Business leaders want to see more police downtown
Justice minister has ordered city to develop a `public safety plan'
Downtown Edmonton business leaders are pleading for more police to be deployed in the city centre, saying a recent rash of violence is unnerving people and stifling investment.
The calls come after two men were beaten to death within hours of each other in the Chinatown district earlier this month, and also amid continued complaints about safety in the downtown core and on public transit.
“It is a problem that people going out to small businesses, bars and restaurants are not feeling like they can walk to their car alone after the setting of the sun,” said Alex Hryciw, chair of the Downtown Recovery Coalition, a group of business leaders advocating for a safer downtown.
“We're just hoping that we see an increase in police so that everyone feels really safe.”
Last week, Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro cited the Chinatown killings in his controversial invocation of the Police Act, ordering Edmonton city council to develop a “public safety plan” to deal with crime in the downtown core.
Figures provided by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) showed the number of violent crimes in the city centre grew by 12 per cent in 2021 and that about one in five robberies citywide occurred downtown.
Earlier this month, police Chief Dale Mcfee indicated he hoped to step up the number of foot patrols in the downtown area in the coming weeks.
Hryciw welcomes any action, saying city council now recognizes the area is facing what she calls “an urgent crisis,” but adds downtown safety should already have been a city priority.
“We would have appreciated that those people in positions had paid attention a little bit sooner,” she said.
“These headlines affect our local businesses. They affect our investment potential.”
` NOT BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR'
Those thoughts were echoed last week at a panel discussion on the future of the downtown core put on by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
Edmonton City Centre general manager Sean Kirk said a number of mall tenants are concerned about bringing staff back to work.
“They have to look them in the face when they're scared or they have an issue that happened, whether it's a break-in to their vehicle or they had to step over somebody on a pedway or LRT station.”
Citing safety in numbers, he said he's optimistic the situation will improve with a greater presence in the area.
“The (foot) traffic obviously provides natural surveillance, but also, we really need that vibrancy.”
Kevin Mckee, CEO of the Pangman Development Corporation, stressed the urgency of the situation with a more ominous message.
“If there is not something done urgently we may have a very, very difficult time ever getting momentum back on our side.”
Deputy police chief Darren Derko said crime rates in downtown, Chinatown and 118 Avenue “have really spiked,” leading EPS to focus three “disruption teams,” that are typically used during protests or in high-crime areas, entirely on those neighbourhoods.
“We're kind of in that reaction world. We need to get a grip on it and get a handle on it, get it back to where we can control it,” he said.
“We're just trying to navigate our way through that and find the balance between enforcement to compassionate policing.”
He added there's no quick and easy solution to the safety problems in the area, but also that he was confident the situation would improve. “We're not broken beyond repair.”
` SEEING THE RIGHT TRENDS'
Hryciw says she shares some of that optimism that once safety is improved crowds will return to the city centre.
“Downtown is facing a comeback right now. All hands are on deck with both the province and municipal governments.”
She points to the Oilers ongoing playoff run as proof the downtown core can become a desirable destination.
“Our restaurants are full. Our patios are full. There's people walking the streets,” she said.
“We're seeing the right trends.” She says maintaining that playoff momentum into the summer festival season is key to showcasing the area, and Edmonton as a whole, to those who have kept away over the past pandemic-plagued summers.
“Our downtown is the heartbeat of our city. And if it's thriving, we know that the rest of the city will also be thriving,” she said.
“We're on the right track right now. And we look forward to the future.”