a homeless addict to be able to overcome addiction while living on the streets
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Kosy123
Senior Member
Calgary will soon offer day spaces, meals for city's homeless population
Most shelters in the city allow homeless people to stay at night and require them to leave by the morning.
calgaryherald.com
Calgary did just get a day shelter that apparently can handle 70-100 clients at a time. Do we have anything similar here?
Greenspace
Senior Member
^^Believe me, lots of people have tried to fix these problems. It's not crystal clear what the issue is.
On drugs, transit isn't a place for this to happen. Parks, pedestrian streets, festival sites, etc also not a good place. While perhaps not realistic those are homeless to not do drugs on the street, the issue must be managed otherwise it's Downtown and the core that suffers the consequences, not the suburbs. Also, continued pressure needs to be applied to the province to provide the treatment and recovery facilities to the Edmonton area that they promised.
On drugs, transit isn't a place for this to happen. Parks, pedestrian streets, festival sites, etc also not a good place. While perhaps not realistic those are homeless to not do drugs on the street, the issue must be managed otherwise it's Downtown and the core that suffers the consequences, not the suburbs. Also, continued pressure needs to be applied to the province to provide the treatment and recovery facilities to the Edmonton area that they promised.